How to secure a floppy tremolo arm to a Fender Mustang?

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:22 am

I have a modern 1965 Fender Mustang RI. It was missing the tremolo arm, so I ordered an official Fender replacement part.

The new arm does *not* have any threads, and the rocker it fits into is not threaded, either. As a result, the tremolo arm flops down when it's not in use.

I'd like to rig up something so that the arm stays in a relatively stationary location, maybe secured with some rubber grommets. The only thing I can think to do is use my Dremel tool grinder to reduce the diameter of the arm where is fits into the rocker.

I've already tried electrical and Scotch tape, but these experiments didn't pan out. What should I do?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:35 am

There should be a grub screw on the end of the cigar tube shaped tailpiece that can be tightened into tthe arm.

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:40 am

BacchusPaul wrote:There should be a grub screw on the end of the cigar tube shaped tailpiece that can be tightened into tthe arm.

Hehe! Thanks, I see it now.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:23 am

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:36 am

For what it's worth, I've been playing the Mustang with its new tremolo arm for the last few days, and I think it sits way too high in the rocker bar. I also have a Bigsby B5 on my SG Classic; the arm sits much lower and is easier to access compared to the Mustang trem arm.

I'm planning to use a hacksaw and/or my Dremel tool to cut off a centimeter or two so the arm is closer to the strings. I thought about using my vise to bend the arm but I'm concerned about cracking the chrome or stressing the joint.