SAT30 trem setup

Dinosaur · #1 03-09-2003, 08:33 AM

Is there anyone with an Ibanez SA160 guitar? I try to setup the SAT30 tremolo in mine, and can't find any detailed information, even on the manual which came with the guitar

What I want is to adjust the trem for optimal performance. A friend of mine who also has one told me that the two studs the bridge sits on, which are adjustable via an allen key, are not there to raise or lower the whole bridge but to adjust the tremolo tightness. Is that what they are supposed to do and what is their optimal adjustment?

dex · #2 03-10-2003, 12:14 PM

Yeah, your friend is confused.
The tremolo tightness depends mostly on string tension, which is a product of string gauge and tuning.
The studs adjust the height of the bridge and/or the action.

Nothing to setup on a SAT30 bridge, but a few pointers to keep in mind.

1. It's not a Floyd and therefore yanking it like there's no tomorrow is not advisable
2. Put Fender Bullet strings on it as they are designed to get stuck in the bridge and don't go out of tune as easy.
3. Very advisable to go to 0.010 gauge string as they are a lot more stable (you'll need to tighten the spring claw holder screws)
4. When changing strings use a pencil to "lubricate" the bridge string slots and the nut string slots.
5. Wind the strings coil like (without overlapping) on the tuning machines

Enjoy your new axe!

ilia

forgot to say, if you are raising or lowering the action (screwing/unscrewing the trem studs) do not do it with the guitar tuned to pitch.

Dinosaur · #3 03-10-2003, 01:34 PM

Thanks for the advice. My friend is doing professional setups, so now you understand why I prefer doing it on my own

Concerning the trem studs which control overall action, I thought so (that detuning first would be better), but doing so results in the pivot on the bass side lifting up. I had to unclamp the springs and leave the tremolo resting on the strings to be able to push it back. So when I needed to give it a couple turns, I did it with the strings tuned to pitch, and it felt a bit squeaky. Hope I didn't ruin anything

Drew · #4 03-10-2003, 10:26 PM

It's not GREAT for the knife edges, but it takes a while to really destroy them, so you're probably safe.

-Drew

Dinosaur · #5 03-12-2003, 01:24 PM

One hopefully last question about the SAT30: How are the pivot studs supposed to stay into their position? The one of them keeps sliding out when loosening the strings. Is there some screw or something that needs tightening?