Loose Tremolo on MIJ Jaguar

anne5surf

Joined: May 19, 2012
Posts: 7

Posted on Dec 04 2019 04:48 PM

I’m looking for a bit of advice. I got a MIJ Jaguar a couple of months ago. I’ve only used it a couple of times and today the tremolo arm has came loose. It’s just rattling about. Do you know if this is a serious fault. I got it second hand and all the hardware has been reliced so not sure if it’s damaged due to that.

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Kuk

Joined: Feb 13, 2007
Posts: 134
NW Fla Gulf Coast
United States

Posted on Dec 04 2019 08:52 PM

Either something underneath the tremolo top plate is loose or it is broken. The only way to tell is to remove the tremolo assembly from the guitar's body and look at the parts.

I'm guessing the tremolo arm holder sleeve/bushing is loose or broken.

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anne5surf

Joined: May 19, 2012
Posts: 7

Posted on Dec 05 2019 01:25 AM

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anne5surf

Joined: May 19, 2012
Posts: 7

Posted on Dec 05 2019 01:33 AM

Ok I will take the top plate off to see what’s going on. I think the actual housing is broken because I can’t remove the tremolo.

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anne5surf

Joined: May 19, 2012
Posts: 7

Posted on Dec 05 2019 07:22 AM

Kuk thank you so much for responding. I will let you know how I got on

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Kuk

Joined: Feb 13, 2007
Posts: 134
NW Fla Gulf Coast
United States

Posted on Dec 05 2019 08:40 AM

anne5surf wrote:

Kuk thank you so much for responding. I will let you know how I got on

You're welcome! Please do.

Your findings and solutions might help others with the same issue.

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Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2688
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Dec 05 2019 10:45 AM

Sometimes it can take some effort to pull the arm out. If you remove the tremolo you'll see the collet that holds the arm, it has "teeth" that hold the arm and they can break pretty easily, usually when trying to bend them so they will hold the arm firmly. The collet can be easily replaced. I replaced mine with a Staytrem arm and collet and it doesn't flop around anymore. There are a few other tricks you can find here such as a slight bend in the arm or wrapping the arm with teflon tape.

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anne5surf

Joined: May 19, 2012
Posts: 7

Posted on Dec 05 2019 04:13 PM

Hi Guys, thanks for your advice. I took the plate off, and the collet had became loose. I tightened it up and it seems to be all right. I’m used to playing a Strat and I think I unscrewed it when I was trying adjust the tremolo. I may buy a Staytrem anyway if this is going to be a recurring problem.

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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
3 Download Pins

Posted on Dec 06 2019 02:26 AM

I bent my arm to eliminate the flopping arm syndrome and it made the fit so tight that I've now loosened my own collet and will have to disassemble to tighten it back up. I reckon some Loctite is a cheaper solution than a Staytrem, though.

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anne5surf

Joined: May 19, 2012
Posts: 7

Posted on Dec 06 2019 04:26 AM

Hi Redfeather, thank you. I played a Strat for ten years. I love it, but the arm doesn’t stay fixed It’s a bit disappointing that the Jaguar was 5 times more expensive, yet there is this problem with the design.
I emailed Staytrem and they directed me to the one to get. I wish I’d taken a photo of mine because it looks the same. It still has the screw to hold it onto the plate, although there might be more threads, it’s hard to tell.
Anyways it’s staying in the fixed position for now so fingers crossed.

I wonder if the USA made Jaguars costing thousands of $$$ still have the same problem!

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Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on Dec 06 2019 04:38 AM

q

Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 06:38:17

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anne5surf

Joined: May 19, 2012
Posts: 7

Posted on Dec 06 2019 06:42 AM

Hi Gilette, thank you. I did eventually put a new spring in the Strat and it’s a lot better now. I saw video on YouTube recommending it. Thank you.

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Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on Mar 03 2022 06:30 AM

deleted

Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 06:32:19

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anne5surf Joined: May 19, 2012 Posts: 7	Posted on Dec 04 2019 04:48 PM I’m looking for a bit of advice. I got a MIJ Jaguar a couple of months ago. I’ve only used it a couple of times and today the tremolo arm has came loose. It’s just rattling about. Do you know if this is a serious fault. I got it second hand and all the hardware has been reliced so not sure if it’s damaged due to that. Top
Kuk Joined: Feb 13, 2007 Posts: 134 NW Fla Gulf Coast	Posted on Dec 04 2019 08:52 PM Either something underneath the tremolo top plate is loose or it is broken. The only way to tell is to remove the tremolo assembly from the guitar's body and look at the parts. I'm guessing the tremolo arm holder sleeve/bushing is loose or broken. Top
anne5surf Joined: May 19, 2012 Posts: 7	Posted on Dec 05 2019 01:25 AM Top
anne5surf Joined: May 19, 2012 Posts: 7	Posted on Dec 05 2019 01:33 AM Ok I will take the top plate off to see what’s going on. I think the actual housing is broken because I can’t remove the tremolo. Top
anne5surf Joined: May 19, 2012 Posts: 7	Posted on Dec 05 2019 07:22 AM Kuk thank you so much for responding. I will let you know how I got on Top
Kuk Joined: Feb 13, 2007 Posts: 134 NW Fla Gulf Coast	Posted on Dec 05 2019 08:40 AM anne5surf wrote: Kuk thank you so much for responding. I will let you know how I got on You're welcome! Please do. Your findings and solutions might help others with the same issue. Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2688 Ventura, CA	Posted on Dec 05 2019 10:45 AM Sometimes it can take some effort to pull the arm out. If you remove the tremolo you'll see the collet that holds the arm, it has "teeth" that hold the arm and they can break pretty easily, usually when trying to bend them so they will hold the arm firmly. The collet can be easily replaced. I replaced mine with a Staytrem arm and collet and it doesn't flop around anymore. There are a few other tricks you can find here such as a slight bend in the arm or wrapping the arm with teflon tape. Top
anne5surf Joined: May 19, 2012 Posts: 7	Posted on Dec 05 2019 04:13 PM Hi Guys, thanks for your advice. I took the plate off, and the collet had became loose. I tightened it up and it seems to be all right. I’m used to playing a Strat and I think I unscrewed it when I was trying adjust the tremolo. I may buy a Staytrem anyway if this is going to be a recurring problem. Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Dec 06 2019 02:26 AM I bent my arm to eliminate the flopping arm syndrome and it made the fit so tight that I've now loosened my own collet and will have to disassemble to tighten it back up. I reckon some Loctite is a cheaper solution than a Staytrem, though. Top
anne5surf Joined: May 19, 2012 Posts: 7	Posted on Dec 06 2019 04:26 AM Hi Redfeather, thank you. I played a Strat for ten years. I love it, but the arm doesn’t stay fixed It’s a bit disappointing that the Jaguar was 5 times more expensive, yet there is this problem with the design. I emailed Staytrem and they directed me to the one to get. I wish I’d taken a photo of mine because it looks the same. It still has the screw to hold it onto the plate, although there might be more threads, it’s hard to tell. Anyways it’s staying in the fixed position for now so fingers crossed. I wonder if the USA made Jaguars costing thousands of $$$ still have the same problem! Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on Dec 06 2019 04:38 AM q Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 06:38:17 Top
anne5surf Joined: May 19, 2012 Posts: 7	Posted on Dec 06 2019 06:42 AM Hi Gilette, thank you. I did eventually put a new spring in the Strat and it’s a lot better now. I saw video on YouTube recommending it. Thank you. Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on Mar 03 2022 06:30 AM deleted Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 06:32:19 Top

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Loose Tremolo on MIJ Jaguar