Which notch do you use on Mustang vibrato?

glitchathon · Post by **glitchathon** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:45 pm

Using 11's, I thought I'd need to use the lowest notch (on the tailpiece posts) for my vibrato but I found the tension to be adequate on the higher notch (closest to baseplate) to counteract the tension of the strings. I have the tailpiece as low as possible (while still letting the strings go underneath), and the tailpiece leans back ever so slightly. I'm wondering whether my springs are higher tension than average.

Curious what others found in the performance of their Mustang vibrato and tuning stability between using the top and bottom notches?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:46 pm

Bottom.

It's odd. The Mustang vibrato entirely doesn't work unless it's on the bottom notch, in which case it works excellently.

glitchathon · Post by **glitchathon** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:48 pm

BacchusPaul wrote:Bottom.

It's odd. The Mustang vibrato entirely doesn't work unless it's on the bottom notch, in which case it works excellently.

weird. what happens on the top notch?

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:22 pm

I also use 11' strings, and with springs on top notch, the trem basically did not return to a zero point and went out of tune very quick. The trem action was very smooth though, ideal if you don't use the trem arm but do some shimmering by hand on the tailpiece. The bottom position was very tuning stable, but the trem was too stiff for me. So I put it in the middle, and that works fine for me.

glitchathon · Post by **glitchathon** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:26 pm

kypdurron wrote:I also use 11' strings, and with springs on top notch, the trem basically did not return to a zero point and went out of tune very quick. The trem action was very smooth though, ideal if you don't use the trem arm but do some shimmering by hand on the tailpiece. The bottom position was very tuning stable, but the trem was too stiff for me. So I put it in the middle, and that works fine for me.

ahhh that's right i have seen some trem posts with 3 notches. Mine only has 2. It is too stiff on the bottom notch. I don't use the bar and use my hand instead.

With the springs on bottom, and with tailpiece down low I think it acts virtually like a hardtail.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:38 pm

what the hell are you guys talking about?

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:12 pm

robroe wrote:what the hell are you guys talking about?

glitchathon · Post by **glitchathon** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:16 pm

spring notches under the base plate of the vibrato assembly!

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:38 pm

BacchusPaul wrote:Bottom.

It's odd. The Mustang vibrato entirely doesn't work unless it's on the bottom notch, in which case it works excellently.

+1 this is my experience too.

glitchathon · Post by **glitchathon** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:05 pm

Thom wrote:
BacchusPaul wrote:Bottom.

It's odd. The Mustang vibrato entirely doesn't work unless it's on the bottom notch, in which case it works excellently.
+1 this is my experience too.

what gauge strings do you use?

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:04 am

glitchathon wrote:I don't use the bar and use my hand instead.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:01 am

Thom wrote:
BacchusPaul wrote:Bottom.

It's odd. The Mustang vibrato entirely doesn't work unless it's on the bottom notch, in which case it works excellently.
+1 this is my experience too.

+1 as well. the higher notch is good if you're not using the trem arm, as it's stiffer and tends to hold things in place better but trying to use the arm with the springs set on the higher notch is just really stiff and jerky and pretty much impossible to do any smooth bends.

glitchathon · Post by **glitchathon** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:17 pm

mage wrote:
Thom wrote:
BacchusPaul wrote:Bottom.

It's odd. The Mustang vibrato entirely doesn't work unless it's on the bottom notch, in which case it works excellently.
+1 this is my experience too.
+1 as well. the higher notch is good if you're not using the trem arm, as it's stiffer and tends to hold things in place better but trying to use the arm with the springs set on the higher notch is just really stiff and jerky and pretty much impossible to do any smooth bends.

hmm, weird i do not have a bar to try but i thought the lower notch (higher tension) would make it stiffer?