Can someone explain this problem please ?

[wolf]

After every few months of playing my Drop Top, always with the same strings ( Ernie ball RPS 10's ) I check the set up to find the action has raised.

The Truss rod rarely needs adjusting, so it doesn't seem to be movement related.

I lower the saddles to re-set the action height but this also changes the angle of the trem, so I have to fiddle with the rear springs to get it all perfect again.

Few months later.. same thing !!

It's doing my head in because I can't explain why it's happening ( doesn't happen with my other guitars, all used and kept in identical circumstances ) and it's a pain to get the set up right each time.

Any ideas ??????????????????????????

[wolf]

By the way, I like my trem raised slightly and tilted slightly forward to allow for smoother vibrato,.... I never dive bomb a trem!

I only use it for vibrato and to slur into occasional notes.

[tom]

the only things it could be are neck adjustment, neck attachment screws loose, string tension change, or weakening trem springs. neck adjustment would be my first look.

[wolf]

Hi Tom, how was the camping trip ??

When you say neck adjustment, are you referring to the truss rod ?

If so, when the problem arises , the rod doesn't seem to need any adjusting, seems very stable.

I'm hearing from others that the African rosewood fingerboard on mine may not be stable, but surely if that was the case the rod would need constant adjustment ?

[pipedwho]

What Tom means by neck adjustment is the bolts that hold the neck to the body need to be checked along with any possible inconsistencies in the neck joint area.

If the African rosewood fingerboard was causing the problem, the relief/truss rod would need adjusting.

[tom]

camping was nice. the dogs get lots of attention but are exhausted when we get home from all the walks and all night guard duty of the tent.
i did mean truss rod adjustment would be my first place to look.
if there was a problem with the fingerboard, the neck would be going with it, so if it's not needing a neck adjustment then it's not that.
any time i've seen saddle screws vibrate loose, they have had a lowering affect, so it's not that if the action is going up.
if the neck screws were coming loose, it would have to be the ones closest to the end of the body. so check those.
most likely thing now would seem to be the trem springs since you have it floating.
when it has happened, have you noticed if the guitar is tuned flat?

[wolf]

Tom, yes it does seem to settle slightly flat when not in use.

I don't notice on stage because i check and fine tune between songs but when at home, it does seem to be flat whenever I pick it up.

I'll swap the springs and see if that helps.

Thanks for the suggestion. :D

[tom]

unless the whole guitar is shrinking symmetrically, i think that would be it:D

[wolf]

Guys, I swapped my trem springs out for the new Raw Vintage springs.

I installed the set of 5 , as recommended, and I gotta say WOW !!!

Not only is my tuning stable again but the guitar sounds bigger and sustains much better.

£15 very well spent, so much so, I bought another set immediately for my spare guitar with equally impressive results.

Try 'em !! :D :D :D :D