How do I disable the Mustang vibrato?

BobUrban

I recently acquired a 1967 Mustang. I don't use the vibrato so I want to disable it. One option I figured out was to screw the tailpiece as far down as possible, only allowing downbends. However, this results in a string break angle behind the bridge such that the strings are touching the bridge behind the saddles. I always thought this was not a good thing.

I read on kurtsequipment.com that Cobain's tech used washers under the bridge plate on the string posts to prevent any movement. Looking at the hardware, I don't see how this could be done. Any ideas or different ways to disable the vibrato?

jacksonjackass

You could fit a stoppiece or you could use some nuts and washers to turn the existing tailpiece into a stoptail. Hope this helps

Welcome to the forums 😉

BobUrban

Thanks for the reply. So basically I would screw on a nut and washer on the post, insert the post through the bridge plate, and then screw the tailpiece onto the posts?

danny

i recently removed the springs and unscrew the post of the tailpiece.

i turned it around so the strings would go in from behind and the hole for the swing arm on top.

fill up the space between the post and tailpiece with washers.( i geus like the kurt mod, exept his comp. stang.)

i put it straight on the tremoloplate, with no space between.

and it works perfect for me,....most of the bridge buzzing will disapear also.

the problem for me was that the springs where worned out,..and tuning was realy difficult.

it works like a charm now on my '77

hope this was any help!!

BobUrban

OK so I came up with a vibrato-disabling mechanism. I removed the springs from the bridge plate, took two 3/8" hex nuts and placed them between the tailpiece and the bridge plate, and tightened up the bridge posts. It seems locked down there pretty good. I wanted to keep the tailpiece oriented so that I could string it in the traditional manner so I needed some clearance between the tailpiece and the bridge plate. I used a 3/8" nut because this allowed it to slip over the threads of the bridge post. It is there mostly as a spacer; any object would suffice.

Here is a picture:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VsRAen60uLi2n18ytomrBQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCO--kZmGo_ydMg&feat=directlink

Danny,

Did reversing the tailpiece change the feel of the strings? I've heard that it makes the strings a little slinkier.

harrison

i did mine just like yours initially, but now i just have the nut under the plate. this makes stringing it difficult though, because there is barely enough room to fit them under

jacksonjackass

BobUrban said: Danny,
Did reversing the tailpiece change the feel of the strings? I've heard that it makes the strings a little slinkier.

It makes it feel like a 22.5 😵

You don't wana do it. It'll buzz like a hornet on speed

danny

BobUrban said: Danny,
Did reversing the tailpiece change the feel of the strings? I've heard that it makes the strings a little slinkier.

i haven't notice that much of a differents.

i had a lot of bridge and tailpiece buzzing.

i cleared that for 99%.

i needed new springs for the trem but i didn't had the money.

the guitar was unplayable, now it realy sounds fine and its easy to tune.

its a reversable mod and cost you nothing.

for me it was worth the try.

i must say that i have the guitar for three months,...it was pretty worned out.

at first i had the washers on top of the plate but my high E kepts falling out of place.(strange because it was the same height)

so my best option was to put it direct on the plate.

i did it more as a test if it would work,....and i like it very much.

but i really want to use the trem in the future, and did not want to damage the plate.

but then again,...i was just sharing my thoughts. (i'm no pro)