How Many Springs Do You Use?

[InkedLester]

Well after talking with my luthier the other day, he told me that any setup involving more than 3 springs is bad for the guitar and bad for the tone. His long explanation made really good sense. Also, going heavier than 10s on a strat or tele does nothing to improve tone and chokes the guitar and puts undo stress on it. Makes sense to me. After some experimenting I found he was right. I"ll stick to 10s and 3 springs to let my babies sing!

 

[InkedLester]

Oh, and I"ve found you can deck the bridge with 3 just as easy as more. I use Raw Vintage springs which are thicker than stock springs and give more tone and sustain.

 

[jcsk8]

Okay - why is the claw at an angle?

Heavier strings have more pull. And maybe this:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVQCaQxdSH0]Setting up your floating bridge with Carl Verheyen "Balanced Bridge" strings - YouTube[/ame]

 

[makoshark]

I use 3 springs on my jv strats, but on my Katana and own builds i am now hooked on Hipshot's Tremsetter. Once you understand it and how to set it up, it is extremely stable with heavy trem use. Always returns the trem to its dead center. If a string breaks, the rest stay in tune. You can set it up stiff/heavy or back it off to get the feel you like. I guess its a bit like a cars adjustable shock absorber ! If you like to do the Satriani/Vai/Morello gargle stuff, it will not be for you as it is too stable and quick to center. A small hole sometimes has to be drilled in the forward edge of rout to accomodate the movement of the tremsetter, so it is not just a 'throw it in' mod. Also fit anti vibration springs now to stop that annoying resonance you sometimes get.

 

[The Archer]

Heavier strings have more pull. And maybe this:
Setting up your floating bridge with Carl Verheyen "Balanced Bridge" strings - YouTube

that is how I set mine up. I also use the Verheyen strings on my strats....the balance is really nice

 

[Steven]

Three on my guitars, however I keep it blocked, don't like throwing them even slightly out of tune.

 

[pmonk]

Just put on some DR 11. Kept 3 springs but had to move the claw back a bit and tried the right angle. So far sounds good and stays in tune. I just starting using the tremolo and use it for slight vibrato.

 

[AngryHatter]

Well after talking with my luthier the other day, he told me that any setup involving more than 3 springs is bad for the guitar and bad for the tone. His long explanation made really good sense. Also, going heavier than 10s on a strat or tele does nothing to improve tone and chokes the guitar and puts undo stress on it. Makes sense to me. After some experimenting I found he was right. I"ll stick to 10s and 3 springs to let my babies sing!

Ask him why the vintage springs has less tension?
And all they did was apply the same pressure using fewer steel parts - cost savings.

Raw Vintage uses far less tension on each spring. Much smoother action when teamed with the right arm. The arm is an incredibly important aspect.

 

[AngryHatter]

Heavier strings have more pull. And maybe this:
Setting up your floating bridge with Carl Verheyen "Balanced Bridge" strings - YouTube

So you did the vector analysis?

I would be willing to bet the difference between a high e and a low e - at the bottom of the tremolo block would be so close as to be meaningless.
I would be interested in pull in ft/lbs figures at the claw.

Things that seem to make sense explained by people not in the field do very little for me.

 

[The Archer]

Heavier strings have more pull. And maybe this:
Setting up your floating bridge with Carl Verheyen "Balanced Bridge" strings - YouTube

That is how I have been doing it for years...but with less of an angle on the claw. the bass side of the claw is just a teeny bit further back on most of my guitars. I also dont like the 9-12-16 gauge treble string setup. I like the normal 9-11-16 progression....I think the tension is more even that way. I also replace the 36 with a 37 like Carl does.

 

[SteveGangi]

I use 3 springs, a set of 10's, and have it set to float. Funny, because I almost never use the vibrato anyway.



But if I ever want to, it's there.

 

[TheWelder]

I use 3 -

I just recently set up the Strat to use the vibrato bar (or Tremolo, as Fender calls it). I had it blocked off for several years but decided to use it again and it has been a lot of fun - trying my best to get some Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler tones.

I'm surprised that "I don't know, I've never taken the backplate off' is even an option on the poll. Isn't it absolutely mandatory to remove the backplate from your Strat??

 

[Alligatorbling]

5 springs with the bridge drawn flush. i run jump rope strings

 

[gibsonguitar1988]

5 with the trem decked, but not blocked. Cover off for more resonance especially against my body.

 

[e44crowe]

I use three like this /|\

No back cover. No reason really, it's just off.

Bridge flush to the body but trem is usable.

Strung up with 10s.

 

[AngryHatter]

The springs add to harmonics, but what makes the tremolo usable is the arm.
The Callaham 64 arm is to.die.for.
It has the perfect twist, the best leverage to move the bridge, smoothest trem ever.

Find one that fits your hand and allows for an effortless use of the block. If you fight the block to get it to move, change the arm.

 

[lineboss58]

I use five springs, with the tension claw screws as far in as they will go. This virtually locks the bridge in place, without having to fit a wood block as clapton does. I find i get a lot more tuning stability, especially when string bending.

 

[Cozmik Cowboy]

Well after talking with my luthier the other day, he told me that any setup involving more than 3 springs is bad for the guitar and bad for the tone. His long explanation made really good sense. Also, going heavier than 10s on a strat or tele does nothing to improve tone and chokes the guitar and puts undo stress on it. Makes sense to me. After some experimenting I found he was right. I"ll stick to 10s and 3 springs to let my babies sing!

Interesting, as they come stock with 5 - or at least used to; haven't looked inside a new one in a couple decades - and were developed before anything as skinny as a .010 was made........

 

[Cozmik Cowboy]

Heavier strings have more pull. And maybe this:
Setting up your floating bridge with Carl Verheyen "Balanced Bridge" strings - YouTube

Here's a more indepth look; trem-setup content starts about 09:30:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmW0qT5UeKs]How to set up your Fender Stratocaster with Kip Bradford - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Kerry_King]

I don't use my strat whammy so I have 5 springs and a wooden block in there. No back plates ever either.