Decked trem but notes still sour on pedal steel type bends

[MichaelD83]

Took a trip to Sweetwater 2 days ago for my birthday and found this lovely lady for a song - 2004 Crafted in Japan ST62. Lots of nice play wear (mojo/vibes) but frets in great shape.

It set up really nicely and took my time thoroughly going through. I made sure to properly adjust the 6 saddle screws - back them all out, screw in the outer 2 until the bridge lifts, then back them out until the bridge sits flush. Then leave the middle 4 raised ever so slightly about 1/16th.

When i took the back plate off, the 3 springs were in a “V” shape. I pulled them out and replaced them 3 in line (parallel). When I tightened the claw to deck the trem and I had to crank it all the way in to get the bridge to set flush to the body.

When I bend a note the other one goes sour. Also if I bend against an open string, the open string goes flat. The overall feel of the guitar has that slinky feeling also like when the strat bridge is floating spec 1/8 inch off the body.

Are the springs just stretched out from being in a V shape and lost their tension? I’m running 9s for the record.

Thank ya’ll

 

[LOSTVENTURE]

Considering that you want to stay with 9's, and keep the bridge decked, you might try adding a fourth spring.

 

[Boreas]

Did it sound sour BEFORE you changed the spring config and tension?

 

[fenderchamp]

Decking your trem, in this case is obviously not keeping it from pulling up off of the guitar when you bend the springs.

You increased the tension it seems, but not enough.

It's sort of like you brought seventy five cents to the grocery store to buy a one dollar candy bar.

Add a spring or tighten the ones you have up even more. The more the springs are stretched the more force you have counteracting your bending.

There is no mystery, it's pretty simple physics really.

 

[TomBrokaw]

You may also try placing something in the space between the trem route and the trem block. I've tried this when setting up a Floyd and found it difficult to get the perfect thickness, but that was for keeping it balanced, not decked. Might be easier in your case.

Maybe a small block of wood, sanded to thickness. Perhaps @Peegoo or @Freeman Keller have suggestions. Here's an example from reddit:


There are commercial options as well, I think.

 

[AAT65]

If you don’t want to use the trem and want to be 100% certain not to have unbent notes go flat when bending, then the trem needs blocked rather than just decked as others have said.
When my old Strat had the trem blocked I did it using a stack of coins rather than a block of wood. Coins come in different thicknesses so you can quite easily fill almost any size gap and you know they won’t compress…

 

[Peegoo]

Use five springs and screw the claw all the way in. The bridge will not move when bending a string.

Most all music shops that have an on-site guitar tech will have a 'junk bin' with derelict parts if you buy a few packs of strings, they may give you a spring or two.

Another easy "cheat" to block a vibrato bridge is to stick a Strat vol or tone knob behind the inertia block. The knobs are the perfect thickness for the job.

 

[MichaelD83]

Did it sound sour BEFORE you changed the spring config and tension?

Yes - it was floating above a 1/4 inch w 2 year old strings. Definitely notes going flat on the bend

 

[MichaelD83]

Use five springs and screw the claw all the way in. The bridge will not move when bending a string.

Yes I totally understand this. Is it possible tho that the springs are stretched out or lost their temper - that’s why it’s not properly decking ? I’ve decked a strat before with the claw only screwed in 3/4 of the way

 

[Peegoo]

Yes I totally understand this. Is it possible tho that the springs are stretched out or lost their temper - that’s why it’s not properly decking ? I’ve decked a strat before with the claw only screwed in 3/4 of the way

I've never seen the springs stretched out and weakened as you describe. If they are tightly retracted in their relaxed state, they should be a-ok.

 

[Harmonic]

Sometimes you need a hard tail Stratocaster.

 

[MichaelD83]

Sometimes you need a hard tail Stratocaster.

Like the ST54 (AKA #1) ? At 6lbs and being the most slinky strat I have ever played - it has most single handedly ruined me on every other strat. The ST62 (NGD) is the close second !

 

[MichaelD83]

I've never seen the springs stretched out and weakened as you describe. If they are tightly retracted in their relaxed state, they should be a-ok.

Not saying your wrong- I’m definitely no expert but I do suspect the springs are stretched out. I got a new set on the way. I’m gonna start w 3 and report back !

 

[Peegoo]

@MichaelD83

Cool. Keep us posted!

 

[Boreas]

Not saying your wrong- I’m definitely no expert but I do suspect the springs are stretched out. I got a new set on the way. I’m gonna start w 3 and report back !

It is also possible to buy higher-tension springs. Yours could be weakened, but 3 springs is a pretty light setup. I too think that is likely the issue.

 

[Peegoo]

It is also possible to buy higher-tension springs. Yours could be weakened, but 3 springs is a pretty light setup. I too think that is likely the issue.

Yes. Five springs to deck the bridge is ideal.

 

[Telecaster88]

When my old Strat had the trem blocked I did it using a stack of coins rather than a block of wood. Coins come in different thicknesses so you can quite easily fill almost any size gap and you know they won’t compress…

Adds value to the guitar, too!

 

[MichaelD83]

Yes. Five springs to deck the bridge is ideal.

Got a new set of 5 on the way! Going to start with 3 and see where I get - I’ll at more if needed.

Has anyone ever experienced a difference in feel to the guitar with 3 springs vs 5 (that is when decking the trem)

 

[memorex]

Yet one more reason I play a Nashville Tele.

 

[Boreas]

Got a new set of 5 on the way! Going to start with 3 and see where I get - I’ll at more if needed.

Has anyone ever experienced a difference in feel to the guitar with 3 springs vs 5 (that is when decking the trem)

Feel to the TREM - yes. That is pretty much inevitable. Feel to the action/play - not so much, but also depends how you play. String gauge is obviously part of the equation. Decide on that first!

I prefer full-floating trems. I have never seen much point to having a trem that doesn't trem.