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Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 2:57 pm
by fretbuzzard
Hey all,
I just removed and reinstalled the trem on my JM to install a StayTrem collet, and I'm experiencing an odd issue now that I've got everything back together. The StayTrem is great - everything as advertised, but I wonder whether I messed something simple up in reassembly.

Here's the issue: in the trem's default position the ball ends of the strings are essentially pinned between the two plates that make up the trem assembly (see photo, this is hard to describe). This means that the trem has essentially zero room to pull up the pitch. Additionally, the feel of the trem seems really stiff.

This SOUNDS like it should be an issue with the tension screw being overly tight, but the weird thing is that the lock button slides back and forth no issue - if anything it seems like the tension screw should be tighter to get the lock set up right, but that would make the above issues even worse, right? I didn't change string gauges - I'm using the same D'Addario 10s I had on it before.

Any thoughts on what might be causing this?

Edited to add: I did make one other change - I flipped the low E pivot plate screw to get it out of the way of the string, but I don’t imagine that’s the issue.

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Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:20 pm
by jorri
Its hard to know without pics of inside.

Something simply must be blocking it from above.

Flipping the screw shouldnt get in the way, there is plenty of room and has been done many times.

Something misplaced with the staytrem? Cavity wood? Spring?

Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:36 pm
by adamrobertt
Did you accidentally install the pivot plate upside down? But yes pics would help greatly.

Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:54 pm
by fretbuzzard
OK, I pulled the trem to get another look (and some pictures). Everything seems in line, I think. What say you?

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Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 2:15 am
by Lost In Autumn
Looks like the lock button is engaged.

Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 4:29 am
by fretbuzzard
I engaged the lock button before removing the strings and trem in order to keep all the components in place. The issues I described above were a problem with or without the lock engaged.

Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 4:59 am
by HarlowTheFish
Is it getting caught on the back of the trem route?

I know this has been an issue for some folks on here with some Fender and aftermarket bodies, where the route was too tight and the trem was catching on the back. I don't see any finish damage on the inside, but might be worth a check.

Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 5:25 am
by Francer
Those ball ends look normal to me. I would still suspect the trem lock, are you sure it can move totally freely when the trem is installed, maybe it got reassembled slightly out of line and is catching the cut out, so although it looks and feels to be moving freely, maybe it’s not travelling its full range?

Perhaps try reassembling but not fully tightening the fixing screws, so if it’s still hitting a hard stop, see if you have enough wiggle room to manually re-align the trem to give you more movement in the lock slider.

If that doesn’t work, how does the stop feel, is it a hard stop? if it was crushing the string ends I would expect a softer stop and you would be able to visually see them deflecting as you apply more pressure.

Btw. What type of trem is it. USA, MIJ, MIM?

Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:14 am
by jorri
There's nothing obviously wrong like upside down plates or installing the spring in the wrong order
And odd since not a lot changed. The staytrem as the only change i thought may have been catching but it doesnt look like it.

Also probable when screwing it back its been placed a few hairs differently onto the guitar body and then something hits the cavity (lock, any of the walls with the plate etc. It can shift and when screwing it on make sure its seated and then do the trick of opposite screws in small amounts at a time (you may well be doing this already)

So with the lock its a question of:
-does it not engage because the plate sits lower always, so lock is 'always off'. Thats a problem of the something else.
OR
-does it not engage because its always actively blocking the plate, so that the plate must have shifted forward and lock is 'always on'? That would be a lock problem

Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:45 am
by fretbuzzard
This has been helpful - thanks, all. I think I've got it sorted. I went ahead and disassembled the trem to the same extent that I had when I installed the StayTrem, and then carefully put everything back together again. What I THINK happened last time was the spring did not seat completely in its indent, leading to interference problems and unusual spring tension. The guitar is strung back up and is functioning as it should. Thanks again!

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Re: Jazzmaster trem issue - tight and down only...

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 5:48 pm
by ChrisDesign
Great to hear you’re sorted. These teen units can be a nightmare at times. I’m stunned Fender hasn’t fixed the screw head issue yet. It’s been over 50 years!