JP12 Tremolo Question

[Kenji20022]

I have a quick question, on the trem is the trem supposed to be set flat on both posts? Like the bass side post has to be the same exact height as the treble post?

Basically, can I have the posts be a different height? As in have the treble side slightly sunken, and the bass side raised a bit without it affecting the trem's feel? It seems very stiff right now, and it was looser when I first laid hands on it.

Let's right now my guitar has the bass string post 4.5mm above from the body. If I lay my ruler down onto the top wood of the guitar and measure the post height like that. My Treble side is also the same height, rendering my action on the high and low strings generally the same, 1.3mm on both sides. Problem is, when I dive my trem, it seems to come to a halt and I have to push with a bit more force to get it past the point where it stops.

I'll make a video demonstration soon detailing this, answering my question above might remedy it.

 

[Lou]

It does not need to be perfectly level with the body to operate correctly. You can have the treble side a bit lower and be OK. That should not be a factor in the stiff feel of the trem. The stiffness or lack there of is a factor of the string gauge and springs on the trem.

I like to have the trem plate on my JPs to be just a hair higher than the body, and level in both directions. Then I set the relief and finally the action with the saddles.

The action of the trem should be smooth in the diving and pull up directions. If you feel the trem catch you may have a knife edge on one of the posts that is messed up. This can happen if you try to adjust the post height without detuning the strings. There is a lot of pressure on the knife edges when the guitar is in tune.

 

[Kenji20022]

Feels much better already, I downtuned and lowered the higher strings slightly to a little under what it was previously. And I raised the lower strings up a bit. Feels smoother and much more fluid, I was just worried about there being complications. Strange that there's no trem catch when the posts are at an angle, but when they are completely level it is caught pretty badly.

And just one question on the damage to the posts, could that really cause a problem on a month old guitar? It wasn't adjusted like crazy but I did lower the trem posts a bit on two occasions but I can't imagine it breaking down the trem post for a slight adjustment. I took your advice and downtuned the strings, should the trem not even be making contact when I change the posts' heights? Or does it only need less tension?

 

[Soheil]

Great thread...it's my question as well. have a bfr jp6 and I'm not that impressed with my action. when i get the action down from posts on bass and treble side my tremolo feels stiff and does not do the flutters. so i raise it and the axe loses it's playability. the question is, downtuning and setting up the bridge height going to fix it right? I'm going to try this tonight at home. would like to hear feedback from more experienced guys with music man guitars. I have lots of guitars with floyd roses and never had issues with them.

 

[Lou]

Less tension the better, IMO.

 

[Kenji20022]

Got it to a very comfortable height, and not that I expect any of you to figure this out over the internet. But there's a string rattle on the G string, not open, but every fret up. Gets progressively worse as I go up the neck, easy to ignore but definitely annoying if I pick harder or with a bit of pressure. At first I thought it was the nut, but it doesn't occur when the string is open, it might even be the saddle on the bridge I raised the G string sadly slightly since the radius was completely wrong when I got it. the EADBE strings had the 20" radius and the G was significantly lower than the other strings.

Anybody have any clue as to why that rattle is there? Neck is perfectly straight and all the other strings don't have this rattle, it's specific to the G on frets 1-24.

 

[Lou]

Check to make sure all screws are tight. make sure both saddle height screws on the g string are in contact with the base plate. Mute the strings behind the nut. Mute the trem springs. There are all things that can case noise.