Is this a "no -no " for claw scews

[toneseeker]

Hey guys...just tweaking my 7VW and was wondering about the level of the claw screws ...does it need to be equal....I find that if I keep the bass side looser and the treble side a little tighter..although the claw is not level,I get looser string tension in the E B G strings ....and when viewing the bridge from the *side it sits much *more level from bass to treble side. Any body have any comments *or suggestions????

[Kevan]

This is a great question!

I've seen claws at a 35º, and ones perfectly straight/parallel. *
It's always good to have EQUAL tension on something, but when it comes to how the trem feels, and reacts, to your individual needs, this is an area where you can tweak to your liking.

- Some folks like PLENTY of pull on the trem, so they bury the high-side claw screw (this being the side the trem bar is on). *
- Some folks like a little bit of pull, so they keep it even. *
- Some folks like a freaky-deeky pull, so they bury the low-side claw screw (E-A-D side).
- Some folks (like me) enjoy a tad bit more tension on the low strings...just to keep them a bit more taught.

You can experiment (without too much hassle), and find a setup that works for you. *Let your hands/fingers/wrist/etc. tell you what's right and what's not-so-right.

[caprile]

can different tensions on the bass/treble side cause any long term damage to the posts or something? it would put more stress in the bass side post. *

[Kevan]

I don't think it'll cause any major damage; those posts and edges are hardened steel. *They can take the extra tension.

One thing to look out for would be oval-ing of the trem post holes (where the bushing is actually pressed into the body). *Depending on how much trem usage the guitar gets, this could happen more on one side than the other, respectively. *The posts are metal, but the bushings sit in wood. *With enough tension/pressure, they can be moved; ask anyone that's had a guitar take a good hit at the trem. *:-)

Check the claw, springs and posts carefully each time you change strings and/or when you do a full setup. *You can then make necessary adjustments. *

[Rich]

To explain all this simply,

The more open a spring is the easier it is to open further. "looser"

The more closed a spring is the tougher it is to open. "stiffer"

Angling the claw just gives you a combination of more open and more closed springs.

[Al M]

I was doing exactly the same thing in tweaking my 7vwh and came across the same problem. I dont have my screws in paralell so its more even. Seems to work fine!