Question Should I take one spring off from the back of the guitar?

[Mephistofes]

So I changed from 0.10's strings to 0.09's on my JPX a while back and just now I began to wonder if I should take one spring off from the back instead of using 3 of them? The 0.10 strings have 3 normally, so wouldn't that mean that 2 of them would match the tension of the 0.09's? Does it make any difference at all? I'm about to adjust the bridge again as I noticed that it wasn't completely even with the body.

On another note, is the small hole below the spring holes for tightening the tremolo arm? I know you can adjust it from the back of the bridge as well, but it would be easier to adjust from the back of the guitar as you don't have to push down the bar whilst you adjust it.

 

[Roubster]

IF you take out the spring it wont really balance it out and leave it in the flat position like it is supposed to be. You will still have to adjust the trem claw accordingly to compensate for the tension between the springs and the string gauge. You can leave 3 springs in there with 9s as well, but the same thing...you will have to adjust the trem claw...ie screw it out for less tension so that the trem can move forward. Do it a little bit at a time and tune to pitch every time.

 

[five7]

I always use 4 to 5 springs. 3 springs or less and everytime you bend a string, you will need to push farther to compensate for the bridge moving. Put 4 springs in and you can bend like you have a stationary bridge. Plus when you use the whammy there will be a greater chance it stays in tune.

 

[Mephistofes]

IF you take out the spring it wont really balance it out and leave it in the flat position like it is supposed to be. You will still have to adjust the trem claw accordingly to compensate for the tension between the springs and the string gauge. You can leave 3 springs in there with 9s as well, but the same thing...you will have to adjust the trem claw...ie screw it out for less tension so that the trem can move forward. Do it a little bit at a time and tune to pitch every time.

I thought so too, and now that I think of it, it really wouldn't help as the bridge would have more tension on it if you use the whammy bar and would require more strength to move, which I am wanting to get rid of in the first place.

I always use 4 to 5 springs. 3 springs or less and everytime you bend a string, you will need to push farther to compensate for the bridge moving. Put 4 springs in and you can bend like you have a stationary bridge. Plus when you use the whammy there will be a greater chance it stays in tune.

Interesting. So it's really the other way round. How didn't I think of it? This might fix two problems for me: #1 I use the tremolo arm quite a bit and it might be the problem why the guitar starts to go a bit off-tune after a session of playing. If I don't use it, it stays nicely in tune. Before I changed to 0.09's, it stayed in tune really well even with the use of the trem arm. #2 When I changed to 0.09's, I noticed that it was harder to move the whammy bar. 4 Springs might relieve some tension on it.

Very helpful posts, guys. Thanks.

 

[Roubster]

Actually more springs will produce MORE tension and it will feel stiffer to use the trem. I just got a LUKE and it has TWO (2) springs with 9s on it. It's not the JP system, but it is set up to float and very similar two pivot design. The trem operates like a hot knife through butter. The tuning is also very stable...but I suggest for you to lube the nut slots with some graphite, chapstick, nut sauce (whatever). Stretching the strings and fine tuning will work wonders. Of course if you do dive bombs constantly or crazy shinanigans like Satch or Vai, it will go out of tune a bit.

 

[Mephistofes]

Actually more springs will produce MORE tension and it will feel stiffer to use the trem. I just got a LUKE and it has TWO (2) springs with 9s on it. It's not the JP system, but it is set up to float and very similar two pivot design. The trem operates like a hot knife through butter. The tuning is also very stable...but I suggest for you to lube the nut slots with some graphite, chapstick, nut sauce (whatever). Stretching the strings and fine tuning will work wonders. Of course if you do dive bombs constantly or crazy shinanigans like Satch or Vai, it will go out of tune a bit.

Now I'm a bit confused... I know how to adjust the bridge, that's not a problem. The problem is that I want less tension, so it'll be easier to move the trem arm. I guess I understood 57fenderjazz's reply wrong. Based on your answers, more springs: More stable tuning, but stiffer to move the trem arm. Less springs: Easier to move the tremolo arm, not as stable tuning. It's weird as I think the guitar should have more stable tuning with 0.09's with 3 springs than with 0.10's. I think the tune problem might be because I clean the guitar strings after each session of playing. So I guess I should change to 2 springs and when I start a playing session, I fine-tune the guitar.

 

[Roubster]

The amount of springs will not determine the actual stability of the tuning, if it is set-up properly. 57fenderjazz might be referring to a non floating bridge? It's common sense, that less springs will produce LESS tension and more springs will INCREASE the tension...therefore if you use 2 springs with 9s it will be very easy to use the trem and you should not have tuning problems either. The two point system is great and very stable...nothing to do with number of springs. Best thing is to experiment a little and see what works best for you. Over and out.

 

[Mephistofes]

The amount of springs will not determine the actual stability of the tuning, if it is set-up properly. 57fenderjazz might be referring to a non floating bridge? It's common sense, that less springs will produce LESS tension and more springs will INCREASE the tension...therefore if you use 2 springs with 9s it will be very easy to use the trem and you should not have tuning problems either. The two point system is great and very stable...nothing to do with number of springs. Best thing is to experiment a little and see what works best for you. Over and out.

Yeah, I think I'm overthinking about such a simple thing. I'll give it a shot and report back. Thanks.

 

[Mephistofes]

Well, I tried it, but it didn't work. There is not enough space to screw it in, because the 2 springs just don't have enough strength to pull the cavity. I guess I'll have to go back to 3 springs.

 

[q-base]

Not entirely related, but whenever messing with springs setup, it's also useful to be aware that setting 3 springs the Van Halen way --> /|\ creates more tension than 3 springs straight --> ||| It worked for me, as I wanted the arm to go down easily, but not as easy as it did when the springs were set straight with 10s. Just sharing some thoughts I had after switching from 9s to 10s on my Silo.

Cheers!

 

[tommyindelaware]

the block has grooves in it for the springs to rest in. the guitar will return to zero better if you keep the springs laying in the groove. i do fine w/ 2 springs parallel to each other.....and and adjusting the claw to where i want the bridge angle to be. ( in our case, flush w/ the top.....

 

[five7]

I was talking about bending strings and not having the bridge move. More springs will make it slightly harder to whammy but will keep the bridge from moving when bending a string with your left hand.

 

[q-base]

I was talking about bending strings and not having the bridge move. More springs will make it slightly harder to whammy but will keep the bridge from moving when bending a string with your left hand.

For me this was the reason for me to go to /|\ from ||| The bridge still moves when I bend, but not as easily as it used to - it works ok with me. 4 springs was too much.

 

[five7]

I personally prefer 5. There are holes for 5 and I believe it was designed that way for a reason.

 

[Mephistofes]

Actually I got the problem pretty much sorted by tightening the trem arm. For some reason, it got really loose when I changed to 0.09 strings and caused a little bit of noise by hitting something in the cavity. I adjusted it to my liking and now it's much easier to move the bar and it doesn't make any noise at all. I kind of thought about changing spring places like / \ but I don't really have the need to do that anymore. I really should've just adjusted the tremolo arm before the springs. Oh well, what's done is done. Thanks anyways guys.