Trem post set screws - I found them and they fixed my woes!

[Screamin]

I finally found those pesky little bastahds last nite at practice.....now the action on my 7V is so low we can't mention it on the air.......

I'm in love with it all over again.

Screamin'

[yuza]

I'm becoming MAD!!!
I've never really understood this thing about set screws, perhaps beacuse i don't know english well enough. I'll try to explain. A couple of months ago i set *my guitar up.... this is what i did to lower the action.... now, looking at this post i'm seriously starting to think i did some mistakes.
Here is what i did.... i took a screwdriver: now i know this isn't the exact word but i can't find it in my english dictionary... i took an object like the one you use to unlock the locks at the nut, so with a hexagonl head (is it called allen wrench?) (i had to take one with a head larger than the one you use for the nut); i used it in the little holes that are at the sides of the bridge, which, i suppose, should be the head of the trem posts. I tightend it clockwise and the action lowered. Now, looking at the movie, it seems like i should have used a normal screwdirver INSIDE the hexagonal holes that are the heads of the trem post, not an allen wrench (if this is the exact word) to act directly ON the head of the posts.
I'm very confused and always thought to ask about this in the past but never did..... so can you help me please?

[Kevan]

Yuza-
You are correct- it's called an "allen wrench".

The movie I put up isn't exactly high quality (kinda dark; I shot it at midnight. LOL). *I'll make a better one soon in the daylight! *:-)

"inside" the TREM POST (the screw with the hexagonal head) is another screw. *It's a screw-inside-a-screw. *The little tiny one is the SET SCREW. *I'm using the 1.5mm allen wrench to turn the SET SCREW (not a Phillips (invented in Oregon, BTW LOL) or a flat-blade screwdriver). *Only use the 1.5mm allen wrench inside there.

If you need detailed pics before I get the movie made, let me know.

[julio]

Well....I have no answers...

Its funny this post was brought up, cause last night I tried to loosen these things on my JS. The high E side turns fine, but the low E wont budge. I´m not sure if its locked fully closed or fully open (cause the allen wrench seems to go in deeper at the high E side). I even put in a teeny weent drop of WD-40..(oh no!! Dont tell me this is a bad thing?) I´ve tried with pliers, but I´m scared to actually break something in there. Any advise?
I´ve got to check out the movie, cause I must admit I dont understand the purpose of them at all...

Question: Is fret buzz tolerated, in general, if its the kind that doesnt come through the amp? Or the accoustic buzz is considered fret buzz as well?

Julio

[jemsite]

The high E side turns fine, but the low E wont budge. I´m not sure if its locked fully closed or fully open (cause the allen wrench seems to go in deeper at the high E side). I even put in a teeny weent drop of WD-40..(oh no!! Dont tell me this is a bad thing?) I´ve tried with pliers, but I´m scared to actually break something in there. Any advise?

It's probably locked all the way out/open. Safest thing to do is pop off the trem and remove the post and see what is what.

You can always LOOSEN/raise a post even with the set-screw locked so removing the post should be no problem... glen

[Kevan]

STOP CRANKING ON IT! *
Don't use pliers with the 1.5mm allen to try and "unscrew it" out of the top of the trem post screw. *It won't come out that way and you'll end up snapping the wrench or stripping the screw head. *That will pissyouoff. *:-)

The SET SCREWS only come out thru the bottom of the posts.

The reason for the set screws is to put pressure on the threads of the trem posts, to create a TIGHT fit with NO movement of the trem posts in the threaded bushings. *If your posts don't move, you stay in tune. *If your posts wobble around in there- even if it's a little tiny bit- your tuning wobbles.

The WD-40 is ok, but wipe it down next time you take the trem post out. *Lubricants tend to collect dirt.

As far as fret buzz, I'll ask you start another thread, but add that it's mainly personal preference as to how much or little there is.

[julio]

Gosh, I think I´ve got it!!!!!!!!!!!

I will attempt to take it out and have a look

Sometimes this technical stuff sounds like another language all together....


Thanks to the techies for helping us understand :biggrin:

[jemsite]

Another text drawing...
[font=courier]
** top of post looking straight on **
* *as if holding the post in front
* *of you between your fingers

*___ * * ___ *
|---| * |---| *
*> < * * > < *
|---| * |---| *
|---| * |---| *
|---| * |---| *
|---| * |---| *
|---| * |---| *
|---| * |---| *
*\ / * * \ / *
* | * * * * * * } ** Set screw visible/locked on left
* | * * * * * * } ** Set screw not visible/UNlocked on the right

[/font]

[yuza]

Ok Thanks Kevan! There's still something i keep not understanding..... which screw do i have to act on to change the action? The trem post or the set screw? As i have already said I've tightened the trem post..... i suppose i haven't done the right thing, have i?

[jemsite]

Quote: from yuza on 4:12 pm on July 2, 2001
Ok Thanks Kevan! There's still something i keep not understanding..... which screw do i have to act on to change the action? The trem post or the set screw? As i have already said I've tightened the trem post..... i suppose i haven't done the right thing, have i?

adjust the TREM POST. when the action is perfect LOCK it down using the set-screw... glen

[Kevan]

Well, here's a rare occasion: *Glen's wrong. *:-)

Proper method of adjusting trem post screws:
•Using the 1.5mm wrench, unscrew the SET SCREW inside your trem post. *Unscrew until you can't go any further (by hand ONLY!). *DON'T FORCE IT!
•Using the 4mm allen wrench, adjust your trem posts as desired.
•Using the 1.5mm wrench, screw the SET SCREW tight (by hand ONLY!). *DON'T FORCE IT!

Don't go screwing or unscrewing trem post screws WITHOUT undoing the SET SCREW first.
(Yes- you can unscrew the trem posts w/o touching the set screw, but....better to be safe than sorry)

[jemsite]

LOL... you adjust via the POST. the rest of the instructions can be found in the TECH/SETUP area, including which wrenches to use and what to do ...glen

[yuza]

Thank you guys! So, let me see if i have understood.... It's like you use on of the two screws to adjust the action and the other one to lock the whole thing?

[jemsite]

Quote: from yuza on 5:44 pm on July 2, 2001
Thank you guys! So, let me see if i have understood.... It's like you use one of the two screws (THE STUD) to adjust the action and the other one (SET-SCREW) to lock the whole thing?

Yes

[julio]

Help! Quick!

I´ve taken it apart and as suspected, its fully open (hidden) wont come out.

What do I do know?????


Thanks

Julio