Strat springs - 3 vs 5 ??

[jmingo]

What does adding the 2 springs on strats do?

 

Should i leave it as is? I use the whammy bar quite a bit.

[Jimi Ray Halen]

It makes the resistance much greater. Stiffer. I use my wammy a lot also. I tried 5, found it too stiff, and went back to 3 in the traditional V pattern.

 

Iow, there wasn't any benefit for me. But everybody's different. Try it and see.

[Faber]

Using all five will clamp down your bridge, so it won't move unless you pull the bar. You will also only get a drop in pitch from the trem, unlike when it's floating.

[Blackbelt1]

I use 3 and keep mine all fully floating. I use the trem quite a bit when I play (no dive-bombing, just wiggle-waggles). I don't have any tuning issues at all.

 

~Blackbelt

[fishfartz]

i use 3, i have them tight enough to keep the bridge flush with the body to dive only - its a little stif compared to a fully floating bridge but not alot more.....just enough to keep things in place while bending

 

you can tighten the 3 springs if you want a stiffer feel to the action instead of going up to 5

[GAS Man]

I have a tech book at home on this that defines it a bit better,

 

but basically, it depends upon the gauge of string you are using. You need to balance out string tension with spring tensile tension.

 

3 springs is common for most general use (9s or 10s) but if you go higher, like 11s or 12s, you should consider adding more spring.

[paul44]

I've always preferred to have the full 5.Makes trem more stable if you hardly ever use it,like me.

[SirMike1983]

I've found 5 to be the general preference for higher gauge flatwound strings. Flats do tend to be a bit high on the tension side compared to wounds in my experience. Not many people play straight flats though on the whole.