Seems my tremolo unit on my DiPinto Galaxie IV is squeking as of late. Still functing fine just wondering if anybody here lubes / oils theirs? Or if it's even recommended?
Thanks
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Lube your tremolo unit?
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Joined: Jun 10, 2009 Posts: 317 |
Posted on Nov 15 2010 08:55 AM
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Joined: Aug 27, 2008 Posts: 1570 New York 
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Posted on Nov 15 2010 08:58 AM
There is no reason that you shouldn't. It is a mechanical piece of metal with moving parts. Lubrication can not hurt. |
Joined: Jul 16, 2008 Posts: 198 Mandrogne, Alessandria, Italy 
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Posted on Nov 15 2010 09:10 AM
sewing machine lube on tremolo spring is always welcome ... and you can drop just a little lube on saddles and nut to obtain perfect tune ! —Docteur Legume Et Les Surfwerks http://doclegume.blogspot.com "We're gonna draw a little bit of everybody's blood 'cause we're gonna find out who's THE THING" |
Joined: Dec 16, 2006 Posts: 892 Macomb Mich |
Posted on Nov 15 2010 11:55 AM
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Joined: Jun 10, 2009 Posts: 317 |
Posted on Nov 15 2010 12:34 PM
I knew it wouldn't be long? harr! |
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Joined: Aug 25, 2006 Posts: 40 |
Posted on Nov 15 2010 05:37 PM
I like Big Bends Nut Sauce on moving, friction-prone parts. |
Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle 
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Posted on Nov 15 2010 07:07 PM
I use pure Teflon. Works great and lasts a long time. I put some on the fulcrum when it was new and I doubt I will have to add more anytime soon. I also put some on the nut whenever I change strings. On your guitar (that has a Tunomatic, IIRC) you will want to lube the bridge saddles also as the bridge does not move. I have a tube of DuPont Teflon bearing grease that I use but this product is no available for sale. There is however another that will work just as well, I would imagine. It is sold for bicycles and, really, this is the best possible lubricant to use for your guitar. (A warning though: if you smoke, be careful using this stuff; thermal decomposition liberates fluorine which can be inhaled. I do not mess with fluorine, insidious toxicity, there.) http://www.amazon.com/Finish-Line-Extreme-Fluoro-Syringe/dp/B002L5UL92 — |
Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK. 
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Posted on Nov 16 2010 06:55 AM
I'd recommend a dry lubricant, such as slicone or graphite (pencil lead). Oil tends to attract dirt (which will wear the surfaces out quicker) and some oils are hygroscopic and absorb water from the air. I've been told that you should never, ever lubricate a nut (on a guitar!), but no-one's ever said why. Bottom line is - "if it's squeaking, it needs lubing. When it stops squeaking, it's worn out." — |
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Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle
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Posted on Nov 16 2010 02:31 PM
No, lubricating the nut is essential. Clearly you have never owned a guitar with a Bigsby! However, if you were to use, say, petroleum jelly on the nut it could be a problem. Over time, the stuff will impregnate the woods of the neck and fretboard. I would steer clear of silicone anywhere on the guitar for the same reasons as petroleum-based products. Graphite works great on the nut slots. I like Teflon, though as I mentioned. Lowest coefficient of friction of any known substance, and chemically quite inert. (Well, unless heated to thermolysis.) — |
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Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Nov 16 2010 02:57 PM
Ah, maybe i confused it with oiling the nut , which would probably break down the plastic eventually. Generally I graphite the nut (I do own a guitar with a Bigsby) and apply some magic lubricant that I used to use when I fixed cameras to the bridge and trem. Stays in tune and doesn't squeak. I do oil the tuners tho - little drop of oil every now and then. — |
Joined: Dec 16, 2007 Posts: 193 Newport, RI |
Posted on Nov 16 2010 02:59 PM
Regarding guitar lube, That being said, the sunburst Jag I'm playing in my avatar is the 'stay in tune' machine, and I don't use lube for it at all, on the nut, tremolo unit, or anywhere else. Am almost finished recording an album where I used it on 90 percent of 14 songs. I'd check the tuning with my TU-2 frequently, and I never had to re-tune it more than once or twice in a 4 hour recording session. And that's with plenty of bends, whammy, heavy tremolo picking, etc. Fwiw, I had some work done on the nut when I first got it (December 2007), because the slot for the A string was too narrow for the set of Thomastik 13s I had. And its got a Mastery Bridge on it. But I just figured I'd throw it out there, that need for lube isn't necessarily a given. I'd take it on a case by case basis. For a creaky Jag-style trem unit like what the DiPintos use, I'd say +1 to the previous suggestions of a dry lube, like graphite, just because of grease-like lubes attracting dirt, which I would want to avoid. But then I wonder if a lube powder would stay where its needed to do the trick, given the wide open spaces underneath the tremolo unit cover plate thingamajig. Couldn't hurt to try though, and the stuff is pretty cheap. |
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