ShortScale.org

Well Helo there,

I have a problem.
It's my tremolo bar -- it keeps falling out. Whenever I have my Jag strapped on and I go to bend over and touch my knobs on the Marshall GV overdrive pedal, the bar drops and clangs on the floor.

It's a new MIJ Jag.

I tried turning it and turning it, thinking that it might snap into a properly attached position but it just gets a little stiffer and holds in the one place, which is isn't all that convenient. I'd like to be able to give it a good wang occasionally, then let go of it so that it swings back down to a resting position and doesn't get in the way of my strumming.
Is it normal for it to just sit there loose like that?

Thanks in advance,
Kev

It's not normal. I hear you have to press down quite hard on some of the imports before it "snaps" into place. It might just need a little more force.

My Jazzmaster's bar never worked right. either stuck in one spot, or loosey goosey.

i don't think the japanese units snap into place like the american ones do. compare the ends of the trem arms:

you may want to buy an american trem unit to solve the problem

You need to move out of Seoul and into Bundang where the air is cleaner, Mr. Shields... Doesn't help having temps up to a sticky 37˚C today either, eh?

Seriously though, DuoSonicBoy is right. I've personally yet to be very disappointed with their performance as such on our CIJ Jazzo and Jag, but horses for courses. As long as there is little intentional lateral(swung) action, they do their job just dandy.

I put ONE layer of clear tape around the very end. The tiny bit of extra width it adds keeps it from falling out but doesn't stop it from swinging down to the patch cord when I'm done with it. This was about four years ago. By now it's a weird mass of gumminess but it still works.




I have both an AVRI and a CIJ trem and although there is a slight difference in quality (with the AVRI being smoother) personally I don't think the difference is significant enough to warrant a trem change.

If pushing it in harder does'nt work then you'll have to

1/take the trem system off the body
2/Underneath there is a collet/socket that the arm pushes into, gently squeeze it together with some pliers (not too much!)
Then recheck it fits tightly.

Its a common complaint.

on the 96 mij jag that i have the trem unit worked just fine,
i do prefer the am trem tho, i had one on my avri and i have one on my tele and i prefer the feel much more than the jap, but its still a good trem.
you could groove the bar a bit.
just a thought.

Thanks for all the replies -- this seems like a fairly knowledgeable and friendly forum.

Since I'm a lazy bastard I did try the sticky tape solution first but it just got pushed along the bar.
When I gave it a harder push into the socket -- as Duosonicboy mentioned, it did get a lot more snug, but also more stiff -- I'm thinking that with time the swinging might loosen up. If not, whatever. I'm not quite at the stage of wanting to pull the bridge apart.

Hi ultratwin -- Yeah and I don't have A/C either - it's killin me --but I'm sure Seongnam is hot these days too.

Kevin Shields wrote:
Hi ultratwin -- Yeah and I don't have A/C either - it's killin me --but I'm sure Seongnam is hot these days too.

Where exactly are you in Seoul, by the way? I was running around Seocho, Gangnam, and Hannam today on numerous errands.

There is absolutely no wind down here in Bundang today, it being heavily overcast and 34˚C. Our little AC is doing little to quell the muggy heat in the house. 2 more weeks and it's seasonal L.A. dry heat for a month, as late August always is over here.

I'm in Suyu near Bukhan san.
Yes - about 1million% humidity. I should be studying but I can't concentrate.