1 Topic by Guitgator (edited by Guitgator 2007-02-17 21:21:14)

  • From: Gnashville, TN
  • Registered: 2007-02-14
  • Posts: 198

Topic: Joe's Whammy Bar Adjustments

Hey guys (and gals)...I'm rather new to the forum so if this has been covered in the past please bear with me but I was wondering if Joe's ever given any hints on how he sets up his whammy on his gold strat?  I know Fender recommends screwing down the outside two screws all the way and leaving the middle screws up by 1/16th " for support. Also....does he use the standard three springs?....graphite?   It seems his guitar stays in tune way better than most players who use a whammy...maybe it's just video editing out all the tuning stops between songs, eh?  I'm getting ready to build a frankenstein strat from spare parts and will putting in a vintage Fender Tremelo so that's why I'm asking....I haven't had one on a guitar since the mid-70's and I barely knew how to tie my shoes much less set up a tremelo at that point.

ciao'

"why isn't the number "11" pronounced "onety one"???....S. Wright.

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  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Joe's Whammy Bar Adjustments

Maybe he uses a tremsetter to stay in tune, i dunno

  • From: Gnashville, TN
  • Registered: 2007-02-14
  • Posts: 198

Re: Joe's Whammy Bar Adjustments

According to an article posted on this forum Joe just uses 4 springs and some #2 pencil graphite in the nut on his vintage tremelos.......I was just wondering if he had a different approach to the 6-screw bridge setup that was different than Fender recommends.

"why isn't the number "11" pronounced "onety one"???....S. Wright.

Guitgator's Website

  • From: Tampa, Fl.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 870

Re: Joe's Whammy Bar Adjustments

I'm not really sure about the complete setup Joe uses for his tremolo, but I do know that he is very particular about which springs he uses... he actually uses a fish scale and stretches the strings out to a certain point and choses springs that have the same tension- that's mainly, i think, how he stays in tune so well even through all those whammy bar dives etc.

Hope this helps,
Scott

"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought-- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

http://www.last.fm/user/skynyrd128
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Joe's Whammy Bar Adjustments

kwsjb1238 wrote:

I'm not really sure about the complete setup Joe uses for his tremolo, but I do know that he is very particular about which springs he uses... he actually uses a fish scale and stretches the strings out to a certain point and choses springs that have the same tension- that's mainly, i think, how he stays in tune so well even through all those whammy bar dives etc.

Hope this helps,
Scott

where did you hear that?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Tampa, Fl.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 870

Re: Joe's Whammy Bar Adjustments

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
kwsjb1238 wrote:

I'm not really sure about the complete setup Joe uses for his tremolo, but I do know that he is very particular about which springs he uses... he actually uses a fish scale and stretches the strings out to a certain point and choses springs that have the same tension- that's mainly, i think, how he stays in tune so well even through all those whammy bar dives etc.

Hope this helps,
Scott

where did you hear that?

I just found it- it was the tonequest report interview with Joe from a while ago... it's at


http://www.10e20webdesign.net/joe_bonam … rticle.pdf

it's on page 6

Hope this helps,
Scott

"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought-- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

http://www.last.fm/user/skynyrd128