Issue with a VIbramute tremolo arm

[elisha wiesner]

Hey Bob,
One more question. I'm sure this is known to everyone but myself but do the springs wear out over time? My guess is that they do and that this one is. All of the rollers are freely moving but the guitar goes out of tune when using the trem. either flat if pushed down or sharp if pulled up. It just doesn't quite return to the proper pitch. The strings don't appear to be binding at the string guide (nut?) so my guess is that the spring is shot.

Thanks,
Elisha

[Bob Shade]

First tighten the neck screws on the rear of the neck plate. Then plug the guitar into your tuner. Then pull on the low e. If it does not return to pitch, this can be a simple fix. Simply keep pulling the string and re-tuning to pitch until it finally stays in pitch after repeating over and over.

The strings must be stretched out one at a time, and this is a 15 minute process that can't be rushed. Do this first and insure all of the strings are completely stretched out and cannot stretch anymore and let me know what happens from here. Boring I know but vital for identifying tuning issues.

Bob

[elisha wiesner]

Bob,

Thanks so much for the help with this.

I took off the brass plate and tightened all the neck screws although they weren't loose or anything.

I put some graphite in the string guide. I then restrung the guitar with a new set of strings. Put them all on, stretched them, tuned the guitar and then stretched each one while plugged into the tuner until they could no longer stretch. I have never stretched a new set of strings this much in my life. I'm sure they are thoroughly stretched.

I played the guitar for a few minutes and it stayed in tune fine until I used the tremolo. When I pulled up on it it left the entire guitar sharp. Pushing down would put it back close to in tune but it certainly isn't right.

iThe entire roller bridge moves a bit when I use the tremolo. I think this could be the problem although I'm not sure what to do about it.

[Veenture]

I played the guitar for a few minutes and it stayed in tune fine until I used the tremolo. When I pulled up on it it left the entire guitar sharp. Pushing down would put it back close to in tune but it certainly isn't right.

Elisha, I had a similar (de)-tuning issue with my MIJ Kurokumo Mosrite.

Tuning issue:
First, I removed the socket from the trem-arm that had made it into a hard tail and put back the original spring that came with it. The spring turned out to be too weak for the new set of Ernie Ball Slinky's (10-46) that I installed. Dive bombs were fine but coming down from an upward move left the strings almost half a tone sharp! Replacing it with my Hallmark's reserve (heavier gauge) spring proved to be a good solution…job done!

–Paul

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[elisha wiesner]

Thanks,

I guess I will try a new spring and see if that helps. It's frustrating because It's such a cool guitar and sounds awesome, I just can't use the tremolo right now.

[Bob Shade]

It may be that the spring is just not working well enough. That would be worth a try.

I guess I will try a new spring and see if that helps. It's frustrating because It's such a cool guitar and sounds awesome, I just can't use the tremolo right now.[/quote]

[vibramutant1965]

guys, dont forget to put a leather or fiber washer between the arm and the fulcrum. you can lock the bridge down by threading the top of the posts, and using acorn nuts like the 1980s models.....

[elisha wiesner]

I got a new spring at the hardware store. It has helped a bit and I like the response it has better but the guitar still goes out of tune pretty quickly when using the trem. The whole roller bridge moves around a bit and I am guessing this is the problem. Does anyone know if there are replacement posts made that are threaded the whole way up so I can put a nut on them that will not require any modification to the vibramute?

[Bob Shade]

You can make your own version made from parts at your local hardware store. I have before.

[Veenture]

Make shure there is no play/slack in the spring. The spring also determines the distance between trem arm and guitar body.
What is the distance in yours? The tip of my trem arm sits about 5 cm above the guitar body (in playing position) which I find to be ideal for my needs.