Help! Spring tension too tight on Suhr Modern

[Lord Toneking]

I have an awesome playing Suhr Modern satin with a floyd rose. I have the trem blocked and a D-tuna installed and am in standard tuning. I only have two springs installed and they're in a 'V' configuration.

The problem is that when I dive with the bar it's VERY stiff feeling. I've loosened the claw as much as possible but it's still too stiff. I have a music man axis that only has two springs (and a dive only floyd) but it feels super spongy when diving...but returns to -0- without issues. Stays in tune, and the d-tuna works flawlessly.

My Suhr has an original floyd rose and not the Gotoh. I ordered new Gotoh trem springs but it's still too stiff feeling when I dive. Aside from this the guitar is perfect. I just want the trem to feel softer...or more gushy if that makes sense?

Any ideas??

Thanks

 

[dpeterson]

Try some original floyd springs, or swap out the ones in the axis just to see.. might just have to swap em out till you find the right feel.

 

[shredhead7]

Spring tensions are different with different springs. You can order different tensions online. It's really easy to swap springs, just a point of caution though. I used needle nosed pliers to install a set on one of my guitars and the spring end slipped out of the pliers and it caused my arm to jerk back, which gouged the back of my guitar. The guitar had some battle scars, so while I was pissed, I got over it. If it was a $2500 Suhr, I would have Hulk smashed something for sure.

 

[BackCrack]

Keep the claw extended to where you have it now and try 3 regular Fender strat springs, one in the middle and two on the outside. Then adjust the claw so the Floyd rests lightly against the trem block. Tighten the claw a little more if you don't want the Floyd to rise during string bends. I've found that regular strat springs are made of thinner material, and it helped my Floyd'd guitars dive smoother. Also, it helps to put a little dab of some kind of lube at the knife edges every once in a while.

 

[SpiderWars]

To elaborate on what backcrack suggested, set the claw such that when you do a big (like step and a half) bend on the third string/17th fret...the tremolo doesn't rise or just barely rises. That should make the tuning stable for almost all bends yet still have a nice buttery feel for dives.

And if you're gonna buy springs, you can get noiseless springs with several different tension ratings.