What's this - Fender MIJ Lower Elevator Disc

[cyberpunk409]

Well at least the mystery is solved. I bought the wrong thing, oh well, worse has happened. Thanks to everyone for helping me solve this.

On another note, I do need the metal thing that screws in from the bottom to the locking button on a jaguar bridge.

I'm looking for one that's not quite as tall as the one currently in my Jag.

When I set it up so it locks as intended, the trem arm is so low I can only dive down one half step. I figure it I can source one not as "tall", then I can resolve my issue

[andy_tchp]

I figure it I can source one not as "tall", then I can resolve my issue

Don't think you'll have any luck there. The only adjustment is the one you've already used to set the lock, in combination with bending the arm so it sits at the preferred angle (use a vice or supply force against something very rigid/strong like a fence post).

[JSett]

Well, here's the neck pocket of a Fender Japan Tele Custom from the 90s:

Oh great spotting! Mystery solved.

I'd only seen the micro-tilts that look like this

I think they're the US ones. I had an unfair advantage because there's a MIJ one on my favourite-ever Squier Tele Custom.

Same! Sorry for calling you wrong earlier Matt! The only ones I'd seem were the original 70s ones and that part is no more than just a t-nut hammered into the pocket

[cyberpunk409]

I figure it I can source one not as "tall", then I can resolve my issue

Don't think you'll have any luck there. The only adjustment is the one you've already used to set the lock, in combination with bending the arm so it sits at the preferred angle (use a vice or supply force against something very rigid/strong like a fence post).

The angle/shape of the arm is not the problem.

Something inside the trem mechanism bottoms out and hits the wood. I literally can't push down on the arm anymore after I go down one half step when the trem arm is set up so the locking mechanism can slide in and out easily (sorry for the long sentence!!)

[alexpigment]

Something inside the trem mechanism bottoms out and hits the wood. I literally can't push down on the arm anymore after I go down one half step when the trem arm is set up so the locking mechanism can slide in and out easily (sorry for the long sentence!!)

That's usually the arm itself hitting the bottom. For what it's worth, the current batch of American (and apparently Mexican) trems do this too, because the arm is too long. The best solution is a Staytrem arm & collect. The second best solution is the hammer trick on the arm, and then only inserting it halfway into the collet. I could be wrong about my suspicion, but that's what seems most likely.

Also, you mentioned this occurs after being half a step. Is that on the low E or the high E? You're not going to get *much* more range out of the high E.

[cyberpunk409]

The low E string will go down one half step to Eb when the trem system is set up so the lock button can slide in and out relatively easily.

At the moment, I've got it set up that the trem arm tip is about 6cm from the pickguard and I can "dive" much lower than that. But now the lock button is pretty much unusable.

There's a video showing a jaguar going down almost one full octave:

Jaguar trem

But the YouTuber fails to mention if the lock system is set up properly.

[alexpigment]

The low E string will go down one half step to Eb when the trem system is set up so the lock button can slide in and out relatively easily.

At the moment, I've got it set up that the trem arm tip is about 6cm from the pickguard and I can "dive" much lower than that. But now the lock button is pretty much unusable.

There's a video showing a jaguar going down almost one full octave:

Jaguar trem

But the YouTuber fails to mention if the lock system is set up properly.

That's a Panorama trem, which is only on the American Pro II Jazzmaster models. Did you buy one of these second hand and put it on your Jaguar? To be clear, you should be able to get more than a half a step on the low E with the lock button functioning. But without more details, it's going to be hard to help. It might be easiest to start with figuring out exactly which tremolo you have. A picture from the top should be all that is needed. Lastly, if you pull the trem arm out of the collet a bit (i.e. it's not pushed all the way down), does it let you go down further? If so, it's the bottom of the arm that's hitting the trem cavity.

EDIT: For the sake of comparison, I just tried my AVRI tremolo with a Staytrem arm, and I can go from standard tuning down to just below C on the low E string, and just below Eb on the high E. This is most likely just that the arm shape means it hits the pickguard at this point, but it's a very good usable range for me.

[cyberpunk409]

The low E string will go down one half step to Eb when the trem system is set up so the lock button can slide in and out relatively easily.

At the moment, I've got it set up that the trem arm tip is about 6cm from the pickguard and I can "dive" much lower than that. But now the lock button is pretty much unusable.

There's a video showing a jaguar going down almost one full octave:

Jaguar trem

But the YouTuber fails to mention if the lock system is set up properly.

That's a Panorama trem, which is only on the American Pro II Jazzmaster models. Did you buy one of these second hand and put it on your Jaguar? To be clear, you should be able to get more than a half a step on the low E with the lock button functioning. But without more details, it's going to be hard to help. It might be easiest to start with figuring out exactly which tremolo you have. A picture from the top should be all that is needed. Lastly, if you pull the trem arm out of the collet a bit (i.e. it's not pushed all the way down), does it let you go down further? If so, it's the bottom of the arm that's hitting the trem cavity.

EDIT: For the sake of comparison, I just tried my AVRI tremolo with a Staytrem arm, and I can go from standard tuning down to just below C on the low E string, and just below Eb on the high E. This is most likely just that the arm shape means it hits the pickguard at this point, but it's a very good usable range for me.

I thought I'd conclude this thread with a follow up.

I can confirm that the item I pictured in the first post of this thread is NOT for the tremolo system at all.

The trem arm was indeed hitting the bottom of the cavity, maxing me out.

I've since replaced it with a Staytrem arm and collect and an AllParts trem spring. The trem arm no longer bottoms out and I can "dive" to D on the low E string with the locking button being set up as intended.

Not quite as low diving as others have mentioned, but instead of one half step, I can now go down one full step. So that's double the dive I had before and plenty enough for me.

Thanks everyone for your help and input.

Happy to send the stupid "disc" thing to anyone who needs it for free if you cover postage, which should be a couple bucks at most.

Cheers

[cyberpunk409]

My 50th post.. now I can sell on here!!

As my thank you to everyone who's been kind to me on this forum, if anyone wants this disc for a project, let me know and I'll cover postage costs. You can have the damn thing completely free!

Now to list my Staytrem 7.25" bridge.......

[DrippyReverbTremolo]

I have never heard that expression.

[garyptaszek]

Nope

NUH UHHH!