Luke: From 9's to 10's/Springs

[jpoprock]

Hey guys... I love the way my Luke plays. It practically plays itself!!!! I usually use 10's, but I like 9's. The thing is, we tune down to Eb. So, it makes the 9's almost too loosey goosey. Given this, do you think I should change to 10's? I like the 9's though. I just feel that tuning could be unstable with 9's, in Eb.

My ASS has 9's on it, but for some reason it doesn't really feel the same as the Luke. The Luke is the easiest playing guitars I've ever had.

Also, I added a 3rd spring to the Luke, but it made the trem a little too stiff. With two springs on it, it's almost too loose. Does it make a diff WHERE you put the springs? I mean, can I get somewhere inbetween 2 and 3 springs by positioning?

Thanks!
Jason

 

[candid_x]

You can try positioning the springs this way / \ or \ / rather than like l l, or you can screw in the claw a little more.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

I tune to Eb and use 10's. I have 2 springs set up straight on the far ends of the block and i've never had a tuning issue. Stays in tune for days. Try it out.

 

[jpoprock]

Well, for the gig this past weekend, I left the 9's on it. Did just fine. I can't remember now how many springs i have on it. I think 3. I'm having a hard time getting it just right though. The balance between screwing the claw in or out, vs how many springs to to, vs having the right "play" in the bar, vs not having the bridge tilt too far forward is a pain. I don't like it when the bridge pivots too far forward when at reset. I try to keep it as level as possible. But to get the tension sorta loose while still keeping enough on to keep it from pulling forward is hard to do. I think I have it figured out though!

J

 

[francric]

Don't add springs just tighten the claw a bit...............................

 

[jpoprock]

So what... don't have three springs? Leave it to the factory two on the outside edges going straight across? Then just tighten the claw? I've only got about a half inch to go before the claw is 100% tightened.

It seems like the trem on my Luke is MUCH more slinky and nice than the one on my ASS (although my ass IS slinky and nice... thanks for asking!). And I think it only has two springs. Maybe three. But still, it feels diff with three on it, than my ASS does with three.

If I put two springs on the ASS, then the bridge pulls forward on the back. And it's my understanding that it's not good to have the bridge tilted forward very much right? Like 2/8's of and inch or so is about all I like to go.

I somehow want a slinkier trem on the ASS, with the bridge as flush as possible. But I'm not sure I can achieve that because I only have about a half inch left to screw the claw in. And having the claw screwed like all the way in seems to be excessive. Maybe not though. I'm not used to guitars with trems to be honest.

PS... Frantic, you're the one with that SWEET SWEET Luke w/ the sparkle back!! I'm jealous!!!

PMS... I was at the Indy North Guitar Center this weekend... and of course... NO EBMM guitars. Creeps. They never have any.

J

 

[leftyguitarblue]

As far as the luke trem being "forward" I was told by the customer service dept that the trem should be able to lift 1 step on the B string and 1.5 steps on the G. That is how to gauge it.

 

[francric]

So what... don't have three springs? Leave it to the factory two on the outside edges going straight across? Then just tighten the claw? I've only got about a half inch to go before the claw is 100% tightened.

It seems like the trem on my Luke is MUCH more slinky and nice than the one on my ASS (although my ass IS slinky and nice... thanks for asking!). And I think it only has two springs. Maybe three. But still, it feels diff with three on it, than my ASS does with three.

If I put two springs on the ASS, then the bridge pulls forward on the back. And it's my understanding that it's not good to have the bridge tilted forward very much right? Like 2/8's of and inch or so is about all I like to go.

I somehow want a slinkier trem on the ASS, with the bridge as flush as possible. But I'm not sure I can achieve that because I only have about a half inch left to screw the claw in. And having the claw screwed like all the way in seems to be excessive. Maybe not though. I'm not used to guitars with trems to be honest.

PS... Frantic, you're the one with that SWEET SWEET Luke w/ the sparkle back!! I'm jealous!!!

PMS... I was at the Indy North Guitar Center this weekend... and of course... NO EBMM guitars. Creeps. They never have any.

J

I have the two springs going from the outside to the inside /\.........thats' how it came from the factory. I just adjusted the claw a bit when I went 1/2 step flat. I guess you could leave the 3 springs but 2 is enough for the 9's. Just play with it until your where you need to be to float the trem a bit. Be patient...........

P.S. Thanks, but you have a sweet looking Luke too. I almost pulled the trigger on that one..................

 

[NorM]

I think that most of my trems are set with /\ style. I kinda want them to be slinky-er as well. I think I'll try an || arrangment and dejusting the claw a skosh.

 

[jpoprock]

Hmmm.. assuming that Don didn't mess with the Luke (which I'm pretty sure he didn't), both the BFR Luke and the ASS LE came from the factor in a | | set up.

I'll play with it.

Btw... are you saying it should come up a step when I pull back on it at the B string, and 1.5 steps UP on the G string? I wonder why the G would go up a 1/2 step higher than the string next to it?

J

 

[JeffreyB]

The G string goes up further in pitch due to the tension that's on that string. The G string has the least amount of tension on it compared to all the others. be patient, and keep playing with it til you get it right. have you tried 2 and a half springs, and tuned the guitar to C minus?