strat users - only 2 springs if not using the bar?

[appar111]

Anyone non-bar using strat players just 2 springs with the claw screwed all the way in for your setup?

I'm not really a trem user, and currently have my strat set up with 5 springs and decked with 11-49's. Thinking of going back down to 10's for a more slinky/greasy stratty feel and only using 2 springs, but keeping the claw pulled in. (regular springs, not the Raw Vintage ones w/ the looser tension).

When I first put this strat together it had 9's, 2 springs and just barely decked (enough so it wouldn't go flat on double stop bends), and I want to head back in that general direction for the feel on this strat.

Do you think I'm going to lose anything substantial in the sound by using less springs if the bridge is still decked (albeit barely)?

[jcthejester13]

Anyone non-bar using strat players just 2 springs with the claw screwed all the way in for your setup?

I'm not really a trem user, and currently have my strat set up with 5 springs and decked with 11-49's. Thinking of going back down to 10's for a more slinky/greasy stratty feel and only using 2 springs, but keeping the claw pulled in. (regular springs, not the Raw Vintage ones w/ the looser tension).

When I first put this strat together it had 9's, 2 springs and just barely decked (enough so it wouldn't go flat on double stop bends), and I want to head back in that general direction for the feel on this strat.

Do you think I'm going to lose anything substantial in the sound by using less springs if the bridge is still decked (albeit barely)?

This all describes me. I love the tone and feel of my strat with 2 springs and no bar.

[ErikH]

With the tension from 10's and 11's, you may need 3 springs minimum. That's with the claw screwed in almost all the way. Any less and the string tension could lift the bridge off the body.

[jtougas]

^^What he said.

[appar111]

that's what I was wondering-- depends on if I screw the claw truly all the way in, and how stiff those springs are.

I'll try it w/ 10's and see where it gets me. Worse case is I add the 3rd spring and pull the claw back out a bit to keep the trem flat on the body and still get similar spring tension as I would've gotten w/ 9's and 2 springs.

[ratherdashing]

If you have the trem decked (block is flat against the body) it doesn't really matter how many springs you use.

I've never used less than three personally, and I don't really get the point.

[appar111]

Tried 10's at Eb with 2 springs and no dice-- still floated even with the claw all the way in.

3 springs and the claw backed out, and I'm golden, even with the 10-46's at pitch. Left it tight enough so that I can get those slight Neil Young-ish chord falling sound, but the bar's fairly stiff. This is fine as I don't want adjacent strings to go flat when doing double stops.

Feels much more "stratty" now. Haven't even plugged in yet, but I'm confident it will sound more stratty with 10's than it did w/ 11's.

[GuitarDoc]

With 10s, and no bar, I keep it flat and with 5 springs. I do lot's of big bends and don't want adjacent strings going flat. With 9s, I could be tempted to go with just three springs.

[LtKojak]

With 10s, and no bar, I keep it flat and with 5 springs. I do lot's of big bends and don't want adjacent strings going flat. With 9s, I could be tempted to go with just three springs.

I too use 5 springs, 11-52 strings.

LOVE the tone!

[Bludave]

If you don't use the Trem, then why are you concerned with the spring tension? Just put a block behind the bridge and be done with it!

[JeffB]

Only time I have seen 2 springs is on KK downings strats with 8s, and slightly lifted off the body.

Probably feels great like a.PRS trem, but wouldnt work for me.

FWIW, I went from decked 5 springs to 3, and the only thing that changed was the sound of the springs reverberating..now it doesnt. Before there was a very perceptible rattle of the springs. I do on occasion use the bar for hank marvinish type vibrato, but thats about it.

[ErikH]

Last night I restrung my Focus 2000 with 10's and while tuning up, forgot that I had 2 springs in it. It was strung with 9's and that's all it needed though 3 would have been OK too. I had to back out the claw and add another spring to keep it from lifting. I wondered at first why it kept going flat while tuning...LOL. It feels really good with 10's on it. It's got a OFR too.

[jcthejester13]

Sorry.

I don't know where my head was at. I meant 3 springs. I use 3 springs, claw all the way in, and no bar.

[JordanM82]

I am on 10's with 3 springs, the trem flat against the body and I use it occasionally to bring pitch down... but it's rare these days... I find I am using it less and less which I thin is weird...

[jcthejester13]

I am on 10's with 3 springs, the trem flat against the body and I use it occasionally to bring pitch down... but it's rare these days... I find I am using it less and less which I thin is weird...

Hell yeah! 10s with 3 springs!

[Christopher Caruana]

no bar used on my strat. strung up with 10's, tremolo flush mounted and 5 springs! lovely sustain and full tone

[Pierre]

...

If you have too little tension in the springs, a bend will lift the bridge up.
Which means that if you do a lot of doublestop bends, your un-bent strings will be out of tune. And that IS something you can correct simply by having more springs so that: spring tension > = string tension.

That simple. There IS a difference if you deck the trem.

Edit: The Doc already said it! Nice.

[ItsaBass]

If I don't want the vibrato, I use zero springs. I put a block of wood between the block and the rear wall of the vibrato cavity.

I guess if I wanted the springiness of a vibrato, but would never use the arm, I might try two springs and leaving it floating.

[Pierre]

If you don't use springs, you lose conductivity between the trem claw where the ground wire is and you (via the strings). I'd put at least one in there.

[ItsaBass]

If you don't use springs, you lose conductivity between the trem claw where the ground wire is and you (via the strings). I'd put at least one in there.

No need. I remove the claw entirely, and put the ground wire between the vibrato block and the piece of wood that I put in there to block the vibrato. I've also put the ground wire between the vibrato plate and block, and into one of the spring holes on the block, wedged in with a bent over piece of a paper clip. The method I first described seems to be a good compromise between the positive contact of the second method and the ease of the third.