Raw Vintage Springs: Worth It?
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- Опубліковано 8 сер 2018
- Are Raw Vintage Springs for your Strat guitar worth it? Watch the video to see! Be sure to check out the playlist for how I built this guitar, as well.
Get the springs here: amzn.to/2WyzGPS
Some basics on the guitar below:
Fender mint green 62 pickguard
Fender Aged White covers and knobs
Fender American Vintage Reissue Tremolo
John Benson 63 hand-wound pickups
Grease bucket tone controls
Treble bleed circuit on volume knob
Back tone tied to bridge pickup
Gotoh vintage style (Kluson) tuners
TUSQ nut
Musikraft neck
Nitrocellulose finish
See more videos on this guitar here: • Relic Nitro Strat Build
#partscaster #relicguitar #howtorelic
/ ncsink
www.cdbaby.com/Artist/NathanSink
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I don't know about the springs, but I know your relic job really turned out nice. I remember watching your video series. With these close ups, it looks amazingly real! It definitely could pass for a real vintage Strat! Really nice job!👍😎🎸🎶
74dart man thanks!! 😊🤘🏻
Nathan Sink yep!☺
I have these. There is definitely more sustain. If you float the tremolo a little over 1/8 inch and lower the saddles it will allow the 5 springs to stretch a little. The springs will resonate even more when you play. I have them on my Fender John Mayer Strat and they made a world of difference.
Dr/\gonfly thanks for sharing your experience. I feel like they make a big difference too. 😊 Never been a floating trem guy though.
Nathan Sink floating the tremolo makes those springs add a kind of slight reverb effect. It’s worth a try.
Dr/\gonfly hmm, interesting.
@@wolfnstrings (if you keep them as is and don't add a piece of foam/tubing to mute the springs)
No foam or tubing needed in mine.
I have read the greatest reviews about these raw vantage springs all over the blog sites and I just bought some. Can’t wait to try them out as I feel like most of the springs on my Tremolos are too stiff and this is how I found them. This demo proves that out!
Nazmo King glad this helps! Hope you like them. 👍🏻
What was the verdict? Do you prefer the Raw Vintage vs. the ones you previously had ?
Michael Caz yes I have started using the softer raw vintage springs in my traditional tremolo strat style guitars. Nicer touch. And for Bigsby’s I buy the soft Reverend replacement springs for the same reason.
@@nazmoking3171 I ordered them. I will see, once I install them. I just hope they don't stick-out, past the trem-cavity/body-of-guitar . . . as they are slightly thicker? (but I have heard good reviews) ?
@@michael_caz_nyc so what do you think of them
7:57 sound of the three springs fender brand (each spring is relatively tight)
8:30 sound of the five springs raw vintage brand (each spring is relatively loose, thought there is the 5/3 ratio to be)
Personally to me, it could be bias of course since it`s not a blind test, but I like the sound of the 5 more loose RV brand springs.
Holy your Strat is more beat than my precbs..love it
ass goblin thanks! Jealous of your preCBS!
@@NathanSink CS relic ?
So...I think Davey Wiles changed his original user name. 😂
Paul Cowart nope, it's a partscaster! I have a series/playlist on how I made it: ua-cam.com/play/PLT0llhi52k8pfgZILIgbDUVNXc24g5T1E.html
The 5 Raw Vintage springs are around the same tension as 3 stock springs. The coils are so tight with the stronger springs there is no gap in between the coils. Only when you use the bar do the coils pull apart.
The 5 RV springs are soft & stretchy enabling them to vibrate. It has a spring reverb effect you can hear & feel. Even if you mute them with foam, they still feel better than stock.
Bass Fishing with the Antichrist have to say, I agree. 👍🏻
and when plugged in, can you hear it??
As good or better than the originals, I put them in everything! They made my PRS ME-1 stay in tune better too because the PRS springs are poorly designed to be locked tight into the block and they bind up. Ended up replacing that boat anchor stock brass block with a Hantug full Ti bridge/block and RV springs and the guitar improved dramatically.
Mark Huizenga thanks for sharing. 👍🏻
A problem may be if the springs have less tension this makes less sustain or less tone. Any part in a guitar being softer, looser, dampers vibrations or eats the sound. Any part or material stiffer makes for a better transfer of vibrations and therefore a better sound. It's a balance of a whole to yield the proper tension and stiffness in setting up the guitar so you notice that it rings or sings. Not just what's the ideal number of springs, but to achieve the ideal tension.
Agree: there is a lot that comes into play!
I like your videos!
CounterProp FreeA thanks! 😁
When I use these I only use 3 of the 4 springs that come in the pkg to maintain the softer feel. I've put them in a Charvel now and a Fret King strat style. I will put them in one of my strats soon. For whatever reason, my guitars with Wilkinson trems don't seem to need them? Perhaps they have their own similar springs?
Doesn’t it come with 5? 😊 That’s interesting about the Wilkinson trems. Maybe those springs are similar to the Raw Vintage?
Nathan Sink Now that I think about it I believe they do come with five springs - only 3 are needed by most people. I am not sure what the Wilkinsons come with since they were already in the Guitars that I bought but they seem to have similar characteristics.
These are eye wateringly expensive but, annoyingly, great. What these let me do is have only 3 springs (l,m,r) and a decked trem using 9-42 strings and very slight neck relief. The trem is super light and responsive but maintains total tuning stability. I just can't achieve that with standard springs, its impossible to get in to that 'goldilocks' zone as tension is always too stiff on the bar to 'flutter' with 3 strings. Four is way too tight, two is too loose. The Raw Vintage springs are perfect at 3 springs. Is what it is, but for the sake of £28 (in the UK), they are 'essential' items sadly.
wozzlepop yes, I'd imagine they are making a pretty hefty profit on these...but who knows. 🤷🏻♂️
I have 3 in my 65 and it works fine for me But I did purchase a set for one of m builds Consensus seems to day they are good People putting them in Pre CBS strats Tone hound's
Paul Cowart 👍🏻
is it necessary to replace the spring claw if you replace the springs?
Nope, you can use the original spring claw. 🙂
The tremolo plate have be lifted a bit by loosing up the six pivot screws, to get a smooth tremolo action, maybe you want to use at least 010s or 011s strings,and you ready to go
upreydeen 👍🏻
Hi, do you think those huge-diameter springs can also fit that narrow spring housing that the most of Mexican and MIJ strats have? (2-1/16" string spacing instead 2-1/32")
Second Q; do those huge springs get any friction - or rubbing - against the hidden side of the housing if you whammying dive bombs?
blo p this is a good question. I don't THINK there is any issue with these springs regardless of string spacing. The crucial measurements are usually string spacing & mounting spacing (for a trem block). However, I think the holes where the springs attach to the block are all spaced the same. It would be interesting to find out for sure. I AM 99% sure that the raw vintage springs would rub against the back-plate (spring cavity cover) on my Strat. I leave it off, so it's not really an issue. With the original springs, there was barely any clearance between the springs and the cover. I talk about it & demonstrate at about 9:57 into this video: ua-cam.com/video/HxXlJbqob-g/v-deo.html Ironically, I talk about the same thing at 9:57 in the above video too. 😜
@@NathanSink thanks for your precious reply. Sorry from my speech but actually I did not mean a friction against the plate cover, but a friction against the wood of the housing ( the hidden bottom side covered by the springs)
blo p I see. Unfortunately, I think every Strat is a little different & you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. Hope it works out for you!
@@NathanSink Of course. Thanx a bunch
Nice job with this. I have only 2 springs on my Suhr Strat with Gotoh 510 (floating). Stays in near-perfect-tune. I like: very little tension, for Chord-flutters. I do believe if the back-plate is touching the springs, it will be detrimental to your Tuning Stability? How do you like them? Stay Safe everyone. oNe LovE from NYC
Michael Caz hey, thanks for sharing. 👍🏻Sounds like 2 springs would be ideal for chord-flutter work. I’m still enjoying these on my Strat. I felt that 4 was a good number/tension for me. And I’ve left the back plate off, so it’s kind of become a moot point now.
Are you still using them and how do you like them? Does it stay in tune easier and did it change the tone of guitar drastically or not?
Yep, still using them. Honestly I just don't even notice them anymore. I wouldn't say it stays in tune any better or worse. Tone wise, it's kind of subjective. I like the feel more than anything.
Does anyone know how to get the springs to resonate more to get that reverb effect more louder?
Can’t say that I have any tips. Hopefully someone can chime in.
Just installed these in my fender American original 50's Stratocaster. Ok, so I was a sceptic. Not any more. Plays and sounds better and sustain has increased.
Cool! Thanks for the feedback. 👍🏻
I also installed them in my American Original 50's and it increased sustain, but lost tuning stability. How is yours?
They sound warmer to my ears!!
Mark Wright right on. 👍🏻 I actually haven’t even listened back yet with good speakers. I should do that. 😉
Nathan Sink I’ve just ordered a set now!!
Not all Strat springs are the same, regardless of brand name, year, country of mfg, guitar series or anything else. Add to that the fact that when Stats get setup, repaired or modded in any way the chances of different springs being put in the guitar either singlely or more becomes probable. Vintage Strats came with 5 springs - you rarely see more than 3 springs these days and often just 2. The only way to really know is to measure, flex and weigh. Even then there's no way to Identify Strat springs.... most people just ASSUME that they're all the same. Believe me, they are not.
Great points.
@@NathanSink thank you...
great review !!one question.. i have decked my strat.. is better for tuning stability 3 fender springs or 4 o 5 rw springs? you can make bendings better without move the bridge, how is the retrn to point zero tremolo? and the last... the springs touch the back platic plate of tremolo, have yo tested?
macauley70 Hi, when I first put the Raw Vintage springs on, I tried 5 springs. But since I actually use the tremolo, I found it a little too stiff. So...I went to 4 springs, & I like it better. You have to kind of balance the trem claw with regard to how much the trem moves when you bend a string. I have mine decked too, and when I bend a string, the trem just barely comes off the body. Regarding touching the back plate, I talk about that a little in this video: ua-cam.com/video/HxXlJbqob-g/v-deo.html at 9:58 in. I actually just took the back plate off in the end, even though the strings weren’t touching.
I've ordered these for my schecter nick johnston.
I don't but the jargon about any improvement in sound. It's all about the lighter feel for me
Chris Wilson feel is important!
There is nothing snake oil about these springs. I’ve been using them since they came out. Nothing feels or sounds like them except original vintage springs. Springs are a very significant part of the strat feel and tone. Most players have no clue. Get your hands on a few sets of different springs and try a few swaps, you’ll soon see the difference. Then spend a couple of extra on the Raw Vintage.
Excellent! Love your profile pic / avatar, btw. Just recently obtained a Les Paul Traditional Goldtop & am loving it. 😊
I have 3 springs on my Strat and upgraded to 11’s strings. I’ve noticed that when I suppress the bar towards the body, the pitch on the first string (treble) only goes up a half step, whereas the pitch on the sixth string (bass) goes up a whole tone. Has anyone had this experience?
Interesting. I haven’t, but I’m curious to hear if anyone has experienced the same thing.
Change the Angle on the Claw in your trem cavity as the 3 thicker springs will have more pull. Make sure your bridge plate is equal distance from the guitar body on the high & low E.
@@michael_caz_nyc thanks for the input. 👍🏻
Hey man whats your intro song? Thanks!
mason noble it's an original song called "I Will". 😊 Here's a link: ua-cam.com/video/JQuPSwZrLH4/v-deo.html
I prefer not using the tremolo plastic cover on the back, I believe a Strat sounds much better without it. Also, I've used the RV springs and I believe their the best ones available. I think some parts on vintage style guitar's should have certain parts to vintage specs.
The plastic cover doesn't at all influence the sound, unless you're playing it acousticly.
I just take it off because it looks cooler to not have it on there
i have a squier affinity with Wilkinson WVS100 installed.
active-trem playing style
is it worth it to change my springs to raw vintage (now i use wilkinson stock springs) and should i use 3 or 5 springs if i'm changing to Raw Vintage depend on my guitar playing style?
regards!
Dhiardana Rachmadiargo I don't think the Raw Vintage springs make a huge difference in tone: they're more of a "nice-to-have" thing. But of you get some spare cash sometime, it's a nice upgrade. And if you're using 3 springs now, you'll probably want to go to 4 or 5 with the RV springs.
Nathan Sink is it okay for me to use 4-5 RV springs with my playing style?
btw i play a tunes like Limp Bizkit that needed extreme whammy bar chop
Dhiardana Rachmadiargo can't say for 100% sure, but I don't see why not. 🙂
You should hook one RV to one Fender spring, pull the ends and you will see the difference in spring expansion. This is the best way to show the difference. Simple
You’re welcome .
Great idea! 👍🏻
Ad some rubber washers in between the cover around the screws for the cover and it wont hit the springs
That would work!
Look closer The Claw is incorrectly installed the screws Point downward as they enter the body
imforfun1 I’m not sure what you mean.
yo'r off yor rocker , its the way its supposed to be
9:31 those RV springs have a too wide OD so then may be a bad choice if they have a contact or friction against the body
have you check the space between body and springs? IMHO they "touch" the bottom of the wood; here's 'coz they look so "curved"; there's a contact against the wood. Or maybe the block is too taller in comparison of the claw line; in that case you might invert the claw, upside down
Interesting point. I'll have to check that out. However, I don't think it's possible to invert the claw, because how would you tighten it?
@@NathanSink you're right, sorry, I had got a "sparkle of fantasy" by thinking to reverse the claw, but unfortunately I had completally not realized that it'ld be probably impossible to get it tightened
@@NathanSink so then, if you like big springs, then there's the need to get either a shorter block or a different claw; a claw having a longer curved tail in order to get closer to the alingment with the block line
blo p the other thing to think about is that not all bodies are the same dimension. There are different thicknesses & I'm sure different spring cavity routing depths.
Couldn't you just lossen the spring claw screws and get the same results? Less tension.
You would think, but I guess you have to consider the spring stiffness. This is the “k” factor in Hooke’s Law. (And, no I don’t know that by memory 😂)
5 springs? Man that's way too many for me. I'm planning on using 3 of the raw vintage
Chris Wilson I went back to 4. Just felt better.
Prasanth Selvadurai interesting about the PRS springs. Thanks for the info.
The number of springs doesn't matter as much as the claw tension. You can use 5 springs and have the same amount of trem tension as three with just a claw adjustment.
PHATELLUH!
sorry about your guitar , too bad !
what happened , just in the back of your pick up truck and it fell out goin down a gravel road ?
Bob Saturday I'm picking up a hint of sarcasm here. But no, it was my El Camino.
@@NathanSink , AHA ! SO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AS WELL AS A GREAT CHANNEL !
really do appreciate the good work you do here
Bob Saturday haha. Yeah, I try not to take myself too seriously. Thanks for the kind words! 😊
So where is the comparison? I don't feel any better informed on whether to bother buying these or not. ☹️
So...@2:44 I explain that you use less of these springs than you would a normal fender spring; @4:43 I show you a comparison of the size, both visually and with calipers; @5:22 I show you how they compare in stiffness; @6:24 I discuss how difficult a true sound comparison really is; @7:47 I give you a basic sound comparison anyway. Other than that, it's kind of hard to explain over video. You might just have to give them a try. Best of luck.
8:05 8:31
Another great product for the Scamocaster. You can adjust the tension on the springs anyway, so from a physics perspective the extra width makes no difference. The only microscopic difference would be to the weight of the guitar, making it heavier and less resonant.
jupiter moongauge true, there could be some cork sniffing going on here. However, the tension makes such a difference that 4 or 5 of the Raw Vintage Springs equals 3 of the traditional springs. I can attest to that.
@@NathanSink Try Dumping a few springs and screwing the claw way down with more tension on less strings ( made a huge difference in the sound on my Stratocaster ) Just an idea to try , that will cost nothing and take little time .
@@parabot2 I Agree with you 100%. I had a Trem-bar Break off inside the tremolo-block, on my Vintage Fender Stratocaster.
Tre-molo?
Gunkanjima no, Vi-brato. 😂
So, now we're spring rolling huh?
😂
I recently put 4 in my strat and instantly felled the difference with string tension. Much easier to bend!
Michael Lewis yes, sounds like my experience! 👍🏻
Just ordered for my strat. Hoping for the same results. Mine feels very stiff with 10’s and anything lighter sounds too shrill
Jason Maltz hope you have good results. 👍🏻
7:56 vs 8:31
So you buy an electric guitar and you compare upgrades using it as an acoustic guitar? Your amp will tell you if there's a difference!
Marco Rinaldi upgrades like pickups will obviously make a difference through an amp. It's debatable though whether or not the springs have anything to do with the amplified sound.
@@NathanSink you are right. So for electric guitars I think we should consider worth upgrades only what we can hear with the amp on. Don't you think?
Marco Rinaldi it's all preference. There is a lot of "cork sniffing" out there regarding tone. 🙂 Alot of people will do whatever it takes (simple spring upgrade) to get a better tone.
You'll definitely feel a difference because you've upped the amount of springs from 3 to 5.
raceface_m I went back to 4 RV springs. That felt equal to 3 normal springs.
Now in 2024 in Canada I paid $85
😬
For the last time people, TREM-uh-low.
Ryan Tandy I'm from the south (US) where they say things like UM-brella, instead of Um-BREL-a. 😉 Most of my accent is gone (by choice), but it still comes out. If everyone just called it what it actually is (a Vibrato) then it wouldn't matter. 😂
@@NathanSink VIBB-rah-toe lol
Ryan Tandy 😂
Just an FYI, your vernier calipers measure thousandths of an inch, not millimeters. Excellent video, though.
Aaron Flexer thanks! The bottom scale of the calipers measures in mm, the top in inches.
I’m in the wrong business
Thinking about going into the spring business? 🤔😂
just get on with it!- to much waffle!
Jon Simmons I like waffles.
@@NathanSink me too- but stop waffling on!- back 2 back no guestimations!
you either have the equipment to test in laborotory- or just fit and play back to back.. too much waffle!
Maybe you could ask for your money back if you're not satisfied?