Should trem be blocked when changing strings?

[maggior]

I have a PRS Custom 24 that I've had for a week now. Love the guitar.

I've been a strat player for the last 15 years. When changing the strings on my strat, with its floating trem, I learned the hard way to put a piece of cardboard between the guitar body and the trem body to prevent it from coming into direct contact with the guitar body when I detuned and removed the strings. If I didn't do this, the tension of the trem springs pushed the trem body into the guitar body and made an indentation.

When changing the strings on my PRS, should I do something similar?

I searched around and could't find anything regarding this. Sorry if this is a common question .

Thanks!

 

[Bill SAS 513]

From my experiences of changing PRS strings, which I normally do one string at a time, I haven't needed to place anything under the rear of the bridge...I have, however, removed all six strings periodically to treat PRS' rosewood fingerboards. When that is the case, I would place a business card or something under the back edge of the bridge, to protect the body.

 

[kevorkianMetal]

i just restrung mine without any issues, also conditioned the ebony board.. all strings removed. no contact to body.

 

[Shawn@PRS]

A piece of carboard or a soft cloth under the butt of the bridge is always advised when making string changes.

 

[maggior]

OK, thanks you guys! Sounds like it isn't any different from my strat...which I suspected. I used to keep a this piece of cardboard with my string changing tools just for this purpose.

Thanks again!!

 

[mjreardon]

Can't hurt, but not required if changing strings one at a time. However, if removing all the strings, I do recommend blocking the trem in whatever fashion you prefer to keep it in place.

 

[alantig]

Yep - I use a magazine subscription card covered in painter's tape. Dr. Lenny taught me that.

 

[Egads]

You guys change strings? I was following the Jamerson law of "the older, the better!"

 

[shinksma]

You guys change strings? I was following the Jamerson law of "the older, the better!"

Well, ya know, I rarely change whole sets of strings. I will replace individuals that break (duh!), and occasionally replace one or more if they feel a little dull or sound uneven, but a whole set at once is maybe a once-a-year activity per guitar, and many would be less frequent than that. But I don't have sweaty/salty/acidic hands. And I guess I like a mellower sound.

Now if a former bandmate were to play one of my guitars he'd hand me a tenner afterward for a new set of strings, because they'd start to develop rust before the end of the night, even if he wiped them down as he played. Remarkable skin chemistry...