Trem Spring Question

[messenger]

Can worn trem springs cause tuning issues (goes flat) with a floating trem?

 

[HilltopExplosion]

My Jackson Kelly pro is over 20 yrs old and has the original springs, actually it only has 3 out of the 5, and I don't have any tuning issues. My g string kept going flat, but it was the intonation hold down screw, it was letting it slip forward. I reset it, tightened it, no problems. My other guitars with floating Floyds are only 4 yrs old, no problems there either. All of them also have locking nuts.

I saw on here you get some new ones pretty cheap, worth a try.

 

[cardinal]

I suppose it's possible if they are so worn thatbthey've lost their springiness. But if the guitar is old enough to have worn springs, it seems more likely to me that the knife edges are gunky or worn. I'd try just cleaning them up and maybe putting some Chapstick the knife edges.

 

[messenger]

I've tightened everything up. I cleaned and put Chapstick on the knife edge. Still goes flat. If I pull up it'll some times come back a bit but not all the way. The guitar is 25 years old. Guess I'll check the knife edges and see if they're worn. Just it always goes flat. Never sharp.

 

[glip22]

Are your strings stretched? Is your Floyd set on a very slight angle backward? Seems to work best for me rather than perfectly level. Been doing this for years.It could be your edges or studs. Depends how much you use the bar.

 

[HilltopExplosion]

Is it just one string? Now that I think about it, mine did that a little while before it broke, and also once it slipped out of the string clamp. Don't know the proper name..

 

[AndyK]

One thing to look for - grooves worn into the nut - or string clamps. Especially on newer non-German Floyds. Grooves can cause the string to move at the nut causing tuning issues.

Also, make sure the springs aren't rubbing against the body, or even the ground wire.

 

[messenger]

Strings are strectched. Trem is parallel. It's all strings going flat. I don't think it's the clamps. I've tried pushing on string behind the nut and pitch doesn't change (maybe that's not a good test). It goes pretty flat with little to no bar use. Maybe I'll pull the trem and inspect the knife edges and put on fresh strings.

 

[MikeSoldano]

Sounds like the knife edges are worn. IMHO

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

I just picked up a Kramer Pacer Vintage in emerald green last week and already the Trem springs are squeaking.

The quality of these MIK floyds are way under par and quite annoying. Low quality alloy and the block is the tiniest I've ever seen, pathetic to say the least.

I had a MIK on my carvin which performed much better than this one. QC gone down ????

I'm Looking at replacing it with a MIG Floyd and some piece of mind knowing its good quality.

Dont know if id be satisfied with spring upgrades at this point.

 

[nevusofota]

Knife edges likely. Second guess is one or more string getting caught on a saddle or bridge.

 

[LanierP]

Try a few of these to rule out some possibilities. Rotate the springs. Also rotate the string clamps at the nut. I've even taken the claps and locked them down sideways( where the hump in the middle runs parallel with the nut). Also, when you put the string end into the trem, push the string all the way down to the bottom and hold it there while you tighten up. Make sure all the intonation screws on the saddle are tight. Do you have two or three springs loaded? I have a few guitars set up with 2, but most with 3. Maybe try one or the other to see if it helps. If you have 3 and go to 2, you'll naturally have to sink the trem spring claw deep into the guitar to get the trem to sit at the proper angle. 2 gives you a softer feel on the bar, is more prone to flutter, and will cause other strings to go flat much more when bending, but it does give a Floyd a more looser feel. All personal preference.
Of course the knife edges or studs may be worn. Hope you find the issue brother.

 

[JohnHurtt]

Probably not the springs, more likely the knife edge or simple binding somewhere. Make sure nothing is rubbing and that the knife edge is clean and unpitted. I've also seen issues with the clamp being worn, but that was a really old Floyd with tons of use.

 

[MikeSoldano]

Try a few of these to rule out some possibilities. Rotate the springs. Also rotate the string clamps at the nut. I've even taken the claps and locked them down sideways( where the hump in the middle runs parallel with the nut). Also, when you put the string end into the trem, push the string all the way down to the bottom and hold it there while you tighten up. Make sure all the intonation screws on the saddle are tight. Do you have two or three springs loaded? I have a few guitars set up with 2, but most with 3. Maybe try one or the other to see if it helps. If you have 3 and go to 2, you'll naturally have to sink the trem spring claw deep into the guitar to get the trem to sit at the proper angle. 2 gives you a softer feel on the bar, is more prone to flutter, and will cause other strings to go flat much more when bending, but it does give a Floyd a more looser feel. All personal preference.
Of course the knife edges or studs may be worn. Hope you find the issue brother.

Agree with all of this. Trems can be very finicky. Also make sure the string end is exactly in the middle of the saddle when you tighten down the string block. I can't count how many clients bring in their axes with Floyd problems and I see the strings all over the place in the saddles. In my opinion, the MIK Floyds (FRT 1000's), are pretty much on par with the Made in Germany Floyds of today, whose quality has gone way down in the past couple of years.

 

[JohnHurtt]

Try a few of these to rule out some possibilities. Rotate the springs. Also rotate the string clamps at the nut. I've even taken the claps and locked them down sideways( where the hump in the middle runs parallel with the nut). Also, when you put the string end into the trem, push the string all the way down to the bottom and hold it there while you tighten up. Make sure all the intonation screws on the saddle are tight. Do you have two or three springs loaded? I have a few guitars set up with 2, but most with 3. Maybe try one or the other to see if it helps. If you have 3 and go to 2, you'll naturally have to sink the trem spring claw deep into the guitar to get the trem to sit at the proper angle. 2 gives you a softer feel on the bar, is more prone to flutter, and will cause other strings to go flat much more when bending, but it does give a Floyd a more looser feel. All personal preference.
Of course the knife edges or studs may be worn. Hope you find the issue brother.

Agree with all of this. Trems can be very finicky. Also make sure the string end is exactly in the middle of the saddle when you tighten down the string block. I can't count how many clients bring in their axes with Floyd problems and I see the strings all over the place in the saddles. In my opinion, the MIK Floyds (FRT 1000's), are pretty much on par with the Made in Germany Floyds of today, whose quality has gone way down in the past couple of years.

Mike, that is a shame that the manufacturing quality of the German made Floyds are down. Have you heard of a reason?

 

[messenger]

Try a few of these to rule out some possibilities. Rotate the springs. Also rotate the string clamps at the nut. I've even taken the claps and locked them down sideways( where the hump in the middle runs parallel with the nut). Also, when you put the string end into the trem, push the string all the way down to the bottom and hold it there while you tighten up. Make sure all the intonation screws on the saddle are tight. Do you have two or three springs loaded? I have a few guitars set up with 2, but most with 3. Maybe try one or the other to see if it helps. If you have 3 and go to 2, you'll naturally have to sink the trem spring claw deep into the guitar to get the trem to sit at the proper angle. 2 gives you a softer feel on the bar, is more prone to flutter, and will cause other strings to go flat much more when bending, but it does give a Floyd a more looser feel. All personal preference.
Of course the knife edges or studs may be worn. Hope you find the issue brother.

Agree with all of this. Trems can be very finicky. Also make sure the string end is exactly in the middle of the saddle when you tighten down the string block. I can't count how many clients bring in their axes with Floyd problems and I see the strings all over the place in the saddles. In my opinion, the MIK Floyds (FRT 1000's), are pretty much on par with the Made in Germany Floyds of today, whose quality has gone way down in the past couple of years.

Are you THEE Mike Soldano?

 

[glip22]

Try a few of these to rule out some possibilities. Rotate the springs. Also rotate the string clamps at the nut. I've even taken the claps and locked them down sideways( where the hump in the middle runs parallel with the nut). Also, when you put the string end into the trem, push the string all the way down to the bottom and hold it there while you tighten up. Make sure all the intonation screws on the saddle are tight. Do you have two or three springs loaded? I have a few guitars set up with 2, but most with 3. Maybe try one or the other to see if it helps. If you have 3 and go to 2, you'll naturally have to sink the trem spring claw deep into the guitar to get the trem to sit at the proper angle. 2 gives you a softer feel on the bar, is more prone to flutter, and will cause other strings to go flat much more when bending, but it does give a Floyd a more looser feel. All personal preference.
Of course the knife edges or studs may be worn. Hope you find the issue brother.

Agree with all of this. Trems can be very finicky. Also make sure the string end is exactly in the middle of the saddle when you tighten down the string block. I can't count how many clients bring in their axes with Floyd problems and I see the strings all over the place in the saddles. In my opinion, the MIK Floyds (FRT 1000's), are pretty much on par with the Made in Germany Floyds of today, whose quality has gone way down in the past couple of years.

Are you THEE Mike Soldano?

I really don't think so. He is posting much better now and seems ok. When he first began posting he was bumping lots of threads with very simple replies. It seemed he just wanted to get to the 50 count like we have seen som eothers do.

 

[messenger]

Try a few of these to rule out some possibilities. Rotate the springs. Also rotate the string clamps at the nut. I've even taken the claps and locked them down sideways( where the hump in the middle runs parallel with the nut). Also, when you put the string end into the trem, push the string all the way down to the bottom and hold it there while you tighten up. Make sure all the intonation screws on the saddle are tight. Do you have two or three springs loaded? I have a few guitars set up with 2, but most with 3. Maybe try one or the other to see if it helps. If you have 3 and go to 2, you'll naturally have to sink the trem spring claw deep into the guitar to get the trem to sit at the proper angle. 2 gives you a softer feel on the bar, is more prone to flutter, and will cause other strings to go flat much more when bending, but it does give a Floyd a more looser feel. All personal preference.
Of course the knife edges or studs may be worn. Hope you find the issue brother.

Agree with all of this. Trems can be very finicky. Also make sure the string end is exactly in the middle of the saddle when you tighten down the string block. I can't count how many clients bring in their axes with Floyd problems and I see the strings all over the place in the saddles. In my opinion, the MIK Floyds (FRT 1000's), are pretty much on par with the Made in Germany Floyds of today, whose quality has gone way down in the past couple of years.

Are you THEE Mike Soldano?

I really don't think so. He is posting much better now and seems ok. When he first began posting he was bumping lots of threads with very simple replies. It seemed he just wanted to get to the 50 count like we have seen som eothers do.

Ah. Bummer. Would be cool to have Mike Soldano post here.