Effect of number of trem springs on sound and sustain?!

[V_S]

Just added a fourth spring to the tremolo of my JP and my impression is that it now sounds a little bit chunkier with more sustain. Is this just observation just subjective or did anybody have similar results adding trem springs.
I just ordered a Tremolno so that I can do dropped D tunings without hazzle, but now I wonder if it would be better soundwise adding the fifth spring instead.
Any input is wellcome.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Clapton likes using trem Strats (blocked) for the reason you have stated.

 

[robelinda2]

I used to think that, until I bought a hardtail pinkburst AL, it sustained for much longer than any trem guitar I owned, killer axe, light and powerful.

 

[TNT]

The springs themselves (whether many or few) would have "nothing" to do with sustain or sound (except for spring resonation).

E,g, if you have an Axis and "one" spring brings the trem plate to rest in contact with the body, than that is the sustain you will get. Regardless of whether you put two more springs on, it will still ONLY rest on the body the same way.

The additional springs will however affect the way "the trem bar is played and raised" i.e., loose or tight.


A floating trem is the same principle (without the body) however, the more springs would bring in more trem plate "stability", assisting in returning to rest at the same invisible point even after trem use.

 

[Volt]

Just added a fourth spring to the tremolo of my JP and my impression is that it now sounds a little bit chunkier with more sustain. Is this just observation just subjective or did anybody have similar results adding trem springs.
I just ordered a Tremolno so that I can do dropped D tunings without hazzle, but now I wonder if it would be better soundwise adding the fifth spring instead.
Any input is wellcome.

Agreed, the additional springs help the sustain. Three springs have good enough sustain for my liking - as the Music Man guitars have inherently better sustain than any of my other vibrato-capable guitars.

 

[V_S]

@ Spudmurphy and Rob:
But I like to have at least one guitar with a trem. For more sustain there's the Silo hardtail and Les Paul.

@TNT:
I've spent some time thinking about that observation and looking at it with a physical point of view I think you're probably wrong. One spring is much looser and will absorb more energy. It's like the difference riding a bike on beach and on a street. The sand will absorb much more of your energy and it's much harder to get forward.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I dunno about saying that the "springs do nothing to the sound".

Guitars that have a trem and 3 - 5 springs do seem to have a different resonance.
Eric Johnsone uses 5 and as I say - Clapton preferred trem equipped Strats which were blocked off.

I've heard hardtails that ring out I've also heard hardtails that don't -a lot is all down to the wood.
My good mate who is a Luthier of over 30 years swears by the lightest of swamp ash. He recons that of all the Teles that have crossed his workbench, the best sounding were lightweight swamp ash. There again he remembers the light weight mahogany Tele he built me was a good un too!

My LEAL has great dark undertones and great sustain (for MM90 p/u's) and that's a trem guitar.

I guess we'll never be able to prove this unless someone has a hardtail that they don't mind routing out for a trem ?

 

[Spudmurphy]

@ Spudmurphy and Rob:
But I like to have at least one guitar with a trem. For more sustain there's the Silo hardtail and Les Paul.

I got all the sustain I'll ever need with my 3 pick up Les Paul - just don't use it anymore.

I use the Trem very infrequently but it's there when I want it.

 

[candid_x]

OT but, hardtail 25.5" scale S-style guitars I've owned didn't really open or fatten up until cranked to gigging volumes. At lower volumes I've gotten more out of my trem guitars. No idea if this is true across the board, just my limited experience. First thing I do with a trem is load it up with springs. I almost passed on my first Silo Special because I was set on a hardtail, but I've had no regrets with either of my trem'd Specials.

I do think it would logically matter if the trem bridge were held flush and tight to the body with multiple springs, as opposed to the one or two spring theory. I think a lot is going to depend on the mass of the bridge, as to how well/long it will sustain, especially if it's floating. (edit: case in point - ever examine the mass of a floating G&L bridge? talk about boat anchor. A Floyd is something of a beast too, no?)

As I see it, everything is a compromise. You just choose the imperfections that work in your favor.

 

[robelinda2]

Yep with my old Pink AL it sounded much better at gigging volumes, I almost couldnt believe the difference!

 

[V_S]

Thaks for allt he input. ATM I'll leave it with 4 springs and will install the tremolno as soon as it arrives.