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Post subject: small adjustment/ big change
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:46 pm
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I recently loosened my tremolo bridge ( two point tremolo ) just a hair and my guitar now has a richer sound. The strings seem to resonate much better. Before I had the bridge as tight as it would go. Notes now ring out much longer. Very happy with a little tweak.


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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:24 pm
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What did you loosen?

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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:26 pm
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Is he talking about the spring claw? 'Course, there's consequences to that...


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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:28 pm
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I don't know, that's why I asked.

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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:31 pm
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I'm glad you did. Tell us the answer, goll...


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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:01 pm
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I was wondering the same thing, but he seemed so happy with his results I didn't bother bringing it up.

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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:22 pm
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sorry about long delay in responding. On the two point tremolo you have two set screws. All I did was loosen both just a bit. Thats it. Big change in sound though.


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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:43 pm
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goll wrote:
sorry about long delay in responding. On the two point tremolo you have two set screws. All I did was loosen both just a bit. Thats it. Big change in sound though.


Wait...you loosened the 2 screws that hold the bridge to the body? Do you realise the amount of tension on those screws? You have the strings pulling one way and the trem block pulling the other(see those large springs inside your guitar, they're pulling on those screws). What holds it all together is those two screws. What's going to happen now is that over time those screws are going to enlarge the hole, potentially ripping the bridge right off the body. Those aren't adjustment screws, they need to stay tight.

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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:42 pm
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Just bumping this up in case he comes back. I think he needs to see this, explain himself better.

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Or is that a sears poncho?
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:51 pm
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There must be some room for adjustment. I have a Fender American Deluxe and I just received a Squier Deluxe today, I tightened down both for the purpose of lowering action. When I did that, I probably turned the screws on both guitars two full turns, so I think there is room to adjust without jeopardizing pulling off the bridge.

As for the sound or tone difference, there probably is some truth to that.

Both subject are just IMHO and I am certainly open to hearing disagreement to what I am stating.


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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:59 am
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I agree with CryingStrat. Both bridge screws should remain tight, if you need the bridge to float more just remove a spring.


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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:47 am
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Those two posts do two things: one is to allow the bridge to pivot (rock) and the second is to coarse adjust the overall bridge plate height (and thus the height of the bridge saddles). Fine adjustments of strings' height are done using the saddles' screws. You should have no problem is turning/adjusting either, although what you MAY do is take the action lower (which may result in string rattle) or higher, which will result in the string vibrating more freely (no rattle) but may bee too high for playing comfort.
The trick is to get it as low as possible for easy playing, but high enough for the strings to do their stuff without interference from the frets.
It takes a while, but the results can often be very noticeable.
....and then there's neck relief, adjusted by the truss rod...... But don't touch that unless you really know what you're doing!


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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:27 pm
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Ceri wrote:
Is he talking about the spring claw? 'Course, there's consequences to that...

I am just learning here... What are "consenquences"?


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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:57 am
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01GT eibach wrote:
Ceri wrote:
Is he talking about the spring claw? 'Course, there's consequences to that...

I am just learning here... What are "consenquences"?


It's always smart to ask.

So: the tremolo (vibrato) bridge exactly balances the considerable tension of the strings with an identical tension exerted by the springs at the back, under that plastic cover. At their other end those springs are attached to that little claw, which in turn is joined to the woodwork by two screws.

Now if you drive those screws further in or let them out you are going to change the whole balance of the system, which will make the rear of the bridge come down nearer the front of the guitar, or rise away from it, respectively. This in turn will upset the intonation, necessitating adjustment of the saddles on the bridge backwards or forwards to correct the tuning, and perhaps higher or lower to reset the action (height of the strings above the frets).

In other words, change one bit of the system and it has knock-on consequences elsewhere. Getting this stuff right is a major part of "setting up" the guitar. For more info, have a careful read of this much cited page:

http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster.php

Cheers - C


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