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

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:22 am
by Armchair Bronco
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?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:35 am
by Bacchus
There should be a grub screw on the end of the cigar tube shaped tailpiece that can be tightened into tthe arm.

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:40 am
by Armchair Bronco
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. :-)

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:23 am
by robroe
loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:36 am
by Armchair Bronco
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.