Edge Pro Tremolo Angle

guitarman13 · #1 05-30-2006, 09:03 PM

The tremolo on my JEM7VWH is raised slightly above neutral. Everything else is adjusted perfectly. The only thing that bothers me is that the tuning stability isn't that great since the trem is not dead neutral. If a tighten the springs and bring the trem back to neutral, will it screw up the intonation and the action?

Dee · #2 05-30-2006, 09:06 PM

No it won't. Just undo the locking nuts (obviously!), then screw the trem springs it in a little bit and retune. Keep dipping the bar down after you adjust the tuning and raise it back up again. Keep going like that, making small adjustments to the springs and balance it against the string tension while the guitar is tuned to pitch until it's as near as dammit, then lock the nuts back up. Your action and intonation shouldn't be affected at all.

Rich · #3 05-30-2006, 09:11 PM

Action and intonation will both be affected, depending on how far off the angle is. Nothing will change action more than trem angle changes.

I've always found the best way to learn this stuff is to just do it and see what happened. We can tell you anything but it won't stick until you experience it.

guitarman13 · #4 05-30-2006, 09:15 PM

The trem angle is barely off, but I want to get it just perfect. Will it lower or raise the action if I bring it back to neutral?

Dee · #5 05-30-2006, 09:16 PM

But Rich, he says it's raised *slightly* above flat. I doubt very much that the action will be affected in any noticable way. You are probably right, but hey guitarman, don't be afraid to adjust the bridge height with your allen keys just a touch if it happens to turn out feeling too high or low.

Rich · #6 05-30-2006, 09:21 PM

Slight trem angle change can mean 1mm in action, nothing will affect action more.

Like I said, do it and see, all you have to do is move your bar and watch the strings.

guitarman13 · #7 05-30-2006, 09:27 PM

I have another question for you guys regarding the truss rod. Does tightening the tross rod raise or lower the action of the lower frets? I have a little bit of buzz on the low E string. Also, on the high E string, notes on the lower frets are somewhat hard to bend without my fingers slipping off of the string.

Dee · #8 05-30-2006, 09:32 PM

You should bend the first two strings (E and B) upwards towards the G string rather than downwards.

I'll leave Rich to answer the question about truss rods. I hate adjusting them!

jemplayer55 · #9 05-30-2006, 09:54 PM

It took me forever (4 to 5 hrs.) to get mine neutral on my 05 JEM. Once I got it where I wanted I made a block to sit under the bridge when changing the strings and to get it back to neutral. I also took all the measurements with a set of dial callipers and wrote them all down. That includes trem claw distance (be sure it is even from body attachment points left screw and at right screw), trem height. action, trem body in relation to guitar body surface. Rich is dead on regarding trem angle and action.... once I got mine to neutral the action was much better and only required min. adj. on the trem height to eliminate any buzz. Again.... it's a long process but once you've got it, it's no problem to reset if necessary.

Dee · #10 05-30-2006, 10:00 PM

I also use a block when changing strings. Makes life much easier.

Racerx2k · #11 05-30-2006, 11:02 PM

Remember the old pink block erasers, they used to give us in school? Yup, I use those, under my trems, while I change strings. Works quite well, too, and it won't mar the finish.

guitarman13 · #12 05-30-2006, 11:04 PM

That's a good idea, but I won't need to change the strings for a while, because they are brand spankin new. Does tightening the truss rod lower or raise the action of the lower frets?

jemplayer55 · #13 05-30-2006, 11:29 PM

Truss rod adj. is for string relief. Not action adjustment. It may help cure string buzz if your sure all the frets are level and there is not enough string relief. (ie: neck has a back bow, twist, fretboard distortion due to other problems.) Truss rod adjustment is best left to the pro's!!!! Not something you need to be messing with unless you've done it before and feel comfortable.

guitarman13 · #14 05-31-2006, 12:55 AM

I just adjusted the springs in the back and have the tremelo floating perfectly level. But, the spring on the treble side is a little bit higher than the one on the base side. Is that normal? If it's not, how can I get them even with one another?

albee1952 · #15 07-11-2006, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarman13

I just adjusted the springs in the back and have the tremelo floating perfectly level. But, the spring on the treble side is a little bit higher than the one on the base side. Is that normal? If it's not, how can I get them even with one another?

Not sure what you mean by "higher". If you mean one screw sticks out from the wood a bit more than the other, I would try to adjust each the same amount but in opposite directions till they are about equal. My method for setting the bridge angle uses several wood shims of varying thickness and I place them under the fine tuner area so the bridge sits at the nuetral angle. Then I screw the claw screws way in, string up the guitar and set intonation. Once that is done, I lock the nut. remove the shims and back the claw screws out (equally) until the guitar is back in tune. That sets the floating bridge exactly where it was when it was shimmed.