Angled/Compensated Trem Claw:

That didn't work. It let's the trem block hit the guitar body. I would have to use 5 springs, or screw the screws in another half inch to make straight springs work.
 
Cadorman said:
That didn't work. It let's the trem block hit the guitar body. I would have to use 5 springs, or screw the screws in another half inch to make straight springs work.
Click to expand...

True. If you've had your system set up so the outboard springs are at an angle, but you change them to be straight, you will relieve some of the spring tension. You have to compensate for this by adding spring(s) or screwing the claw in further.

For comparison, here are two gut shots. The first is my Jackson with a Floyd Rose. It is set up with a 9-42 set of strings, with a .017 wound G string. The second picture is my Stratocaster with a 10-46 set, and a wound .018 G string. Both guitars have a 25.5" scale.

(@Cadorman , I don't know what gauge of strings you use, but if you use a 10-46 set, a comparison of your pic above and my Strat pic below shows that your estimate of needing to screw your claw in an additional 1/2" is pretty close! Well done!)

Jackson:

JackonSpringCavity_sm.jpg


Stratocaster:

StratSpringCavity_sm.jpg

This makes me wonder if the practice of installing the outboard springs at an angle may not also have started as a stop-gap way of providing enough tension when using heavier strings, as there may not have been enough travel on the claw adjustment.

Hmmm....

Keep in mind, I'm not saying there is anything ~wrong~ with installing the springs at an angle. I think it looks cool and would probably do the same thing if I kept the cover off my spring cavity! I'm just not convinced there is an inherent advantage to it, such as superior pitch return. Though, I’m beginning to think there may be some fine-tuning benefit, depending on string gauge and desired feel when using the system. For me, my guitars behave nicely with a straight spring setup and I like the feel. It works fine for me.

In the end, the tension of the strings determine how much tension will be in the system. The spring tension, regardless of spring orientation, has to provide exactly the same counter-tension to keep the system in equilibrium.
 
smitty_p said:
True. If you've had your system set up so the outboard springs are at an angle, but you change them to be straight, you will relieve some of the spring tension. You have to compensate for this by adding spring(s) or screwing the claw in further.

For comparison, here are two gut shots. The first is my Jackson with a Floyd Rose. It is set up with a 9-42 set of strings, with a .017 wound G string. The second picture is my Stratocaster with a 10-46 set, and a wound .018 G string. Both guitars have a 25.5" scale.

(@Cadorman , I don't know what gauge of strings you use, but if you use a 10-46 set, a comparison of your pic above and my Strat pic below shows that your estimate of needing to screw your claw in an additional 1/2" is pretty close! Well done!)

Jackson:

View attachment 31758


Stratocaster:

View attachment 31759

This makes me wonder if the practice of installing the outboard springs at an angle may not also have started as a stop-gap way of providing enough tension when using heavier strings, as there may not have been enough travel on the claw adjustment.

Hmmm....

Keep in mind, I'm not saying there is anything ~wrong~ with installing the springs at an angle. I think it looks cool and would probably do the same thing if I kept the cover off my spring cavity! I'm just not convinced there is an inherent advantage to it, such a superior pitch return. Though, I’m beginning to think there may be some fine-tuning benefit, depending on string gauge and desired feel when using the system. For me, my guitars behave nicely with a straight spring setup and I like the feel. It works fine for me.

In the end, the tension of the strings determine how much tension will be in the system. The spring tension, regardless of spring orientation, has to provide exactly the same counter-tension to keep the system in equilibrium.
Click to expand...

I have set up Stratocasters to Carl's recipe, but kept the springs straight, and the method worked, so I am not sure about the need for installing the springs at an angle, or the utility value of a $54 machined brass string claw.
 
As for the “cool factor” I mentioned...

I showed my non-guitar player wife @Cadorman ’s pics above.

I asked her which arrangement she thought “looked cooler” - the angled springs or the straight springs. I just showed her the pictures and didn’t tell her what she was looking at.

With no hesitation she said the angled springs looked cooler. Only then did I tell her what it was.

So..,yeah...if I didn’t keep the cavity cover on my guitar, I’d do the angled spring setup even if just for the poser value!
 
smitty_p said:
As for the “cool factor” I mentioned...

I showed my non-guitar player wife @Cadorman ’s pics above.

I asked her which arrangement she thought “looked cooler” - the angled springs or the straight springs. I just showed her the pictures and didn’t tell her what she was looking at.

With no hesitation she said the angled springs looked cooler. Only then did I tell her what it was.

So..,yeah...if I didn’t keep the cavity cover on my guitar, I’d do the angled spring setup even if just for the poser value!
Click to expand...

My cover is always on and heavily shielded too...
 
Never pay $54 for a special trem claw.

That is just silly.

I'm pretty sure my springs were angled from the factory. The trem screws are bottomed out in their current holes.

I really don't think this stuff makes any perceivable difference even though I have a "special" heavy brass trem block installed.

When I play my Strat it still doesn't sound like my Gibsons, so I don't play my Strat.
 
Since we're talking springs, I have no evidence that this does anything, but read somewhere in the last year about someone thinking his springs introduced a "noise" so he shrink warps them. I started doing that to on my Warmonth builds If nothing else, it looks cool :dance:

Springs.JPG
 
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Don O said:
Since we're talking springs, I have no evidence that this does anything, but read somewhere in the last year about someone thinking his springs introduced a "noise" so he shrink warps them. I started doing that too on my Warmonth builds If nothing else, it looks cool :dance:

View attachment 31775
Click to expand...
I was kind of thinking the springs seem to add something to the tone. I'm gonna see if I can find some heavy rubber bands to replace the springs with and run a ground jumper to the block.
 
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