Yep! Been setting up trems on "affordable" guitars for years. Even High End Guitars with the traditional style Vibrato Bridges need a little loving attention to make them perform to their very best. (All of mine are also set up for the "Floating" option)
Many thanks for that - I got so fed up with mine I disabled the trem altogether. It's due for a string change so I'll follow your advice at the same time.
For anyone struggling to keep your trem stabilised it's exactly like John says, eliminate friction and any points where the string can get caught. On my Charvel I actually bypassed the string trees altogether as it has staggered height locking tuners and the break angle over the nut is fine without the need for the retainers. Nut lube is a bonus but make sure your nut slots are cut properly and not pinching your stings.
Great tech job, John. I'm more of a cheapskate than you... I use a chippy's pencil for the nut and remove the centre spring from the trem. Works for me! Butterfly string trees tho... they just have to go. I over did it on a trem once, admittedly on a very cheap guitar and nearly had my eye out when the B string was sheared by the string tree! Thanks for another great vid.
Got 2 Squiers, never go out of tune! Here's how- 2 post bridge, 2 good quality springs arranged in the V shape, float the Trem bridge, clock oil on the nut. That's it and i can bend it like a Floyd.
I've got a two point floating term on my G&L, but I fitted a Tusq string tree and its worked a treat. I also re-discovered the technique of giving the term a sharp, quick wobble, which pulls it back into tune after much bending.
On my '90's MIJ Squire Silver Series I polished the saddles, string retainer, nut and lubed with graphite. As well as the PTFE tape trick I added a Fender trim spring in the socket and replaced the back springs. Rarely gets out of tune. a great design for the period.
Good job sorting it out! I wonder if those Fender springs that drop in the trem arm mount hole will work for a Squier? The Teflon tape works fine for cheap, though.
Re: trem arm tension springs are available cheaply also a 4mm ball bearings(according to depth of block, Sam Deeks has the best tutorial for setting a floating trem using a post-it pad and a tuner!, it never fails on any trem ive tried his method
@@JRobsonGuitar i dont think i explained there is a tiny spring that drops down into trem block then you screw arm in ,no need for p.t.f.e ,strats new used to come with them with a foil seal over the hole.
That's what I used on my Strat when the trem arm threads got worn. You can get them from guitar parts suppliers for not much money. I used a fairly robust spring from an old ballpoint pen, cut a small section off it and dropped it down the hole. It's probably been there 20 years and still does the job.
Great vid! I have one of these in black. Just ordered replacement string tree. Already use the ptfe tape trick and lube trick. Next I will sort the term firings out which I was worried about as I wrongly thought it’d be more difficult to keep a budget Strat in tune with a looser feel term. 👍🏼🎸
I had arguments that the right trem set up, you can get the Trem to work and not put the guitar out tune as soon you touch the arm. My Player strat has not dropped out of tune when playing for a couple of years now. Bar the usual checks I done each week or before I start playing.
Nice Gilmour/Mini Me demo! I know how to fix a Squier trem, just block it. Your recent Strat demos are making me miss that 3/4 position that my Lead II can't do.
That was very Gilmouresque. I really like that guitar and enjoy watching you play it. Sounds great.
Cheers mate 👍
What can I say? I'm a hardtail kind of player. My 60s CV Strat has the block locked down. Works for me, but I do wish for a hardtail.
My thoughts exactly.
Did the same to an old strat type I restored a while back. Works a treat for my needs.
Tasty playing - sounds as good as an American Strat to my ears!!!
Cheers mate 👍
Yep! Been setting up trems on "affordable" guitars for years. Even High End Guitars with the traditional style Vibrato Bridges need a little loving attention to make them perform to their very best. (All of mine are also set up for the "Floating" option)
Love the solo. Great video.
Many thanks for that - I got so fed up with mine I disabled the trem altogether. It's due for a string change so I'll follow your advice at the same time.
For anyone struggling to keep your trem stabilised it's exactly like John says, eliminate friction and any points where the string can get caught. On my Charvel I actually bypassed the string trees altogether as it has staggered height locking tuners and the break angle over the nut is fine without the need for the retainers. Nut lube is a bonus but make sure your nut slots are cut properly and not pinching your stings.
I even put a spot of grease on each saddle.
Great tech job, John. I'm more of a cheapskate than you... I use a chippy's pencil for the nut and remove the centre spring from the trem. Works for me! Butterfly string trees tho... they just have to go. I over did it on a trem once, admittedly on a very cheap guitar and nearly had my eye out when the B string was sheared by the string tree! Thanks for another great vid.
The sound on the neck pickup was spot on John, nice one mate.
Got 2 Squiers, never go out of tune! Here's how- 2 post bridge, 2 good quality springs arranged in the V shape, float the Trem bridge, clock oil on the nut. That's it and i can bend it like a Floyd.
I've got a two point floating term on my G&L, but I fitted a Tusq string tree and its worked a treat. I also re-discovered the technique of giving the term a sharp, quick wobble, which pulls it back into tune after much bending.
On my '90's MIJ Squire Silver Series I polished the saddles, string retainer, nut and lubed with graphite. As well as the PTFE tape trick I added a Fender trim spring in the socket and replaced the back springs. Rarely gets out of tune. a great design for the period.
Hardtail rules! 😉
😂
Rule 1 and the only rule: String through body
I'm a humbucker guy. I do have Deluxe Nashville Tele to cover the other bases.
Good job sorting it out! I wonder if those Fender springs that drop in the trem arm mount hole will work for a Squier? The Teflon tape works fine for cheap, though.
Re: trem arm tension springs are available cheaply also a 4mm ball bearings(according to depth of block, Sam Deeks has the best tutorial for setting a floating trem using a post-it pad and a tuner!, it never fails on any trem ive tried his method
Cheers mate 👍
@@JRobsonGuitar i dont think i explained there is a tiny spring that drops down into trem block then you screw arm in ,no need for p.t.f.e ,strats new used to come with them with a foil seal over the hole.
Brill ,thanks John I recently bought the Harley Benton ST70 black paisley with a similar problem so thanks for the tip
... or a retention spring in the trem hole.
That's what I used on my Strat when the trem arm threads got worn. You can get them from guitar parts suppliers for not much money. I used a fairly robust spring from an old ballpoint pen, cut a small section off it and dropped it down the hole. It's probably been there 20 years and still does the job.
Bridge Roller saddles work well I used some on a Squier.
Great vid! I have one of these in black. Just ordered replacement string tree. Already use the ptfe tape trick and lube trick. Next I will sort the term firings out which I was worried about as I wrongly thought it’d be more difficult to keep a budget Strat in tune with a looser feel term. 👍🏼🎸
Nice sound that ….
I had arguments that the right trem set up, you can get the Trem to work and not put the guitar out tune as soon you touch the arm. My Player strat has not dropped out of tune when playing for a couple of years now. Bar the usual checks I done each week or before I start playing.
I had two player series strats. One was the worst guitar I’ve ever owned and the other is a lifer. Strange how the Mexican conveyor belt works.
Nice Gilmour/Mini Me demo! I know how to fix a Squier trem, just block it. Your recent Strat demos are making me miss that 3/4 position that my Lead II can't do.
Why not get a self-lubricating GraphTech nut? It's $15. First thing I do on all of my guitars is install a GraphTech nut.
A bit beyond my ham fisted, butter fingered skill level 👍