3 or 5 springs?

[monterosso]

I made an experiment, I put extra two springs to my tremolo bridge in my swamp ash hollow classic and i think the tone improved a lot! It got more bass and sustain, it's very stable now and doesn't go out of tune so much as set up with three springs, any experience on that?

What would you say is better for you?

ps. I have a Powerbridge tremolo, Is there a steel block on it? It's black and i don't really know what material is that, I heard opinion that the regular tom anderson tremolo bridge sounds a lot better than the powerbridge, Is it because of the block?

[tom]

they both have steel blocks. the fishman saddle has a little tone of it's own. a bit of high end sizzle. the ferraglides we use now are a bit warmer sounding. as for how many springs, for me it's more a matter of feel. it's hard to make smooth floaty feel with 5 springs.

[monterosso]

thx for reply

for me the feel of 5 springs is more like with classic 6screw bridges, is a bit harder to operate but more stable.

and definately bass increased ;]

[monterosso]

will i be able to use ferraglides keeping the piezo system working?

[tom]

no you will not.

[fusgtr]

For me definetely 3 springs and the bridge adjusted to be able to reverse a half-step.
I like to have the bridge a bit float just to have vibrato with the arm not only with my fingers.

[dannopelli]

For me definetely 3 springs and the bridge adjusted to be able to reverse a half-step.
I like to have the bridge a bit float just to have vibrato with the arm not only with my fingers.

+1 on that.

[guitarzan]

+1 on that.

yup. me too. I'm a "wiggler", according to Tom. A little whammy makes everything feel like there's an extra helping of JuJu on it.

[monterosso]

well... i have my bridge set up in floating position with 5 springs. I didnt think it was possible before i done it ;] It works for me really.

[dannopelli]

well... It works for me really.

That's is all that really matters!

[Pietro]

3 springs? 5 springs? I found the solution in my PRS.

4 springs!

[tom]

or a bigsby, 1 spring.

[fusgtr]

3 springs? 5 springs? I found the solution in my PRS.

4 springs!


or a bigsby, 1 spring.

LOL!!!

So......we have to cover the remaining option!!!
i have to say that in my Fender strat '88 i have 2 springs!!! with '10s i find it kind of "not comfortable" to bent them with the original bridge (maybe is the kind of "vintage radius"), so i removed one spring and the remained two are in the 2nd and 4th hole...
Yap :)

[Janine Doubly]

It also depends on the gauge string you use. I use four springs and it doesn't require much to move it. But, this is because I use .011 - .052's, so it evens out.

[Pietro]

We need a 6-spring vintage trem. Tom, you ever tried that.

;-P

[dpeterson]

old eddie says 3 :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2713528427_0a41906106_o.jpg

dave

[m_lance]

A while back, I had Bruce set up my Classic for 11s (originally 10s). He asked me how many springs I wanted and I told him I had no idea. He said he recommends 3 for 9s and 10s, 4 for 11s, and 5 for 12s & up.

Didn't sound like a rule ... just his recommendation ... but I always do what he recommends and my Andersons play like they're brand new.

[Mister T]

old eddie says 3 :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2713528427_0a41906106_o.jpg

dave


That is how I have always arranged the springs in all of my trem guitars

[yeskeys]

I'm runnin on 2 springs and it's sweet and slinky.