USA strat tremolo help

NoQuarter

anyone know how to get the plugs out of the guitar?? (see pics)

i got a new black tremolo, the screws wont go into the silver plugs that are in the body already for some baffling reason, maybe threads in plugs are gone??

so how do i get the silver ones out of the body to tap in the new black ones i got with the tremolo??

thanks, stew.

Johnny Storm

I'm guessing the screws are metric and the inserts are imperial? (or vice versa) Or maybe they are just different sized threads?
Is the new trem supposed to be Fender brand?
I have no idea how to get the inserts out - try screwing the old screws in then pulling them out with a pliers :eek:
IMHO it's be easier and definately a lot safer to get new screws that fit.

feylya

When I did that before, I put the old screws in, used a block of wood to protect the body and gently pulled the screw out with a claw hammer. Need to be very very careful doing that.

Just do everything slowly, checking twice and you should be ok.

NoQuarter

the new tremolo is this one : http://store.guitarfetish.com/usast2pohast1.html

bought the body off ebay so not sure what exactly was on it before, i would say your right about the metric/imperial thing and that is the problem.

funny you should say that because i have a normal screw in it now but i cant for the life of me get the nerve to pull it hard!!!:o

NoQuarter

ok thanks lads that worked! was nervy but the body is still in 1 piece! now to find the drill (the new plugs would have to be bigger than the old ones of course!!:rolleyes:)

Doctor J

Be really careful with the drill. If you don't get these in dead straight it will affect how the trem sits.

If you can use some sort of mounting arm or something like that to make sure it's straight, do. Don't do it by hand it you can avoid doing so.

NoQuarter

well one black plug is in but the trem isnt sitting right already, i used a hand drill very carefully, hardly took anything out of it so i dont think it was gonna sit right anyways, here a couple of pics, dont really know what to do now, any ideas?????

Voodu Child

Trem inserts are usually press-fitted. Thats why they're such a tight fit. You shouldn't drill the hole out unless its the wrong size.

You need a bench-press or similar to fit them properly without damage to the finish (though guys often just use brute force eg rubber mallet etc :pac:). If you havent a bench-press, you could use some sort of bench-clamp or vice or similar (the kind the tightens slowly as you screw it).

NoQuarter

voodoo_child wrote: »

Trem inserts are usually press-fitted. Thats why they're such a tight fit. You shouldn't drill the hole out unless its the wrong size.

they were definitly the wrong size, i can get the inserts in without damaging the finish(using drill a little bit) but they are off line with the trem itself thats the problem!

Johnny Storm

king-stew wrote: »

.. the trem isnt sitting right...

Uh-oh..... There are at least two different string spacings on Strats and therefore at least two different widths of trems. Have a read of the bottom part of this link:

http://www.callahamguitars.com/blocks.htm

Voodu Child

You're not trying to fit a USA trem on a Squier by any chance are you?

Because the spacing will be way off.

NoQuarter

Johnny Storm wrote: »

Uh-oh..... There are at least two different string spacings on Strats and therefore at least two different widths of trems. Have a read of the bottom part of this link:

http://www.callahamguitars.com/blocks.htm

ok it seems that the body might have been set up for the 2 1/16 spacing while the trem is 2 7/32 spacing (well guitar fetish says thats the distance the studs are apart?) its very hard to know what i have as you can imagine!

voodoo_child wrote: »

You're not trying to fit a USA trem on a Squier by any chance are you?

Because the spacing will be way off.

spacing is way off but no i wouldnt imagine so, the body was already set up for an american standard trem and i havent seen them on squires?? as far as i know the body is from a stratocaster but in saying that, im no body expert so its hard to be 100% sure!?

question: if i take a bit from the left hand side of the hole the trem goes into it should line up ok, what ya think???

Johnny Storm

king-stew wrote: »

...
question: if i take a bit from the left hand side of the hole the trem goes into it should line up ok, what ya think???

You're way past my area of expertise (which is **** all TBH ) but I'd say you'd have to position the bridge equally in the middle of the two existing posts or else the strings will be over to one side

Could you possibly exchange that bridge for the right one? Or even bit the bullet and buy a new one?

EDIT: As regards the body, please dont take this the wrong way, but in your first photos, what are the horizonal lines on the wood in the cavities? Please tell me it's not

plywood

:eek:

NoQuarter

Johnny Storm wrote: »

You're way past my area of expertise (which is **** all TBH ) but I'd say you'd have to position the bridge equally in the middle of the two existing posts or else the strings will be over to one side

Could you possibley exchange that bridge for the right one one? Or even bit the bullet and buy a new one?

no i enjoy a challenge!!! (ill be crying by tonight)


i know what ya mean about the strings being to one side but if i put in the screw into the black insert thats already in and sit the trem in, the trem is at an angle and wont go straight(because of the wood on the part i suggested to take out:eek:) but seeing as the trem is using the screw as a fulcrum, technically its not actually moving to the side??? my brain hurts


the easy option would be to move the hole but that would invole drilling kind of sidewards and moving the insert over then filling in behind the insert, but is that even possible??

Voodu Child

king-stew wrote: »

question: if i take a bit from the left hand side of the hole the trem goes into it should line up ok, what ya think???

I would just take a step back before doing anything else tbh. Sounds like you've gotten ahead of yourself.

What guitar is it? A Squier? Whats the spacing of the posts (measure it). Whats the spacing of the trem (measure it - I know they give it on the website, but measure it yourself to check).

NoQuarter

Johnny Storm wrote: »

Please tell me it's not

plywood

:eek:

not really sure!??!! :eek::o:(

Johnny Storm

king-stew wrote: »

no i enjoy a challenge!!! (ill be crying by tonight)

I know the feeling.

king-stew wrote: »

the easy option would be to move the hole but that would invole drilling kind of sidewards and moving the insert over then filling in behind the insert, but is that even possible??

AFAIK the right way to do this would be to glue wooden pieces (dowels) into the existing holes, let the glue dry and then re-drill the holes from scratch.

NoQuarter

voodoo_child wrote: »

I would just take a step back before doing anything else tbh. Sounds like you've gotten ahead of yourself.

What guitar is it? A Squier? Whats the spacing of the posts (measure it). Whats the spacing of the trem (measure it - I know they give it on the website, but measure it yourself to check).

ok, its no guitar, its the strat of a custom build from scratch! (problems already!:rolleyes:)

ok edge of pole 2 pole is 2.65

edge of trem slots is 2.50

NoQuarter

Johnny Storm wrote: »

I know the feeling.




AFAIK the right way to do this would be to glue wooden pieces (dowels) into the existing holes, let the glue dry and then re-drill the holes from scratch.

not a bad idea at all johnny thanks, anywhere i could get ones to fit?? im a bit clueless when it comes to carpentry!!

Johnny Storm

Woodies?:( or similar. You will probably have to get something close and shape it yourself. Definitely use proper wood glue (also available in woodies) and let it dry for at least as long as it says on the instructions.

im a bit clueless when it comes to carpentry!!

I'd probably take VooDoo_Child's advice and take a break at this stage.

I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks about this body wood:-

Voodu Child

king-stew wrote: »

ok, its no guitar, its the strat of a custom build from scratch! (problems already!:rolleyes:)

ok edge of pole 2 pole is 2.65

edge of trem slots is 2.50

Centre-to-centre is how you measure these things.

I would just put away the tools and take a step back until you've got all the info and advice you need.

Johnny Storm wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks about this body wood

Its a ply, which is why I thought it was a Squier or similar. Tbh, i wouldn't start ordering parts or drilling holes without knowing what i had in the first place, but maybe thats just me :pac:

Johnny Storm

voodoo_child wrote: »

...I would just put away the tools and take a step back until you've got all the info and advice you need...

I'd agree.

voodoo_child wrote: »

...Its a laminate, which is why I thought it was a Squier or similar.

I doubt if its from a Strat anyway

voodoo_child wrote: »

...Tbh, i wouldn't start ordering parts or drilling holes without knowing what i had in the first place, but maybe thats just me :pac:

What about your youthful enthusiasm?

NoQuarter

the tools are away! :pac:

problem is i only get short amounts of time to research and order stuff(not gonna get time to even look at the parts till at very least sunday now) so by the time ive researched something and then get the money to buy a part ive forgotten the specs needed ect... and theres just way too many tiny variations out there! but tis my 1st build so its a steep learning curve!

anyways thanks for the advice and help and ill bump up the thread next week when im trying to fix this mess! till then lads

PS. cant wait to start trying to install the MODboard!!!