How many tremsprings on a strat?

[Taoistguitarist]

I like my strat's bridge flush against the body but i want it to be as responsive as possible. which of these options would give me the least resistance when using the trem?

i have 5 springs that aren't too stretched. just enough for the bridge to rest on the body. but i see a lot of strats with only 3 springs that are stretched to compensate for the string tension. 

I know both setups can be adjusted so that the bridge will  still rest on the body
but i just want to know which one of these two would you guys prefer on a dive only setup on a strat.  Thanks guys

[Taoistguitarist]

hey hey hey! help!

[toybitz]

I couldn't vote Bro...I always use 4 springs and I rarely dive.

[stringman]

3 is ok na adjust tension lang.

[Taoistguitarist]

3 is ok na adjust tension lang.

ano yung lamang ng ganito as opposed to 5 springs?

[toybitz]

mas stable ang trem. almost fixed brigde na so mas merong sustain?

[mikep]

Dan Erlewine from his book "Guitar Player Repair Guide" suggests that the bottom of the tremolo plate should be 3/32" off the top of the body of the guitar (measurements from underside of tremolo plate and top of the guitar).  He says, 3 or 4 springs are plenty and the claw hook should be adjusted to get the proper tremolo feel.  Everything depends on the gauge of the strings you are using.  For 9s to medium type strings, 3 to 4 is okay.

FWIW

[sonnyrayvaughn]

if im gonna put 5 tremstrings in my strat, I think its better that I just block it altogether... itll be too stiff to use the tremolo anyway, kaya block na lang with a good slab of wood...madadagdagan pa ng mass at more contact on wood yun strings, hence, better sustain.

but since i use the occasional tremolo push downs, 3 springs work for me.

[burnsbhm]

3 sa akin. Pag 4 or 5 masiyado nang matigas sa akin.

On my Strat, I usually set the claw just enough for the tremolo plate to sit flush the body. Not too tight but not too loose either. Hindi kasi ako makatugtog ng walang trem bar. It is an essential part of my style.

[mahavishnu]

5 springs tapos sikip sa 2 screws.. pag tinatamad or walang spring na spare, hina hardtail ko with a piece of wood.

[lao]

dati when i had my strat, i used all 5 springs, heavy gauged strings kasi

[stringman]

3 is ok na adjust tension lang.

ano yung lamang ng ganito as opposed to 5 springs?

Masyado na yata matigas ang rebound nang trem pag 5 springs. Pero depende na nga yan sa tension nang spring mo.

[rondalla rockstar]

5 springs.

floating.

13 flats.

[Taoistguitarist]

current setup ko kasi 5 springs pero malapit lang yung tremclaw. ok naman. i compared it to my Floyded guitar(flush to the body din). and mas mtaigas lang ito ng konti.

i tried using 3 springs lang and i tightened the tremclaw. mukang malambot yung springs ko. sarap sana nung feel kaso semi floating na sya. Meaning i hear the raise in pitch when i pull the trembar up even if mukhang naka rest sya sa body. i tried 4 springs: ganun din semi floating pa rin. so i went back to my old setup na 5 na malapit yung tremclaw. no raise in pitch when pulling up and ok naman sya for dives. medyo mas matigas lang sya compared to my floyd.

pero thanks for helping!!

[namida]

I am yet to find a trem bar for mine so i havent tried doing dives with it. But currently, I have 3 springs and screws driven all the way down. will that setup be suitable for riding the trem bar from time to time?

[greasykid]

I use 4 on my guitar para lang hindi mawala sa tono pag nagbe-bend ako ng strings.  Bad trip kasi dati nagbe-bend ako hindi ko maabot yung nota tapos napansin ko umaangat pala yung bridge.  Di ko masyado ginagamit trem bar anyway kaya no comment sa trem action.