Mustang Tremolo setup

[Urinate Forever]

I just got an MIJ '65 RI Mustang and ordered the correct vibrato arm online. Got it on there and it goes totally out of tune when I use it. This is probably a common problem, I think, and was wondering what everyone does to make it more usable?

Thanks

[Horsefeather]

I cut a slot in mine and put Jazzmaster guts in it, as I found the Mustang vibrato design to be a horrid piece of shit. Look close and you can see where the posts chewed up and elongated the holes in the plate. Never again! Also absent is the giant cigar that prevents one from picking close to the bridge. I don't know what Fender was thinking when he came up with that crap. Especially since he already had these parts in the bin.

[Jazzmastervsjaguar]

First off, You need to remove the unit take the springs and place them lower on the pivot polls (there are 3 locations for the springs to go) I use .11s and put my springs on the lowest rung for the highest tension all tuning issues are gone.



Second: The Mustang/jag vibrato mash up is lovely!!

[HNB]

With any tremolo guitar, I normally string it up and use the tremolo a bunch, tune it, use the tremolo a bunch, tune it.... repeat until the strings stay in tune. New strings kind of need to stretch a bit to get stable with tremolo. This is how I do it with any tremolo guitar.

[Urinate Forever]

With any tremolo guitar, I normally string it up and use the tremolo a bunch, tune it, use the tremolo a bunch, tune it.... repeat until the strings stay in tune. New strings kind of need to stretch a bit to get stable with tremolo. This is how I do it with any tremolo guitar.

The problem with the mustang being that it doesn't return to the same position, though.

[HNB]

If you exaggerate it both directions it does for me. All the way down you can push it an all the way back so the bridge tilts forward in the cup and then back.

[Maggieo]

I put the strings in from the front and wrap them around the back:


1965 Fender Mustang, September 12, 2017 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

[HNB]

Wrapping them around and under is how you are supposed to put them in. Some people take the tube off and turn it around so you can string it straight though. With TOM bridges installed it still works pretty well because those sit taller and you get a good break angle.

[MechaBulletBill]

First, make sure the nut is properly cut and lubed up with graphite, graphite+vaseline nut sauce type thing, white grease, whatever. Then:

You need to remove the unit take the springs and place them lower on the pivot polls (there are 3 locations for the springs to go) I use .11s and put my springs on the lowest rung for the highest tension all tuning issues are gone.

Do this and if you're still having problems, screw the tailpiece [cigar tube] down so that you can't pull it up, only divebomb. It *should* stay reasonably in tune.

Failing that, get an old unit from the 60s/70s because they're much better.

[Urinate Forever]

Thanks, everyone. Have it apart now, trying to move the springs. Cannot for the life of me get this spring to move enough to even it get it off the post that screws into the tube.

[blimpage]

I cut a slot in mine and put Jazzmaster guts in it, as I found the Mustang vibrato design to be a horrid piece of shit. Look close and you can see where the posts chewed up and elongated the holes in the plate. Never again! Also absent is the giant cigar that prevents one from picking close to the bridge. I don't know what Fender was thinking when he came up with that crap. Especially since he already had these parts in the bin.

Whooooa, I would love to know more about this. Got any photos/tales of the process?

[Jazzmastervsjaguar]

Thanks, everyone. Have it apart now, trying to move the springs. Cannot for the life of me get this spring to move enough to even it get it off the post that screws into the tube.

It's tough I go with the needle nose small flat head screwdriver method.

[BW13]

I cut a slot in mine and put Jazzmaster guts in it, as I found the Mustang vibrato design to be a horrid piece of shit. Look close and you can see where the posts chewed up and elongated the holes in the plate. Never again! Also absent is the giant cigar that prevents one from picking close to the bridge. I don't know what Fender was thinking when he came up with that crap. Especially since he already had these parts in the bin.

can you show us the cavity when you'll change the strings ?

thanks

[Danley]

Damn; there must be really poor metallurgy in those Squier vibratos, I have two vintage units and while one needed a bit of filing/polishing due to abuse, one was in fine shape (and has stood up to use well over the last decade or so.) Since I'm posting in a resurrected thread I'll give my recipe for making the the Mustang vibrato work quite well; yeah they're a sort of compromise-y design since you can't fine-tune tension & feel independent of the tailpiece height, and the tailpiece itself isn't too ergonomic for some people. But you can actually make them play in tune, and get a wide range of motion to glide through, smoother and easier than any other vibrato:

-Springs at the max. tension notch - always
-Ensure knife edges are sharp/clean (file if necessary, & use white grease to lubricate)
-Don't ever turn posts with springs under pressure
-Make sure the back of the strings clear the back of the bridge, while keeping the bridge high enough off the body to rock properly (headache & balancing act, but one time does it.)

[mackerelmint]

I cut a slot in mine and put Jazzmaster guts in it, as I found the Mustang vibrato design to be a horrid piece of shit. Look close and you can see where the posts chewed up and elongated the holes in the plate. Never again! Also absent is the giant cigar that prevents one from picking close to the bridge. I don't know what Fender was thinking when he came up with that crap. Especially since he already had these parts in the bin.

This needs to be an available plate style. EZ bilindastang.