Guitar spring question

[jake-owa]

Ok, I have a cheap strat imitation (crate). I actually like the playability of it, it's really not bad. My real gripe is the springs in the back ring out after stacatto notes. It sounds like some really bad reverb. I don't use the steenkin' tremolo on the thing is there a way to fix this crappy ring. Should I fasten the saddle to the guitar body?

I know some of you have had this problem, what did you do?

 

[TheGuitarMan]

The trem springs or the saddle? If it's the trem springs just tighten up those suckers as tight as you can.

 

[jake-owa]

They are tight. The trem is flat to the body of the guitar. I still get a low muddy raaaaaangg.

 

[Evildick]

Since you don't use the tremelo. You can do the same thing I did to my strat. Go to http://www.stewmac.com and get more springs for your tremelo. They're about $1.50 each or cheaper (memories a little vague at the moment) and add those to the existing springs. I use four. If you want everything nice and tight, you can also place a small block of wood between the tremelo base and the body cavity to lock it in place like a hardtail.

 

[jimistone]

i use 5 springs on my strat and i DO use the tremelo. i have never had a problem with ringing.....never heard the trem springs ringing on a strat set up with 3 springs either. that must be a problem unique to the crate strat copy.

what i would do is take the back plate of the guitar to get access to the springs, plug it into the amp and put my hand on the springs and strum it. if there is no change in the ring...it ain't the springs.
the usual culprit of a ringing or rattling problem is the keys....especially on cheap guitars. try wrapping a bandana around the keys and see if it still rings.

i saw a cover band not too long ago and the bass player was playing a hondo....he had the customary bandana wovenaround his keys
lol

 

[philboyd studge]

I use 5 springs in mine and I can't remember where I got them but they are a lot better quality than what came with the guitar. Maybe Stewart-MacDonald.

Since you don't use the trem, maybe some foam in there would work.

 

[Sigma9]

the solution is simple.....

People, people ! ! more springs isnt going to solve the problem. Why should he have to give up the tension he likes, even if he doesnt use the whammy? I had the same problem with Spring Reverb, heres what i did. Go to a stationary store near you and score one of those old school erasers that looks like a slanted rectangle, isnt there a name for that shape, good god... anyway glue that puppy behind your springs and there ya go. The space between the wood and springs should be just the right size to fit the eraser, if not shimmy up!

 

[64Firebird]

I thought that was just part of the Strat sound, part of the charm.