What is the advantage of 5 springs on trem?

[Mad John]

I noticed Hendrix at Woodstock is useing 5 springs on his Strat. I have 3 on both of mine.

What is the deal?

[Sven]

Well, it provides for a more stable tuning. Especially if you like the bridge to 'float'.

[pc]

Well, it does affect the tone a wee bit, but i think it's really about sustain.

Many will report additional sustain when using all 5. I do this on my Strats and use them to almost totally clamp down the trem. I find a definite increase in sustain by doing this.

It's not for ease of trem use, that's for sure. The original idea was that if you used a heavy guage of strings, you'd need more springs to balance out the tension. Possible, but these days I think most people that do this do it for the same reason I do.

[Cactus Jack]

I have been using 5 springs on my trem for years. I don't use the tremolo bar so I wanted to get the bridge flush against the body. The 5 springs also transfer more "good vibrations" to the body. My Strat plays like a dream and never has tuning problems. My tone is classic Strat at it's best. I have a 1986, 62 Vintage Reissue and it is the best Strat I have ever played. I had a bone nut installed some years ago and it really gave the guitar a more resonating, open sound. This plus the 5 springs added a more musical instrument quality to the overall tone. I'm getting buried in the Arizona Desert with this guitar! Cactus Jack.

["Man, I'm getting itchy-what are these seats made out of cactus"?]

[Mad John]

Wow!

Thats interesting! I definatly want to change them both to 5 springs.

Someone once replaced my original Fender 62 reissue bridge with a different model (sorry, don't know the brand) and it sucks. This one has 4 springs, but does not resonate like the Fenders do!

Now that I am useing .009s, I want as much support from the bridge as possible!

[photoweborama]

I use 5 also. when it floats, it gives similar resistance to pulling and pushng of the bar.

Mine is blocked right now. I like to try different things...

[Bob Onit]

Wow!

Someone once replaced my original Fender 62 reissue bridge with a different model (sorry, don't know the brand) and it sucks. This one has 4 springs, but does not resonate like the Fenders do!

The stock Fender 6 hole bridges are ony around $75 new so your not dead in the water

I use 3 springs floating and I like the setup very much
I always get compliments on the tone also

[Kap'n]

I use 3 springs floating and I like the setup very much
I always get compliments on the tone also

A nicely set up float can be a thing of beauty for shimmers, etc. However, I'm kind of a mangler, and palm mute, etc. Even though I never break strings, I'm afraid of breaking one with a float. I'm set pretty much flush against the top.

[cooltone]

yeah, get yourself a replacement vintage style bridge..
I have 4 strats, all with 5 springs, all blocked. Just my personal preference, never did it for tone purposes.

[Bob Onit]

A nicely set up float can be a thing of beauty for shimmers, etc. However, I'm kind of a mangler, and palm mute, etc. Even though I never break strings, I'm afraid of breaking one with a float. I'm set pretty much flush against the top.

I would think most players palm mute as I do
Are you concerned about pitch change while palm muting?
Not a problem Kap'n

[Kap'n]

I would think most players palm mute as I do
Are you concerned about pitch change while palm muting?
Not a problem Kap'n

Well, it would have to be something to get adjust to, and the handful of times I've done it, it's driven me nuts! I'll have to try it again, there's no harm.

[Bob Onit]

Well, it would have to be something to get adjust to, and the handful of times I've done it, it's driven me nuts! I'll have to try it again, there's no harm.

Hmm.......... sorry kap, but I have no problems with it.

Maybe its just your style of playing
Just stick with whatever works for ya!

Personally, I couldnt imagine playing a Strat without the trem
Its part of its heritage

[Wilko]

I use four springs and have thye bridge flat on the body. Gets a good mix of spring tone and arm use. It's real firm and real responsive. But not so hard as with five.

[Kap'n]

Maybe its just your style of playing

Yep, I'm a hack. I usually use a bigsby when I wanna whammy.

Now, there's an idea, a Strat w/ a bigsby!