Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

[nuntius]

Basically, I'm in a mood for tinkering... :laugh2:

Currently my Strat's trem is set to floating with 3 springs, with 3 semitones up pull on the G string. I use 10-46 guage strings, and the bridge is the one that comes with an American Standard strat.


Would there be any advantages, tonally or otherwise, to increasing the number of springs to 4 or 5? Would double stops stay close to in tune with more springs? I'm assuming more springs=more stability, but the trem is still floating so I don't know if that's a fixable problem...


Is there anything I should be aware of when using the trem with so many springs? Could I damage the neck in any way if I was to use the trem a lot with 5 springs?

I want to keep the bridge floating, but I rarely use the full upwards pull I have at the moment. I don't do anything 'extreme' on this strat trem like divebombs etc, but I do use it quite a bit within a few semitones range downards, and one, sometimes but rarely two semitones upwards.


Thanks in advance

 

[MikeS]

Re: Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

Would there be any advantages, tonally or otherwise, to increasing the number of springs to 4 or 5? Would double stops stay close to in tune with more springs? I'm assuming more springs=more stability, but the trem is still floating so I don't know if that's a fixable problem...

Tonal advantage? Don't know. Difference in tone, probably. Stability... not sure. I think most tuning issues on strats happen at the tuners and nut.

Is there anything I should be aware of when using the trem with so many springs? Could I damage the neck in any way if I was to use the trem a lot with 5 springs?

Keep in mind to set the trem to float the spring tension has to match the string tension. To use more springs would be to have less pull on each individual spring. so two or five springs, the total tension of the springs must equal the string tension for the bridge to float. The number of springs is inconsequential IMO.

The forces on the neck are compressive forces created by the tension in the strings. The springs only create forces between the bridge and the claw and their tensile force has no impact on the neck at all.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

Honestly I think when you start talking about tonal changes from adding springs you're getting into very picky territory. Chances are you'll never hear any change and will just have to spend time backing the screws out in the cavity, as Mike said no matter how many springs you use the tension has to equal that of the strings for the bridge to float. That means fewer springs will be screwed in farther while more springs can be backed out some. I honestly doubt you'll hear a tonal change.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

I have used two for a very long time now, even with 11's...I dislike the stiffness of too many springs.
+1^ with the advantages....I have my strat set for floating, otherwise the biggest thing about gets lost, the slight up and down motion on chords, plus the semitones I love to get with the trem goes out the window, I like it the way Gilmour and Beck have theirs, I can't stand flat on the body standart trems, I like it with Floyds, just not with the vintage style trem.
Takes away the strat sound to me.

 

[nuntius]

Re: Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

Tonal advantage? Don't know. Difference in tone, probably. Stability... not sure. I think most tuning issues on strats happen at the tuners and nut.

I don't have any problems with my trem staying in tune with use, I was wondering more about double stop bends

The springs only create forces between the bridge and the claw and their tensile force has no impact on the neck at all.

Thanks

I honestly doubt you'll hear a tonal change.

You're probably right. I've just been in a mood to tinker today that's all :laugh2:

Cheers for the replies

....I have my strat set for floating, otherwise the biggest thing about gets lost, the slight up and down motion on chords

Haha, don't worry, there's no way I'm even thinking of making my strat trem downward only. I feel the same way, I love shimmering chords

 

[JeffB]

Re: Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

Actually that is the secret to Malmsteen/Blackmore and Roth's strat tones...

and chops..

make the change, you'll be an instant world-wide guitar hero

On a serious note...IDK if they still make it, but there used to be a doohickey for strat trems to address the double stop bend issue. That always used to annoy the pi$$ out of me cos thats a big part of my style. I had one put in my old MIA DSP....I cannot remember the name though. Worked well, but real or imagined, the guitar always felt too stiff after that for any kind of bending, AFAIC.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

I don't have any problems with my trem staying in tune with use, I was wondering more about double stop bends

The guitar will not play any differently than it does now though because of the spring=string tension in a floating setup.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Any worthwhile tonal advantage to going 4/5 springs floating on a strat?

I think there's a median point with tension where it still feels smooth, but it's firm enough to keep double stop bends from flattening other notes. It's probably with 4 springs and the claw loosened so the bridge floats.....I can hardly remember. It's a big issue with me because I do a lot of bending and fingerpicking, and I can't have warble. I go back and forth with anchored and floating w/bar. Right now, I've got all my bridges anchored, with no bar.