Official Luthiers Forum!

A friend of mine just switched to heavier gauge strings on his strat and the added tension is pulling his tremelo forward a bit. He asked me how to remedy this. I would assume, if nothing else, you could find heavier springs for the tremelo. But being pretty much strictly an acoustic (mostly classical) guy and not having taken a look at it in person I'm really not sure.
So I thought I'd ask you guys with electric experience. How would you fox this?
Thanks

There is a screw that tightens the springs.
There is a lot of travel for the screw.
Take the back cover off and you will see what I mean.
I think there are 3 springs?
Maybe room for more.
I can't remember...

Actually - there are two screws.
But, yeah - tighten them up until the vibrato returns to the position the client desires.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I prefer to have the springs as short as possible to prevent bottoming out when whammying. It may be advisable to put an extra spring in there and loosen the screws. How heavy are the strings? I like 3 springs for 9's and 4 springs for 10's.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Thanks guys.

William here is my take on it-

3 springs ( my preferece) and they should be straight- not in a "V" as many set theirs.

Start by adjusting the two screws so when the bar is raised and the bridge touches the
body that the G string raises a minor 3rd. ( this should make the B string raise a whole step and
the E string a half step.)

Next adjust the spring on the bass side (low E string) so that when the bar is raised and the bridge
touches the body that the A and D strings when fretted at the 5th fret ( D,G) raise a whole step to E and A.

One may have to go back and forth to get this balanced out.

When it's done one can play an Am7 at the fifth fret and lower the trem bar and get a pretty good sounding
Abm7.

Not only is this a "musical" approach to adjusting the trem but I believe it to be one that really helps keep
the guitar in tune when using the trem.
The intonation will need to be adjusted too. A little lube on the nut and it should be good to go.