Question Trem Claw Adjust

[mikeller]

I use 9.5-44 on my guitars.

I have decided to reduce the the trem springs from 3 to 2, however when I do, the claw has to be screwed in ALMOST to the point of touch the cavity wall (1/16") in order to set the bridge level front to back.

Any problem with it be close to the cavity wall ?

 

[Firesource]

No, as long as the bridge is stable there is no problem, however you could look into getting some harder springs if it bothers you.

 

[DrKev]

Yes, no.

Clear?

(Yes, as in "what he said", No as in "the correct answer is ...")

 

[mikeller]

Thanks all.

Wouldn't harder springs make the tension tighter? I was trying to lighten it a bit, but honestly don't know if I feel much difference between 3 straight and 2 fanned with that claw pulled almost all the way to the cavity

 

[Firesource]

Harder springs are tighter, but so is tightening the spring claw. It doesn't really make that much of a different since you even out the tension between the spring and the strings anyways.

 

[Fluxx]

As a side note, an expanded spring will feel looser than a hard spring that's not expanded as well. If anything, 3 spongy springs would provide a looser feel than 2 really hard springs, even if the tension in wt in the same. If your 2 springs are expanded but have to be all the way in, maybe get an even spongier spring and go up to 3... ?

 

[KEOKI]

Agree with Fluxx. Additionally I like the idea of keeping things more in the middle, avoiding extremes in adjustments.

 

[Rachmaninoff]

I use 2 springs... but with 008 gauge. The trem claw is just right:

With 009 and beyond, maybe 3 springs in parallel will work better.

 

[mikeller]

That's about where mine is with 3 straight springs and 9.5-44's, on the JPX. As stated early, with 2 fanned, the claw almost touches the cavity wall. Oddly, on my standard JP6, same strings, when I fan 2 springs like yours, that's about where my claw sits.

I am just gonna leave it with 3 straight, it bugs me seeing the claw that close to the cavity wall on the JPX

 

[ozzyrules]

I'm resurrecting this thread due to my new purchase(Purple EVH). I'm using 9-42 strings(Balls of course) and the trem is extremely tight; way tighter than my 2 other Axii. Here's the configuration at present:



So, to relieve the tension, I have 2 choices:
1). remove one spring
2). re-adjust trem claw by backing screws out, thereby relieving spring tension?
Is this correct? Any recommendations from you professionals would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Firesource]

The floyd should be resting on top of the body, and therefore the string tension will not change, just because you loosen the springs. (That is until the springs are so lose, that the floyd raises from the body so that it is no longer decked)

I like to adjust my Axis, so that the trem moves slightly when I bend the springs - this gives the tremolo a nice soft action, and I can still tune the guitar to drop D without having the guitar go out of tune.

 

[ZeroFivefour]

I'm resurrecting this thread due to my new purchase(Purple EVH). I'm using 9-42 strings(Balls of course) and the trem is extremely tight; way tighter than my 2 other Axii. Here's the configuration at present:



So, to relieve the tension, I have 2 choices:
1). remove one spring
2). re-adjust trem claw by backing screws out, thereby relieving spring tension?
Is this correct? Any recommendations from you professionals would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I too prefer the floyd to have ease of motion allowing more fluid use and I use 2 springs on all my guitars.

My recommendation is to remove one spring and adjust the claw inwards towards the guitar neck so that the floyd is resting parallel to the body. Check for tuning and adjust if necessary. You should be good to go.


From reading many forums the general consensus is that More springs results in better stability, less springs results in ease of trem motion.

I have 4 EBMM guitars with Floating floyds, Yours is decked I presume. I run 2 springs on all of them with no tuning or stability issues to report.

I've ran 2 springs for over 20 years on all of my floyds as well. Less springs will result in what some folks call tremolo warble, something I find extremely useful and pleasant to the ear when wanted. A heavy hand resting on a fffloyd is bad juju, You have to caress her more with 2 springs A lighter hand is necessary. When I went from 3 to 2 springs on my axis, pre rout. I had to screw in the clamp a bit as well. This was about 11 years ago. I had absolutely no stability issues to speak of.

Cheers,

Tom