Noisy Tremolo Springs... What do you do?

[Gibson67v]

I'm wondering what everyone here does for Noisy Tremolo Springs. I know we're working with guitars that are a few grand and all, but what do you do to fix the Ringing?

Here's what I do. I know it's extremely cheap, but, it works! I use some electrical tape and put it over 2 of the springs on both sides. Stops the ring and lasts quite a while! You'll also notice that I leave the back open incase I want to make some adjustments for the trem arm (I only do it when I first buy the guitar, so kind of pointless... I guess!)

Here is a CE 22 in Whale Blue with... Electrical Tape

Here is a Custom 24 in Autumn Sky (bought it 2 days ago...) with Electrical Tape

Here is a Custom 24 in Fire Red with Electrical Tape

and finally... Here is a CE 22 VIntage Yellow with... You guessed it!! ELECTRICAL TAPE!!

so again... what do you guys use?

 

[Lupus Fidelis]

I noticed that my guitar has a bit of this as well. Would love to hear peoples' opinions on this

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I like 'em.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

 

[Gibson67v]

Quite brilliant, my friend! If I left the cover on... I would do this for sure!!

 

[Sage]

I bought some SpringNO Tremolo Spring Silencers from Allparts to try them out in my #1, which also happens to have a Tremol-no installed.

I put them in, played for about two minutes, and immediately took them back out. Turns out I like what the springs contribute to my guitar's tone. Makes it sound livelier.

 

[jrw32]

Block the 'trem! :top:

 

[Gibson67v]

I bought some SpringNO Tremolo Spring Silencers from Allparts to try them out in my #1, which also happens to have a Tremol-no installed.

I put them in, played for about two minutes, and immediately took them back out. Turns out I like what the springs contribute to my guitar's tone. Makes it sound livelier.

I always just hated the Ringing when I was playing without an amp... on my CE's it seemed like something was wrong. The tape just stops them from vibrating it not on tight or anything haha.

 

[Gibson67v]

Block the 'trem! :top:

I've noticed lots of people blocking out the tremolos over my last almost 20 years of playing... it's a preference... but doesn't that stop you from pulling the bar up?

 

[jrw32]

I've noticed lots of people blocking out the tremolos over my last almost 20 years of playing... it's a preference... but doesn't that stop you from pulling the bar up?

It does. Works well for me though as I don't use trems and play in alternate tunings sometimes. I also prefer the feel/tone when blocked. Not to derail your thread...

 

[Gibson67v]

It does. Works well for me though as I don't use trems and play in alternate tunings sometimes. I also prefer the feel/tone when blocked. Not to derail your thread...

no derailment at all! We're talkin' guitars... it's all good!

 

[justmund]

I used to slip a thick rubber band over the strings (it required removing them from the claw), but then decided to remove them as I believe the spring vibration has a positive effect on tone and sustain.

I realised the noise only bothered me when I was palm muting, then completely stopping playing and listening for the noise. In a normal band situation I didn't notice the noise, ever.

 

[Gibson67v]

I used to slip a thick rubber band over the strings (it required removing them from the claw), but then decided to remove them as I believe the spring vibration has a positive effect on tone and sustain.

I realised the noise only bothered me when I was palm muting, then completely stopping playing and listening for the noise. In a normal band situation I didn't notice the noise, ever.

Exactly! I could only hear it when I was playing without an amp. I'm currently in an apartment (which is painful!!) so I play mostly without an amp as I don't usually get home from work until 6 (only a few amplifier hours available)... I usually take the tape off when I'm recording (not for tonal reasons... I just do it instinctively hahaha). I know a lot of players that will tape off the High E and B strings when they're recording (if they aren't using those strings...) I just never understood that because I always thought that it was kind of cheating yourself.

 

[316ms]

Not sure why you buy guitar with a trem if your going to block it?

Block the 'trem! :top:

 

[316ms]

Exactly! I could only hear it when I was playing without an amp. I'm currently in an apartment (which is painful!!) so I play mostly without an amp as I don't usually get home from work until 6 (only a few amplifier hours available)... I usually take the tape off when I'm recording (not for tonal reasons... I just do it instinctively hahaha). I know a lot of players that will tape off the High E and B strings when they're recording (if they aren't using those strings...) I just never understood that because I always thought that it was kind of cheating yourself.

I've heard this on a couple prs guitars. It's odd. I was curious as to what it was. But , I hear a ringing overtone, almost as if it's an octave note bleeding in, which it isnt but seems to have that effect kind of. Only when unplugged. Is this spring vibration I am hearing or a certain pitch that's getting an ovetyone from the spring? Which is odd, but it is definitely there on a McCarty but not a cu24

 

[shimmilou]

The “noise” from the trem springs definitely can be picked up by the pups and then amplified by the amp, though I wouldn’t call it noise, I like it.

Demonstrated in this video, guitar straight into a POD, so there is no acoustic sound, only what the pups hear. Skip the sloppy playing and go to the end to hear the springs ringing.

 

[316ms]

The “noise” from the trem springs definitely can be picked up by the pups and then amplified by the amp, though I wouldn’t call it noise, I like it.

Demonstrated in this video, guitar straight into a POD, so there is no acoustic sound, only what the pups hear. Skip the sloppy playing and go to the end to hear the springs ringing.

Cool strat tones!! I heard it only when you raked the springs at the end. Didnt hear it the playing tho. If I did I liked it mine is only on A notes it seems. 5th on the D ,12th on the A strings mainly, I can hear it vaguely on the g on the 2nd fret and somewhat 10th on the b string. I was concerned it was possibly truss rod rattle, took the back plate off and it seems it's the springs... I hope! Thanks for the reply and the vid!!!

 

[shimmilou]

Thx. Oh yeah, I couldn’t hear it while playing with distortion, but do when playing clean, albeit much more subtle than when I strummed them. I only made the vid to demonstrate that pups hear more than just the strings, in response on another forum where there were many who emphatically denied any other influence on a guitar sound besides strings vibrating. They absolutely had nothing but disdain for the term “tonewoods”. Thankfully I discovered this forum where they just get it.

There is another type of ringing/reverberation that I can hear with fixed bridges too, only when amplified, which I attribute to tubes ringing.

 

[316ms]

Thx. Oh yeah, I couldn’t hear it while playing with distortion, but do when playing clean, albeit much more subtle than when I strummed them. I only made the vid to demonstrate that pups hear more than just the strings, in response on another forum where there were many who emphatically denied any other influence on a guitar sound besides strings vibrating. They absolutely had nothing but disdain for the term “tonewoods”. Thankfully I discovered this forum where they just get it.

There is another type of ringing/reverberation that I can hear with fixed bridges too, only when amplified, which I attribute to tubes ringing.

I am curious why I hear it on one guitar with trem and not another. Same trem system, same scale length. I guess I should be thankful lol

 

[Boogie]

Tell ‘em to shut up and backhand them.