Trem Springs Of Various Tensions

[MaxOfMetal]

I was just directed to this site by Boogieman over on the Ibanez forum, so if anyone posts over there, please drop him some thanks. This site provides trem springs in various tensions.

Their site:
musiccitymaniac.com

Their eBay store:
eBay Store: Search results for Music City Mania.

 

[adaman]

 

[JJ Rodriguez]

Is there any site that explains the differences that different tension springs will bring to your trem? For instance, it's obvious that using weaker springs means you have to use more of them, and screw the claw in further, but does that make the trem less stiff, or more since you have to use more springs and therefor move more metal? What about fluttering? More springs with less tension = better, or less springs with more tension?

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Is there any site that explains the differences that different tension springs will bring to your trem? For instance, it's obvious that using weaker springs means you have to use more of them, and screw the claw in further, but does that make the trem less stiff, or more since you have to use more springs and therefor move more metal? What about fluttering? More springs with less tension = better, or less springs with more tension?

Think of having higher-tension springs as kinda like having higher tension strings. They both effect the floating trem "seesaw" the same way. Think of these as a way to control how spongy or taught you want the trem to move. Like most things in the guitar world, there is no better, just different.

 

[JJ Rodriguez]

I meant better flutter, which is very measurable and quantifiable

I love the smooth trem action of having 9's, and the flutters are crazy, but the tension is nowhere near acceptable for decent picking for me.

Also, I've heard it's not just a matter of tension. Apparently, once a spring is already sprung (say that 5 times fast) ie, stretched, it's a lot easier to move it. So you have to wonder if you take 2 very high tension springs, how it will flutter vs 4 weak springs. Would a stretched spring warble more and give you more flutter, and be easier to dive since it's already stretched? Or would the weaker springs?

 

[MaxOfMetal]

I meant better flutter, which is very measurable and quantifiable

I love the smooth trem action of having 9's, and the flutters are crazy, but the tension is nowhere near acceptable for decent picking for me.

Also, I've heard it's not just a matter of tension. Apparently, once a spring is already sprung (say that 5 times fast) ie, stretched, it's a lot easier to move it. So you have to wonder if you take 2 very high tension springs, how it will flutter vs 4 weak springs. Would a stretched spring warble more and give you more flutter, and be easier to dive since it's already stretched? Or would the weaker springs?

To some "better flutter" means less flutter (i.e. more controlled).

You're right about once the spring is stretched (and the more so it is) the easier it will move overall. If you want a bouncier more flutter friendly feel, then more loose springs (opposed to fewer very taught ones) would be the way to go.

Though, if flutter isn't the goal, but for smoother more precise trem techniques (say Satch style trem "talking") a couple of very tight springs would be useful. They wouldn't have the same amount of "stretchiness" under tension, but would still allow for a good balanced set-up. They would still flutter, but it would just take more work.

 

[Nick1]

Ive experimented with several different springs. And the best ones Ive found are the Black ones that came on my Fender American Deluxe Strat and the Raw Vintage Tremolo Springs.

The black Fender springs are very soft. If you normally use 2 average tremolo springs you would most likely need 3 or 4 of the black Fender springs. These run about $12.00 for 5 of them.

The Raw Vintage ones are really expensive. The cost is about $20.00 for a set of 5 of them. But they do have a sort of warmer, louder, and a nice natural reverb to them that is quite pleasant. They are a partner company to Xotic Effects. (The guys who make the BB Preamp). So I guess the question would be are they worth the $20.00? Maybe not $20.00 but for $15.00 I guess.

Here is a link for both of them.........

Fender Springs.......

https://www.themusiczoo.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=1783

Raw Vintage Springs.......

Raw Vintage

 

[Bakerman]

Steel springs generally have very linear elasticity, i.e. don't actually get any easier or more difficult to stretch after being stretched some initial amount.

The total of the spring constants is what changes the feel. 2 springs that each have a constant of 20 lb/inch will function almost identically to 4 springs with constants of 10 lb/inch. If the values are different and one group has a higher total of constants, that group will produce a stiffer feel. So you really need to know the constants or test the springs to know what type of change there will be, if any.

 

[djpharoah]

JJ I've found less springs with more tension is a lot better than more springs with lesser tension.