Tremonti Trem question - Spring noise?

[xxxadixxx]

I will say in advance, this is likely a total NEWB question and I understand that. With that said, I generally have no need for a tremelo and actively avoid them when possible. I jumped the gun on an amazing Tremonti a few months ago and had to "settle" on the Trem version because I was too impatient to wait for a stop tail version. I barely notice any more and really enjoy the guitar... except it sounds like the springs act almost like chimes. It is not something I notice when I am just playing along to a song or jamming by myself. Today I was recording some A/B comparisons between my Tremonti and 594SC and it is comes through on the recording clear as day. If there is a break in a riff it sounds like there is a chime or something on the guitar (coming from the trem springs, at least that is how it sounds). There is no noise on the 594.

My Engineer's brain says "if there is vibration, dampen it" and I could just stuff the tremelo cavity with a sock or something... That feels like a very unsophisticated method (the irony is not lost on me that I am playing high gain metal/hardcore/punk and am worried about a "sophisticated" solution). There are so many players out there with tremelo systems. Is this common and if so, how do you deal with it. It is driving me crazy now that I know to listen for it.

 

[DISTORT6]

You’ve got the right idea.
A piece of foam in the trem cavity always does the trick.

 

[21Hemispheres12]

I had the same issue and just cut up a jump rope and put it into the center of each spring and problem solved.

 

[alantig]

Yep, if it bugs you, you’ll have to dampen the springs. But what you describe is something some players desire. It’s part of why the Grissom is a trem.

 

[AaeCee]

I had the same issue and just cut up a jump rope and put it into the center of each spring and problem solved.

Yup, that or some kind of compressible foam, which makes it easy to insert into the springs. Go to Home Depot ... they have lots of products that will fill the bill.

 

[ViperDoc]

You might also consider replacing the tremolo springs with either springs with higher tension, and/or increasing the number installed if it is less than five. Also check to make sure nothing else inside the bridge, switch or control cavities have anything knocked loose that needs tightening. Nothing wrong with foam, but make sure you check all the possibilities first. Also, check for a loose TRC or tuner washer or screw.

 

[Ruffone]

Go to Fu-Tone, they have everything you are looking for. They have quiet springs and trem stoppers that might help you address both your noise issue and your dislike of trems. I use their stuff on a lot of my guitars, I use their springs in most of my trem guitars.

https://www.fu-tone.com

 

[ViperDoc]

Go to Fu-Tone, they have everything you are looking for. They have quiet springs and trem stoppers that might help you address both your noise issue and your dislike of trems. I use their stuff on a lot of my guitars, I use their springs in most of my trem guitars.

https://www.fu-tone.com

Very informative video on the website. Might have to try those, thanks for the link.

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

Yeah, fu-tone is cool, but what I am using is Stewmac pickup tubing

Pickup Spring Tubing - StewMac

Compressible tubing for pickup height adjustment. Alternative to coil springs.

www.stewmac.com

Perfect fit inside the trem springs. Slide 2 inch of that inside the spring and the trem reverb will be gone. Foam may work as well but some foam compositions are turning to dust with time. This is a fix for ever.

One note - if you are using Gotoh Heavy Duty springs - these will not fit. They will fit in to a PRS springs, though

 

[Toolmaster Of Brainerd]

All natural spring reverb

A sock would work just fine. I duck tape in some foam myself. Regardless, just dampen it however you please.

 

[Tone-y]

I had a few of those adhesive foam pads that you put on the feet of furniture to stop then scratching hard floors, just stuck a few at the bottom of the trem cavity next to the springs which did the job

 

[Ruffone]

Yeah, fu-tone is cool, but what I am using is Stewmac pickup tubing

Pickup Spring Tubing - StewMac

Compressible tubing for pickup height adjustment. Alternative to coil springs.

www.stewmac.com

Perfect fit inside the trem springs. Slide 2 inch of that inside the spring and the trem reverb will be gone. Foam may work as well but some foam compositions are turning to dust with time. This is a fix for ever.

One note - if you are using Gotoh Heavy Duty springs - these will not fit. They will fit in to a PRS springs, though

Come on now Doc, everything has a shelf life including surgical tubing. But that is another great solution.

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

Come on now Doc, everything has a shelf life including surgical tubing. But that is another great solution.

Agree