JHS Vibrato Arm Tension Instructions
- June 6, 2024
- jhs
Table of Contents
Vibrato Arm Tension
The vibrato system fitted to this guitar features a unique tension adjustment.
This allows you to set the vibrato arm to your preferred height and swing
tension.
Generally, the vibrato arm tension is factory set loose.
Instructions
- Insert the vibrato arm into the armhole located on the front of the vibrato.
- Carefully push down on the arm to raise the back of the vibrato upward, exposing the small grub screw located under the vibrato plate.
- Keeping the vibrato raised, turn the grub screw with a 1.5mm Allen key clockwise to tighten, anti-clockwise to loosen.
Do not overtighten the grub screw or unscrew it from the unit.
IMPORTANT
Be careful not to lower the vibrato while the Allen key is in position, you
could damage the finish of the instrument and this would not be covered by the
warranty.
**Guidance notes
**
F or setting up a ‘traditional’ multi screw floating vibrato system.
Before we start, a little history…tremolo or vibrato?
Well of course the guitar-playing world tends to refer to this kind of guitar
bridge as a ‘Tremolo’. Here, we say ‘Vibrato’. Why?
Well, ‘Tremolo’, an Italian standard musical term refers to a modulated
variation in amplitude (volume), whereas ‘Vibrato’, another Italian standard
musical term, refers to modulated variations in the pitch (the note).
Clearly what we refer to colloquially as a ‘Tremolo bridge’ does not alter
amplitude (volume), but alters pitch (note).
Way back in the day, when these devices were first put on guitars by Paul
Bigsby in the late 1940’s he correctly referred to them as ‘Vibratos’, as they
changed the pitch of the strings when operated. A bit later on, confusion was
introduced when bridges that produced changes in pitch (note), were
erroneously referred to as ‘Tremolos’. That confusion was made worse when
guitar amplifiers began to come on the market which had what was referred to
as ‘Vibrato’ effects circuits, which were actually modulating amplitude
(volume), i.e. ‘Tremolo’.
Confused; hope not.
Simple really, we fit Vibrato Bridges, ‘cos they change the pitch (note[s]) of
the strings when operated and that’s ‘Vibrato’.
So, to the set-up.
With a standard set of 9-42’s, (our recommended string gauges) at set up,
bring the strings up to concert pitch, stretch them out to full playing
tension a couple of times, then ensure the guitar is fully at concert pitch
(the note).
Do the above, whatever the string gauges being used.
Depending upon where the vibrato springs have been tensioned, the bridge will
be wherever it ends up, anywhere from flat against the body, to way too high!
Take the vibrato cavity backplate off of the guitar, and leave just the two
outer springs in place, and adjust the tension of the vibrato springs until
the vibrato base plate is only just flat against the body.
We fit and recommend two springs as standard, ‘cos that’s what our experience,
in conjunction with the setup procedure outlined above, has proven works the
best.
Two springs also give the smoothest vibrato operation.
The use of three springs is a personal choice, which will only require an
appropriate tension adjustment.
Now adjust the six vibrato baseplate securing screws until they just bite
(touch) the top surface of the vibrato bridge base plate, then back them all
off between a quarter to a half of a turn.
At this point, it is important that the vibrato base plate is still flat
against the body, held there by the tension of the vibrato springs.
Now take hold of the vibrato cavity cover plate, dip the vibrato, and place
the vibrato cavity backplate flat under the vibrato, between the underneath of
the back edge of the vibrato base plate, and the guitar body, and slowly let
the bar go.
The vibrato base plate will grip the cover plate.
You may want to place a piece of thin paper, or fabric between the body and
the underside of the vibrato cavity cover to avoid damaging the finish of the
guitar Now, slowly back off the vibrato spring tension, one turn at a time,
alternating between the two springs (or three if you insist!), until the
vibrato cavity cover plate falls out, (be careful that you don’t let the cover
plate scratch the back of the guitar as it departs!).
The vibrato should now be perfectly adjusted to the standard Wilkinson®/ Fret-
King®/Vintage® vibrato set up, and the vibrato should be in perfect balance
and equilibrium with the string tension. It will be a true floating vibrato,
with approximately a minor third of pull up, referenced to the 12th fret
harmonic on the 3rd (G) string, and a near to slack string negative action, so
you’ll have terrific, accurate, stable ‘return to zero’ pitch.
If all else fails, please seek the guidance and assistance of a competent
luthier!
www.jhs.co.uk
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