I’m curious if anyone has ever tried using nylon locknuts to rigidly couple the spring claw to the guitar body on a Fender or Floyd vibrato bridge? This requires 8/32 stainless threaded inserts be installed in the spots where the claw screws normally go. If you used 8/32 stainless machine screws with flat-bottom heads (not oval heads), and a washer against the wall of the spring cavity, then, a locknut both againt the washer (rigidly freezing the machine screw against the body) and the back side of the claw (freezing the claw against the screw heads), would this not potentially cause the whole assembly to transfer vibration more effectively? Almost a reduction in moving or floating parts. I hear a difference with 5 springs (YES even on a floating setup)... I got the idea from looking at a pic of an installed Tremel-No claw.
I understand there is 100 lbs of tension on the standard spring claws, when strung and tuned to standard pitch (ballparking here), but what if there were 100lbs of torque in the opposite direction as well, pushing the locked claw into the wood wih as much force as possible, coupling the assembly even when the springs are totally removed?
It’s like a port & polish on an engine. Multiple tiny gains in efficiency can add up to get you that much closer to the transfer of a hardtail bridge. Now, we just make the srings into hydraulic pistons... JOKING.
I’m sure I’m being nerdy, and I’m almost sure that I’m overthinking a setup that already works fine since 1954... BUT... If you can hear ‘back cover removed’, ‘5 springs’, ‘threaded insert neck joint’ etc differences, it’s worth a shot in the name of science. Totally theoretical question, I’m not suggesting anyone actually do this to all their prized axes.
I understand there is 100 lbs of tension on the standard spring claws, when strung and tuned to standard pitch (ballparking here), but what if there were 100lbs of torque in the opposite direction as well, pushing the locked claw into the wood wih as much force as possible, coupling the assembly even when the springs are totally removed?
It’s like a port & polish on an engine. Multiple tiny gains in efficiency can add up to get you that much closer to the transfer of a hardtail bridge. Now, we just make the srings into hydraulic pistons... JOKING.
I’m sure I’m being nerdy, and I’m almost sure that I’m overthinking a setup that already works fine since 1954... BUT... If you can hear ‘back cover removed’, ‘5 springs’, ‘threaded insert neck joint’ etc differences, it’s worth a shot in the name of science. Totally theoretical question, I’m not suggesting anyone actually do this to all their prized axes.
