Hello everyone! I picked up a new Am Std strat over the weekend. Black/white/maple. This guitar is a special one I think. It really has a life to it and I'm going to love it. Anyway I was wondering what the little spring in the trem arm hole is for. The manual says that for storage you want to take the arm out/off and put tape over the hole so as to not lose the spring. Anyone know?

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Hey Mark, the little spring is to keep tension on the arm so it doesn't flop around.

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'10 Fender American Special Strat GC FSR - Olympic White
'10 Fender American Highway 1 Tele - Black
'05 Fender American Highway 1 Tele - 3 Tone Sunburst
Fender Super Champ X2 Combo Blonde Oxblood FSR

With the thrashing I give my strats I never noticed if the trem spring was ever missing as I've never taped over the hole, or do the MIM strats not come with them? Oh well still suits me fine.

Thanks y'all. I've never had a strat that had one and I like'em to fall down out of the way anyway. I tend to thrash around too and it gets in the way otherwise. But then I have to search for it a bit some times. What's a mother to do right!?

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Please visit my youtube channel and check out my music at www.youtube.com/user/markr7922

I could never get the hang of using the trem on my Strat Plus (the fitst guitar I owned that had a tremolo arm)... until I read somewhere (maybe on here?) about that little spring. I bought one of ebay, popped it in the hole and refitted the arm - what a difference! Not only does the arm stay where you want it, but it takes out the "slop" and makes it much easier to use.

I also learned that you don't need to take the trem arm out to put the guitar in its hard case! Just fold the trem arm across the bridge and close the lid. Try it carefully the first time to be sure, but genuine Fender case are made to close OK with the trem fitted. I haven't taken mine off since and that little spring stays safely in place...

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I have a 1988 Clapton Strat and have wanted to start using the tremelo bar, i didn't have the little spring for the bar hole, so i got one, fitted it in and it's great, it takes up any play and seems fine.

My question is this: Are the springs you use in the American standard strat and the Clapton one the same? The Clapton strat is like a 1957 reissue with regards to the bridge hardware etc.

Anyway the spring fits fine and makes a massive difference, but i'm curious, surely they don't have different size springs for the vintage strats as compared with the American standards do they?

The one's i picked up are the only one's that i've seen anywhere.

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