edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Sep 15 2018 02:18 PM
My recently acquired SGV 300 came without the vibrato arm, which is often missing from these guitars. Previously, you could buy a replacement directly from Yamaha at a reasonable cost, part number QC541100. However, I saw that the part was no longer available on their website - neither entering the part number nor searching on SGV gave any results. I called them directly and asked about the specific part number, and was told they are no longer available. And I never see used ones on sale on ebay or elsewhere.
The other suggestion is to get an import strat tremolo bar, making sure it's 5mm in diameter at the threads. However, the tips for those are almost always plastic, including the chrome colored ones, and I wanted something solid metallic that was more similar to the original.
My searching finally led me to the Gotoh chrome tremolo arm (see pic), part A8 C - it's solid metal and the right diameter to fit. Unfortunately, nobody stocks those in the US, so you have to order from a Gotoh distributor in Japan or elsewhere (I ordered through a company with a Canadian website, but they were still essentially based in Japan). It seems they are manufactured on demand, and it took a couple of weeks to be delivered. Cost was about $25 or so.
I'm happy with the way it looks and feels, and it's definitely better than slapping on a generic strat arm. It's not an exact replica of the Yamaha original, but it's the closest I could get without having someone machine one by hand. So if you are searching for a replacement for your SGV, this is definitely a good alternative.
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JonnyAngle
Joined: Jun 21, 2012
Posts: 26
Maple Grove, MN
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Posted on Sep 16 2018 08:10 PM
Wow. I literally bought a red sgv300 2 weeks ago and I was searching for the replacement. Thanks for the info!
— JonnyAngle.Bandcamp.com
DroppingAcidPedalEtching.com
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Sep 17 2018 09:12 PM
You're very welcome. I figured it would be worthwhile to post my findings here where people could find the info and not have to duplicate the effort.
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Nov 03 2019 07:44 PM
Another alternative: I just came across these tremolo arms by Babicz Guitars, listed on this page: http://www.fullcontacthardware.com/tremolo-arms
They are shaped quite like the originals from Yamaha, and are $18.99, so not a bad deal. Plus they are 5mm thread, so they should fit an SGV and probably look a bit more original than the Gotoh version I posted first.
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OzReverb
Joined: Apr 28, 2009
Posts: 460
Victoria
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Posted on Nov 09 2019 11:15 PM
JonnyAngle wrote:
Wow. I literally bought a red sgv300 2 weeks ago and I was searching for the replacement. Thanks for the info!
I'm in the market at the moment, so good to know this option is there
— https://www.facebook.com/lostremoleros/
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Nov 10 2019 09:42 AM
I ordered one of the Babicz arms, and will report back when it arrives - hopefully in the next few days.
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OzReverb
Joined: Apr 28, 2009
Posts: 460
Victoria
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Posted on Nov 10 2019 08:17 PM
edwardsand wrote:
Another alternative: I just came across these tremolo arms by Babicz Guitars, listed on this page: http://www.fullcontacthardware.com/tremolo-arms
They are shaped quite like the originals from Yamaha, and are $18.99, so not a bad deal. Plus they are 5mm thread, so they should fit an SGV and probably look a bit more original than the Gotoh version I posted first.
Would these arms fit 60's Japanese Guyatones, do you think?
— https://www.facebook.com/lostremoleros/
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Nov 11 2019 09:44 AM
I have no idea if they'll fit an old Guyatone. It's a 5mm thread (M5), which is used in some strats like MIM models and some Squiers, so it wouldn't be hard to test out with a cheap arm before ordering something more expensive.
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bjoish
Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Posts: 597
Stockholm
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Posted on Nov 11 2019 10:00 AM
My experience is that the SGV whammy bar have a quite sloppy fit.
The little set screw increase the friction when rotating the bar, but do not improve the fit.
Do you have any ideas about how to improve the fit?
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Nov 11 2019 06:19 PM
Bjorn, I haven't had any trouble with mine, but I don't have the original arm. I'm currently using the Gotoh arm that I first noted in this thread, and it's been pretty stable when screwed most of the way in. I don't know how the Babicz arm will do, but hopefully it will arrive soon and I will test it out.
Maybe one solution for a loose arm would be to use Loctite Thread Locker?
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Dec 09 2019 04:33 PM
Update: I finally got the new trem arm from Babicz guitars - they had been back-ordered so it took quite some time. It fit perfect and gets properly snug when you screw it in.
I have to say it looks perfect for the guitar. Comparing it to pics of other SGVs out there, the shape of the knob looks pretty much the same as the original Yamaha part. The arm is made in Taiwan, so there is a chance that it's basically the same part, perhaps made by the same people that supplied them to Yamaha.
Here's a photo of what it looks like installed. Kind of crappy lighting with the flash, but you can at least get the idea of how it looks installed.
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johnw
Joined: Nov 16, 2020
Posts: 2
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Posted on Nov 16 2020 06:03 AM
Hi There,
(I'm new) I just got my Babicz trem bar. I was very excited.
But I installed it and it really sticks up too high. If you're holding it, you can't really reach the strings. Did any of you have the same issue?
I wonder if I can bend it a bit without it breaking? It may or may not be made of brass.
Thanks,
John
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 804
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Posted on Nov 16 2020 08:34 AM
It does stick up kind of high, but I think that is because of the design of the trem system, rather than the arm itself. You could probably bend it - do a search on the forums here about bending trem arms - there might be some advice on how best to do that. I wouldn't search specifically on bending Yamaha SGV arms, but for strat arms or trem arms in general.
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johnw
Joined: Nov 16, 2020
Posts: 2
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Posted on Nov 17 2020 08:14 AM
Hi Edward,
I asked around. Also discovered with a magnet that it's made of steel. Brass can actually be quite brittle.
Someone recommended this:
Drill a hole in a piece of wood the same diameter as the bar. Stick the threaded end into it.
Bend the bar. It takes a lot of force. Go at it gradually testing it on the guitar until you're happy with it.
Worked a treat. The chrome didn't crack or anything.
John
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