7 string string gaug change and springs

[Raffel]

Hi,

I bought me a RG2127x one half year ago, and immediately put my favourite string gauge on it. .010-.013-.017-.026-.036-.046-.056
I had to add one spring to the bridge because of the tension. (making it 4)


Now i'm thinking about changing the gauge to .009-.011-.016-.026-.036-.046-.056 (light top, heavy bottom, probably D'Addario)

Now the question is, have any of you done this on a 7-string before and do you know if i might be able to lose the extra spring, cause it's making trem work horrible.

[Ancestor]

http://jemsite.com/tech/t_3other.htm#tremthicker

Notice that adding a spring is a extreme measure. I've made radical changes in string guages and never had to add a spring.

[Raffel]

well i have, but how does this help me? I want to know, if i change the top 3 strings with a thinner gauge, how much tension will be lost, so i can loose the one extra spring...

I know that it's an extreme measure, but I had to add one, cause driving the screws all the way into the body was not good enough...

[The_Grindfiend]

I'm kind of surprised that you've experienced trouble with the trem tension. I have all 5 springs on mine, and don't have any problems.

[Raffel]

well there were only 3 springs on it in the first place. And tuning the axe in to tune with the factory strings on it, the bridge was even steep.

[Two hands31]

Originally Posted by Raffel

well there were only 3 springs on it in the first place. And tuning the axe in to tune with the factory strings on it, the bridge was even steep.

You sure you know how to set up a locking bridge? i.e. making the proper adjustments rather than just stringing it up and hoping for the best? (I know I don't, never had experience with one )

[Raffel]

yes i have, i have tuned a lot of guitars in my life, and i know what i'm doing. All i want to know is, can i lose the extra spring if i drop an amount on the gauge for the top 3 strings.

[Two hands31]

So, you do adjust the bridge/springs/whatever when re-stringing? Cuz you shouldn't need more than 3 springs for what you're using.

[Drew]

agreed. Did you ttry tightening the springs before throwing the fourth in there?

anyway, you should have no problem running 3 springs and your desired string guages.

-Drew

[Raffel]

YES i tried, i drove the screws all the way into the body, and the bridge was still at an unacceptable angle. Even after leaving it that way for an hour or two while retuning.

[EvilMonkey]

Well I'll talk from the other side. I have a 7620 that I bought used last year, I use the guages that you're talking about (.009-.056) and it has all 5 springs in it. Now my Universe (on which I use the same guage) only has 3 springs in it, though the claw is left with little room to tighten. When I strung the 7620 up the first time (right after I bought it, giving it a neck adjustment as well) I expected to have to remove 2 springs, but no! The bridge was perfect with very little adjustment. So It can probably work just fine with 3, 4, or 5, springs. Though I think this kind of thing would depend on how old/broken in the springs are. Well I doubt that really helped.
-Chris

[Rich]

I'll step in with a tidbit that might clarify some of the inconsistencies.

Ibanez has been using 2 different spring lengths. I'd have to find one and measure but top of my head one is about 1/4" shorter than the "normal" spring they've been using for years. I've actually swapped a few sets out because they're way sensitive in adjusting the trem angle, but the shorter springs exert a helluvalot more tension, so 3 of those is probably like 4 regular length.

[Raffel]

So do these springs have serial numbers or a name, so i have a little reference? Cause 4 springs is eating away my trem work right now.

[Rich]

Just springs dude. I was just trying to figure out why the claw was so far from the body and why they were so sensitive to adjust.

[Raffel]

well there's no way of knowing what springs you have then, is there? Or which springs you're getting