Issue with "slightly" loose trem arm

dougstrummer

dougstrummer

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Joined
Mar 10, 2013
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Location
Florida & North Carolina
Hey guys....recently acquired a seriously amazing custom-ordered "Santana 1", and everything is truly sensational (best playing guitar I've ever owned). And though I don't normally even use tremolo, this guitar fits me so well in every way that I thought I would go ahead and embrace the trem (been playing for 40+ years, btw, without trem use). But this trem has just a "wee bit" of play in her which makes the trem arm respond a little "sloppily"...just a smidge inaccurate (does this make sense??). So is there any way to tighten the arm socket so it is accurately responsive (still wondering if this makes sense?)? I don't really want to go the through a hellacious remedy if at all possible, but I have immediately embraced the trem possibilities on this particular guitar. Any thoughts/suggestions are much appreciated!

Doug

p.s. Here's my new girl:

 
Amazing guitar!

On the rear of the bridge plate (where the intonation screws are), there is an Allen set screw, adjacent to the bar hole. Put the bar all the way into the hole, then tighten the screw to the amount of tension you want on the bar.
 
if you've lost the little screw you can always wrap the trem arm end in masking tape or something to give it some more radius
 
shimmilou said:
Amazing guitar!

On the rear of the bridge plate (where the intonation screws are), there is an Allen set screw, adjacent to the bar hole. Put the bar all the way into the hole, then tighten the screw to the amount of tension you want on the bar.
Click to expand...

THIS

Beautiful guitar !! Congrats
 
Many thanks, guys (and I feel like an 8=ball for not just looking closely for a screw, etc.???). But I do have other guitars where the trem arm just drops in snuggly without having to spin it or screw it in. But, yes, sounds like an easy fix...and many thanks on the kind words about my "new' Santana.
 
one more thing, don't store guitar in case with trem arm in, it will loosen. I forget sometimes and have to tighten Allen screw. I assume leaving the trem arm in the guitar in a closed case stretches the plastic cylinder in the bridge since trem gets pressed down.
 
dougstrummer said:
Many thanks, guys (and I feel like an 8=ball for not just looking closely for a screw, etc.???). But I do have other guitars where the trem arm just drops in snuggly without having to spin it or screw it in. But, yes, sounds like an easy fix...and many thanks on the kind words about my "new' Santana.
Click to expand...

No sweat. Keep the appropriate allen key handy, as it may work loose over time, especially if you commit whammy abuse as I often do. Just don't go too crazy tightening it. I've cracked the black plastic sleeve on mine.
 
No, Rob already took that one
 
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