Turn off the amp, unplug the guitar and walk away slowly.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6988 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
So I finally raised enough chump change to change strings on a guitar.
I chose my Jackson JS34 as I broke a string on it after the first week of playing. Then I went through the hell of Jackson branded FR type trem and crappy tuners. No matter what I'd have string breaks, partial locks that would slip through and crappy "Settling" between the strings and springs. I have yet to find the right size block to fit between the body and string block to settle down on shifting.
Same damn thing today. The locking trem isn't locking no matter how far I push the string in nor clamp it with the hex key. On the third G string it finally stopped popping out.
Also the "o-ring" that sits between the bar and the nut that clamps the bar to the trem popped off and flew away. Fortunately my Charvel trem arm fits perfectly.
I'm currently using a cigarette box in-lieu of a block. It's not a perfect fit
I chose my Jackson JS34 as I broke a string on it after the first week of playing. Then I went through the hell of Jackson branded FR type trem and crappy tuners. No matter what I'd have string breaks, partial locks that would slip through and crappy "Settling" between the strings and springs. I have yet to find the right size block to fit between the body and string block to settle down on shifting.
Same damn thing today. The locking trem isn't locking no matter how far I push the string in nor clamp it with the hex key. On the third G string it finally stopped popping out.
Also the "o-ring" that sits between the bar and the nut that clamps the bar to the trem popped off and flew away. Fortunately my Charvel trem arm fits perfectly.
I'm currently using a cigarette box in-lieu of a block. It's not a perfect fit
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRian
- 606 posts since 28 Jul, 2016
Sorry about your day
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6988 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Thanks, A day later she's somewhat finally settling in.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
- KVRist
- 35 posts since 6 May, 2021
Those floating trems are really finicky. I love a good fixed bridge or a Bigsby. I love Strats but always install a tremsetter or block the trem. Too many pitch/tuning issues otherwise.
- KVRAF
- 17430 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
It took me months to dial in the trem of my #1. Fortunately, working on guitars is fun.
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frantic_fingers frantic_fingers https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=722312
- KVRer
- 23 posts since 11 Oct, 2024
that's what you get with a floating trem. not the fault of the Jackson Licensed (tm) trem. now you can appreciate the value of a standard bridge or strat-style non-floating trem.
there is a part of the string block on the trem that you can smooth off to reduce string breakage. you'll have to look it up, I got frisbees to fling at the park.
I never had a problem with the string not gripping in the string block. been through several guitars and many strings. tightening it down as hard as you can is no good, you will strip it out eventually. buy a new piece. that 1 little part should be cheap.
new strings always go out of tune as they stretch. that's what strings do. what else did you expect when they're connected to a spring.
got to watch out for those trem arms shooting off, might wear safety glasses and remind your audience to wear them too. in fact I think I went to a Guitar Center once where they were passing out safety glasses. that's why they call them "whammy bars".
there is a part of the string block on the trem that you can smooth off to reduce string breakage. you'll have to look it up, I got frisbees to fling at the park.
I never had a problem with the string not gripping in the string block. been through several guitars and many strings. tightening it down as hard as you can is no good, you will strip it out eventually. buy a new piece. that 1 little part should be cheap.
new strings always go out of tune as they stretch. that's what strings do. what else did you expect when they're connected to a spring.
got to watch out for those trem arms shooting off, might wear safety glasses and remind your audience to wear them too. in fact I think I went to a Guitar Center once where they were passing out safety glasses. that's why they call them "whammy bars".
- KVRAF
- 17430 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
Somebody needs to make a Road Warrior edit with the boomerang replaced with a whammy bar.
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frantic_fingers frantic_fingers https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=722312
- KVRer
- 23 posts since 11 Oct, 2024
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- KVRAF
- 6558 posts since 22 Jan, 2005 from Sweden
https://youtu.be/O0Oyc6slYRc
If following his technique of a little pull on bar for every string until ok it works really well with floating.
But broken string is a problem of course. And have to tune a couple of times since pull on tremolo block springs varies as you tune it.
Having the advantage of floating makes up for it.
I only have had one strat, bought 4 years ago, but it stays in tune for months. After a couple of years I had to change claw screws a bit since springs stretched a bit, and changed action of strings.
Also found a trick in Erlewines books for setting up guitars regarding floating tremolo.
- use a feeler guage that fit into spring on high E side
- so finding an exact fit you can use that to adjust claw screw on low E side too so that fits
This way you get the proper tension on all strings as you use the bar.
- KVRAF
- 17430 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
Mine stays in tune even with violent use. However, it’s something I’ve been working towards for decades and it required significant hardware upgrades.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6988 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I was last month old when I finally figured something out that I should have known decades ago. Maybe someone here explained it to me and I missed the boat.
So I finally found something that sort of fits between the body and the trem block in the cavity. Not perfect but it works enough to lock up the bridge which allows the strings and springs to settle in with one another.
Previously I wrapped a micro-fiber dusting cloth around my plate and slid it between the trem and the body on the topside.
I can't believe I was that dumb. Previously I'd only change strings one at a time. I didn't have an occurance where multiple strings were broke at once.
The bad news is that I lost a retainer ring that fits on the trem arm. Fortunately my Charvel San Dimas Pro Mod arm fits fine.
So I finally found something that sort of fits between the body and the trem block in the cavity. Not perfect but it works enough to lock up the bridge which allows the strings and springs to settle in with one another.
Previously I wrapped a micro-fiber dusting cloth around my plate and slid it between the trem and the body on the topside.
I can't believe I was that dumb. Previously I'd only change strings one at a time. I didn't have an occurance where multiple strings were broke at once.
The bad news is that I lost a retainer ring that fits on the trem arm. Fortunately my Charvel San Dimas Pro Mod arm fits fine.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad