Blocking a Floating Trem
In this article we will take a look at a quick way
to sort out some floating trem problems. This quick
fix does however limit some trem functionality. (Check the site
later for an article on the Hipshot Trem-Setter, a device that
also fixes some trem problems, but doesn't limit functionality as
much) The point of this operation is to stop the
trem from floating, also stopping the player from raising
the strings in pitch with the whammy bar. The pros
and cons look like this: Pros:
Guitar stays in tune
better when a string breaks
No "Zero Point" so tuning is easier and more stable
Can possibly down tune a single string without affecting the rest
of the guitar.
Don't lock the nuts, and basically have a hard tail guitar with
fine tuners.
Potential gains in tone and sustain (You will have to use your own
ears for this one)
Easier and more accurate bends
Improvement with double stop bends.
Cons:
You can't use any whammy techniques that require a raising in
pitch.
(There are ways around this. Check out Eddie Van Halen's playing)
The mod is semi-permanent. i.e. You will need a saw, chisel or
router to remove it once done. There are possibly
more cons to this, but I can't think of any right now. When I tune
guitars with this mod, any thought of cons go out this window. It
just makes life so much easier.
Before you start, make sure that the sting height of the guitar is
set the way you like it. PLEASE
NOTE: If you are unsure of guitar repair, take your axe to a
repair shop and let a trained professional do the job. If you
decide to do the job yourself, remember to work with all tools and
materials SAFELY. Also see our terms of use Right, lets get on with
how to do the mod.
Firstly, you will need the following:
1. Pieces of hardwood (mahogany etc) An off-cut should do fine if
it is roughly the right size.
Approximate measurements: 7cm x 2cm x 2cm
2. Epoxy Glue. Read the instructions carefully!
3. A saw and table sander to trim the block with. Basically any
suitable tools can be used here to trim the block of wood to size.
4. Screwdrivers and Allen Keys (All the tools you usually need to
remove the strings and the trem unit itself)
Now that you have all that, remove the strings from the guitar,
carefully remove the springs in the back of the guitar trem
cavity, and lift the tremolo unit out of the guitar. Now is a
great time to clean and lubricate it if you have the time.
You will be gluing the block to the neck side of the trem cavity,
so measure the thickness of the body inside the trem cavity here
while the trem is removed. Measure the width of the inertia block
on the trem. Trim the block to those sizes in the mean time. See
the picture below if the description is unclear.
Now that you have a block of wood roughly the right length and
width, lets get to work on the thickness. This is the most
important bit of the cutting and trimming.
Position the trem on its studs as if you were refitting it, hold
the trem there, but don't put it all back together yet.
Slip the shim you created between the inertia block and the body
as shown above. Make sure the the face of the block on the neck
side has enough body wood to rest on.
Once you are happy with the position of the block, check the angle
of the bridge. If the bridge is too far forward from the proper
"parallel to the body" position, sand the block until
the bridge is level. If the bridge is too far back (as if the
whammy is pulled up) Your shim is too thin, get a thicker piece of
wood and start again.
Once you are happy that the bridge will be in the proper position
with the shim in place, you can use your epoxy to glue the shim to
the guitar body. Make sure that the glue has not spilled etc.
Let the epoxy cure as per the glue instruction. If the block needs
to be clamped in place, simply fit the trem with a single spring.
This should hold the block in place firmly enough. Make sure that
doing this has not moved the block. Take note that you are not
gluing the block to the trem!
Once the glue has cured, properly refit the bridge, restring the
guitar and tune to pitch.
Now for some minor adjustments: Pull up on
the bar gently and check if the trem is allowing a raise in pitch.
If the trem still allows a slight raise in pitch, tighten the claw
springs a little until pulling up no longer changes pitch.
Tighten the spring claw screws so that reasonably high bends on
any string do not cause the bridge to pull up and send the other
strings out of tune.
That's it, done. A blocked tremolo. To my mind, this is a cheap
and easy way to fix problems with floating bridges of the Floyd
Rose and Licensed variety.
Remember, if you are unsure of how to do this mod, don't do it.
Have it done by someone who knows what they are doing.
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