Floating trem or not?

[kipper]

hi peter the thing is basic phyics dosent all ways work in music. if it did all the new and better made guitars echos pedals would be the most sort after. but we all look for the older bits or thats how it looks to me, copycats, shads old sound. 1960`s strats. most of the old echo effects. the new ones must be made with finer engineering, but dont seem to give what we all want. the old quads are sort after. it seems flawed thing give us what we want? what do you think? i was in enginneering for a long time and it dosent make a lot of sense when i think about it. all the best for the new year. peter

[Bojan Drndic]

When I received my guitar from Alan Brason, it was fitted with 12 gauge strings, as I had requested, and had three springs in a V formation. The problem is, I don't remember in which direction the "V" converged. Charlie's point makes sense, but on Wikipedia on tremolos there is a picture with a Strat with three springs in V formation but turned the other way around. That would be consistent with someone's point about keeping the tremolo centrally aligned. Then there is also some logic to keeping the springs level . . .

But I have another question. When you are using light strings, such as 10's, the tremolo is quite sensitive and responsive, but with 12's it is far more rigid. So, my question is:

-- what is better for heavy strings: having three springs and tightening the claw, or adding springs and loosening the claw? Which situation gives more leverage to the whammy bar and makes it more sensitive and responsive?

Bojan

[peterbower]

Kipper

I was just quoting Trev Wilkinson's Technical blurb.

Peter

[kipper]

hi peter yes i did relize that no offence ment. its just one of the funny things that happen, and i dont always understand it. we improve it and then we all want the old one? funny lot we are. peter

[erikMAMS]

Hi Bojan
I've been experimenting a lot with tremolo function and setup through the years and IME the key to (or best compromise for) best possible tone, action and return to pitch is to have the springs at some tension at the balance point - in contrast to having more spring hardly or not stretched at all. Whether this requires 3 or 4 springs depends. I've have found that spring "strength" varies between apparently different types, and even between springs of the apparently same type.

There's also a theory on the subject that the tremolo springs - with the right tension - will resonate with the strings adding sustain and fullness to the sound. I believe there's some truth to this, although the effect might be subtle.

Re Carl Verheyen's claw angle theory
This has been debated in length on several forums. I tend to follow the conclusion that although it's possible to set up the claw angle giving different tension on the outer springs it doesn't transform to different tensions on the lower versus higher strings, because the tremolo block/plate will even out the total tension of all springs. The reason for this being that the block/plate can only move up and down. In pivoting plane (whether is a 2 or 6 point) the trem is fixed so if you pull more at one side the force will be distributed across the bridge.
Anyway it's a somewhat academical discussion, Verheyens setup works for him - and many others.

Erik

[peterbower]

Kip

I guess the bottom line is, whatever works for you, which is not a bad ideal.

Cheers
Peter

[kipper]

just seen on the well known auction site. for sale a dying battery simulater pedal. it makes your fuzz pedal sound better. yes peter i agree whatever works for you. peter