Keeping a Non-Locking Floating Tremolo In Tune (Paul Reed Smith)

[Sheldon]

When you say the strings are going out of tune when you do string bends, do
you mean all the strings go out of tune during the bend, and then come back
after the bend? Or do you mean the string are going out of tune and not
coming back?

I have the original/nicer PRS Santana SE guitar. It has a floating

tremolo

system similar to the ones on their higher priced McCartys, etc., I have
replaced the tuners with locking ones, use 'Big Bends Nut Sauce' as lube

on

the nut and have even filed the string slots on the nut a little wider and
curved so the strings feed at a better angle to the tuners. However...
aside from over using the tremolo, the strings are still going out of tune
when I'm just doing string bends (Another Brick In The Wall solo, etc.,).
What can I do? Are there some PRS players out there that might have a
suggestion?
Thanks
Chris

[Catalina Thunders]

well, i have a floating tremolo on my guitar and i had a special screw put
underneath it so that it doesn't bend down into the body. see, the springs in
the back of the guitar have to have the EXACT same tension as the strings
otherwise the springs will pull the tremolo into the body and will stretch out
the strings assuring you that the strings will always go out of tune every time
you re-string your guitar. now they also have a part(s) you can install in the
back of your guitar where the springs are called a "tremsetter", but they look
like a bitch to calibrate and that allows you to bend your tremolo both ways.
steve vai uses it i think. don't know if you know who that is. anyway, when you
put a screw underneath the tremolo, you can't bend the strings up with the
tremolo, and you have to do it on the neck. if you think the screw is too much
of a hassle then i think you should look into the tremsetter system. just a
suggestion.

The Tremsetter *is* a bitch to calibrate, I had one but got rid of it.
It interfered with my trem half the time, taking the smoothness away.
Often it would get stuck & not allow the strings to return to proper pitch.

'Course it's possible mine was defective, or I never had it set up
right, but I think more likely it's just a crappy gizmo. I sure don't
recommend it.

Cat

[Chris]

Not coming back in tune.

Chris

Post by Sheldon
When you say the strings are going out of tune when you do string bends, do
you mean all the strings go out of tune during the bend, and then come back
after the bend? Or do you mean the string are going out of tune and not
coming back?

I have the original/nicer PRS Santana SE guitar. It has a floating

tremolo

system similar to the ones on their higher priced McCartys, etc., I have
replaced the tuners with locking ones, use 'Big Bends Nut Sauce' as lube

on

the nut and have even filed the string slots on the nut a little wider and
curved so the strings feed at a better angle to the tuners. However...
aside from over using the tremolo, the strings are still going out of tune
when I'm just doing string bends (Another Brick In The Wall solo, etc.,).
What can I do? Are there some PRS players out there that might have a
suggestion?
Thanks
Chris

[Ian Minogue-Corps]

Silly Q really , but how many turns have you wrapped the strings around the
posts ? One full turn is ample , and have you stretched the hell out of them
whilst fitting.
Using 2 or 3 springs in trem ? and forget fancy oil , pencil lead is still
the best nut lube.
I cant remember if that trem has 6 screws for the block ? , if it has raise
the inner 4 screws 2 turns and use the outer ones as the fulcrum point for
the trem.
Some Strat trems used to "bind" on one of the screws , so it was seen as a
good idea to raise the inners slightly.
You should never have tuning probs with a strat if its set up , mine is
juat as stable as My Jem , and believe me it hit that trem hard.
Ian

[Chris]

Thanks, Ian, and everyone.

They are locking tuners so there aren't any turns on the posts. I also have
some graphite powder so maybe I will try that instead. I'll try tweaking
the fulcrum screws, too.

Chris

Post by Ian Minogue-Corps
Silly Q really , but how many turns have you wrapped the strings around the
posts ? One full turn is ample , and have you stretched the hell out of them
whilst fitting.
Using 2 or 3 springs in trem ? and forget fancy oil , pencil lead is still
the best nut lube.
I cant remember if that trem has 6 screws for the block ? , if it has raise
the inner 4 screws 2 turns and use the outer ones as the fulcrum point for
the trem.
Some Strat trems used to "bind" on one of the screws , so it was seen as a
good idea to raise the inners slightly.
You should never have tuning probs with a strat if its set up , mine is
juat as stable as My Jem , and believe me it hit that trem hard.
Ian

[Valued Customer]

Here's another thought-- I had some Schaller locking tuners
on my Strat Plus Deluxe. I thought they were more
frustrating to dial in than standard Klusons and the guitar
would always go out of tune after some whammy bar use. On
one occasion, a tuner gave up the grip on my treble E string
while playing. It didn't let go of it completely; I
tightened the locking knob and could tune it, but as soon as
I bent a note, it gave up a little. Arrgh. (Replacing the
string fixed that.)

I ended up replacing the Schallers with some Planet Wave
locking tuners. They look kinda cheap, but they have a
higher gear ratio and dial in notes more quickly and
precisely. I can go for days now with only a minor touch up
tuning-- this is a floating tremolo Strat that's being
subjected to hybrid picking and some radical bends. Every
so often I dive the whammy bar just to test it-- I can't
believe that it stays in tune (because I've never had a
Strat that did *that* before!). I replaced the tuners on my
other Strat and it now works as well.

Anyway, it's another thing to think about: Your mileage may
vary. FWIW, both of these guitars have LSR nuts,
tremsetters, with Fender vintage & 2-point style bridges,
but the last thing I changed was the tuners-- which is what
made the noticible difference in my case.

Good luck!

Post by Chris
Thanks, Ian, and everyone.
They are locking tuners so there aren't any turns on the posts. I also have
some graphite powder so maybe I will try that instead. I'll try tweaking
the fulcrum screws, too.
Chris

Post by Ian Minogue-Corps
Silly Q really , but how many turns have you wrapped the strings around

the

Post by Ian Minogue-Corps
posts ? One full turn is ample , and have you stretched the hell out of

them

Post by Ian Minogue-Corps
whilst fitting.
Using 2 or 3 springs in trem ? and forget fancy oil , pencil lead is still
the best nut lube.
I cant remember if that trem has 6 screws for the block ? , if it has

raise

Post by Ian Minogue-Corps
the inner 4 screws 2 turns and use the outer ones as the fulcrum point for
the trem.
Some Strat trems used to "bind" on one of the screws , so it was seen as a
good idea to raise the inners slightly.
You should never have tuning probs with a strat if its set up , mine is
juat as stable as My Jem , and believe me it hit that trem hard.
Ian

[Chris]

Just want to run something by you, Ian. Supposedly the fulcrum point is to
ride in the groove of the screw below the head but above the
smooth/non-threaded part. So you're saying that the bridge should only be
in this groove on the two outer screws and then riding on the smooth part of
the screws (since they will be elevated/higher) on the 4 inner screws?

Thanks a bunch
Chris

Post by Ian Minogue-Corps
Silly Q really , but how many turns have you wrapped the strings around the
posts ? One full turn is ample , and have you stretched the hell out of them
whilst fitting.
Using 2 or 3 springs in trem ? and forget fancy oil , pencil lead is still
the best nut lube.
I cant remember if that trem has 6 screws for the block ? , if it has raise
the inner 4 screws 2 turns and use the outer ones as the fulcrum point for
the trem.
Some Strat trems used to "bind" on one of the screws , so it was seen as a
good idea to raise the inners slightly.
You should never have tuning probs with a strat if its set up , mine is
juat as stable as My Jem , and believe me it hit that trem hard.
Ian

[Ian Minogue-Corps]

mmm your screws have a groove ? , Strat ones don't , thats why you use the
outer ones as the pivot
If all the screws have grooves , you might have to try to get them level or
try taking them off for a while to see if it makes any difference.

[Sheldon]

Well, I can't think of anything that hasn't been covered by everybody else,
except:

1. I have a Tremsetter in my Strat, and while it does change the feel of
the trem it works quite well. Not a big deal to install or adjust, and
the feel of the strings when bending is much more stable. I used to be able
to feel the trem rock when I'd bend a note.

2. If you filed the nut slots on too much of an angle the strings can bind
on that edge even though you widened the slots. If the wound strings "ping"
when you tune them that could be your problem.

If everything is stock you might want to give PRS a call. They are a good
company and know "their" guitars. They might have an answer for you as this
may be a common problem on your particular model. I mostly know Fenders,
and they've had some hardware quirks in the past that required some tweaks.

Good luck. Keep us posted and let us know when you get it solved.

Sheldon

Post by Chris
Not coming back in tune.
Chris

Post by Sheldon
When you say the strings are going out of tune when you do string bends,

do

Post by Sheldon
you mean all the strings go out of tune during the bend, and then come

back

Post by Sheldon
after the bend? Or do you mean the string are going out of tune and not
coming back?

I have the original/nicer PRS Santana SE guitar. It has a floating

tremolo

system similar to the ones on their higher priced McCartys, etc., I

have

Post by Sheldon

replaced the tuners with locking ones, use 'Big Bends Nut Sauce' as lube

on

the nut and have even filed the string slots on the nut a little wider

and

Post by Sheldon

curved so the strings feed at a better angle to the tuners.

However...

Post by Chris

Post by Sheldon

aside from over using the tremolo, the strings are still going out of

tune

Post by Sheldon

when I'm just doing string bends (Another Brick In The Wall solo,

etc.,).

Post by Sheldon

What can I do? Are there some PRS players out there that might have a
suggestion?
Thanks
Chris

[Jdavyd Williams]

I have the original/nicer PRS Santana SE guitar. It has a floating

tremolo

system similar to the ones on their higher priced McCartys, etc., I have
replaced the tuners with locking ones, use 'Big Bends Nut Sauce'

sorry, couldnt read anything after that! BIG BENDS NUT SAUCE! comedia del
oro!