Author Topic: converting trems (Read 9781 times)

blue · « **Reply #15 on:** September 20, 2006, 07:34:08 PM »

i get the feeling some people aren't quite sure what's being discussed here! i did this on my first strat copy many moons ago. the back of the trem's baseplate just raises away from the body of the guitar, as if you had depressed the bar a bit. you'll never get the kind of upward travel you can with a floyd rose, and tuning becomes more awkward, having to balance all the strings against each other, but you can wobble in both directions! and that's all Hendrix had to get his wild whammy abuse!

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2006, 08:26:36 PM »

Quote from: PhilKing

The 2 screws into the body are about 6cm long, so you won't take them too far by accident - the springs will fall off first!!!
What guage strings do you use, and do you have the guitar tuned to pitch while you are doing this. It will not tilt forwards without string tension to pull it.

2 springs should really let it come forwards unless you are using really light strings detuned.

You may find that some different springs may help - some of the ones in cheap guitars are a bit nasty and have too much tension in them

Get some Schaller, Gotoh or fender ones

Dakine · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2006, 08:45:26 PM »

Am as sure as can be on whats being discussed, not that have a trem axe with such a design, but with a baseplate like that, rearward travel is gonna be either a. restricted or b.unsightly in modification, IMO.

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #18 on:** September 20, 2006, 09:37:43 PM »

w00t, it's ok

i just unscrewed the two screws at the back some more

Dakine, i get what you mean about the plate, but i just wanted some movement, i wasn't planning on going Steve Vai style on it anytime soon

:twisted:

YAY, i have a guitar which goes up and down now :D

Cheers guys, a great help as usual

James

Dakine · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2006, 10:37:04 PM »

good deal,it's abit of a sucky design. Glad you are satisfied with the reuslts. You could 'shim' the unit to allow more movement but that would mean lots of adjustments and some (maybe) bridge instability, depending on how shimmed).
Just GLAD ya got it to move enough to attain the effect ya want. :)

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #20 on:** September 20, 2006, 10:40:24 PM »

i only really wanted one semitone, so i could make some slightly strange sounds when required, without paying through the nose for a whammy pedal

Cheers again for all your help

James

Siadern · « **Reply #21 on:** September 20, 2006, 11:29:25 PM »

You can also try heavier strings, as the extra tension will raise it a bit, especially now you've rmoved one of the springs.

I did the exact opposite to you by the way, I added 2 more springs and tightened the screws to stop it floating. I never used the trem and it sounds better (slightly more sustain) that way. Also stays in tune longer. :D

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #22 on:** September 20, 2006, 11:55:15 PM »

yeah, i'm changing my strings from 9-46s to 10-52s when i get my new pickups (which i still haven't chosen)