Sil/Spec trem use...

[candid_x]

How many of you with Sil or Sil Specials with trems use them, and how many block them or load them up with springs?

For those who use them, how many springs do you use?

How often is the trem actually used?

Lastly, how do you balance between stability i.e. double stops and such, and ease of trem use?

The reason I specify Sil/Spec is, they generally represent classic/older/bluesy styles of playing than other models, I think.


Bruce

 

[GuitarHack]

I use mine all the time, Silo is strung with 10-46s, I have four springs in there. Stability is excellent. I have th etension set so that I can bend most notes up three half steps before the trem sags, so it is pretty stiff. I think a floating trem yields a more musical vibrato, but the tradeoff in tuning stability AND tone of dive-only more than offsets that.

My $0.02,
Hack

 

[Roubster]

I am not a trem wanker, but I use a good amount to where I feel it should be used. I have it set up to float, kind of like the Luke. Except I have it so that you can only go half step up on the G string, and I have 3 springs in there. And string gauge 10-46. It stays in tune incredibly well, but of course sometimes I have to put some graphite into the nut slots to keep it nice and smooth.
My Silo is pretty moded compared to the fatory set up. I put some more powerfull pick ups in it as well as 500K pots and put the solid block saddles that usually come on the Axis SS. So now it's a Rock monster, but combining the humbucks w/ the stock single coil I can get some nice bluesy straty sounds as well.
But yea, I absolutely love the MM vintage trem, and cant wait to play the Axis SS w/ Piezo and trem sometime next year.

 

[GuitarHack]

I forgot, I also lube the nut slots with graphite paste...it makes a big difference.

 

[candid_x]

Thanks for your quick replies.

By stability I wasn't referring to strings returning to pitch from using the trem, but the guitar going out of tune with string bends, as with double stop bends.

I could never find a way to do that and still keep the trem soft enough for a natural sounding vibe. If I use 4 springs, the trem snaps or pops up and down. If I use 3 springs, the tuning whacks out on string bends. I'm wondering if there's some perfect balance possible.

 

[Music Man]

I use it all the time, I also lube my nut slots which helps it stay in tune really well.

 

[GuitarHack]

Thanks for your quick replies.

By stability I wasn't referring to strings returning to pitch from using the trem, but the guitar going out of tune with string bends, as with double stop bends.

I could never find a way to do that and still keep the trem soft enough for a natural sounding vibe. If I use 4 springs, the trem snaps or pops up and down. If I use 3 springs, the tuning whacks out on string bends. I'm wondering if there's some perfect balance possible.

I think I know what you mean. To get it perfect (for me), I did have to fiddle with how far the claw is screwed in. I want to be able to do pedal steel bends and have it stay in tune, and the tradeoff off is a stiff trem. But, there is a sweet spot where it all stays in tune, it isn't too stiff or floppy, it sounds musical, and the bridge doesn't slam back on to the body.

I may sound like I'm a big trem user, can't live without it, but the last two Balls I bought were hardtails. Sometimes I play a trem guitar for two hours and not touch the bar, sometimes I'll play a hardtail for five minutes and reach for the nonexistent bar half a dozen times. As far as having my own playing style, I guess I'm a random mess.

 

[robelinda2]

i never use the trem arm, so i have the bridge flat to the body, with 3 springs, so it moves as little as possible. cant do country stuff if the bridge moves up and down everytime i bend!

 

[candid_x]

As far as having my own playing style, I guess I'm a random mess.

Hey man, we need to start our own random mess band! Maybe something like "The Hackers"? I may work on tweaking the spring/claw some more to find that sweet spot.

Rob, yeah, that's pretty much the way I've approached it too. Sometimes I think I'm missing something juicy by locking up the trem, though. I'm surprised only 3 springs locks it up enough for you.

 

[robelinda2]

yeah i just loked and i have 3 springs, i used to have 4, but my black Axis needs 4 to lock it down, so i nicked a spring from the silo.

 

[jamminjim]

Isn't the Sub 1 trem the same as the one on a Silo?
I've got my sub 1 trem set with the trem plate flat and I guess it's got 3 springs in it. I dont use the trem arm at all. Stays in tune pretty solid...
You guys probably already know about this, but I found that I could use my pinky and pull up on the lip of the bridge plate (rearward) and get some awesome vibrato sounds...... real heavenly sounds.....

just my $.02....

 

[candid_x]

You guys probably already know about this, but I found that I could use my pinky and pull up on the lip of the bridge plate (rearward) and get some awesome vibrato sounds...... real heavenly sounds.....

Actually, no, but I'll give it a try.

 

[robelinda2]

yeah if i dont have the bar in i use my pinky to lift up the bridge, how else can you do it!