It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:04 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: whammy bars?
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 7:52 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:35 pm
Posts: 1296
okay, i never use the things. howevah, i got a new strat friday. upon changing from 9's to 10's, i had the same problem i usually do where the bridge raises up at the back. i was changing one string at a time. instead of having the bridge blocked like my other strat, i put 2 more springs in the back. problem solved.
finally my question. i'd really like to experiment with the tremolo bar so i'm glad i didn't get it blocked. is it still safe to do with the extra springs? i won't be doing any dive-bombing, just some subtle stuff. stupid question i know but i don't want to mess this beauty up. being the idiot i am, i've lost my sales reciept so until i can get a copy, i have no warranty.
thanx everyone


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:10 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:57 am
Posts: 13164
Location: Peckham: where the snow leopards roam
Hi jeebus: a couple of things. It is fine to use the whammy; you ain't going to do any damage, regardless how many springs you have.

However, adding springs to bring the back of the trem plate down is not the best way to go, unless you are looking for a stiffer, harder action on your vibrato. Better would have been to adjust the two screws that hold the spring claw to far end of the spring cavity, screwing them in to put tension on the springs. You just drive them in gradually till the back of the trem plate has come down to the height you want it - about 1/8" to 1/4" gap is considered right for a floating trem. (Jeff Beck goes for somewhere around the higher setting, so's he can bend up a full step or more. Most of us settle for the 1/8" measurement.)

Another thing: after changing between 9s and 10s you will have to reintonate the guitar by adjusting the saddles to make the speaking length of the strings longer or shorter. Otherwise they will play out of tune as you fret further up the neck.

It's all contained in Fender's setup guide, which probably came with the guitar or which you can find on this website.

Good luck - C


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:41 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:35 pm
Posts: 1296
well, i did both till it got back where i thought it should be. i don't mind the vibrato being stiffer since i probably won't get crazy with it.
i'm still wary about intonation. i've read all the info and have tried both successfilly and unsuccessfully to set up guitars. it's actaully very good right now but i'll give it a shot if i'm not happy. the action is superb and i really don't want to mess that up.
as always, thanx for the response. i love this guitar.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: