Thread Size for Squire CV 60s Tremolo Arm

[donna plasky]

Thank you, Tony, for the information. I think I will order one of the EZ Mute arms as soon as I confirm the thread size on my guitar. I emailed Fender with my question and they wrote back to say they'll find out and get back to me. You are right; I have seen endorsements by Hank of this tremolo arm...sounds interesting. Thanks again.

Kind regards,
Donna

[dave robinson]

Thank you, Tony, for the information. I think I will order one of the EZ Mute arms as soon as I confirm the thread size on my guitar. I emailed Fender with my question and they wrote back to say they'll find out and get back to me. You are right; I have seen endorsements by Hank of this tremolo arm...sounds interesting. Thanks again.

Kind regards,
Donna

My experience of that EZ arm Donna - Overpriced and no help to me whatsoever as well as looking awful. The regular arm is fine, you just need to learn how to use it. I realised long ago that going for everything 'Hank' was a big mistake i.e. Kinman pickups, EZ trem, Matchless Amp, KCP Amp, all of these are expensive and the list goes on. I went back to the roots and guess what ? Everything fitted back into place and the sound returned.

[anniv 63]

Hi Donna , what Dave Robinson is saying is absolutely true, and speaking for myself
I too was taken in by so much blurb about this and that giving the true Hank Sound
and then being disappointed.
You have the basis of an excellent beginners guitar in a Squier Classic Vibe that
other than a good set up and correct angle of the trem arm as fitted and to suit
your own playing style- you dont need to worry!!
Enjoy learning to play pieces you like progressively, with and without the trem arm
and it will help your overall picking technique that is vitally important to beginners.
Good luck and you will always pick up tips as you see others play!!

Mike

[davec]

Hi Donna,

Dave and Mike are quite right about chasing "that sound" but I feel they are too quick to condemn things that relate to shape and position. We're all different and have different preferences. You only have to start a discussion about neck profiles to appreciate this .

Personally, I learnt to use the regular Strat trem-arm, but to me it never felt right. For me the EZMute was a revelation. Suddenly the trem-arm was in the "right" position --- for me! As to whether it will suit you, I (and Dave and Mike) have no way of telling.

I notice from one of your other posts that you were discussing trem blocks. The practical (as opposed to sonic) reason for fitting a hard steel block is that you are winding a hard steel trem-arm into it. If the hardnesses are different you are looking forward to rapid and uneven wear --- resulting in a floppy arm. If the threads match and you preload (and secure) the spring with a blob of Blu-Tack, then your new trem-arm will work perfectly. It's then down to you to decide whether it "fits" you.

Regards
DaveC

[ecca]

The very least effect of a hardened arm in a hardened block will be 'rapid wear'.
Quite the opposite.
Anyway the arms aren't hardened, you can file and bend them. the blocks are though, hard as a bullet and a bugger to drill.

[davec]

The very least effect of a hardened arm in a hardened block will be 'rapid wear'.
.

That's what I said.

DaveC

[ecca]

My understanding of what you said was that there will be rapid wear.
What I said was there won't be rapid wear.

[donna plasky]

Thanks for all your advice, everyone. I heard back from Fender Consumer Relations on the thread size of the Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster. They say it is 5mm. I don't know which Squier guitars supposedly use a 6mm, but the Classic Vibe ones are 5mm which is what I needed to know.

The original trem arm that came with the guitar fits nicely for now (it doesn't drop loose yet) but it is just too long for me. I am going to order a Gilmour-length 4.25 inch arm, but I will get the traditional style arm which is a lot cheaper than EZ Mute arms and the Drop Trem arms.

The trem arm that my guitar shop sold me (and cut shorter for me) is likely to be a 10-32 thread, which would explain why it doesn't seem to fit properly. The guys in the store told me not to worry about it...they thought it fit, close enough any way. They don't know what they're talking about, I think because they use the Floyd Rose arms and that's a whole different story.

Upgrading the pick-ups or the bridge sounded like a cool idea, but now that I know how expensive it would be...and knowing me, I probably wouldn't think it sounded any better any way...I will leave the guitar as-is, except for buying a new trem arm. The whole guitar only cost USD $380.

I really do appreciate everyone's help and advice. I have learned a lot from you.

Gratefully,
Donna

[dave robinson]

Thanks for all your advice, everyone. I heard back from Fender Consumer Relations on the thread size of the Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster. They say it is 5mm. I don't know which Squier guitars supposedly use a 6mm, but the Classic Vibe ones are 5mm which is what I needed to know.

The original trem arm that came with the guitar fits nicely for now (it doesn't drop loose yet) but it is just too long for me. I am going to order a Gilmour-length 4.25 inch arm, but I will get the traditional style arm which is a lot cheaper than EZ Mute arms and the Drop Trem arms.

The trem arm that my guitar shop sold me (and cut shorter for me) is likely to be a 10-32 thread, which would explain why it doesn't seem to fit properly. The guys in the store told me not to worry about it...they thought it fit, close enough any way. They don't know what they're talking about, I think because they use the Floyd Rose arms and that's a whole different story.

Upgrading the pick-ups or the bridge sounded like a cool idea, but now that I know how expensive it would be...and knowing me, I probably wouldn't think it sounded any better any way...I will leave the guitar as-is, except for buying a new trem arm. The whole guitar only cost USD $380.

I really do appreciate everyone's help and advice. I have learned a lot from you.


That's a good call Donna.

Gratefully,
Donna

[abstamaria]

Hi, Donna,

I tend to agree with Dave and Mike. In trying to capture Hank's old sound, I thought it easiest to cut down the variables and use a guitar as close as possible to what he used then. By the way, as noted above or elsewhere, if you watch Hank's very early videos, you'll note he doesn't hold the trem arm all the time, as he does now, but just makes a quick grab for it each he needs it. He also didn't seem to use the trem arm then as often as now. The main verse of Apache uses no trem, for instance.

I had a new friend come over the other month with a Customshop Stratocaster, but fitted with Kinmans, a different trem arm with an offset shape, etc.. The consensus was that my standard '58 spec guitar sounded much closer to Hank's. But that could be due to the heavy strings on my guitar too.

Anyway, most changes are reversible, so enjoy playing around with your guitar.

Best,

Andy

PS: i'm not sure if the spring in the trem arm hole works as intended (I promptly lost mine), but Dave C's idea of keeping it there seems a good idea. I'll try a dab of silicone gasket maker if I can get some springs.