Raw Vintage trem springs

[mjkk]

Just installed (makes it sound hard) the raw vintage tremolo springs in my Tommys Special strat. Instantly a little more reverberation and volume increase that seems to shoot out the back. You can tell more of a difference plugged in with a clean/ ever-so slightly pushed amp sound. Just adds a little extra. I don't know if it worth almost $20 after shipping but it makes me happy. I was using 3 springs before and use a gotoh vsvg (older.)

 

[jiml]

What sealed it for me is that the whole guitar is much slinkier feeling now...

 

[marsos52]

the cheapest and easiest strat mod yet

and they really improve the characterists of the guitar as well as making the trem work smoother

 

[pickaguitar]

Got mine...much better than whatever springs I had on there

 

[sameoldblues]

My little review:

Just got them. I'm amazed at what a difference trem springs can make...and I'm a guy who thinks I wasted $100 because my Evidence Audio Lyric HG sounds pretty much the same as my 20 foot monster cable.

Bad news is, they give me more of a vintage tone, but I don't think they sound/feel as good as the Callaham springs(I have the whole bridge assembly) that I've been using for a while. I hear more bass, but it's less defined. The treble sounds thinner, and those nice, whispy, clangy (super)high treble frequencies are gone. The notes just don't jump out as solidly. Basically, I feel like it adds a little of the "quacky" quality (usually found in positions 2 and 4) to positions 1, 3, and 5, as well as sort of a midrange grit. Definition of single notes in chords also seems to suffer. But the real dealbreaker for me is the fact that they seem to have a noticeably negative impact of the volume dynamics of the guitar when picking lightly/playing with fingers. Maybe vintage isn't always best.

YMMV, but these results came after a solid hour of swapping the two sets of springs in and out, maybe a dozen times, as I searched for a way to objectively analyze the differences I was hearing. On a positive note, even though the Callaham springs are back in, but I'll keep the Raw Vintage springs in case I need some of the more "vintage" tones that they offer...think they could come in handy in the studio.

 

[redroos]

sameoldblues - I will be picking some of these up just to try, but your review I read with some interest. You spent some time with this so thanks.

As to the EA cable, well, I run the Melody version for my guitars and use some of the Lyric for my recording mics. Here I disagree with you. I 'get' the pure copper thing and so did GP Mag in their cable shootout. Here I suggest you spend some more A/B time with it. I think it is money well spent.

 

[kurt1981]

Hi guys, what's the cheapest place to get these springs? The site wants $10 shipping, seems steep to me,

 

[buddastrat]

Since they're a looser spring, do they make the bar mushy feeling?

I read guys were adding two more extra springs to get the same amount of tension they had prior. That right there should change the tone a little as you have added a little more mass with more springs.

The black springs that Fender uses are looser than the shiny silver ones, I wonder if it's the same thing.

 

[57paf]

Kurt:
These guys: http://www.tubesandmore.com/ have free ground shipping at the moment.

 

[kurt1981]

I'm on it, thank you so much!!!!

 

[Tomo]

Got mine...much better than whatever springs I had on there

Glad to hear that. RV springs made my SRV strat better.

Tomo

 

[buddastrat]

Kurt:
These guys: http://www.tubesandmore.com/ have free ground shipping at the moment.

Says $99 minimum order for free ship.

Anyone, how does it change the way the bar feels or reacts? Does it make it feel like a two post trem, easy/mushy feeling?

 

[kurt1981]

Cost me $21 for the set of 5, shipped, not too bad. we'll see how they work, crossing my fingers,

 

[mistercoffee1]

Anyone, how does it change the way the bar feels or reacts? Does it make it feel like a two post trem, easy/mushy feeling?

When using 5 springs, to me it feels like 3 of my old springs.

 

[guitarpedaladdict]

I realize this might sound obsessive, but we are on TGP

I just put the whole american strat upgrade in from Callaham, it does make an audible difference in volume, sustain, and treble. While I found I could adjust my eq to compensate for the treble another forum member recommended ordering some of the Raw Vintage Springs - not to replace - but to mix in with the Callaham. He said he used a mix of the two to adjust the natural eq of the guitar. Since I'm out of other mods for my Strat (short of getting a new neck or body - lol), I'm going to give it a go and see what comes of it. I'll post next week after the raw vintage springs arrive.

 

[tone?]

Raw vintage springs are definitely a great addition to the tone on the guitar I put them on

Stronger tone and volume

 

[X-Defector]

I'm still trying to figure out if this thread is actually a joke.

If not, dog help us all......just when I thought I had heard it all...

 

[kurt1981]

I love the springs, I feel a bit silly saying I don't hear an audible difference in my anderson strat, but the feel of the trem now is much much better, feels more natural especially for slight shimmery chordal work. I also don't hear as much of the weird poing that you hear with other springs when the guitar isn't plugged in.

 

[guitarpedaladdict]

Mine just arrived and I haven't played them plugged in yet but I can't even believe what they did for the acoustic resonance of my strat! You can actually feel a noticeable increase in body vibration. I'm going to have to try w 5 cheapo springs just to see eliminate the possibility of it being due to spring number. I'll post more after plugging in later tonight.

 

[sabby]

All other springs that I've tried changed the feel of the guitar but not the tone. The RV springs felt looser but more natural than Callaham and All-Parts springs while improving the tone.The latter point is hard to believe, but true.