Question How do you set your tremolo?

[spikei]

Hi, Just been restringing my axis super sport and naturally the trem needed adjusting. On my strat i set the the trem plate just raised off the body about 2 to 3 mm so in can raise the pitch or lower/dive. So i thought i would do the same with the axis. But i found the tone changed and the feel of the guitar wasnt as good the sound was some what duller, so i tightened up the trem spring screws and set the plate flush with the body again as it was. The tone came back and the feel of the guitar, I feel the strings resonate much more through the body of the guitar, ok so i lose being able to raise the pitch with the trem but the sound and feel is so much better. so i just wondered if any body else feels the same and do musicman recommend the trem set flat to the body?
On a strat, Fender recommend a gap between body and trem.
Thanks

 

[Spudmurphy]

The supersport comes from the factory with the trem set flush to the body.
i've experimented with different set ups on the trem and have one of my Als set floating.
I'm going to adjust it so that the trem is flush because i feel that the guitar will play better for me - along with lots of guitarists I rest my palm on the saddles to mute and this causes the guitar to go out of pitch.

The trem can adjust either way - float or flush - it's just down to you at the end of the day whether the floating trem meets all your requirements

 

[bbake1]

A few threads on this. You can try the Verheyen set up for floaters. I am back to flush and in contact with the body.

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/46880-floating-tremolo-stability.html

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/46427-tremolo-setup.html

 

[Roubster]

I have mine floating on my Silo Special to where I can raise the pitch a whole step on the G string. I experimented quite a few times even with different number of springs...but honestly when it is amplified there is not a considerable amount of difference. I do think that having the whole trem on the body does tend to resonate better...but I think its mostly noticeable unplugged. It's really a matter of preference and there are certain trade offs...I leave it floating because I like the natural vibrato instead of just pushing down on the trem. But then again, my Y2D hardtail is the most resonant guitar I have played.

 

[DrKev]

I can't stand the "Verheyen setup" idea. I think it over-complicates things and from the point of view of physics is just plain wrong. (Verheyen is a better player than I'll ever be and he is well meaning but I have a PhD in physics and hate to see people confused and wasting time on things that will work but are just not necessary). Music Man trems are the best in the business. They will stay perfectly well in tune without fecking around with unnecessary angles on the spring claw.

On the Luke the trem is set floating. On other EBMMs it's factory set to be flush. Flush is often easier for people to deal with if only because breaking a string avoids tuning problems. The 'feel' changes a little too and there is the tonal difference that some people will notice. Honestly, just try it floating for a week and then set flush again for a week and see what you prefer. There is no right or wrong only what works best for you.

In some ways setting up your guitar is as much a personal exploration and compromise as choosing the right set of strings. As a wise man once said, "suck it and see".

 

[Spudmurphy]

Well when I saw the video showing the V way of trem set up I thought what the hell!!!
However when you watch him demonstrate the set up in his style of playing it makes so much sense to him and I have tried this set up on my JP6. It's quick and easy to do as long as you know the rules of guitar set up. If you try it and you don't like it or will never use it's capabilities then chalk it down to experience and try a set up that meets your requirements. As I say I have also tried setting one of my Als floating - it does things I like, but also has it's nuances which I don't like. Set up is down to your requirements. The laws of physics dictate that there are only certain things you can do with a trem.