I am the new proud owner of 2 new Starts. 1 is a white HSS, maple MIM, and a month later I splurged on a 2011 American standard Charcoal mist, with rosewood. Love them both.
My question is in regard to the little black spring that goes in the trem hole. First off, what is the purpose of the spring ? and 2nd, the American strat came with it but the MIM did not. Is the MIM suppose to have one also ? Would it help to use the spring in the MIM ? I have problems keeping it in tune when using the whammy bar but have no problems with tuning on the MiA no matter how hard I use the whammy bar.
Thanks in advance for any answers and advice

ummmm.........where's da' pics????

Your just trying to fool us. You have to prove it with pics.

WOW... !!

I bought my Am. Vtg. Stratocaster two months ago and never removed the 'chrome' sticker covering the Tremelo Arm hole, because in my Tadpole stage of guitar development, I felt I had too many other things to learn before getting into that.

Then, one day, I decided that to leave the sticker in-place might invite the chrome to discolor or corrode, so I removed the sticker.

The next day, I stepped on a small 17.1cm black spring w/ 5 winds that I could not for the life of me figure out the origins of, then I saw your post... BINGO !!

Is this spring necessary ? Is it supposed to somehow be attached to the guitar so it doesn't fall out so easily..??

Inquiring Minds and all that...

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

The spring doesn't really stay in on its own unless you make some 'adjustments' to it so that it will stay in there (hence the sticker). If you don't use the trem arm (which it sounds like you don't as you've just removed the sticker ), then the spring doesn't need to be in there, just keep it somewhere safe in case you want to use it in future

The theoretical use of the spring is to provide tension on the trem arm when screwed into the hole to keep it from swinging back and forth. Use of it seems to be player preferance but is not required lest your guitar may suffer a electrical short due in part to the fact that the spring is also a ground of sorts, and could either electrocute the player or burst into flames about middle of the second set when the rest of the band is really warmed up and rocking. JUST KIDDING! It's just a spring and you can either use it, or not.

Also, please, Stratocaster, not STARTOCASTER..........

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I believe that Jimi, Stevie, Jeff, Robert, Hubert, Les, Leo and the "Duck" are all looking down on Joe B. saying "Holy smokes that dude got some stuff going on!"

Check out the cause:
http://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/

Sorry for the typo I type just like I solo, sometimes too fast and hit a bad note every now and then
Trying to figure out how to add pics some help would be appreciated.
Thanks for the comments about the spring and glad my post helped you discover the mystery of your spring Lightnin

Get an account on photo bucket, up load the pics, then click on the img link, it should say copied, then past that link in your post.

and I also agree, don't worry about the spring, you can adjust the trem arm so it doesn't move without cranking on it