ok I have it all good now. The bridge in completly flat now, 6 screws in all the way.
I found a piece of wood that fits perfect and I wedged in some coins on the other side as well.
Sounds great and looks to be staying in tune very well.

Thanks for all your help

Got bored with this fast (so shoot me).

leave the six screws on the face of the tremolo alone. You don't need to move them and will gain nothing by moving them.


1.
Just block your trem however you see fit. Either tighten the tremclaw or ram some wood in there. It makes no difference which as long as your trem doesn't move.

2.
Leave everything else except the tuning alone.


(the easy method for blocking a trem).

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No no and no

Unless yopu block the trem, or tighten the trem claw down tight, when you make a good bend the bridge will try to move and that may damage things. Those screws are only for locating the bridge and providing a pivot point. They are not designed to hold it tight to the body.

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Bill

I'm an engineer. So shoot me.



The engineer's way to block a trem.

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Bill

Thanks Bill. Guess I better back those 6 screws off and find a hunk of wood.

This is a photo of my trem block (the black hunk of aluminum). This was before I loosened the trem claw somewhat to reduce spring tension. I have also centered the block better between the E srings.

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Bill

Don't forget to intonate.

Premising the pulling tension from the springs is more than the pulling tension of the strings including that of the individual player's wildest string bends, than your postulation is accurate.

As you've read in just this little bit, your notion of simple immobilization vs. a blocking system is one of those issues which is a "hot button" in terms of which is better for resonance, sustain, etc. I shall recuse myself from any further discussion on the subject as this is one issue that can be perpetually argued right down to each and every nuance where either side of the fence will never be swayed. YMMV.

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You dig?

No disagreement there, but I'm not sure the OP took that into consideration.



I recognize both tightening the trem claw tight or using a block as valid means to achieve the desired effect. Both methods seemed to have worked quite well for Mr. Clapton.

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Bill