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Post subject: Trem requires a lot of pressure to move?
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 7:55 am
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Trem requires a lot of pressure to move?

Hello Everyone.....

I'm a newbie......to this forum, but not to guitars. (47 yrs playing)

I just picked up a MIM HSS Strat and I have a question about the pressure needed to move the trem bar on mine.
I have 3 springs (silver) with the six screw (I believe vintage style?) tail piece.
I have set it up as instructed here in the "Stratocaster Setup Guide"
http://www.fender.com/support/stratocas ... _guide.php

I can move the whammy bar, but it requires a lot more pressure then I would like to it to get move.
Its like the spring tension is to stiff.
I'd like to be able to move the bar with a lot less effort.

Does someone make a spring with less tension or.....what options would I have in making the bar move with more ease?



Thanks
Michael


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 10:27 am
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Firstly are you using the trem floating? What guitar are you comparing it to? What gauge strings are you using? Is the bridge raised 1/8th off the body like the recommended spec? If its flush then you have work all the spring tension holding it in play to do a downwards bend.

The idea is you can use less springs if you need to. So try that first and if not get some black springs for an American Standard Strat and try them (you shouldn't need more than 3).

Check as well if the trem claw is straight or at an angle. The higher the gauge of string the less tension you want on it. So if its angled tighter on the larger strings your fighting them each time you use the bar.

One other thing is you could be just wrenching on the screws. A 6 screw bridge if screwed down may require you to loosen them. Some people loosen the 4 in the middle further so they function as to just keep the bridge affixed. They adjust the outer two screws as pivot points.

You can damage your guitar if you adjust these incorrectly. So best to observe closely when you use the trem if the bridge is fouling against the body limiting your trem range (bladed trems were made to overcome this prob). I would get the opinion of a tech/luthier if this is the case. It might just need a proper setup.


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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:04 pm
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Everything Shockwarrior said.
Also if you look at American Standard or Deluxe instruments, they use black trem springs.

These are a lot less tense. It's not always a bonus having low tension springs. They dont offer the same benefits on returning to pitch.

Also there is no real reason why you should be struggling so much with the trem. My insticts tell me your trem claw (the bit round the back that the springs attatch to, and has a ground wire soldered to it) is screwed into the body too much. Simply unscrew it (same amount each screw) until your trem is easier to use.

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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:44 pm
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Thanks to both of you.
I believe that I have it in the ball park after adjusting it a little more!
I haven't setup a strat in 26 years!!......Well, one but that had a Floyd Rose on it. (talk about adjusting!!)

Yes, It's Floating. I'm not comparing it to any other guitar. But I did know that it wasn't right. I'm using 09-42 on it.
Aah... the bridge ....1/8 of an inch.........This was the problem.
I had it at what I thought was 1/8 of an inch, but after messin' around this afternoon trying to figure out what was wrong. I loosened the claw screws (it was straight) and readjusting the tension.........all appears well!!

Thanks again,
Michael



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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 8:11 pm
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You might want to re-check your intonation after your adjustment (if you haven't already :wink: )

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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 9:05 pm
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Kong wrote:
You might want to re-check your intonation after your adjustment (if you haven't already :wink: )


-thanks, done!


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