Im new to tremolo's..picked up an american standard strat in singapore.after a few months i happened to notice my bridge moving when i bend the strings making the bends go slightly outta tune..i rem i got stock 9 gauge.but i prefer 10 gauge so shifted to 10 gauge.is that a prob?if so what do i do?pls help!
Besides i live in India.there are no fender dealers here!!

Thanks.

Avinash,
First, make sure each string move freely through the nut by fully loosening and removing each string. Hold the string between your two hands and put it in the appropriate nut slot, apply some down-pressure, and slide it back and forth in the nut. It should move very freely. If there's any binding, you need to cut the slot a little wider, or make sure the bottom of the slot is not irregular. In other words, if it binds, the nut needs some work.

If the nuts fine, then you'll have to adjust the bridge to compensate for the increased tension from the heavier strings. Basically, this is done my tightening the springs on the underside of the body.

Here' what I'd suggest:
1. Take all the strings off your guitar, take the plastic plate off the back, and then remove the springs and the bridge from the guitar. Now, study how the thing actually works. You'll understand it.

2. You can search this site or the net and find lots of info on how to set up a Strat. You'll learn precisely how to alter the tension on the springs to counteract the tension from the strings and "balance" the bridge.

If you do step "1", everything you read is going to make sense.

Thanks a lot man!will try it out.

+1 on babar's advice

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Bill

If your bridge is floating (setup for trem use) and you bend strings, the other strings will go out of tune, no way to avoid it. The bridge will always lift up some when you do string bends, and the bridge lifting will cause the other strings to go flat. There is no way to keep the bridge in the same place AND move at the same time, it is physically impossible. You can lock the bridge down to the body by screwing the trem claw screws down tightly (decked) and the bridge won't move while bending strings, but then you won't have trem use. You can also adjust the spring tension to where the bridge is flush with the body, but can still use downward trem only, with very stiff trem movement. But, if you want normal trem use, and bend strings, the others will go out of tune while bending.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Avinash, I responded before without really understanding your question. Shimmilou was apparently paying attention, though. Yes, as you bend an individual string with a finger, the bridge moves, throwing the other strings slightly out of tune. Shimmilou's right...there's nothing you can do about it.

It's never bothered me a bit, and I've been playing with a floating trem for over twenty years. I can understand where some players might be bothered by it, but for my particular way of playing...and a I bend a LOT, it's never been an issue.

I hope it works out for you. A properly adjusted trem is, in my opinion, a wonderful thing on a guitar.

But....my previous advice still holds true. If you're changing to a 10 first, you want to make sure there's no binding in the nut, and also adjust the bridge accordingly.

Thanks a lot ppl..really appreciate it.guess ill have to just get used to it.I thought it was something i did.
thanks again:)

Arent some Squiers still made in India?

I didn't know that they made any in India, do you mean Indonesia?

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Yea, I just checked, Squier II were made in India 89-90.

Wow, didn't know that, thanks for the info.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

I just find it weird that those countries build some of our guitars and yet they're not readily available there for sale.

Wow! i didnt know that either ..