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It is simply how it works in practice.
Fender's original patent clearly describes how the bridge is supposed to function:
"Formed in the body 1 is a transverse slot 12 which communicates at the under side of the'body with a recess 13 directed toward the neck 2. Mounted on the body 1 adjacent the slot 12 is a base plate 14, one margin of which is beveled to form a fulcrumridge 15. The beveled margin of the base plate 14 is secured to the body 1 by screws 16 which permit limited pivotal movement of the base plate about the fulcrum 15. The fulcrum is located forwardly of the slot 12, that is, toward the-neck 2."
Even Fender themselves in their original patent show the fulcrum as 15, which is exactly where @ICBM says it is when correctly set up.
You're certainly right that if you use it to wild extremes, it doesn't hold tuning all that well - but the main reason for that is actually the nut, rather than the bridge, and this is what the Floyd Rose was originally intended to fix. You may be able to see in my video that I do actually move the bridge quite a long way, and I can assure you that it returns to pitch as well as any non-locking vibrato.
I also have no idea how any famous guitarists set their bridges up - given the historic lack of much proper information, it's not impossible they weren't doing it the best way. Being a genius player doesn't always mean they're a competent guitar tech... you only have to look at EVH's Frankenstrat to know that .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Maybe we shouldn't be talking about it?
I have already used up all my words on this thread, so I'm out.
Peace
But I can tell you what the correct setting is - which is also how Fender set them up - it’s with the screw heads (all six) just high enough that the bridge floats freely without contacting either the underside of the heads or the body. I’m not sure how many different ways I can possibly explain that .
If you want the bridge set flat on the top then you can have them a little tighter so they just touch the plate, but they still must not be tight enough to force the front of the bridge down against the bevel on the underside, that’s exactly what causes binding and wear.
Just watch the videos... it should be pretty clear, and it’s not exactly rocket science .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
''First, remove the tremolo back cover. Check your tuning. For a vintage-style tremolo bridge, a great way to enhance its performance is to pull the bridge back flush with the body using the tremolo arm. Then loosen all six screws located at the front edge of the bridge plate, raising them so that they all measure approximately 1/16" (1.6 mm) above the top of the bridge plate. Then tighten the two outside screws back down until they're flush with the top of the bridge plate. The bridge will now pivot on the outside screws, leaving the four inside screws in place for bridge stability. For a two-pivot model such as the American Series bridge, use your tremolo arm to pull the bridge back flush with the body and adjust the two pivot screws to the point where the tremolo plate sits entirely flush at the body (not lifted at the front or back of the plate).''
linked here.
https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/212774786-How-do-I-set-up-my-Stratocaster-guitar-properly-
@nerine,
You are trying to understand what we are talking about, without really understanding.
There are no screw threads involved in this discussion, we have been trying to establish the correct setup of a vintage 6 tremolo, and despite my recognition that I understand how it works, and my explanations that there are various ways to set these things up, some people insist I am doing it wrong.
They are missing the point, and will not accept that they might not be 100% correct in this situation.
Somebody will be along in a minute to say that Fender have got it wrong in the instructions I post above, and that is fine.
It is only an opinion.
There is no flat earth discussion here, only a healthy argument on the pro's and con's of a 70 year old piece of tech, and the various ways it can be set up.
https://youtu.be/OUkKZy8U_gA
And with that, I’m out. This thread is bonkers.
This wouldn't be the first time though - Fender also advise that the arm should be taken out when the guitar is put in the case. Not only is that missing the point of the back angle Leo Fender designed into the arm socket in the first place - which is so the arm can be swung round to over the body when you put it away - it also causes unnecessary wear on the threads.
Once again, just watch the videos above and you can see the bridge working exactly as it should with a gap under it and the screws all up by the same amount.
But I'm clearly not going to convince anyone who is quite determined to ignore the evidence.
I just find it absolutely baffling how some people simply want to ignore all the evidence presented about how the bridge actually does work and how to make it work best. Why would anyone want to deliberately ignore that?
It really is like Flat Earth.
No doubt we'll have to go through all this again in a year or so when Andy Preston decides to come back under another new identity too.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Some of the factual evidence above shows up some problems of understanding, the patent drawings and Fenders own instructions are wrong according to a few members here, and maybe that has led to some misunderstanding.
It isn't anything like flat earth, that is bonkers, and when people throw those terms into any argument you will always get a few people who pile in just to stir things up.
I don't need anybody to try to tell me how the thing works, I do understand it, but I have no Idea who Andy Preston is, or why he gets brought up? Is there a history here?
Some insinuation maybe?
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
He might be a bad boy, but he did make a good video explaining the issue.
I'm really done with this, I've explained any number of times that I can set them up exactly as I've described so they work properly and shown it in a video which isn't a sales pitch for anything. Why you're trying to prove that something happens that doesn't happen either in normal use, or as you do it with the bridge flat on the top, makes me wonder again what your connection to Wudtone is.
Over and out.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I am only posting the video to show the effect I have experienced myself, which led me to using a Floyd Rose for my own whammy guitars.
You are denying something exists, because it doesn't fit your understanding of the issue.
Doesn't change the fact that the problem exists.