Can someone explain the mechanics of why the trem is lifting out of the body much higher after a restring?

I restrung one string at a time to prevent the tension changing but it didnt help. i have the same gague strings on, so i dont know why the bridge is lifting higher than it was before the restring. I shouldnt have to tighten the trem claw screws. what am i doing wrong here.

If you want the bridge to stay flush with the body even while bending strings, you will have to either tighten the trem claw screws or but a block of wood between the block and body. There isn't any way around it other than using glue <--- don't do that!. If you want a tremolo set up to whammy, the trem WILL move when you bend strings. I like mine to remain flush, I tighten the trem claw screws down real tight to make sure the bridge doesn't move.

New strings will have new tension, you can adjust your trem claw springs a little to compensate.

i hear ya, but my point is that im using the exact strings, same brand, same gague, yet with the new strings my bridge is lifting out of the body, where it was almost flush with the old strings 60 mins ago.

why would changing the strings, and replacing them with the exact same strings cause some change in tension that means the bridge lifts out of the body?

All metal parts change in size with changes in temperature, springs, strings etc. I have had the same thing happen that you've described many times when I changed strings. You may notice that you can put down a guitar after playing it hard and come back after it has cooled down to find that all of the strings are slightly sharp.

That's one reason that I gave up on the Strat whammy bar and set the bridge flush to the body (that and the fact that almost any trem use will throw the strings out of tune). Now I don't have to worry about resetting the bridge height when I change strings. Even though the bridge is now flush on the body, the strings still change pitch slightly after the guitar cools down. There can be differences in strings also, even within the same brand, it is impossible for them to be exactly alike.

With your new strings on, push the whammy bar down and let go, look at the height of the bridge from the body. Then pull up on the whammy and let go and check the bridge height again. You may notice that there is a slight difference. This seems the norm on Fender bridges. Also check the tuning when you do the above whammy test and you will find in one direction the strings are all slightly sharp or slightly flat.

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not this much, and the guitar is in a well insulated house with little temperature change. no more than a few degrees at any time.



a little sharp is fine, i understand that, but not the amount of change this time. its like the strings are a higher guage, even though i know they are not.

Maybe you accidentally tuned one or more of the string an octave too high? I've done it, it's possible. Other than that, I am out of ideas.

good thinking, but unfortunately not the case. compared it to my other electric which is in standard tuining and they are in the same octave.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGH! I grabbed the wrong strings!! I put 11s on it instead of 9s

What a stupid stupid mistake to make. shouldnt have different gagues in the same pile for a start. I knew something was seriously wrong!

No, that's a good thing!!! Leave the 11's on there, you'll love the tone, but maybe hate the extra effort to bend. Go ahead and screw those trem claw screws down and forget the whammy, no double-stop bending with the whammy set up. If you think that's embarrassing, wait 'til some day when you turn the high E while trying to tune the B! TWANG!!

I have a tele with 11s on it already so im afraid the strat has to go back to 9s! id leave them on except i have an audition for a band in 2 days and need to be completely comfortable with my guitars setup


thanks for the advice all