I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

3

357mag

New member
I installed a steel block from Guitar Fetish for my Classic Vibe Strat. It's the Mexican Block not the Import Block. The Block fits the bridge plate fine no problems there, but this morning I dropped in the small tremolo arm spring which I bought from Sweetwater. They are made by Fender and they are labeled American SRS Tremolo Arm Springs. The part number is 0994931000.

When I screwed in the tremolo arm it would not screw in all the way. I could see some of the threads on the arm still visible so I knew something was amiss.

Then when I went to tip the guitar upside down the spring would not fall out.

So I took a very tiny drill bit and held it with my hand and stuck it in the hold and pulled it upwards and I did get the spring out.

I also tried screwing in the arm without the spring and when it felt like I was done the arm was just a little sloppy and loose.

I do have another arm that came with the stock block but that sticks out from the body too far and looks and feels weird.

I'm not sure what to do.

Do they make other varieties of tremolo arm springs?
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

Is the trem arm hitting the new block thus preventing it from screwing all the way in?
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

As you screw it down does the threaded part of the arm contact the trem block, and maybe that’s why it won’t screw in all the way.
IOW, maybe the new block you installed is partially covering the trem arm hole on the underside?
 
I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

Remove the arm and use a flashlight to look inside the trem screw-in hole...is there an obstruction from the new block (or anything else that would prevent the arm from screwing all the way in?)
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

I had the same problem with GFS steel block. Putting the spring in made the arm not to screw deep enough. Then it got stuck in and I had to get creative to get it out. I think the hole in block is just too shallow for the spring to fit.

I ditched the spring and used pipe sealant tape to get the arm solid.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

I have two tremolo arms. The one that I bought from Guitar Fetish and the one that came with the guitar. One of the arms (I'm not sure but it may be the one that I got from Guitar Fetish) the length of bar where the bend is present is too long. So when I screw it in the block the tremolo arm sits out too far from the guitar and looks and feels strange.

I may have to go with Callaham after all if I want a properly fitting tremolo.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

Did you notice that the spring and/or ball bearing (I assume they are steel) can cause cancer?! (Tucked away in a hole that you never touch).

We guitar players who are constantly touching steel (or alloy) parts, like strings, frets, trem arms, tuning keys, bridges, pickups, jacks and plugs, etc., are in constant danger.

If Calif. lawmakers are correct, we will probably all die of cancer within the next year.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

Ayrton said:
Most people toss out the spring or use a bearing with it. The spring will dig into the block and gall the threads (thus ruining the block)

Stew Mac sells a kit, but you could easily source parts elsewhere.

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_an...ar/Tremolo_Parts/Trem_Arm_Tension_Spring.html
Click to expand...

I've never heard of the spring eating away at the threads in the block. I ordered another tremolo arm on Ebay. This fits a Fender Mexican block. Why not try it.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

Parts are just not compatible. Fit from many Guitar Fetish stuff is sometimes sketchy, so in this case we can expect things can be a little wrong. I always thought the whole spring/bearing thing was just a bad design anyway. Hopefully you can find something that works.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

Mincer said:
Parts are just not compatible. Fit from many Guitar Fetish stuff is sometimes sketchy, so in this case we can expect things can be a little wrong. I always thought the whole spring/bearing thing was just a bad design anyway. Hopefully you can find something that works.
Click to expand...

I tried the Mexican arm and the length is right but it really does not screw into the block correctly. By the time the arm gets tight the arm is pointing at my face. If I left it a little looser which is fine by me the arm has some wobble in it.

I could try the Stewmac ball bearing idea but I think it is best to just buy a Callaham block and pop-in arm. Nothing beats that stuff as far as fit goes.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

I am all for standardization with these things. The pop-in arm idea with a tension adjustment seems to be the best idea, and Fender should immediately do that on every instrument.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

GuitarDoc said:
Did you notice that the spring and/or ball bearing (I assume they are steel) can cause cancer?! (Tucked away in a hole that you never touch).

We guitar players who are constantly touching steel (or alloy) parts, like strings, frets, trem arms, tuning keys, bridges, pickups, jacks and plugs, etc., are in constant danger.

If Calif. lawmakers are correct, we will probably all die of cancer within the next year.
Click to expand...

Please tell me that your joke just simply flew over my head... I just got up and my sarcasm detector might still be in stand by mode.😁
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

JamesPaul said:
Yes, the Proposition 65 sarcasm is making its way around. It has been in some other threads. https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov
Click to expand...

Yeah I am fully aware of that bill (or whatever the proper name is for that document), I was just hoping that Doc was just joking with it. They should either include oxygen or better yet, life itself, or just fuhgeddaboudit. Sorry for the off-stuff, but this p65 topic infuriates me.
 
Last edited:
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

I understand it being maddening, but this isn't the right place to discuss it.
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

Just saw this ‘review’ posted on the stew Mac listing for the spring / ball bearing kit:

“The spring itself was too long to allow the bar to thread in even with a lot of pressure. So I cut the spring in half with wire cutters and now it fits and works wonderfully. Tried it with the ball on the bottom and the ball on top. On the top worked very good allowing the arm to stay in any position required for playing.”

Maybe trim your trem arm spring a few coils at a time until your bar threads in where you want it???
 
Re: I question whether I have the correct tremolo arm springs?

PDC said:
Just saw this ‘review’ posted on the stew Mac listing for the spring / ball bearing kit:
Click to expand...

Keep in mind we don’t know what block that user was installing the arm in.
 
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