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Post subject: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:22 am
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Yesterday I restrung my 57 AVRI strat. The last time I restrung it I adjusted the trem so that it sat flush with the body. After restringing yesterday with the exact same string brand and gauge, now the bridge plate sits up off the body. I seldom use the trem, but had it so I could push it down (forward) and it moved nice and returned to pitch and stayed in tune well. I had the 4 inside screws on the front of the bridge plate loosened a little bit like it said in the Fender How-TO guide. So I tried adjusting the trem claw strings to help pull the bridge down flush to the body. I already added 2 extra trem springs from last time for a total of 5 and was happy how the guitar sounded and played. I've adjusted the trem claw springs and retuned so many times its frustrating. best i can get is the bridge just slightly raised up off the body. But then the trem claw springs are almost screwed all the way in and it just doesn't seem right. Also the trem arm is very hard to move and doesn't hold tune. What could I do to kind of start over in my adjustments? I'm in no way an expert but i've adjusted the trem on this strat and my other strats before with no trouble at all. Not sure what I did wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:41 am
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Hi jtune77: I'm not sure what you've done wrong either. Mechanically, the Strat bridge works like a see-saw fulcrum: tension on one side (the strings) exactly equals tension on the other (the claw springs). So if it's raised at the back of the bridge plate and you want it flush you simply drive in the claw screws to raise the tension that side of the equation till the back comes down.

...As you know, and as you've done.

If you've driven the screws most of the way in, and you have all five springs installed, then all I can think is that you must have some total monster strings on there to pull the bridge up. Are you playing a set of 15s or something? (!!!)

A-a-anyway. Two possibilities.

First, you simply have to go on tightening the screws on the trem claw till the bridge comes down flush to the body. Simple as that. If that means taking the claw all the way to the end of the cavity, so be it.

Second, not all trem springs are created equal, so if yours are the lighter sort you could try installing some with a higher tension to get the job done that way. According to the following page, the black springs are the softest, chrome next and zinc the most powerful:

http://soundlogic-usa.com/c41.html

My own experience is that the black springs are indeed lighter (which I like), so if that's what you're using try some different ones.

Options...

Good luck - C

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Post subject: Re: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:48 am
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I use XL 10's on it. On Fender's how to guide it states to pull the bridge back flush with the body using the trem arm. Mine won't pull back. It's not raised up much but it feels like im gonna bend or break something if i try forcing it back. Like I said, I have the 2 claw springs run almost all the way in and its still not sitting flush.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:02 am
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The trem springs im using are the extra ones that came with the guitar. Fender vintage style. Came in the case candy and are the same as the 3 that came on the guitar. This is like the 4th set of strings since I bought it and the only time this has happened. I'd be okay with the trem claw screws being run in all the way but like i said the trem feels like im having to force it and doesn't return to pitch at all. If I had a local guitar shop that did setups it would be there already. Unfortunately we don't so i've been battling it for hours. thanks for the quick response.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:18 am
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jtune77 wrote:
I use XL 10's on it.

Well, nuttin' unusual about that, then. I'm mystified!


jtune77 wrote:
The trem springs im using are the extra ones that came with the guitar. Fender vintage style. Came in the case candy and are the same as the 3 that came on the guitar.

Are they the silver or the black sort? If black, you could try a set of silver ones for more tension.

But you really shouldn't need to. You should be able to deck the bridge with just three springs and the claw nowhere near driven all the way in.

It's very odd and I have no explanation for what's going on.

Sorry not to be more help. Maybe someone else has an insight?

Good luck - C

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Post subject: Re: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:42 pm
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Sound like the 6 bridge screws are to tight.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:31 pm
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That did it, thanks SNick! I had the center 4 raised slightly and the outer 2 flush with the bridge plate but slightly overtightened. I backed them each off 1/2 a turn or so and the back of the bridge plate sat right down on the body. I guess the Fender How-To guide should state to adjust the screws down, not necessarily tighten them. I rarely use the tremolo. I tried it a few times and after a few divebombs, the tuning goes sharp. Normal? To get the guitar to return to proper pitch or tune does the bridge have to be floating? Or would I need to do the back and forth adjustments between the claw spring screws and rechecking tuning to fine tune this? At any rate thanks for the replies from everyone.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Strat Bridge Help!!
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:59 am
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jtune77 wrote:
(1) I rarely use the tremolo. I tried it a few times and after a few divebombs, the tuning goes sharp. Normal? (2) To get the guitar to return to proper pitch or tune does the bridge have to be floating? (3) Or would I need to do the back and forth adjustments between the claw spring screws and rechecking tuning to fine tune this?

1. See answers above -> conclusion: your trem springs are too tight.
(BTW, the vintage tremolo is really not designed for dive bombs...)
2. No, you can deck it flat against the body, too (thus you have only one way trem function).
3. I humbly suggest one more total setup to get it right.


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