Floating Trem Mouse Pad Mod

[Volt]

Anyone else doing this mod besides me?

Why do I do this mod?
1) It decreases the amount of string bend needed to change the string's pitch compared to the unmodded looser trem spring setup.
2) I noticed that bending a string would lower the pitch of the other strings slightly when the tremolo has the fairly loose spring tension that allows it to float.

This pitch change happens with my Phender guitars also. I modded both my Phenders and both my Music Man guitars. The pitch of the other strings will still change slightly when doing a bend, but it is much reduced.


My mouse pad mod:
Adjust the tension of the (three) trem springs until the trem no longer floats. Then put (wedge) a small piece of ~3/16" thick by ~1 1/2" wide by ~1" deep mouse pad between the trem block and the guitar, under the middle spring. This floats the trem slightly.


Cons:
1) The modded trem requires more force than before to operate, but it's not too bad IMO.
2) Pitch up-bend is still possible but the maximum pitch change is much less than unmodded.

Anyone have a better or alternate way of increasing the tremolo spring tension while still allowing it to float?

 

[whitestrat]

Anyone have a better or alternate way of increasing the tremolo spring tension while still allowing it to float?

erm... adding extra springs?

 

[Mikey]

Inserting extra spring(s) would do the same.
If you set up your trem floating there will be an equilibrium between the force of the strings and the force of the springs, no matter how many springs are inserted. Let's call this our zero level. If you move the bridge away from this zero level you have to apply a force according to F = c * delta x. Whereas delta x is the way you elongate the springs and c is the stiffness of the springs. If you put in more springs (parallel) the stiffness will increase. So according to the laws of physics you do just the same, i.e. increasing the stiffness of the tremolo springs, by inserting your elastic mousepad as some kind of additional and parallel attached spring.

 

[Spudmurphy]

A small change to spring tension can be achieved by mounting the springs
/ I \
/ I \
/ I \

instead of

I I I
I I I
I I I

 

[Smellybum]

I'm slightly low tech in this department,

Take your fresh pack of slinkys remove the plastic wraper fold it in half and again and again and again - now wedge under trem!

 

[Volt]

Whitestrat and Mickey:

Adding too many springs overcomes the pull of the strings and the tremolo will act like a fixed trem and will now only be able to lower pitch.

Physics schmysics, I slept at a Holiday Inn Xpress the other night. lol

 

[Mikey]

Well, no Sir. Not if you adjust the trem claw (loose) so that the trem is floating again.
Of course, you can only put in that much springs that you are still able to adjust the trem floating. But that should work.