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Post subject: how many springs should be on the tremolo unit?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:28 pm
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i currently switched string gauges from 9-42 (stock strings when i bought it from sweetwater.com) to Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys which are 9-46.

i tightened the two screws on the claw and managed to balance out the tremolo unit to my liking. however, do i need to add more springs to the unit? i currently have 3 springs in the back.

thanks!

-marbles71


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Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:30 pm
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If you got it balanced to your liking with 3 springs it should be fine.

Lots of players use 3 springs and are happy.

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Post subject: Re: how many springs should be on the tremolo unit?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:33 pm
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marbles71 wrote:
i currently switched string gauges from 9-42 (stock strings when i bought it from sweetwater.com) to Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys which are 9-46.

i tightened the two screws on the claw and managed to balance out the tremolo unit to my liking. however, do i need to add more springs to the unit? i currently have 3 springs in the back.

thanks!

-marbles71


Number of springs seems to correlate with the vintage of the instrument. Five was a common number years ago.

Doc.


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Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:36 pm
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Being facetious - as many as it takes to break the body in half. ;)

The general rule is two for a sensitive vibrato system, three for a normal one, and four (or five) for a very resistant one. On floating bridges (not Fender Synchronized Tremolo briges), only one or two springs can cause the system to be unstable - even bending the strings might pull on the bridge and detune the guitar while bending. I tend to stick with the three springs that are stock. Even my Ibanez JS1000 has three and it provides just the right feel and control to do Satchy things.


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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 7:04 am
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Post subject: Re: how many springs should be on the tremolo unit?
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 7:21 am
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zzdoc wrote:
Number of springs seems to correlate with the vintage of the instrument. Five was a common number years ago.

Doc.


The age of the instrument has nothing to do with how many springs one chooses to use.

More springs makes a stiffer, more stable trem. Fewer springs makes a looser, more easily operated trem.

You don't need to add springs to balance the new strings... the tension will be very close to the strings your replaced, and if you've got the claw tightened in the way yo like it then you're good to go.


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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 9:41 am
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5 :wink:


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Post subject: Re: how many springs should be on the tremolo unit?
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 10:38 am
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Gravity Jim wrote:
zzdoc wrote:
Number of springs seems to correlate with the vintage of the instrument. Five was a common number years ago.

Doc.


The age of the instrument has nothing to do with how many springs one chooses to use.

More springs makes a stiffer, more stable trem. Fewer springs makes a looser, more easily operated trem.

You don't need to add springs to balance the new strings... the tension will be very close to the strings your replaced, and if you've got the claw tightened in the way yo like it then you're good to go.



I'll try to clarify my statement a bit, in that I was attempting to address the substance of that post.

Several weeks ago we discussed the issue of string gauges. The company advised, via email, that 10's were installed on instruments which reflected year in which 10's were stock for that instrument ( eg. '57 RI)although 'modern' instruments are now supplied with '09's which the company deems more neutral, and user friendly.

I have seen the same case for the trem. For example: a '62 RI would be supplied with '10's and five springs and a heavy metal block. This was the case with my '93 Clapton and the CS Clapton-based guitar which they built for me three years ago they 'labelled" a '65 NOS for the purpose of the COA. I did not give them specifics on the bridge assembly other than 'vintage', but it was built as previously described.

Of course, as you correctly point out, the player can make modifications
to suit.

Doc.


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