Two fulcrum question

[SJ318]

Ladies(?) & Gentlemen,
From another post, I had a question: With my 2 fulcrum decked, the big plate screws are screwed all the way down WITHOUT putting strain on the plate. What is the advantage of raising the fulcrum screws OTHER than raising the saddles if they are not high enough in this position.
I can still get it to float as far as I need without loosening the screws if I choose to do so. The screws tightened seems like a good choice for all-around stability.
SJ

 

[CTN]

Re: Two fulcrum question

having them tightened down as far as they'll go gives you the max sustain you can expect to get from your trem system, all other things being equal.

raising them up, you might get a little bit less sustain (marginally so, might not even be noticeable), and you'll also gain a bit of ability to bend the whammy bar backwards and raise the string pitch.

Of course, the further up the screws are, there's that much less of the post in the anchor bushing, which means you're effectively increasing the strain on the screw and risking it bending or moving around while in use, which will likely mess with your tuning stability.

can't really think of anything else.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Two fulcrum question

Yeah,
Keeping the screws down will also keep me from re-tuning the saddles or their height if I keep it decked or loosen the springs so I can pull up a third on the G string. I see only benefit from screwing the plate screws tight as long as I don't strain the plate and my saddles are high enough. Which on this Squire Deluxe seems to be good in all those other aspects.
Thanks for your time (TFYT) - a new acronym maybe. So:
TFYT,
SJB

 

[CTN]

Re: Two fulcrum question

what kinda bridge exactly?

having the screws down shouldn't affect changing the saddle heights or intonation.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Two fulcrum question

I read the OP as meaning a two-point fulcrum vibrato bridge à la Fender American Standard design. The type with knife edges engineered on the leading edge of the baseplate and pivot screws specially shaped to receive the knife edges.

In this instance, lowering the screws lowers the working height of the saddle break points. Hence, it would be necessary to raise the saddles to compensate.

For hardtail type performance, it would be easier to leave the bridge where it is and block it off.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Two fulcrum question

CTN,
What I meant was if you go from decked to floating sometimes the saddles raise the strings relative to the fretboard when floating at rest. When I pull up, the strings become closer to the frets until I let go. I hope I said that correctly. My setup is a 2 fulcrum Squire and my other setup is a Fender J. Beck signature series. They are both Fender trems w/Killer Guitar parts brass blocks. The fulcrum openings on the Squire plate is different than the Fender USA plate. The Squire is about 5mm wider. Not interchangeable. Also the Fender posts are much more substantial looking than the Squire.
When I have the money, I'd like a Gotoh or Callaham, they seem to be better made, although I have never played one that I know of. Maybe even a Bladerunner. I have worked with the kind of memory metal that they use and it is very tough, and always comes back to it's original shape no matter how much it is bent. They use this on some eyeglass frames for the temples, and they were a ***** to adjust. I used to work in that field for 20 years.
SJB

 

[CTN]

Re: Two fulcrum question

ah i think i understand.

yeah even with the screws all the way down and the springs in the rear tightened so the bridge plate is decked down all the way to the body, you will still be able to adjust the saddle heights and the intonation as well. The bridge is designed that way.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Two fulcrum question

Funkfingers,
Good job. Although it seems simple to see that solution to go back and forth, if need be, it did not occur to me at all! An elegant solution. A nice square of ebony or maple, or anything that would be most resonant, would solve the problem.
TFYT,
SJ

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Two fulcrum question

I believe that Eric Clapton has his bridge decked, the claw screwed all the way in, 5 springs, and a solid block of maple. The block of maple, as SJ318 stated, was to eliminate even the slightest possibility of "whammy".

 

[SJ318]

Re: Two fulcrum question

Hey there,
My intention, and why I thought Funkf. suggestion was elegant was that I could set it to float for my own pleasure, being able to pull up a third, but when tuning stability is a big problem, like I had last week as a guest artist, (very long story) I could just block it in place, in it's normal floating resting place.
Then, if not needed any more I just remove the block and I am ready to float, no re-adjusting for saddle height, intonation, etc.,...
I would actually block by a good fitting piece of maple under the already floating plate and the top of the wood body. Or let me put it this way: I could block it on the INSIDE of the block-between the block and the space under the plate where the fulcrum screw wood is. I am so isolated and have no real friends anymore so I apologise for not knowing how to take a picture to show you what I mean, but I hope you get it. The opposite side of the block Clapton would use. That's what I should have said.
Computer "How To's" leave me more confused then when I began.
TFYT,
SJB

 

[SJ318]

Re: Two fulcrum question

I must state this on it's own:
The saddles on the Squire, although solid like J. Beck's saddles, are the absolute worst sounding pieces of metal human beings ever made. They suck so bad there are no words. I have no idea what they are made out of.
I bought some solid saddles from StewMac, sounded just as good as the JB's, put em on a Squire I have that I don't use much, but they sound great.
The switch to the others (and all things were equal between the 2 Squires) is ridiculous. I am so broke from dental work (3,000.00) that it will be months before I feel safe buying anything. But I just had to get that in.
TFYT, (thanks for your time)
SJB ......... P.S. My health plan says "Go F**k Yourself" for dental work. It is in all caps-just to make sure I know how they feel.