trem claw sticking up out of cavity

[dano8180]

hey guys, i just started assembling my total vintage strat (pix to come later) and i don't know if  the pilot holes were drilled too high or at the wrong angle, but my trem claw and screws are actually sticking out of the cavity by about an eighth of an inch. it will sit all the way in the cavity if i screw the screws all the way in, which then won't allow me to use my trem as there will be too much spring tension. any suggestions on how to get them to sit in farther without redrilling the holes? thanks in advance!

 

[AutoBat]

use shorter, vintage length screws.
i'm assuming you're using a vintage build trem with this, as that's what it is built for.

From the Vintage Strat page:

The pickup routs, and tremolo back cavity rout depth for the Vintage Series bodies is 5/8" (15.88 mm). This vintage spec does not accommodate some pickups that require the standard 3/4" (19 mm) depth to fit in the rout, such as the ones with the magnet attached to the bottom of the pickup. Likewise the tremolo cavity rout in back will only fit vintage style and size claw and spring assemblies. If you need routing that accommodates a wider specification range of hardware, please see our Standard Strat® replacement body.

 

[dano8180]

yes, i'm using all callaham hardware

 

[pabloman]

It sounds to me like your screws are just at too much of an angle. You already stated that when the claw is flush it fits. That tells me it's not too big and the hardware is correct. I would look into maybe slotting the top of the holes. :dontknow:  Good luck. :guitarplayer2:

 

[Firebird211]

Is this a Warmoth body, and do the trem claw holes match the spacing of the holes on the body?  I had a similar experience with the holes not lining up with the two claws that I had, and I found Allparts had a trem claw that worked perfectly instead.  Shorter screws or try to drop the angle, by starting the screws as straight as possible, if this isn't the case. :dontknow:

 

[Strat Avenger]

Let's see a picture. You're asking people for advice about something they can't see.

 

[TBurst Std]

Let's see a picture. You're asking people for advice about something they can't see.

Agreed

 

[dano8180]

hey guys, thanks for all the replies. i'm just using 2 springs screwed almost all the way in and all is well with the trem. thanks again!

 

[Strat Avenger]

hey guys, thanks for all the replies. i'm just using 2 springs screwed almost all the way in and all is well with the trem. thanks again!

The number of springs really doesn't have anything to do with it, if I am understanding your original question correctly.

 

[Firebird211]

hey guys, thanks for all the replies. i'm just using 2 springs screwed almost all the way in and all is well with the trem. thanks again!

The number of springs really doesn't have anything to do with it, if I am understanding your original question correctly.

I think he just settled for two, so the trem claw would go all the way in without having too much tension to use the trem.  I wonder if he could of got away with three springs with the spread pattern.  That would be less tension than three straight springs, or that initial force that is required to get them to move in the first place.

 

[AutoBat]

I misunderstood the OP from the start. I thought it was a bridge screw problem and it didn't register what he was talking about until now.
The claw doesn't need to be screwed in all the way, it is adjustable to allow you to dial in the amount of spring tension to suit your playing style.

They can be backed out quite a bit and still maintain the screws ability to hold in the wood.
I've seen setups with 2, 3, 4, and 5 springs.  Not all springs are made equal, so some are stiffer than others.

 

[Firebird211]

I thought he said it had to be screwed in most of the way, or else the screws stick out too far. :icon_scratch: :dontknow:

 

[pabloman]

The claw sticks out of the cavity. The more spring tension pulls it back down into the cavity.