My EJ strat bent my whammy bar!

[BAN]

Man, I've never had a new guitar cause me to post so many questions. I almost wish I was on the fence about the tone, because I would have easily taken in back by now. But, the tone is gorgeous and the guitar plays beautifully, so ... can you actually USE the trem on an EJ strat with 5 springs?

I previously had a JV strat. I put 5 springs in it and had it sitting flush with the body. I could use the trem no problem. It was a little tight, but it worked fine and I'm not a big trem user with strats anyway---just for a little flourish.

Enter the new EJ: until last night I'd only played it without the trem. But last night, I took off the little silve sticker, screwed in the trem, and nothing. I could barely move it at all. Just the slightest bit. And---insult to injury---I actually bent the bar just moving it that little bit. I bent the bar back and it's fine, but I'm afraid to use it again.

Any tips on this from you EJ owners or others? I like the flush seating, because I like the tuning stability and the ability to bend a note while holding another or a double stop without having to compensate for the pitch shift. Is this just a matter of removing a spring? Or is there something else to try.

Thanks,
BAN

[VH5150]

Sorry can't help you,but iwas looking in to a ej strat and i see so many people selling thiers,whats wrong with these strats?

Don't mean to highjack sorry

[Todd Lynch]

Set the trem how you want it. Once you know what your strings are going to be (tension), adjust the tension on the trem springs (amount of claw pull and number of springs) until you have an equilibrium that you like.

I like mine set floating above the top of the body - you can still have yours sitting flush, but with less tension on it; just adjust it 'slack-wise', 'til some of the tension is released, but you still have bridge plate > body contact, etc.

[Don L]

Get over it...

[mattmccloskey]

It isn't that big of a deal, just take out a spring or two, problem solved. Also make sure the bar is screwed in all or most of the way so you have enough leverage inside the block.
I have never seen that happen, even with 5 springs, but if you say it bent I guess it must have.

[BAN]

Thanks, Don, I knew I could count on you!

Originally Posted by mattmccloskey

It isn't that big of a deal, just take out a spring or two, problem solved. Also make sure the bar is screwed in all or most of the way so you have enough leverage inside the block.
I have never seen that happen, even with 5 springs, but if you say it bent I guess it must have.

I'll try to remove a spring or two. I was never able to have the JV bridge sit flush the way I wanted with 3 springs, even with the clay screwed in tight, which is why I went to 5. Maybe I'll have more luck with the EJ.

Oh, and I'm not exaggerating. It bent. I actually had to bend it back just to unscrew it because it couldn't clear the knobs.

BAN

[mattmccloskey]

Originally Posted by BAN

Thanks, Don, I knew I could count on you!



I'll try to remove a spring or two. I was never able to have the JV bridge sit flush the way I wanted with 3 springs, even with the clay screwed in tight, which is why I went to 5. Maybe I'll have more luck with the EJ.

Oh, and I'm not exaggerating. It bent. I actually had to bend it back just to unscrew it because it couldn't clear the knobs.

BAN

Wow, that is really tight!
Well I have mine sitting flush with 3 springs- it sounds like yours came with not only 5 springs but the claw screwed in deep as well. Mine was like that too, so I only had to remove 2 springs and it still sits flush, but is much more useful!

[drolling]

I stripped the threads on my ST-54's trem bar in less than two weeks, then did the same thing to the 'genuine' Fender replacement after a few hours of use. I hoped that the new MIA bar would be a bit tougher than the original Japan-made part, but they were both pretty flimsy, IMO..

When I finally got around to ordering a Callaham block, I noticed he had something called a 'cut-down '64 arm', so I figured, what the heck.. only 12 bucks..

What a great whammy it's turned out to be! Very rigid steel - I've abused this guitar for years now.. added springs, removed 'em.. put 'em back.. etc. The plastic tip's looking pretty relic'd, but the bar's still perfect.

Just the perfect depth & angle PLUS the shorter length lets me tuck it comfortably into my palm, a la Jeff Beck, for those microtonal bends that you can naunce your playing with.. or flick it a 1/2 turn to keep it out the way without dangling, flopping & falling out..

I don't know how good the EJ's block is, but I'd also recommend the Callaham; case-hardened unpainted steel- one of the simplest & best mods I've ever done!

[clothwiring]

I run 3 springs and have it set about 1/8" off the body on the back. I need to pull it back just a tad bit more, but I really love mine. I had two, but the 2nd one I liked just a tad better (mostly the color), so I sold the first. Overall it's a great guitar, I respond better to rosewood, but I love the EJ so much, that it got me out of the rosewood rut and I bought a 50s Cunetto Relic last spring as well. Both are great guitars, still not a maple boy but the EJ just sounds too good. I found that taking it to a luthier for a good setup makes it an even better guitar.

[Don L]

Seriously... take the middle spring out first and try it again. If it's still too tight, take another out. If it's still too tight even after that, then loosen the screws.

[CocoTone]

Originally Posted by Don L

Get over it...

:AOK

CT.

[buddastrat]

Whoa, you actually tried to use the arm with five springs in there?!? Not recommended.

[HeeHaw]

Originally Posted by buddastrat

Whoa, you actually tried to use the arm with five springs in there?!? Not recommended.

I was trying not to just come right out and say that, but common sense usually prevails.

I don't see how an EJ with the trem screwed down tight would move in the first place.

[BAN]

Originally Posted by drolling

When I finally got around to ordering a Callaham block, I noticed he had something called a 'cut-down '64 arm', so I figured, what the heck.. only 12 bucks..

What a great whammy it's turned out to be! Very rigid steel - I've abused this guitar for years now.. added springs, removed 'em.. put 'em back.. etc. The plastic tip's looking pretty relic'd, but the bar's still perfect.

Really great tip! Thanks.

Originally Posted by buddastrat

Whoa, you actually tried to use the arm with five springs in there?!? Not recommended.

Well, maybe this is me being a strat moron. This is only the 2nd one I've ever owned (mostly a HB guy and when it's been a tremolo, it's been a Floyd). Again, though, it worked just fine with my JV and 5 springs, so I didn't know it wasn't the right thing to do. Thanks for the tip here, too.

By the way, the trem arm bent easily. It wasn't like I was bearing down on it with two hands, so I might try that Callaham arm anyway.

Thanks again, folks---yes, even those of you who busted me up a bit for my idiocy.

[BAN]

Wow, this group really is a great resource. 5 minutes of work and it's all taken care of. A little spring removal (down to 4 now) and some trem claw screw loosening and it's working great. And it still sits flush and doesn't pull up when I bend. Cool.

One more question: in loosening the trem claw screws, what's the maximum safest amount of the screw to have showing? So, basically, how far can I unscrew them before I risk stripping them out of the body when I use the trem?

Thanks again!