My trem is really messed up.

Bodah

I got a Japanese Jazzmaster not long ago, and the trem arm creaks unless I just barely push it down. I tried rescrewing the spring under there, but that only worked for a very short time, and I lubricated it with WD-40 (don't have graphite) but that didn't help for very long either. The trem arm doesn't lock into place or anything either, just slides in and out. If I got an American trem thing would that fit onto my Japanese Jazzmaster?

Also, are there any locking tuners that I could put in without having to widen the pegholes or modify anything, or they just not worth it?

Thanks a lot.

robertoriginal

it may be that you need to work the trem in a bit.

and about the locking bit, make sure that you are supressing the trem, just take it all the way down first and then slip the piece toward the trem plate. lift up and it should be set, if not. then you have to loosen the screw thats on the opposite end of the (pin, or trem lock)

good luck and post back.

about the tuners.

no idea.

Johno

You need to push that trem in hard a #### to get it to lock, get angry on its arse. 😈

Bodah

I meant the actual arm doesn't click into place. Is it really supposed to just slip in and out? If I play with it in and bend over for something the arm falls out.

Aug

Johno said: You need to push that trem in hard a #### to get it to lock, get angry on its arse. 😈

QFT

Act like a man and shove that effer in there.

Tweez

Bodah said: I meant the actual arm doesn't click into place. Is it really supposed to just slip in and out? If I play with it in and bend over for something the arm falls out.

You cleave it right down and it clunks, it's pretty low though, I wrapped duct tape around the bit that fits into the trem plate, leaving about a centimeter below the tape to fit into the trem plate - hey presto it's a lot better. You get more travel that way and you can use it as you strum.

Bodah

Tweez said: I wrapped duct tape around the bit that fits into the trem plate, leaving about a centimeter below the tape to fit into the trem plate - hey presto it's a lot better. You get more travel that way and you can use it as you strum.

Do you mean that you put tape on the bottom of the bar and just jam it into the hole? I didn't really understand that.

Thanks for all the help so far, I didn't know how to lock the whole trem system before, even though I wasn't asking that 😛. And the trem does click into place now that I pushed hard enough.

Looking around it seems that people saying locking tuners aren't that necessary. I think I'll just order new pickups (SD SJM-1s) and saddles (Graphtech) soon.

Tweez

Tweez said: I wrapped duct tape around the bit that fits into the trem plate, leaving about a centimeter below the tape to fit into the trem plate - hey presto it's a lot better. You get more travel that way and you can use it as you strum.

Sorry I meant to upload a diagram, give me a minute.

Here you go, hope that helps.

Bodah

How much tape do you put on? Enough to make it stay in but little enough to let it swing around?

Tweez

My tape sticks out about 5mm (all the way around) but that was really personal preference so it would hold and not slide about.

Bodah

Aaah 😈. I'm not really sure what happened (I was just playing around on the guitar half asleep) but the hole it goes into fell into the cavity beneath the trem plate. If I grab it and pull it up it doesn't stay. Does this sound fixable? I don't want to have to unscrew it now because I don't have a spare set of strings.

Lyman17

Bodah said: I got a Japanese Jazzmaster not long ago, and the trem arm creaks unless I just barely push it down. I tried rescrewing the spring under there, but that only worked for a very short time, and I lubricated it with WD-40 (don't have graphite) but that didn't help for very long either. The trem arm doesn't lock into place or anything either, just slides in and out. If I got an American trem thing would that fit onto my Japanese Jazzmaster?
Also, are there any locking tuners that I could put in without having to widen the pegholes or modify anything, or they just not worth it?
Thanks a lot.

American screw and trem specs are completely different from American made ones.

Bodah

So if I got the 'USA Tremolo Tailpiece' off Guitar Parts Resource, would it fit my Japanese made Jazz?

http://guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge+6.jpg

Lyman17

Bodah said: So if I got the 'USA Tremolo Tailpiece' off Guitar Parts Resource, would it fit my Japanese made Jazz?
http://guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge+6.jpg

If my memory serves me, no it wont. I would contact elderly.com

They are a large account I used to work with closely when I worked at Fender, if they dont have the itemin stock they will order it from Fender.

Bodah

I think I'll order a new trem because this one is clearly ####. Should I get the Japanese or American made?

Bodah

Would I need to do any modification to the body for an American trem unit to fit onto it? What are my options if I want to replace my trem with a better one?

robertoriginal

i would have told you that the jap and us are the same but i could be wrong. if you are going to scrap your jap, i will be happy to buy it off of you for a fair price!!!

Bodah

Nah, I want to keep it 😛

Turns out the American trem will fit, so I ordered it, along with TUSQ bridge saddles and SJM-1 pickups.