Tremolo makes rattling noises when I flutter the bar, what could I do?

marlb5150 · #1 12-30-2005, 08:46 PM

The arm holder of my Ibanez JEM tremolo system became loose. The trem arm rattles when I flutter the bar. I think it's due to the arm holder being slightly deformed. the arm holder itself is tight. I think it happened when I tried to force the bar a bit into the arm holder when it didn't want to go in. But I didn't use that much force. The rattling trem arm is annoying and it hampers the flutter effect. What can be done to eliminate the cluggy/rattling trem arm?

Andelusion · #2 12-31-2005, 09:24 AM

I don't think you will have deformed the holder by forcing the bar in.

It's possible that your bushings have worn, as this happens with mine, if you search in the tech section about wobbly bars on here then you'll find a tip about using nail polish under the brushings, i do this every couple of weeks and it stops wobble, my arm holder is definately tight too.

markg5150 · #3 12-31-2005, 01:06 PM

15mm discs cut out of daddario string bags are the solution to wobbly/loose trem arms !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andelusion · #4 12-31-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markg5150

15mm discs cut out of daddario string bags are the solution to wobbly/loose trem arms !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Care to elaborate? lol

markg5150 · #5 12-31-2005, 01:19 PM

Put the cut out disc over the arm hole and then push the bar in - this holds the bar nice and tight for ages.

I've tried nail varnish and it doesn't last very long

Andelusion · #6 12-31-2005, 05:15 PM

Oh cool, that sounds like a good idea, might be a bit of a pain to get the plastic out when it's worn but i suppose there's ways.

Aye the nail polish thing wares off after a while.

marlb5150 · #7 12-31-2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markg5150

Put the cut out disc over the arm hole and then push the bar in - this holds the bar nice and tight for ages.

I've tried nail varnish and it doesn't last very long

'cut out the disc over arm hole'? I don't understand what you're reffering to. I hope that method won't damage that part of the tremolo.

Praetorian · #8 01-01-2006, 12:39 AM

no, he means pre cut a small disc out of the bag, put the disc over the hole, then push the bar in. Personally...I'd just get new bushings

.

marlb5150 · #9 01-01-2006, 03:05 AM

thanks for the clarification. I have a question about the bushings coz extra bushings though. extra bushings came with my JEM toolkit. are these extra ones 'thicker' bushings you can use if you want to make the bar tighter ?

I'm not new to the edge tremolo systems but I still haven't studied fully how all the parts and how they work.

eviltwin · #10 01-04-2006, 10:35 AM

All washers are supposed to be the same size, but when you do exchange them, carefully watch out which side goes up. The washers are tapered (almost invisible) but there is a dot-marker on one side. Do a forum search to find out how to mount them.

JJEMMER777 · #11 01-04-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markg5150

15mm discs cut out of daddario string bags are the solution to wobbly/loose trem arms !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep - this does work. Its a good little tip to know if you are unable to get new washers at the time. Although the string bag I used was GHS

Thanks for the little tip mark

jem_fanatic · #12 01-04-2006, 01:15 PM

hey naybody know how to tighten a trem arm without bushings ( edge pro 2?)

JoeJoe · #13 01-04-2006, 01:47 PM

Yeah man thanks for the tip! you really helped me out here!

DJo_666 · #14 01-05-2006, 03:42 PM

I have a '91 JS1, and with a 14year-old bar I have the same problem. I've tried new washers, and they do nothing. I've tried nail polish, and it comes off as soon as I push the bar in.

The issue appears to be that the part of the bar that is near the exit of the hole gets slightly worn, so even though it might be a tight fit near the bottom by the spring and the washers, it is always loose at the top.

The only thing I've found that works is teflon plumber's tape. I carefully wind a few smooth layers around the part of the bar just above the washers, and it snugs it up enough so it doesn't rattle. The teflon is slick enough to allow the bar to smoothly rotate, too. I need to replace the tape every few hours of playing though, because it tends to tear and wear out.I have a '91 JS1, and with a 14year-old bar I have the same problem. I've tried new washers, and they do nothing. I've tried nail polish, and it comes off as soon as I push the bar in.

The issue appears to be that the part of the bar that is near the exit of the hole gets slightly worn, so even though it might be a tight fit near the bottom by the spring and the washers, it is always loose at the top.

The only thing I've found that works is teflon plumber's tape. I carefully wind a few smooth layers around the part of the bar just above the washers, and it snugs it up enough so it doesn't rattle. The teflon is slick enough to allow the bar to smoothly rotate, too. I need to replace the tape every few hours of playing though, because it tends to tear and wear out.

Rich · #15 01-05-2006, 03:50 PM

First step is to make sure the arm holder itself is tight, a loose arm holder is usually the problem. If the holder is tight, and new arm bushings doesn't help, then the parts are worn too much and need to be replaced.