Spring Tension

[daveq]

What do you use as a guide for setting the initial spring tension (number of springs and the claw position)? I don't think the jemsite setup guide talks about this (I'll check again) but I do know it has lots of good setup info.

[Brian]

I usually tighten the claw screws down till the heads are about 5/8" out from the body, seams to be a good starting point to balence the tension.

[DrBingo]

The spring tension depends on the gauge of the strings, of course. If you are using 9 to 42, you need less tension than say, 10 to 45 gauge. You probably want to start with 3 springs, and the screw plate about 5/8 inch out, parallel to the cavity wall. As you wind up the tuning machines (keeping an eye on a GOOD chromatic tuner), when you end up with all 6 strings in tune, the bridge should be parallel to the body. If above the body, you don't have enough spring tension. If below the body, you need more spring tension.

for more details, see my web site

home.aol.com/drbingo7/myhomepage/Ibanez.htm

Grant