Lo TRS not returning to neutral

[eg]

I have this problem with my Lo TRS. It doesn't seem to return to its neutral position.

For example, when all strings are in tune, depressing the bar will make all the strings go flat by about 5-10cents. Likewise, pulling up from neutral will cause all strings to become sharp albeit a little less, maybe around 5 cents or so. I found out that this is worst on the thicker strings esp the low E and A strings.

Once the strings are sharp or flat, slightly moving the trem in the opposite direction will then make the notes return to neutral.

Anybody can recommend me some ideas other than of course changing the trem. Thanks

[Rich]

Drop the bar to the body and let it return to neutral. Unlock the nut and tune [or if it's close just use the fine tuners]. Lockdown, depress the bar, return, fine tune. Does it go out on a dive after that?

[eg]

Rich, what do you mean by drop the bar to the body? Do you mean that when unused the bar should be hanging perpendicular to the strings rather than parallel when unused?

Also, are you implying that the weight of the bar on the trem will cause the tunings to be out a little? I usually tune with the bar unattached or with it parallel to the strings.

[Rich]

Depress the bar, let it return to neutral.

[eg]

You mean this...
Depress
Return
Retune
Depress
Return
---> Should stay in tune after this?

[Chakakanagen]

That's what he's getting at, yes. He's trying to see exactly what your problem is and he's starting with the most obvious thing first. Are those new strings?

[eg]

I think I've had them on for like a month or so. Will try Rich's diagnosis suggestions first. Stay tuned

[eg]

Some updates.

I think the position of the bar somewhat affects the tuning of the strings. Leaving the bar forwards will tend to flatten the strings while leaving it backwards will the not sharpen it.
The only position to keep the trem neural is to let it dangle perpendicular to the strings when not used.

Anybody has made any similar observations?

[neptoess]

it shouldn't be that drastic unless you're holding your guitar like parallel to the ground or your bar weighs 10 lbs

[nuno]

Originally Posted by neptoess

it shouldn't be that drastic unless you're holding your guitar like parallel to the ground or your bar weighs 10 lbs

or unless you mean "out of tune" something about 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000001 thousandth of a cent

[Chakakanagen]

Are you sure your strings are stretched properly?

[eg]

I think they should be stretched properly.

Back to Rich's suggestion.
I depressed the bar and retuned it to pitch and it will continue to stay in tune as long as I'm diving. Once I pull the trem up, the strings will tend to be a few cents sharp (~5%) and if I were to tune them to pitch at that moment, they would be flat by a few cents once I do a dive.

Seems that I can only tune it to pitch in favour of a certain direction of trem usage.

Any help guys?

[Chakakanagen]

From Rich's site: http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setu..._stability.htm

Note - 100% trem float would mean it comes back from tune 100% of the time from whammy dives, but also 100% of the time from pull ups. Your guitar should always come back in tune 100% from dives. If it doesn't, you have a problem that can be found above. But guitar very rarely come back 100% from a pull up, in fact few will be at 98 or 99% from pull up which means neutral will have a few strings off by a very few cents, something that the tuner sees but your ears really don't hear. I consider a 95% float one where several strings come back far enough out I can hear it. All of these can be reset to perfect tune by pushing the trem down past neutral to low neutral.

[eg]

That's good info man.

To sum up, it is a must for the strings to return 100% to pitch after a dive.
However, returning to 100% pitch after pullup is not always possible and can always be corrected by pushing the trem down again.

So, I guess I'll just have to make sure that it stays in tune after returning from a dive.

Might also try the chapstick tip to fix the pullup return a little

[neptoess]

maybe it's your knife edges? I heard TRS's had real soft knives