Replacing Lo-TRS 2 trem?

greenman · Feb 5, 2019

I'm working on my old JEM555 which was nicely set up last year by Iron Maiden's guitar tech and playing really well. Tremolo arm on Lo-TRS 2 is loose though, it's the one with a screw-down sleeve which isn't very good and basically knackered. I'm thinking of replacing it and the Gotoh 1996T came up a a possible without any rerouting. I've found a YouTube video replacing the trem on a JS guitar with this. Has anyone here done this successfully on a JEM555? Love the guitar - the Evolution pickups, the new setup action etc, the neck and the recently smoothed fret ends, sound and playability, but the trem arm is the weakest bit it's too loose and floppy. I've bodged it in the past with plumbers tape and with hard nail varnish, but realise I can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear - I'd rather find a good trem replacement than buy a new guitar!

sepulchrave · Feb 5, 2019

You can simply replace the entire arm assembly with a Schaller lockmeister unit.

j.arledge · Feb 5, 2019

the lo-trs 2 will do a straight swap with an original floyd rose which is a vast improvement. If you aren't using the lo-trs 2 you can block it, but if you actually use the tremelo, and OFR is the way to go.

greenman · Feb 13, 2019

Thanks, people. I've now replaced the Lo-TRS 2 with the GOTOH 1996T which fits perfectly on the original posts and with original backplate and springs. So now I've got a tremolo arm that stays put, doesn't flop down. Much better! The GOTOH springs are shorter and stronger though and I'm thinking of using these to keep the bridge tighter. I'm imagining this might make some improvement in tone or would I be wrong? But such a relief to find a replacement bridge that doesn't require any routing!

sepulchrave · Feb 13, 2019

Yeah, but the original posts are made of blue cheese, use the Gotoh posts.

j.arledge · Feb 14, 2019

the gotoh posts are indeed better. I wouldn't worry about taking out the actual trem studs if the gotoh posts screw in to the original posts.

greenman · Feb 20, 2019

It seems the gotoh posts are slightly wider than the Lo-TRS posts and body will need to be drilled to accommodate them, so I'm keeping the original pots at the moment

Replacing Lo-TRS 2 trem?

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