Squeaking Tremlo Springs

Jocelyn

Jocelyn

New member
How do I get rid of it? The Trem works beautifully and satys in tune even after a few Dive bombs and heavy pulls.. which I dont do so often. most of the time when I use the trem it is a light push on the bridge (something like the way Jeff Beck uses it) or just light push on the bar. But the trem springs Squeak if I do anything more than that. I thought of putting alittle WD40 on a Q tip . But thought I would seek advice here first.
 
Re: Squeaking Tremlo Springs

i've seen herman li put a rubber band on his springs, and srv said in an interview that he stuffs his trem cavity with tissue paper or cotton balls or similar.
 
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That was fast.. But wouldnt the stuffins interfere with the way the springs? I will try giveit a shot when I get backhome.
 
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i'unno just saw your post when i got in my room and i remembered a coupla things regaurding the matter:D
 
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Anybody got any other suggestion? I did google around and found tips like what Super rad suggested. but I just wanted to know if somethings else like wd40 or petroleum jelly would work well without hurting wood ext.
 
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I have used a mixture of 3-1 and graphite powder for years. Not sure why I ended up doing it but it has worked for me. I'm also not sure how many luthiers would recommend it. I make a small batch, stretch the springs, brush it on or put it on with a q-tip. Let the trem rest and wip off the excess. Most of the noise is coming from the spring surfaces rubbing when they are in contact with each other or coming back into contact with each other. If you use something thick and heavy, make sure you have your trem plate on.
 
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hmm I just wanna make sure it does not affect wood. I am not going to spray anything I would use a q tip. I dont wanna ruin a good guitar. Wont be able to afford one for a while any ways (recession is hitting bad).
 
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I've just never found the tissue paper thing to do much. You have to consider what accounts for the noise when you use your trem. I've tried tissue paper, wax paper, newspaper. It may help kill some of the noise after the initial event that creates the noise but it's not going to stop it. Also, my cavities are generally shielded and getting a little graphite on them has not been an issue. I use a minimal amount of 3-1. Just enough to bind it and apply it. On another note, after trying the wax paper thing I tried rubbing a bar of wax on the springs. It seemed to help if you get in between the springs.
 
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where is the noise coming from exactly?

i have one guitar where the finish is so thick, the springs rub on the body, it makes a gate hinge type sound. easy to find as it'll leave marks in the finish, fix is just to sand it down a little

second thing i can think of, is that the springs are making noise in the pivots at either end, this would be easy to fix with a little lube

third might be if the spring is moving on itself, or against each other, in which case putting something to separate (like a piece of paper?) them would be the answer.
 
Re: Squeaking Tremlo Springs

Well it does not seem to be rubbing on the body I just checked it, there seems to be a healthy space between the springs and body and also trem back plate.
Also the springs aint rubbing on each other..The noise comes only if dive bomb or pusch the bar harder..and not with alight use..something like when a kid jumps up and down on a bed with springs.
It is getting late but I think i should open the plate to double check.
 
Re: Squeaking Tremlo Springs

My 2 cents...

Like many of the other posters have said, I would use a very small amount of oil at the spring attachment point to the block.

If your problem is resonance in the springs themselves, fill the center of the springs with silicone sealant. It's highly flexible and won't add to the spring rate appreciably. It would be a good idea to thoroughly clean the springs with acetone so that the silicone can adhere.
 
Re: Squeaking Tremlo Springs

lube the springs. it will go away. some people like the squeekyness though.

graphite, or something similar.
 
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It used to really annoy me. It´s so long ago that I´d completely forgotten about it until I saw your thread.

This also had the effect of increasing the tension on the tremolo of course. I took off the tremolo springs and tightened the screws holding the (small plate with far end of the) tremolo springs to the body one time while I was replacing the strings.

I don´t know if it would work for you / be to your liking, but personally I prefer having the tension as it is now.
To me it feels like I´ve more control rather than loose and flabby feeling from the whammy bar.

Bear in mind also this may well affect what way the bridge sits once you re-string your guitar.
 
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if it really is the spring that's the problem. i'd just get a new one. Many supplies carry it.
 
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some good advice here already posted... my 2cents is not much more but here it goes...

1-ya see if the trem springs are hitting the body cavity while they are in motion...

2-the one axe i had that used to squeak during trem travels i found it was the spring itself that was a little messed up... when i removed the springs from that guitar and inspected them, one of the 3 springs i had in it had the bend sharp point on the end that goes into the trem block bent on a different angle then the others... and that was causing the loop end in the spring's claw to twist in the claw during trem use... mostly the noise was loud on the return to pitch motion....

3-springs are cheap grab some new ones and see if the noise is still there... may take a while for them to stretch in place...
 
Re: Squeaking Tremlo Springs

Thanks guys ..The springs definatly are not hitting or brushing the body cavity or trem back plate . I think I will try a little lube.. I will keep it posted how well it works.
 
Re: Squeaking Tremlo Springs

Jocelyn said:
How do I get rid of it? The Trem works beautifully and satys in tune even after a few Dive bombs and heavy pulls.. which I dont do so often. most of the time when I use the trem it is a light push on the bridge (something like the way Jeff Beck uses it) or just light push on the bar. But the trem springs Squeak if I do anything more than that. I thought of putting alittle WD40 on a Q tip . But thought I would seek advice here first.
Click to expand...

I did it Dime style. Put electrical tape across the back part (under the springs) but make sure it gives tension and touches the springs. It will cause them to not rattle, vibrate or squel. Also check out my page for some crazy pulls and squels. www.myspace.com/davecasale
 
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My springs squeaked a little inside the cavity, at the pivots where the springs attached... I used a careful shot of WD40 and that seemed to work just fine. No more squeaks. I also had some friction or ruffness at the mounts/pivots and I used some graphite nut lube and that also seemed to work fine.
 
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