UV777BK Trem....? - Need some opinions here guys...

[trouble311]

Okay ladies and gentlemen, here is my problem....I have a 1999 UV777BK that I just acquired (with old-style pyramid....YEAHH....), but here is the problem....it is set up with 4 springs...I KNOW I have seen this covered a thousand times, but how does this affect feel? *It DOES seem that the trem is a little too stiff and the strings seem to be a little too tense, but I am wondering what to do here....should I remove a spring from the trem and reset the trem angle? *Will this make the bar operate a little more smoothly, with less effort to push and pull the bar up and down? *And will it make the string tension more comfortable? *Or does the UV777BK NEED 4 springs so that you can keep the trem at a reasonable angle while keeping the strings in tune?

Thanks guys
Abe

[jemsite]

if you're strung w/ 009s get rid of the 4th spring and go with 3. The UV has a stiffer feel and the extra spring makes it worse... glen

[7 Dying Trees]

3 springs will be fine. It's fine in my UV which is set up for 9's. Go for it!

[GhesQi J]

Just like Glen and 7 Dying, I also think that 3 springs will do just fine. It will certainly solve the stiffness of the trem.

JOten

[trouble311]

Thanks for the quick replies guys! *I figured it would help the stiffness, but I am afraid that it will knock the intonation way out, etc etc....is this a problem with changing number of springs? *I know I will have to reset the trem angle, but that was pretty obvious, of course....those physical laws and everything....what else changes with the removal of a spring?

[7 Dying Trees]

Intonation will be fine, just get the bridge back to the angle it was with 4 strings and it'll be fine. The springs in the tremelo system are ther to counteract the pull of the strings, so the more force(ie number of springs) you have, the more force is neede to counteract this (ie string tension). Also the trem will feel stiffer as a result as you have to apply more force in either direction.

Just memorise the trem angle, and then remove a spring, and then tighten the claw in the rear trem cavity untill the angle is what it was. I think this is the correct way, but maybe rich/someone else knows a better way of doing this...Oh, and make sure that the three springs are evenly spaced (one far right, one far left, one in the middle) and that you also the three springs run parallel to each other. Then you'll be fine.

Good luck! James.

[trouble311]

Thanks James! *I figured this was the way that it would all work, as long as everything physically came back to the same settings as it was with four springs....I might even try doing this myself tonight....wish me luck!