Members mymindsok Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 A few months ago I was looking at Raw Vintage's web site and noted that they were selling low tension Trem springs and boasting about the idea that they add chime and a more Vintage sound to a guitar. Well, I bought a set, tossed them into my stuff box and forgot about em till last night. To make a longer story short, I installed em and have found that, so far, the claims of the manufacturer appear to be true. My guitar does indeed have an airer, more open sound and much more chime and it has with the stock springs or the Callaham Stainless set. Our kids been sick, so I haven't had the time or opportunity to plug my guitar in but I'm intrigued! Anyone else tried these springs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PrawnHeed Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 How can you possibly have low tension springs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 I remember a thread about this a while back ago. I think the general consensus was that different springs don't alter the tone of your guitar. Though someone here who spend like $45 on springs swore on their life the difference in vibration altered the tone of the guitar slightly (all thought not noticeable to the average player lol). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crunchtime Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 How can you possibly have low tension springs? I would guess size of coil and thickness of wire would affect tension. I would also guess stretching out a spring would affect tension also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 Just take one spring out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Faber Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 interesting testemonial. I've read about these and always put it down to the ramblings of the Mojo and Pixie Dust brigade. I would never imagine that the type of spring could make a difference, but I suppose stranger things have happend. I've been wrong before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Surfdude Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 Haven't tried vintage trem springs but I did get way better tone when I switched out my pickguard screws for a set of vintage ones. The old ones (with the slotted heads instead of the Phillips head) seemed to make my strat come alive. Surfy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 Seriously guys... don't knock it until you try it. I installed Raw Vintage springs in my strat and it was the biggest improvement since I stripped off the 0.05" thick nitro and replaced it with 0.02" thick nitro. That made the guitar sound much more open. The springs was a huge improvement as well. I suggest everyone do it. Another thing I noticed is when I went from the tapered steel trem block to the solid brass trem block, it completely got rid of the ice pick tone and it made my left hand cramp a lot less. True story! You schmucks can keep wasting your time and money on new pickups, speakers and lessons, but the real upgrades are in the trem block and trem springs. Oh... and in the cryogenic-treated pots, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 ... and REAL 'vintage' (or, if you prefer, 'old') springs are weaker. I have four (original) springs in my '63 Strat, but I only need three (new) ones to achieve approximately the same trem tension on my newer ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flatspotter Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 Haven't tried vintage trem springs but I did get way better tone when I switched out my pickguard screws for a set of vintage ones. The old ones (with the slotted heads instead of the Phillips head) seemed to make my strat come alive.Surfy This is true only if you align all the screw heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretmonster Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 Seriously guys... don't knock it until you try it. I installed Raw Vintage springs in my strat and it was the biggest improvement since I stripped off the 0.05" thick nitro and replaced it with 0.02" thick nitro. That made the guitar sound much more open. The springs was a huge improvement as well. I suggest everyone do it. Another thing I noticed is when I went from the tapered steel trem block to the solid brass trem block, it completely got rid of the ice pick tone and it made my left hand cramp a lot less. True story! You schmucks can keep wasting your time and money on new pickups, speakers and lessons, but the real upgrades are in the trem block and trem springs. Oh... and in the cryogenic-treated pots, as well. Good answer!!! I wish I could pinpoint a weakness in the tone of my two upgraded Fender Squier Strats so I could justify the expenditure. And as far as trem blocks, I came to much the same conclusion, preferring the sound of the GFS big brass and the Fender galvanized to the GFS big steel block. Certainly not as sexy sounding as changing out pots caps or pickups but I like the organic simplicity of tonepath mods done on a nice piece of lumber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RaVenCAD Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 All Strat players know that the unique funkiness that a Strat has comes, in part, from the built in reverb tank in the back. The less mass the spring has, the more "boing" it's going to have. Thus, the more of the reverb effect you'll feel/hear. Make a spring out of thinner wire and it's going to have less mass and less strength. I don't know that this is anything you'd ever be able to hear, much less record, but you can certainly feel it when you pull a spring out and tighten the others to compensate for it. Plus it gives the bar a much softer feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 ^^^ Which is why hardtail Strats are a minority taste even amongst players who choose not to use the trem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PrawnHeed Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 I would guess size of coil and thickness of wire would affect tension. I would also guess stretching out a spring would affect tension also. Then the guitar would just be detuned. The springs have to balance the tension of the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 ... Another thing I noticed is when I went from the tapered steel trem block to the solid brass trem block, it completely got rid of the ice pick tone and it made my left hand cramp a lot less. True story! To get more toanz and quack out of my Strat I replaced all of the clay dot markers with abalone. Tone is in the abalone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 A few months ago I was looking at Raw Vintage's web site and noted that they were selling low tension Trem springs and boasting about the idea that they add chime and a more Vintage sound to a guitar. Well, I bought a set, tossed them into my stuff box and forgot about em till last night. To make a longer story short, I installed em and have found that, so far, the claims of the manufacturer appear to be true. My guitar does indeed have an airer, more open sound and much more chime and it has with the stock springs or the Callaham Stainless set. Our kids been sick, so I haven't had the time or opportunity to plug my guitar in but I'm intrigued! Anyone else tried these springs? link, please?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted November 8, 2011 Moderators Share Posted November 8, 2011 link, please?? http://www.rawvintage.com/eng/item_springs.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 http://www.rawvintage.com/eng/item_springs.php thank you, Sean... They don't look any different than the springs I get from WD for $1.00 each... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poolshark Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 Then the guitar would just be detuned. The springs have to balance the tension of the strings. I assume one would also tighten the tremolo claw to compensate. In my experience, a trem with 5 springs and a loosened claw feels 'tighter' than one with 2 springs and a tightened claw. As for my opinion on the sound of the springs, I tend to think that every component of a guitar makes a difference in sound, no matter how minute. We can't all hear these slight differences, myself included, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I simply don't value the benefits toan springs, however minute, at $45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 To get more toanz and quack out of my Strat I replaced all of the clay dot markers with abalone. Tone is in the abalone! Yeah, but which abalone? I only use NOS vintage abalone. The new stuff is as soulless as a clay dot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 no. i dislike the "reverb". if i want reverb, that's what I have a reverb tank for in my amp. i bought high tension springs instead: http://www.floydupgrades.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=221 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mymindsok Posted November 8, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 I assume one would also tighten the tremolo claw to compensate. In my experience, a trem with 5 springs and a loosened claw feels 'tighter' than one with 2 springs and a tightened claw. As for my opinion on the sound of the springs, I tend to think that every component of a guitar makes a difference in sound, no matter how minute. We can't all hear these slight differences, myself included, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I simply don't value the benefits toan springs, however minute, at $45. $45.00??? Theyre usually about $18 on Ebay... That aside, little things do often make a difference and I'm willing to experiment. I'll report back if and when theres something to report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grumphh Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 In my experience, a trem with 5 springs and a loosened claw feels 'tighter' than one with 2 springs and a tightened claw. Yes, that is because with the springs in parallel the force you need to deform the springs adds up. 5 springs simply take more energy to deform than 2. In theory that should be great for tuning stability (at least on the trem side of things), but the downside is that you can't get those surfy wobbles as easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 The tone is in the strap buttons. Particularly the screws. If you're in to metal, get some stainless screws that are five times as long as the stockers. the added mass to the body will make you have a more brootal tone. True story. Also locking strap buttons will help your tuning stability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grumphh Posted November 8, 2011 Members Share Posted November 8, 2011 The tone is in the strap buttons. Particularly the screws. If you're in to metal, get some stainless screws that are five times as long as the stockers. the added mass to the body will make you have a more brootal tone. No no no! You americans always get it wrong. Look where all your dumb theories about "more mass = better tone" took Fender and Gibson guitars in the late 70's - when only the Japanese could produce guitars of normal weight - and now you want to repeat that by advocating heavier screws? Whilst i grant you that it is true that the screws are one of the crucial ingredients for a more three-dimensional sound with complex mids and defined highs, they should be made from vintage airplane aluminium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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