Problem with my Strat whammy bar

[Skel]

I have a problem where I screw my whammy bar handle in on my Strat, and the only way I can get it into the "right" position for me, is to screw it in too tight, then the guitar is kind of unstable as far as staying in tune. If I go backwards a full turn, it's just too loose.

Any ideas on how to remedy this?

Thanks

[202dy]

Most Strat players like the whammy bar to be loose. It is out of the way when they're not using it but can be accessed when they do. It is always in the same position: pointing to the ground. If you want it in a fixed position there are several options. One is to use some Locktite or CA glue. But the bar is no longer easily removable. The second is to put a spring in the hole in the inertia block. That will cause upward pressure on the bar and stiffen the feel and tend to allow it to rest in one position.

Why is the guitar unstable when the bar is in tight?

[Skel]

Thank you for the answer. Honestly I don't know why it's unstable. Strats just behave a little funky depending on tension levels. I also have the tremelo "blocked" I think is the term, where I have my tech guy move it all the way back. I still get some tremelo but the guitar stays in tune like a swiss watch. I guess it would also make sense to just try a few other handles. I am just a player who likes it "snug" tight but not too tight - if it's flimsy I'd rather take it off, just a quirk in my personality. And of course, I would need to be able to remove it when transporting it.

I need to learn what the intertia block is and then where I would get a spring (home depot I guess). Thanks again for the advice.

[202dy]

Instability in tuning is almost always a problem at the nut, not the tremolo. When the tremolo is depressed the strings go slack. The string binds in the nut and the slack is stored between the nut and tuning machines. Floyd Rose, Kahler, and some proprietary designs addressed the problem with the use of a locking nut. Fender uses locking tuning machines and ball or roller bearing nuts.

Blocking the tremolo is accomplished by placing hard wood blocks on the rear of the inertia block with double stick tape. Some luthiers will tape blocks front and rear. The inertia block is the block to which the bridge plate is attached. It is perpendicular to the bridge plate. The strings thread through it. It was named so by Leo Fender. It sometimes called a sustain block.

The spring can be obtained from any well stocked hardware store or home center.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by 202dy

Instability in tuning is almost always a problem at the nut, not the tremolo. When the tremolo is depressed the strings go slack. The string binds in the nut and the slack is stored between the nut and tuning machines. Floyd Rose, Kahler, and some proprietary designs addressed the problem with the use of a locking nut. Fender uses locking tuning machines and ball or roller bearing nuts.

Blocking the tremolo is accomplished by placing hard wood blocks on the rear of the inertia block with double stick tape. Some luthiers will tape blocks front and rear. The inertia block is the block to which the bridge plate is attached. It is perpendicular to the bridge plate. The strings thread through it. It was named so by Leo Fender. It sometimes called a sustain block.

The spring can be obtained from any well stocked hardware store or home center.

Ok - great info. If I remember correctly it's more that the guitar relatively changes pitch slightly when the bar is really tight. I didn't do a very good job of explaining. It doesn't go out of tune, but it *seems* like the guitar's pitch changes - it's still in tune, but maybe a half step or a step higher in pitch. Maybe just some WD-40 would make it so I didn't feel like I was exerting so much pressure to get it in the position I like it in, or maybe I just need to tighten it up and really re-examine whether it's changing pitch or not.

And if my "guitar tech" guy is not using blocks of wood, which he isn't (I better pull the cover off and check this), and just moving this inertia bar back all the way, what is he doing? I swear whatever doing that does keeps the guitar in tune 100% better.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by Skel

Ok - great info. If I remember correctly it's more that the guitar relatively changes pitch slightly when the bar is really tight. I didn't do a very good job of explaining. It doesn't go out of tune, but it *seems* like the guitar's pitch changes - it's still in tune, but maybe a half step or a step higher in pitch. Maybe just some WD-40 would make it so I didn't feel like I was exerting so much pressure to get it in the position I like it in, or maybe I just need to tighten it up and really re-examine whether it's changing pitch or not.

And if my "guitar tech" guy is not using blocks of wood, which he isn't (I better pull the cover off and check this), and just moving this inertia bar back all the way, what is he doing? I swear whatever doing that does keeps the guitar in tune 100% better.

A whammy bar that is tight in the block will not change the pitch of the guitar. It is a physical impossibility. The act of putting the bar in the block may cause the tremolo to move. If the bearing edge of the tremolo has a burr where it bears against the stud it can cause the tuning to be out of pitch. This is not unlike slack storage at the headstock. A half step out is fairly radical and a whole step is severe. American Standard Strat tremolos can rarely be set up to pull or dump much more than a minor third-three half steps. If the trem is blocked in one direction only then it might be possible to be slightly out. Properly blocked renders a trem equiped guitar a hard tail.

Do you rest your hand on the bridge when picking?

[Skel]

Originally Posted by 202dy

A whammy bar that is tight in the block will not change the pitch of the guitar. It is a physical impossibility. The act of putting the bar in the block may cause the tremolo to move. If the bearing edge of the tremolo has a burr where it bears against the stud it can cause the tuning to be out of pitch. This is not unlike slack storage at the headstock. A half step out is fairly radical and a whole step is severe. American Standard Strat tremolos can rarely be set up to pull or dump much more than a minor third-three half steps. If the trem is blocked in one direction only then it might be possible to be slightly out. Properly blocked renders a trem equiped guitar a hard tail.

Do you rest your hand on the bridge when picking?

You know what...Yes I do rest my hand as you asked and that's when I notice it varying in pitch relative to the tension levels of my hand dynamically changing as I play.

Thanks again for your input. Again though, really my "guitar tech" was just the guy who worked in the "Music Super Store' where I bought the guitar. He was a really nice guy and it seemed like he knew what he was doing, at least to a point, so not to take away from anything he did, but he's not a luthier like you. So what *is* accomplished when the inertia bar is moved all the way back like he did? Again, there is no doubt in my mind (unless I'm talking to you) that it makes the guitar stay in tune better like night and day.

[202dy]

Move your hand from the bridge. The problem will go away.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by 202dy

Move your hand from the bridge. The problem will go away.

You had to make this rocket science, didn't you.

[Skel]

202dy, I just moved my hand forward a little bit - problem solved. Thanks for your help, man. I really appreciate it.