found a loose spring


Passey01
Full Access
Joined: 11/29/09
Posts: 8
Passey01
Full Access
Joined: 11/29/09
Posts: 8
01/02/2012 3:28 pm
Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I have a new Fender Stratocaster Deluxe Player. It fell off a chair last night and a small black spring fell out of the back plate. Looking at Chris's lesson on building a strat style guitar, and opening up the back plate, I can't see where the small spring (it is not one of the big whammy bar springs) would go. Any ideas?
Just to add, I love the new strat!

Thanks!
# 1
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
01/02/2012 5:37 pm
Originally Posted by: Passey01...I have a new Fender Stratocaster Deluxe Player. It fell off a chair last night and a small black spring fell out of the back plate.

Sounds like a classic 5-way switch spring. Look here:

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2009/Feb/The_Anatomy_of_the_Stratocaster_5_way_Switch.aspx

Does your pickup selector seem broken or loose?
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor

Christopher Schlegel Lesson Directory
# 2
Razbo
Full Access
Joined: 03/02/09
Posts: 1,562
Razbo
Full Access
Joined: 03/02/09
Posts: 1,562
01/03/2012 1:50 am
I bet it's the elusive tremolo bar spring.
...so ever since then, I always hang on to the buckle.
# 3
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
01/03/2012 4:37 pm
Originally Posted by: RazboI bet it's the elusive tremolo bar spring.

Ah ha! A more likely culprit. I forgot about those.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/fender-tremolo-arm-tension-springs-12/

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/DirtyBird133/tremoloholder.jpg

I've never had a guitar with one of those. Good call, Razbo. Happy New Year! :)
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor

Christopher Schlegel Lesson Directory
# 4
Passey01
Full Access
Joined: 11/29/09
Posts: 8
Passey01
Full Access
Joined: 11/29/09
Posts: 8
01/03/2012 9:24 pm
That's what it is. A little black spring. So is this a trip to my favorite guitar shop to get fixed?
I need to get the setup done as well as the bottom E string buzzes which is kind of frustrating on a brand new guitar, but they do have in the fine print that it is a generic setup at the factory so....

Thanks guys for the answer. Chris, I love your lessons. Keep up the great work. You are making better guitar players out of all of us!
# 5
Razbo
Full Access
Joined: 03/02/09
Posts: 1,562
Razbo
Full Access
Joined: 03/02/09
Posts: 1,562
01/04/2012 11:56 am
Sometimes I get lucky.

The spring should just drop into the trem bar hole. Unscrew the trem bar right out, drop in the spring, screw the bar back in. It will make the bar stay in place where you put it and greatly reduce the 'wiggle'.

A pro set up would be recommended, or you can research and learn. Basic set up is not rocket science as they say, but it's nice to get a good starting point done by a professional. I find the nut slots are a really key factor. Make sure they do what needs to be done. Good luck!
...so ever since then, I always hang on to the buckle.
# 6

Please register with a free account to post on the forum.