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Post subject: Number of Tremelo springs
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:56 pm
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What advantage/disadvantage is there in the number of springs? I've seen some with three others with four or five (mine has three).

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:10 am
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The more springs the stiffer the action on the tremelo. Fender tremelo's are not as touchy as a floyd rose so you can usually get by with 3. My strat only has 3 but I put 4 on my Charvel because it was just too touchy when I got it. It only had 2 on it, I find it stays in tune better with 4 and is not as touchy to my playing, but the strat I never had a problem with. This is just my opinion and results for the way I play. Strats are fairly easy to set up. They have all the info on the web site so you can try changing them and see what works best for you.
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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:32 am
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Do you use the trem a lot ?

My experience has been that different Strats tend to stay in tune better with different amounts of springs and spring tension depending on how aggressive you are with the trem.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:04 am
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Thanks for the feedback. I haven't used it much, am learning how after 30 years of using tune-o-matic bridges. I have observed, however, that when I do the axe has a tendency to to out of tune especially if I get aggressive with it.

How does the increased tension from additional springs help with the tuning problem? I think I know but would like to hear what more experienced folk have to say.

If I wanted to add a fourth spring where would be a good source? (I have a GC less than a mile from my house. Oh the temptations.)


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:33 am
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I use 5 springs with the trem floating.


More springs will make it more stable. The trem after use will return to it's original position better thus stabilizing the tuning.

The springs are pretty inexpensive and GC should carry them in stock.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:02 am
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So I'll start by adding another spring to see if that helps with the tuning issue. I guess based on what I've been learning, I'll need to do a new set up after adding the spring.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:03 am
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Yes, a setup will be needed.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:09 pm
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uteowl,
I don't use the trem on either guitar very hard, but I found if you put a little graphite in the nut slots if you have a standard nut it helps them come back into tune better. Like I said before I didn't have much of a problem with the Strat but 4 springs helped stabalize the Charvel better. Tuning wasn't a problem though because of the locking nut it was just way too touchy.


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:16 pm
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filerj wrote:
uteowl,
...if you put a little graphite in the nut slots if you have a standard nut it helps them come back into tune better.


I have the LSR nut so I don't think your solution will be as effective. That said, I don't think it will hurt either. Anyone have thoughts on that? Thanks.


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:14 pm
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3 questions...........

1. Will having five springs keep it in tune better and keep it from getting parallel to hte bridge?
2. What exactly is a floating tremelo?
3. ........................huh, maybe it was just two! :D

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:26 pm
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blues_boy wrote:
2. What exactly is a floating tremelo?


Actually I'm wondering the same thing.


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:31 pm
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Blues Boy,
I'm not sure what you mean about closer to the bridge? Are you asking if the springs will bring the bridge close to the body? If nothing else is changed four or five springs should bring the back of the bridge closer to the body, but there is an adjustment in the trem cavity to take care of that. There are two screws attached to the trem claw. Once you put the number of springs you want on you turn the screws in or out to adjust bridge height. The fender web site has downloadable manuals for doing the adjustments and what their suggested specs are, I've found it very usefull since I got brave enough to do my own setups. Strats are really user friendly. I did hesitate to try it until I had a friend of my that's been working on guitars for years show me how to do a basic setup.
Hope this helps : :D


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:01 pm
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Blues Boy,
Sorry I forgot to answer your second question. Standard tremelo is supposed to only bend down, you can't pull up. Floating you can pull up and down. The older Fender synchronized tremelo's were of the standard type, the 6 screws prevented you from pulling it up.


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:06 pm
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uteowl wrote:
filerj wrote:
uteowl,
...if you put a little graphite in the nut slots if you have a standard nut it helps them come back into tune better.


I have the LSR nut so I don't think your solution will be as effective. That said, I don't think it will hurt either. Anyone have thoughts on that? Thanks.


I wouldn't use the graphite on the roller nut. I've never played a strat with one on but from what I know of them I wouldn't use grahite. I thought the roller nuts were supposed to prevent the strings from sticking at the nut which is what sometimes happens with the standard nut. Maybe there is something wrong with the roller nut and it's not sliding like it should.


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:29 pm
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I 'spect it's more the spring thing. The 3 springs aren't pulling the bridge back into position.


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