EASTWOOD HI FLYER - DODGY TREM ISSUE!!

lolalola

I've just purchased an Eastwood hi-flyer, with the Jag style tremolo...

it immediately goes out of tune when whammied! Does anyone know where I could get a better replacement tremolo piece that won't leave me with exposed screw holes on the guitar's body?

http://www.apollonmusic.com/eastwood/img/Hi-Flyer/hiflyer2005sbwpg_3L.jpg

endsjustifymeans

glad I got the stop tail version.

harrison

would a jaguar trem fit? if the cavities were correct that would be a good swap

lolalola

Not sure about a Jag trem - who sells replacements? Am I right in thinking that the piece you screw the trem arm into should NOT be touching the high e string?

Fran

Have you tried to pinpoint the problem?

You may want to consider looking at how people set up vintage Strat trems so they work well, they are the same principles like... graphite in the nut, check the nut slots dont snag the strings, stretch your new strings in, accurate windings on the machine heads, etc. Alternatively lock it off so its hard tail. You could do this by removing the spring and use a small bolt and nut to tighten it together. I've done this with Jags before.

Does the bridge rock (like a Jaguar bridge) or does it have roller saddles?

lolalola

Hi - I'd rather sell the guitar than take the trem off, as I need a trem... not sure how to compare to a Jag, it's my first experience of this kind of trem ....it's a roller bridge. Do these pics help?

http://www.apollonmusic.com/eastwood/Hi-Flyer-lefty.html

lolalola

Would it help if I changed the roller bridge to a Jag type bridge do you think? And what could a guitar tech/repairer do with the trem area (springs, arm, etc) to make things a little better for me? I heard something about locking a trem so it will only push down rather than up - can that be done with this kind of trem?

Fran

From them pictures they look like standard TOM saddles on a fixed bridge which is'nt like a Jaguar trem. You could try swapping the saddles for roller saddles to help string travel. You can buy the saddles seperately, they look like these...

Other than that, check the nut and string tree assuming you have strung the guitar up neatly on the machine heads.

A Guitar Tech should be able to set this up for you if you are not that way inclined.

Fran

Oh, nice guitar by the way. I would love one of these. 😎

jacksonjackass

Fran said: Oh, nice guitar by the way. I would love one of these. 😎

+1 😎

lolalola

No, they're actually kinda roller saddle-y...! does this picture help?

Fran

Ah, yeah. Thats better. Your problems must lye with the nut, machine heads or string tree then dude.

Which string(s) go out of tune? What gauge strings are you using?

Im not familiar with that tremolo but how do you adjust the tension? Is it pre-set so it returns to point zero everytime or does it float?

Fran

There is a screw for tension i believe (like a Jag trem) looking at them pictures. If you tighten that (not too much) you will have no up bend but the trem will always return to point zero which is standard tuning after use.

Its long winded, but this is all a process of elimination. Eastwood are a reputable company and i dare say this trem IS useable. Just persevere dude. 😉

lolalola

Ace - you're supremely helpful here! The strings are as came with the guitar, they'll be going asap. I play open E, so I'll be going for a light guage - will a light guage help or hinder this issue you think?

Just going back to the tension screw - which one is it exactly? You mean one of the screws on the tail piece? A or B :

Again, these bridges are new to me - basically I feel that the trem arm does not go back exactly to where it started before I whammy... if I can somehow have that lock in place back to the start position, and have no play, I think I'm sorted. No up bend please!

Fran

The one marked A. Use half turns then retune, checking the tension as you go with the tremolo arm.

Lighter gauge strings will help if the string slots are tight, use a sharp pencil and rub it in the nut slots before you put new strings on. It will lubricate and help string travel.

tragictravisty

yea, your problem is definitely nut/trees or the trem itself sucks.

lolalola

When the trem arm comes back to the starting position, it goes further than it should, hence it goes out of tune. Hopefully tightening that screw should do it!

Fran

Sounds like its in a 'floating' position. This is a common problem with nearly all tremolo systems, thats why some people use Tremsetters. But that would not work on your trem.

tragictravisty

so it's sharp after a divebomb right? does doing a pull - up bring it back to tune? ie are the strings relatively out of tune?

lolalola

Yeah - after I push the trem down and it comes back to its starting point, it'll come back a little too far up (if that makes sense). Like, slightly further up from where it began, which knocks all the strings equally out of tune. I can give it a little soft press back down, and more often than not it'll be then back in tune, but obviously that's not accurate enough...