Strat Question

[Len]

What is the best combination of springs to keep tune on a Strat? I see lots of combinations of 2,3 and all 5. Whats the secret of the springs?

[Jimbilly]

I think it's more about just balancing string gauge (tension) and spring strength ('counter-tension'?); you'd need more springs with bigger strings, or if you have wimpy springs.

Beyond that it's a matter of taste as to how hard you want to push down on the trem arm to move the trem. Some guys want the trem just barely touching the body, some want it held down pretty firmly. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

[JohnnyB]

How many springs are in play determines how stiff or loose the whammy action is and how firmly the strings return to tune. The higher the number of springs, the better they snap the strings back to tune. The fewer the springs, the easier to use vibrato with a light touch, such as what Jeff Beck does with that shimmer, but the less likely all the strings will be in tune when you let go. Balancing the springs (of any number) against string gauge can be done with the tension screw that adjusts overall spring tension.

If you tend to yank the whammy hard for maximum effect, you should use 4 or 5 springs; you'll need it both for the assembly to hold up under hard use and to get the guitar back to tune after undergoing maximum excursion.

[veatch]

What Johnny said.

FWIW - for shreddies, i like the EVH setup: 2 springs but angled in (springs 1 and 5 from the block attach to posts 2 and 4 on the claw). Easy to get the flip warble thingy that Gillis used to do all the time. I haven't had a guitar set up like this in ages, though.

For most everything else, i like 4 springs. Seems to be more stable and the tone is a bit better to my feeble and meager ears. The warble thingy don't warble too long like that, though, for obvious reasons.

So, try a few combos and see what you like. Opinions vary - trust yer own ears.

[Lockbody]

If you're using those new, crappy, black springs that Strats come with these days, you'll need one more of them than you normally would otherwise.

It took three of the black ones for me to get the trem action where I liked it on my new Strat, but when I dug two older "silver" ones out of the parts drawer, it only took two, just like I remembered from back in the day.

[murkat]

set up with 10's,

I use three old school springs, set up at

High E

B string

Low E string

balance the springs and string tension to where a nickle can lay

between the back of bridge and body top.

[cloakerz]

same thing I do will all my strats, run the bridge down tight to body and put in 5 springs. You can flame me if you like now...