N00b Question About Troubled Strat Bridge.

ssss

Posting Guidelines

GMC Forum > Discussion Boards > GEAR & PRODUCTION

N00b Question About Troubled Strat Bridge.

Deadline View Member Profile	Jul 19 2009, 06:57 PM
Jul 19 2009, 06:57 PM	GMC:er Posts: 36 Joined: 16-October 08 From: Bergen Punk Rock City, Norway	My brother bought an American Stratocaster a couple of years ago, but unfortunately he never started to play on it. He prefers keyboards and stuff, so I asked to borrow this guitar for a while. Problem is, there is some issue with the bridge. It seems way to tilted (pic 1). Being a Gibson man myself, I'm just asking: To fix this, is it just a matter of tighting the screws I've highlighted in pic 2, or is there another thing I should do before I eventually hand it to a pro repairer? Cheers in advance! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

skennington View Member Profile	Jul 19 2009, 07:04 PM
Jul 19 2009, 07:04 PM	Learning Roadie - Never Give Up - Moderator Posts: 7.461 Joined: 25-November 07 From: Charlotte,NC USA	Kinda hard to tell but looks like there is no tension on the springs and a gap between the plate and the screw heads? If this is the case, the screws definitely need to be tightened. If not, release all the string tension and see if the bridge lays down. If it does, I would re-tune it but without over winding each string. Let us know how it goes. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- *Show Off The Lessons You Have Learned Here On The REC Board And Receive Valuable Feedback from Our Instructors!* *Check Out The Virtual Bands* *Want To Join One, Or Maybe Form Your Own?*

JVM View Member Profile	Jul 19 2009, 07:18 PM
Jul 19 2009, 07:18 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 2.878 Joined: 2-June 07 From: Raleigh-Durham, NC	It looks like the trem has been set up to raise pitch. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Gear: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Gibson '67 RI Flying V, Mesa Boogie F-30 112 combo, crazy pedals.

Deadline View Member Profile	Jul 19 2009, 07:21 PM
Jul 19 2009, 07:21 PM	GMC:er Posts: 36 Joined: 16-October 08 From: Bergen Punk Rock City, Norway	Thanks for the reply mate! There _is_ tension on the springs, and even though you can't see it on the pic (2, that is), the screws are tightened and there is no gap between plate and screwheads. I tried to loosen the strings AND tighten the springs after I took the pic, but the bridge won't move at all. The only way I can angle the bridge towards the guitar body, is by forcing it down by hand. Hmmm... what to do what to do... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

skennington View Member Profile	Jul 19 2009, 07:27 PM
Jul 19 2009, 07:27 PM	Learning Roadie - Never Give Up - Moderator Posts: 7.461 Joined: 25-November 07 From: Charlotte,NC USA	Even if you take the strings completely off, the bridge still won't go down? Is there a block in the cavity by any chance? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- *Show Off The Lessons You Have Learned Here On The REC Board And Receive Valuable Feedback from Our Instructors!* *Check Out The Virtual Bands* *Want To Join One, Or Maybe Form Your Own?*

Deadline View Member Profile	Jul 19 2009, 07:34 PM
Jul 19 2009, 07:34 PM	GMC:er Posts: 36 Joined: 16-October 08 From: Bergen Punk Rock City, Norway	QUOTE (skennington @ Jul 19 2009, 07:27 PM) Even if you take the strings completely off, the bridge still won't go down? Is there a block in the cavity by any chance? No, and no. None of the above. I've googled the topic a little, and it seems that the only way to fix this is to get two extra springs (the Strat has room for five), and then tighten the plate like crazy. Will keep you updated, and again; really appreciate you both took your time to answer me! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

skennington View Member Profile	Jul 19 2009, 07:44 PM
Jul 19 2009, 07:44 PM	Learning Roadie - Never Give Up - Moderator Posts: 7.461 Joined: 25-November 07 From: Charlotte,NC USA	Did a quick google search myself and that does seem to be the case. I'm use to FR's but thought they would act the same.. And your quite welcome man. Good luck! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- *Show Off The Lessons You Have Learned Here On The REC Board And Receive Valuable Feedback from Our Instructors!* *Check Out The Virtual Bands* *Want To Join One, Or Maybe Form Your Own?*

Sensible Jones View Member Profile	Jul 20 2009, 12:07 PM
Jul 20 2009, 12:07 PM	GMC:er Posts: 7.277 Joined: 2-January 09 From: London-ish. UK.	Loosen the strings and tighten the Trem Claw right up, then re-tune and see if it lifts again, if it does you need to add another spring or two. If it doesn't then you can slowly loosen the Trem Claw until you get an even tension between the Springs and Strings. (When you use the Tremelo it returns to it's original position.) What gauge strings are you using? Lighter strings will also help! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Sensible Jones: Jul 20 2009, 12:09 PM -------------------- I'd rather have a full Bottle in front of me than a full Frontal Lobotomy!!

sted View Member Profile	Jul 20 2009, 12:14 PM
Jul 20 2009, 12:14 PM	Learning Rock Star Posts: 1.758 Joined: 13-April 08 From: Merseyside, UK	yeah, the springs look stratched a bit there, might be worth just blocking the whole trem off. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

jdriver View Member Profile	Jul 20 2009, 04:18 PM
Jul 20 2009, 04:18 PM	GMC:er Posts: 484 Joined: 25-May 08 From: Southwest USA	This is not normal. 3 springs is all you need for 0.10 gauge strings or less. It's unlikely the springs are worn out. I have mine set up just the opposite, that is, bridge all the way down, and it looks like this. As you can see, my claw screws are way up there. And yes, I have a different tremolo block, thanks for asking. Loosen the strings, tighten the springs, tune up, rinse and repeat until the bridge is to specs (1/8th inch gap at the back) or how you want it. You're probably going to want to put all new strings on when you get the springs set correctly. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "I dreamed a lot when I was younger.. I'm older now but still I hunger For some understanding. There's no understanding, now. Was there ever? ...Joe Puerta (Ambrosia)... Finally got a YouTube page going.

Deadline View Member Profile	Jul 20 2009, 08:01 PM
Jul 20 2009, 08:01 PM	GMC:er Posts: 36 Joined: 16-October 08 From: Bergen Punk Rock City, Norway	Cheers for the replies gentlemen! Had a small chat with my brother, and it seems that he has tightened the strings way to much (i.e. tuned probably from a to a ). I didn't found out, cause i loosened all the strings when i got the guitar. Changed strings to ernie ball slinky .10's, tuned them properly and tightened the claw a little. Voilá, everything is fine and dandy. Got it all the way down now, because i never use the whammy bar anyway. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

« Next Oldest · GEAR & PRODUCTION · Next Newest »

Reply to this topic

Start new topic

1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)

0 Members:

Blues Lick Of The Day!

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

Lo-Fi Version

Time is now: 25th April 2024 - 12:48 AM