JP6 Trem issue? (Video)

[andyjanson]

Hi there! Just got a gorgeous JP6 PDN Neptune Blue the other day which I absolutely adore; best guitar I've ever played. I've got an issue with the tremolo though, so I thought I'd ask for some advice here. Basically, it's pretty stiff (nearly impossible to flutter) and makes a really bad creaking noise every time I touch it. In addition to this I'm having some tuning issues whenever I use the trem - I had it set up in C# standard with 11-56 strings and in all other aspects it plays wonderfully and holds tune perfectly.

Here is a video of the problem:

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[DrKev]

Welcome to the forum, Andy!

Beautiful guitar but I think it will need a little work with a guitar tech. Pertrucci uses 9-42 or 10-46 gauge strings and the nut is cut at the factory for those strings, so your 11 - 56 strings are probably too big for the nut slots and the strings are going to bind there, which will cause no end of squeaking and tuning problems. A good guitar tech will be able to widen the nut slots for you and solve your problems.

DO call Strings & Things, the UK EBMM distributors and ask their advice, or failing that, get in touch with EBMM directly (see the links in my signature under this post).

Ernie Ball Musicman - UK Warranty Registration

I see from your YT channel you're based in Berkshire. Can any of the UK forumites recommend a good tech?

 

[Rachmaninoff]

As for the tuning stability, probably what DrKev said, you'll need the nut slots widened.

As for the stifness, how many springs you're using? Can you post a pic of the back of the guitar? Maybe the knife edges of the trem are not smooth enough?

 

[Spudmurphy]

also a small drop of wd 40 applied to the trem pivot points and the trem arm itself where it engages in the trem block will lead you in the right direction

 

[andyjanson]

Welcome to the forum, Andy!

Beautiful guitar but I think it will need a little work with a guitar tech. Pertrucci uses 9-42 or 10-46 gauge strings and the nut is cut at the factory for those strings, so your 11 - 56 strings are probably too big for the nut slots and the strings are going to bind there, which will cause no end of squeaking and tuning problems. A good guitar tech will be able to widen the nut slots for you and solve your problems.

DO call Strings & Things, the UK EBMM distributors and ask their advice, or failing that, get in touch with EBMM directly (see the links in my signature under this post).

Ernie Ball Musicman - UK Warranty Registration

I see from your YT channel you're based in Berkshire. Can any of the UK forumites recommend a good tech?

Thanks! I'll look into this, but would you mind explaining how the nut slots create the squeaking at the bridge? I'm not good with this kind of thing.

As for the tuning stability, probably what DrKev said, you'll need the nut slots widened.

As for the stifness, how many springs you're using? Can you post a pic of the back of the guitar? Maybe the knife edges of the trem are not smooth enough?

There are 3 springs as far as I can see.

also a small drop of wd 40 applied to the trem pivot points and the trem arm itself where it engages in the trem block will lead you in the right direction

Thanks, I have some planet waves lube knocking around somewhere, I'll give it a shot