Metropoulos Forum

I have seen alot of guitarists with weird spring configurations in the tremolo cavity. Some people angle some springs (which make it slightly tighter in that spot) I want to know why someone would want it a bit tighter on one side. Is it better to have the treble strings with less spring force or bass strings?I just kinda need an explanation on how each configuration works. Right now, I have put four springs in. I have a ton of extras laying around.

number 1 is what i have now
number 2, 3, 4 are weird ones that i want to know the purpose of (I already know that angling the springs makes them tighter). but why would someone want lower strings or higher strings to be tighter than others?

I usually use either the configuration you have now, or all five springs straight across, when I use heavy guage strings, or tuning more than a step and a half down.

When I am using my normal 9 guage, I use three springs. Positioned at the three center hooks on the claw and the center and outer most holes on the trem block. I use this configuration for up to a step and a half down using 9's. 10's would use the same configuration as well.

I also use a Floyd style trem which I have set up to float, so not sure if you would be in the same boat as I am. I try to make sure that the knife blade edge of my tremolo sits parallel to the face of the body. Spring tension is set to allow this as well as stay in tune.

I have never seen the other two ways to set up the springs that you drew up so I am at a loss like you are as to why they would be used.

Yup Like Fig. 1 myself. I prefer the steel springs due to their reverb effect as opposed to the metal alloy ones.
String guage is a factor. Floating or Stationary is also a factor. Their are even different sizes that also effect tension.
It's all about the feel though. 2 springs with the claw as close to the body or 3 springs with slack.
Both in which you have your floating at the same fulcrum point but with different tension. Personal preference Baby !
I am conscious of string pull though because I'm looking for the most even pull on my posts so that the bridge returns to absolute zreo...


Jimmie K.

What would the difference in feel be between many springs with the screws far out and few springs with the screws really tight?

i used to go to the hardware store & buy all kinds of springs & bend them fit. tried all kinds of configurations trying to get it stay in tune resting on the body. was never really successful. i float them now, have pretty much no real tuning issues. there is a pretty cool method using a little wooden block to float strat trems. this book is decent:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plan ... Guide.html

Not to hijack here...Necrovore if someone is playing 11's on a non vintage Trem Strat with the bridge flat on the body, non floating, you're recommending all 5 springs straight across? Does spring tension have an effect on guitar string tension?

Devon8822...Noticing you drew only 4 springs.


Jimmie K.

i have three springs in one of my strats and two springs in the other strat.



the one that has 3 springs has another one right down the middle.

both guitars are setup with the stock tremolo resting on the body

i dont like any more than 3 springs and im really liking two!

Mark

hey mark, resting on the body is cool! but, doesn't it drop flat if you bend especially 3rd, 2nd, 6th strings. i always had that problem. tried everything imaginable to counteract this. if i remember right even evh back in the day stated he used this setup & just had to pop the bar all the time to throw it back in tune. of course he got the floyds shortly thereafter, but complained about their brittle sound.

45auto wrote:hey mark, resting on the body is cool! but, doesn't it drop flat if you bend especially 3rd, 2nd, 6th strings. i always had that problem. tried everything imaginable to counteract this. if i remember right even evh back in the day stated he used this setup & just had to pop the bar all the time to throw it back in tune. of course he got the floyds shortly thereafter, but complained about their brittle sound.

perhaps the nut needs some attention. besides just do the evh thing and "pop" that bar. it will come back in tune.

oh man, i got sick of snapping it back in tune in about 1982? got a kramer beretta (with a floyd ) cheap. been floating any non-lockers since...

45auto wrote:oh man, i got sick of snapping it back in tune in about 1982? got a kramer beretta (with a floyd ) cheap. been floating any non-lockers since...

i guess it goes with the territory.

i think your very correct

45auto wrote:i think your very correct

I'm playing on 11's on a non vintage trem Strat with the bridge flat on the body, non floating. There are 3 springs in there now two on the outside, one in the middle. I don't use the trem much, but does anyone have recommendations on springs...such as using 5 springs straight across?