PRS SE Custom 24 Tremolo arm loose

[Luís Sacramento]

Hello everyone,

My tremolo arm is kind of loose and won't stay in place, also by come out if I bend over.

I read in some article that there is a small hole in the bridge that can be tightened with an Allen wrench. Well, my guitar did come with a tiny Allen wrench (to adjust the height of the saddles, I would guess), but it isn't big enough to tighten this.

Am I using the wrong tools? Or maybe I got it all wrong?

Thank you in advance.

 

[bodia]

You want to tighten the grub screw behind the trem arm. You can see the hole in this picture.

 

[Luís Sacramento]

The thing is, the allen wrench that came with the guitar (the one that adjust the height of the saddles) is very loose when I insert it, and does nothing. Could I be using the wrong key?

 

[show_a_little_faith]

The thing is, the allen wrench that came with the guitar (the one that adjust the height of the saddles) is very loose when I insert it, and does nothing. Could I be using the wrong key?

Are you sure the screw is still in the hole? I don't use the tremelo arm on my 35th anniversary, and the adjustment screw would work itself loose. I'd tighten it back just to keep it in place, and eventually it'd work it's way out again until I finally just removed it and put it in the bag. Maybe yours has fallen out?

 

[Luís Sacramento]

When I push the key to its limit, I can actually see its tip from above touching the tremolo bar arm. I just learned this today, so for sure I never touched it. How could it have fallen off? If so, is there a way to get a new one?

 

[alantig]

It could just vibrate loose over time. I have a saddle screw (the one for intonation) that has a tendency to do that.

I'd check the case to be sure (not that it's easy to see!), but reach out to customer service - they're pretty good at this stuff. [email protected]

 

[show_a_little_faith]

yeah, sounds like it's missing the screw. You should try contacting PRS customer service and see if they can send you a replacement (it's called "tremolo arm bushing screw"). If they can't help, they do sell a kit of parts that includes it, but it's $25 which is a lot to pay for 1 screw. If you end up needing to buy it, I'd suggest first contacting John Mann's (603-488-1912) and see if they'll sell you just the screw you need, surely for less than $25 I'd think

 

[Luís Sacramento]

Just checked the case and found the loose screw! It was indeed really really small, almost missed it!
I was now able to tighten it properly!
Thank you all for your help, you guys saved me a lot of trouble

 

[bodia]

Just checked the case and found the loose screw! It was indeed really really small, almost missed it!
I was now able to tighten it properly!
Thank you all for your help, you guys saved me a lot of trouble

Sweet, glad to hear you got it sorted out.

 

[DISTORT6]

Put a little clear nail polish in the threads when you get it dialed in. That will stop the screw from backing out again.

 

[alantig]

Put a little clear nail polish in the threads when you get it dialed in. That will stop the screw from backing out again.

Sure, you can use nail polish if you want to go the wimpy way.

 

[ScottR]

Put a little clear nail polish in the threads when you get it dialed in. That will stop the screw from backing out again.

^^^This^^^ I did it to my SE SS like two days ago...beat me to it!

 

[DISTORT6]

Sure, you can use nail polish if you want to go the wimpy way.

Duct tape is still way better - fixes everything but a broken heart and the crack of dawn.

 

[RickP]

Duct tape is still way better - fixes everything but a broken heart and the crack of dawn.

I remember Dawn…

 

[alantig]

Duct tape is still way better - fixes everything but a broken heart and the crack of dawn.

I remember Dawn…

Yeah - no fixing needed there!