Charvel SoCal String Action Help!

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River City Studios

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Hey Everybody,

I have a Charvel strat I put together with made in USA parts I bought off Ebay a year or so ago. The only thing different from a stock Charvel SoCal, from a string action standpoint anyway, is the German Floyd and Floyd Upgrades Big Block I put on it. Strange thing is, the string tension seems extremely tight as compared to my other strats (Fender Floyd Rose Classic USA and a Fender USA standard Strat) that are set up for standard E tuning. The action is low. The intonation is perfect. The neck is straight. I've been playing and setting up my own guitars for 28 years! Never had a problem . . . until now. :confused: This thing is so tight, I have new blisters forming on my fingers! :doh: I know I can drop the tuning to E flat for a little relief, but I don't really want to do that on this guitar. Anybody ever had this problem before? Any insight would be appreciated.

Regards,

--Dan S.
 
How many springs you have on it? Maybe try some looser springs. I had one guitar that was so tight and I ended up using only two springs. Of course you have to readjust your claw ect. At some point I think I will be able to add another when they loosen up.
 
Check the scale length of the guitar....and from the sounds of it ...should be in the 25.5" region.....if it's longer than that the string tension will feel tighter. Since it looks as though you use that scale of guitar...thats where I'd look. one other place to check but it's minimal is the neck relief of your other guitars..if you have more relief on your other guitars they will feel a bit looser but like I said it's minimal but noticable.
 
kurtsstuff":3fubola2 said:
Check the scale length of the guitar....and from the sounds of it ...should be in the 25.5" region.....if it's longer than that the string tension will feel tighter. Since it looks as though you use that scale of guitar...thats where I'd look
Click to expand...

+1

Seems it may be longer somehow which is increasing the stiffness.
 
I've fought with guitars over the years with this myself. I'm assuming your scale length's correct, how many springs do you have on the Floyd? I've found taking it from 3 to 2 springs and driving the claw in seems to loosen the tension a bit, IMO. Also swapping the springs themselves has occasionally helped. Steal 2 out of an older guitar and screw the plate in and re-set your floyd. Hope it helps!

OH, try a different string manufactuer... :yes:

H
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Measured it. 25.5". Not sure how changing the springs will help. They have to be at a specific tension to keep the floyd in a particular position at standard E tuning, right? Fewer springs reduces the tension, but tightening the claw increases it. :confused:

Hate to give up on this thing, but I hate playing it.
 
Trust me, different springs can majorly loosen up that tension. If i'm not mistaken, the black Fender springs have a looser tension and those are what i use on my trem loaded guitars.

Also i agree about going with 2 springs for less tension. You'll have to tighten up the claw in the back a bit, but it will help.

There is no reason that a 9-42 loaded guitar should feel stiff after those adjustments.. If it still feels stiff after that, get the thing in to a qualified tech and see what they can do.
 
Weird, I had this problem as well. It was actually hurting my wrist quite a bit so I HAD to put it in Eb. After that it didn't bother me anymore.

Most of my guitars I keep in D with 10's. I finally did that to the Charvel and haven't had a problem since.

I don't know why this guitar was so much different. People are blaming the springs, but that doesn't make sense because I have 26.5" guitars with hardtail bridges tuned in E with 10's and they give me no problems.
 
Cracked it open and pulled out a spring (went from 3 to 2). It plays great now! :thumbsup: Thanks for all the help everyone! Rig Talk Rules! :rock:
 
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