Tremolo arm doesn't fit

edbiscuit

Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 50
Alexandria, VA

Posted on Jun 26 2007 11:59 PM

I know I can have some pretty bad luck.... but this seems a bit ridiculous.

I finally bought that Ocean Turquoise Jag AVRI today (queue fanfare) and was excited to install the tremolo arm and see how things sounded.

The darn thing doesn't fit at all. I mean, the arm doesn't even make it 1/64" into the collet. Is there some secret to this?

Ed

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Occam

Joined: Mar 11, 2007
Posts: 61
Alameda Ca

Posted on Jun 27 2007 04:07 AM

Fender has some different sizes...is this the stock arm that came with it or an after market?

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edbiscuit

Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 50
Alexandria, VA

Posted on Jun 27 2007 08:00 AM

This is the arm that came sealed in the "extras" bag, along with the manual and Jaguar/Jazzmaster booklet.

I got out the calipers and at least have an idea of what's going on. The collet measures 0.189", the thickness of the arm is 0.187"... BUT the lip on the end (that I'm guessing is what helps lock it in) is 0.192".

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Jun 27 2007 08:23 AM

Push it in hard.

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edbiscuit

Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 50
Alexandria, VA

Posted on Jun 27 2007 09:15 AM

I'm nearly bottoming out the tremolo trying to push it in.

Thanks for the replys. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something I was doing wrong. I think it was more a case that I was hoping that is was just me and not a manufacturer defect in a brand new $1400 guitar.

If it weren't chromed, I'd just take a file to it. Back to the store I go.

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IronMaiden

Joined: Nov 02, 2006
Posts: 564
Virginia Beach

Posted on Jun 27 2007 09:23 AM

edbiscuit
I'm nearly bottoming out the tremolo trying to push it in.

Thanks for the replys. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something I was doing wrong. I think it was more a case that I was hoping that is was just me and not a manufacturer defect in a brand new $1400 guitar.

If it weren't chromed, I'd just take a file to it. Back to the store I go.

Sounds like its in to me. Thats how they sit really low. Most people have trouble with the arm being too loose.

Top

badash

Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732

Posted on Jun 27 2007 10:50 AM

edbiscuit
I know I can have some pretty bad luck.... but this seems a bit ridiculous.

I finally bought that Ocean Turquoise Jag AVRI today (queue fanfare) and was excited to install the tremolo arm and see how things sounded.

The darn thing doesn't fit at all. I mean, the arm doesn't even make it 1/64" into the collet. Is there some secret to this?

Ed

My white jag I picked up a few months ago came the same way. I ended up swapping the arm with my jazzmaster where since the collet (sp) was older and more worn in it slipped in a little easier, but it was still a struggle! So now I have a jag where the arm is a little loose, and a jazzmaster where it's a little hard to get the arm in, but that bastard stays exactly where I move it! The two arms definitely look different in the insertion area. I didn't pursue any action because mine was new, but from a non-fender dealer so I didn't have a warranty on it, but I paid what a used one costs so I figured it was worth the risk, and it certainly was! Currently my number ONE, at least until tomorrow... We'll see...

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ToneBoy

Joined: Feb 17, 2007
Posts: 281
Murfreesboro, TN
United States

Posted on Jun 27 2007 12:00 PM

I've experienced this problem too but a little piece of emory cloth and a even less elbow grease took care of it. You don't want to take off too much cause the snug fit is good thing. I never was very good at that "tremelo dip" move where you reach way down, where the tremelo arm is hanging loose, and grab the thing. I like a snug fit so I can keep it within a fingers reach.

—

Ron (ToneBoy)
The Mariners (1964 to Present) www.myspace.com/themarinersfirstwave
Lonzo & Oscar (1999 to Present) www.lonzoandoscar.net
www.myspace.com/lonzoandoscarcomedy
Billy Henson & Summerstorm (2001 to Present)

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Stormtiger

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

Posted on Jun 27 2007 01:45 PM

The tremolo arm on my AVRI Jazzmaster won't snap in and hangs loose. Teflon tape keeps it snug and in place. I got a great deal and it's a reare color so I didn't want to return it.

I followed up on Dick Messnick's collet fix with the rubber washer (Web Link #5, Jaguar & Jazzmaster Pages). He said:
"It's still holding up pretty good - getting a little looser over time,
though. I've seen some guys use wire shrinkwrap, but once you do that you
really can't take the arm out (without great effort) - they just always
leave the arm in."

Dave Wronski once told me about plans for an aftermarket collet with an arm that screws in. I'll bet more than a few would sell here. Package that with the toggle pickup switch and plate, trem unit with flathead screws it would make a great Jaguar Upgrade Kit.

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xxreverbxx

Joined: Jun 08, 2007
Posts: 75

Posted on Jul 06 2007 04:04 PM

I've been using a piece of rubber tubing about 2" long fit tightly over the collet. Slip the trem bar through the tubing and it hold the bar whever you position it, without any modifications.

—

Is that too much reverb?

Top

edbiscuit Joined: Jun 20, 2007 Posts: 50 Alexandria, VA	Posted on Jun 26 2007 11:59 PM I know I can have some pretty bad luck.... but this seems a bit ridiculous. I finally bought that Ocean Turquoise Jag AVRI today (queue fanfare) and was excited to install the tremolo arm and see how things sounded. The darn thing doesn't fit at all. I mean, the arm doesn't even make it 1/64" into the collet. Is there some secret to this? Ed Top
Occam Joined: Mar 11, 2007 Posts: 61 Alameda Ca	Posted on Jun 27 2007 04:07 AM Fender has some different sizes...is this the stock arm that came with it or an after market? Top
edbiscuit Joined: Jun 20, 2007 Posts: 50 Alexandria, VA	Posted on Jun 27 2007 08:00 AM This is the arm that came sealed in the "extras" bag, along with the manual and Jaguar/Jazzmaster booklet. I got out the calipers and at least have an idea of what's going on. The collet measures 0.189", the thickness of the arm is 0.187"... BUT the lip on the end (that I'm guessing is what helps lock it in) is 0.192". Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Jun 27 2007 08:23 AM Push it in hard. Top
edbiscuit Joined: Jun 20, 2007 Posts: 50 Alexandria, VA	Posted on Jun 27 2007 09:15 AM I'm nearly bottoming out the tremolo trying to push it in. Thanks for the replys. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something I was doing wrong. I think it was more a case that I was hoping that is was just me and not a manufacturer defect in a brand new $1400 guitar. If it weren't chromed, I'd just take a file to it. Back to the store I go. Top
IronMaiden Joined: Nov 02, 2006 Posts: 564 Virginia Beach	Posted on Jun 27 2007 09:23 AM edbiscuit I'm nearly bottoming out the tremolo trying to push it in. Thanks for the replys. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something I was doing wrong. I think it was more a case that I was hoping that is was just me and not a manufacturer defect in a brand new $1400 guitar. If it weren't chromed, I'd just take a file to it. Back to the store I go. Sounds like its in to me. Thats how they sit really low. Most people have trouble with the arm being too loose. Top
badash Joined: Aug 18, 2006 Posts: 1732	Posted on Jun 27 2007 10:50 AM edbiscuit I know I can have some pretty bad luck.... but this seems a bit ridiculous. I finally bought that Ocean Turquoise Jag AVRI today (queue fanfare) and was excited to install the tremolo arm and see how things sounded. The darn thing doesn't fit at all. I mean, the arm doesn't even make it 1/64" into the collet. Is there some secret to this? Ed My white jag I picked up a few months ago came the same way. I ended up swapping the arm with my jazzmaster where since the collet (sp) was older and more worn in it slipped in a little easier, but it was still a struggle! So now I have a jag where the arm is a little loose, and a jazzmaster where it's a little hard to get the arm in, but that bastard stays exactly where I move it! The two arms definitely look different in the insertion area. I didn't pursue any action because mine was new, but from a non-fender dealer so I didn't have a warranty on it, but I paid what a used one costs so I figured it was worth the risk, and it certainly was! Currently my number ONE, at least until tomorrow... We'll see... Top
ToneBoy Joined: Feb 17, 2007 Posts: 281 Murfreesboro, TN	Posted on Jun 27 2007 12:00 PM I've experienced this problem too but a little piece of emory cloth and a even less elbow grease took care of it. You don't want to take off too much cause the snug fit is good thing. I never was very good at that "tremelo dip" move where you reach way down, where the tremelo arm is hanging loose, and grab the thing. I like a snug fit so I can keep it within a fingers reach. — Ron (ToneBoy) The Mariners (1964 to Present) www.myspace.com/themarinersfirstwave Lonzo & Oscar (1999 to Present) www.lonzoandoscar.net www.myspace.com/lonzoandoscarcomedy Billy Henson & Summerstorm (2001 to Present) Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2688 Ventura, CA	Posted on Jun 27 2007 01:45 PM The tremolo arm on my AVRI Jazzmaster won't snap in and hangs loose. Teflon tape keeps it snug and in place. I got a great deal and it's a reare color so I didn't want to return it. I followed up on Dick Messnick's collet fix with the rubber washer (Web Link #5, Jaguar & Jazzmaster Pages). He said: "It's still holding up pretty good - getting a little looser over time, though. I've seen some guys use wire shrinkwrap, but once you do that you really can't take the arm out (without great effort) - they just always leave the arm in." Dave Wronski once told me about plans for an aftermarket collet with an arm that screws in. I'll bet more than a few would sell here. Package that with the toggle pickup switch and plate, trem unit with flathead screws it would make a great Jaguar Upgrade Kit. Top
xxreverbxx Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 75	Posted on Jul 06 2007 04:04 PM I've been using a piece of rubber tubing about 2" long fit tightly over the collet. Slip the trem bar through the tubing and it hold the bar whever you position it, without any modifications. — Is that too much reverb? Top

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Tremolo arm doesn't fit