JS with or without "punched" back plate?!

gitarrero · #1 07-04-2003, 11:44 AM

Hi guys,

please take a look at this pic:

Note the back plate has a rectangular hole for the lower half of the springs and the tremolo block. I suppose this was done in order to have the Lo-Pro EDGE lowered more into the body.

Here's my question: Why do only early JS1000's (and my 1992 JS1) come with this punched plate and all other JS's with normal EDGE and later JS1000's with Lo-Pro EDGE don't? I have also seen this on Sabers with Lo-Pro's.

Any ideas?

Oliver

Rich · #2 07-04-2003, 01:58 PM

I never got an answer as to why the hole was there. It isn't for lowering the trem more becaause then the blck hits the plate and the trem is worthless. If it was mounted backwards you might be able to adjust the claw with the plate on, the only benefit I can see, but then they were never mounted that way

gitarrero · #3 07-07-2003, 10:48 AM

I still suppose it's for lowering...

On my JS, the little rectangular piece of metal[*] is flush with the trem plate in zero position. When I pull up the bar, it sticks out at least 4mm, and when I depress the bar, it moves inside without touching the plate.
[*] which is screwed to the trem block to hold the 3 screws' butt-ends inside

I heard there are two types of EDGE trem blocks, one is shorter than the other. I'm not sure which block is featured in my guitar; it has a Lo-Pro EDGE.

Maybe the hole is needed for the longer version of the block?

Rich · #4 07-07-2003, 02:55 PM

There are 3 modern block lengths, H, S, and HS, and then the old super long block. No matter which, if you lower the block through the plate the trem inworthless, it hits the plate and won't whammy

Jeff · #5 07-08-2003, 02:23 AM

That's wicked-bad-awesome! Did any other models have a punched out plate like that?

gitarrero · #6 07-08-2003, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

There are 3 modern block lengths, H, S, and HS, and then the old super long block.

What do the letters stand for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

No matter which, if you lower the block through the plate the trem inworthless, it hits the plate and won't whammy

On my JS, it is lowered and it doesn't hit the plate. The problem is, when I "rock hard" and press the guitar against me, the strings go flat since the block gets pushed inside the routing. This is embarassing...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEMavenger

Did any other models have a punched out plate like that?

I think I remember seeing it on some Saber S540 guitars around 1993/1994 or so...

Rich · #7 07-08-2003, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gitarrero

On my JS, it is lowered and it doesn't hit the plate. The problem is, when I "rock hard" and press the guitar against me, the strings go flat since the block gets pushed inside the routing. This is embarassing...

Bizarre, I'd like to see it. On mine the block is about 3mm away from the cover edge and when you whammy it hits. I guess just a little into it and it would swing and miss, but mine has an S block on it [it's supposed to be an HS]

I measured them all once and it's in some post here, somewhere, but JD would refer to them as the H block [which is the longest except for the pre 87' blocks], the S [Short] and the HS [Hellatiously Short]

I thought about it and all I could remember was some S's with them too.

iain · #8 07-08-2003, 11:24 AM

My TB has that cut-out plate; it's trem also hit the plate. It did have an S block too. I haven't put the cover back on since replacing the block with the 'correct' HS.

gitarrero · #9 07-08-2003, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Bizarre, I'd like to see it.

If I get around to it, I'll take pics and post them here in this thread.

Here it is, as promised:

[Edit: put up the pic]

gitarrero · #10 07-15-2003, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain

My TB has that cut-out plate; it's trem also hit the plate. It did have an S block too. I haven't put the cover back on since replacing the block with the 'correct' HS.

Great idea, I'll also replace the S block with an HS.

Ha! If I only got this hint earlier!! I have this self-assembled Warmoth guitar with an EDGE trem I purchased separately. I now discovered that it has an HS block. Back then, I had to file grooves into the cavity to prevent the springs from hanging at the edge! D'oh! I could have solved both problems at the same time just by exchanging the blocks. I will do that immediately and get hold of a non-punched trem cover to get rid of the nasty hole on the back of my JS and my troubles are GONE. Woo-hoo.