how can you tell if the small spring in the bridge hole is still there? Also is it easy to get it out if it is in there? Thanks!

Get a torch and shine it into the hole, you should be able to see something of the spring if it's there. Sometimes it's quite hard to see them though because they can get compressed a lot by the tightening up of the bar. If it's compressed and mashed in tight it might be very difficult to get it out. But anyway why would you need to take it out? Leaving it in won't do any harm and if it's compressed in tight it can't fall out so...

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Flip the guitar over, and it should just fall out. To be doubly certain, you could just stick something into the hole and see if you feel spring give resistance.

It's very common for the springs to part company with the guitar.

I don't think the spring even comes with a new guitar. You can buy a pack of them from Fender and keep a piece of tape, or magnet over the hole to keep them there when the arm is off. Which reminds me, the last couple of new Fenders I've purchased had a small plastic plug in the package with the tremolo arm. Does anyone know what they are for?

Good thread here. I got a new 2012 American HSS 3-4 weeks ago and after taking off a small dot of tape that was covering the tremolo hole, and threading in the tremolo arm a small black spring fell out of the back of the guitar. I wondered if it needed to be in there and if not why is there to start with? It seems this is a small design flaw that should be easily corrected by the factory. I am guessing it keeps a bit of pressure on the trem bar?