Hi guys,

I had emailed Fender Customer Support a few days ago and they haven't replied so I thought that I'd ask here....

I have a 2011 Fender Jeff Beck Strat and I like it very much. I do not use the trem a lot and have decided to make the guitar into a hardtail Strat. I have added in 2 extra springs at the back so the guitar now has 5 springs. I was wondering how far down I should tighten the claw in the rear cavity? Is it OK to tighten it down so it's flush or would this put too much tension on the screws? Perhaps only 3 springs and the claw tightened would be sufficient? I play in standard tuning and use 9-42 gauge strings.

I wouldn't worry about the springs, they'll be fine. What you want to avoid is stripping the screws and/or the wood they're screwed into. I have two Strats set up with 9-42s and 5 springs in the back, and I only had to tighten the claw a little to keep the bridge flat.

Thanks for the reply. Any advice on how I can avoid stripping the screws and/or the wood?

I guess just don't overdo it... Tighten the claw down until the bridge remains flush with or without string tension and you'll be good.

OK thanks, I'll do that then

I use 5 springs with 10-46 gauge strings on my 2 strats and I only tighten the claw a little. Just enough so that the bridge plate doesn't lift when I bend strings. Works great!

_________________
Custom Shop '59 Stratocaster
AV Hot Rod '52 Telecaster
AV '56 Stratocaster
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

I just hard tailed my Strat this way. Are the five spings enough or should I put a block of wood behind the trem block? Like Eric Clapton does with his Strats.

+1

_________________
1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

I have one Strat that is decked and blocked. IMO if you decide you're not going to use the trem you might as well block it. It just makes sense. I made some custom fit hardwood shims to block mine.

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

You are not going to strip the wood or claw screws by screwing both down all the way into the body with 5 springs. Not unless you are really clumsy. My 6-point bridge is decked with 5 springs and the claw screwed all the way tight to the body. No issues.

_________________
Bill

Like I said, no issues decking the bridge using 5 springs screwed all the way down. Plenty of people do it that way without problems.

_________________
Bill

I don't care whether you believe me or not. Why should I take my guitar apart just to satisfy you? And so what if it does leave a mark? Are you in the habit of looking under the bridge? Decking one's bridge with 5 springs screwed down tight is a common practice for those that don't use the trem. If you don't believe THAT, start a poll and see how many people do. You will probably be surprised.

_________________
Bill

I have 5 springs on my Dlx Strat (ala SRV), but I found no need to adjust the claw. I just recently went to lower guage of strings, 10s. Even with 11s, the bridge never lifted. I purchased my guitar used (the guitar only). Had to buy a case and strap, and just now got a tremelo arm off of ebay (still waiting for it to come in). I had originally decided to not use the trem, but have changed my mind. I'm gonna see if this guitar can take some abuse and still stay in tune. If not, I'll probably never put the arm in.

_________________
2000 American Deluxe Stratocaster
2011 Gibson Les Paul Trad Pro 50's
2007 Epi Les Paul Custom
90's ESP Eclipse
JH-1B Jimi Hendrix Crybaby
Analogman KOT
Korg Pitchblack
Boss NS-2 PH-2
Blues Deluxe Reissue
1999 & 2007 Marshall TSL 100 w/1960BV cab

on all my guitars with a trem system i only use 3 springs, with the claw tightened about a 1/2 inch from the body.
but 1 of my springs are not straight, i have the high E side straight, i have the center spring straight, and the low E is hooked on the outer edge on the trem block, then connected to the claw next the the center spring. adding more tension on the thicker strings. works well on original strat and Floyd Rose systems.
I use 9 thru 42 for strings.

_________________
1986 Kramer Baretta
1989 Samick "The Samick" Les Paul
2007 Fender Strat MIM Deluxe / 1985 MIJ neck
1990 Epiphone Strat
Marshall JCM 2000 DLS 50 watt / Marshall 1960a 4x12

https://soundcloud.com/jim-slimjim-cassi