1990 Silhouette Schaller tremelo

**ELEVENTY** · 01-05-2012, 03:28 PM

Hello you 'orribly discerning lot...
Does anyone know if/where I could get a blank/custom scratch plate for a 1990 Silhouette?
I find the selector switch is just too close to the strings for certain styles of playing and and as a result I keep flicking it out of neck position with my pinky!

Also has anyone had experience with the Schaller fine tuning trem' from circa 1990 MM's? Opinions/issues?

Cheers.

**DrKev** · 01-06-2012, 02:57 AM

'Ello, 'ello, 'ello and welcome aboard!

There are a very few companies online that do aftermarket pickguards for Music Man guitars but I don't think any of them will do custom cuts on an existing shape. What you could do though is buy the plastic material of your choice and have it cut for your needs. I'm sure you'll find a workshop of some description near you that will be able to accurately cut the slot (which could be the tricky part, I'm guessing). But do be careful with placement of the switch - make sure the switch assembly still fits in the cavity if you move it's position.

And do try your websearches with 'pickguard' rather than our lovely GB&I 'scratch plate'.

Re: the old Schaller trem, I'm sure somebody will be along to help out soon.

P.S. Not-quite-official forum rule says guitar does not exist without pictures!

**ELEVENTY** · 01-06-2012, 04:09 PM

Wot we got 'ere then?! (that's enough now!)

Thanks for your swift reply Doc'!
I will post some pic's asap.
Ha haa! I forgot those American chaps (guys) word things incorrectly...
Aluminium anybody??

My reason for the trem' query is that the arm rattles in its socket. A thin coat of lacquer sorts this but as I like my trem' action this makes it a very short lived fix. Also at full dive the springs catch the wood at the trem block end which initially makes a comical springy twwwang! Although after a while this turns to anguish wondering, "will I get twwwanged in the danglers?!" by as many as 3 highly tensioned springs!

**note to self: MUST REPLACE BACK PLATE (is it even called that??!).**

Sounds like I don't get on with my guitar, but in truth I love it! It's one of the best guitars I have played and I worked in a guitar retailers for 5 years so that's a lot of try outs, including a couple of favourites, '56 blonde, ash strat, '52 LP gold top...
Just wondered if anyone else has had similar issues and if they found a solution?
Failing that, does anyone know if any of the newer MM bridges slot straight in? The Luke looks to have a trem with similar dimensions.

As for the "scratch plate", (we will never surrender!)

I will investigate further...

Pics to follow shortly...