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I think I need a stronger spring on my Teisco whammy (or would y'all prefer trem instead?)


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Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place, please tell me where I should go instead if that's the case.

I'm fixing up / having fun with an old Teisco style guitar with gold foils. It's mostly gone well for what I'm trying to get out of it. Recently got it to what could be called a complete state for the first time. Still a few tweaks I need to do to get it actually playing well though. One of those things is the whammy is currently floating which I do not want to be the case.

It's one of these D10_b.jpg

When I got it at first the spring was already too short to push it all the way back but it was easy enough to make a spacer for it. But now that the guitar is strung up (admittedly 11's on a 25.5" scale tuned to standard) the spring isn't strong enough to push the arm all the way up. Any suggestions on where to get a spring that will be? As well as recommendations on how to install the spring because it already wasn't easy with the one it came with.

I hope that makes sense. Thanks for your help!

 

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Hi and welcome!

Regarding your first concern, I guess the post is appropriately placed but if it isn't the Forum Gods most likely will move it without issues.

The actual question may seem a bit more complicated, but it took only a few seconds to find answers like this: https://www.thespringstore.com/spring-finder.html

Remember, there's no such things as "guitar springs" or "guitar screws" or even "guitar paint", some companies just make living easier for people who don't think with their own brains!

Installing the spring... Well, the car repair shops use threaded rods with dedicated cups for the spring ends. Modified locking pliers might provide a similar tool for a trem spring. All you'd need is a tool that would compress the spring leaving the end loops free to be put around the studs.

 

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  • 2 months later...

https://www.thespringstore.com/pc125-703-6250-mw-1090-cg-n-in.html

This spring still wasn't perfect but much closer to holding it down completely and much more stable overall. Now it at least returns to the same spot each time. And I think I actually like it floating just that little bit. 

As far as how to install it, I did not get any special pliers or anything. I just unscrewed the side screws that hold the top and base together / where the bridge actually rotates. Then it was easy to put the spring in place and screw it back together. Way easier than trying to squeeze a quality spring into that spot.

Still much more work to make this guitar actually nice but I'd say it's at least giggable now.

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