Re: Fender '83 Elite Stratocaster [tremelo questions/etc]

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: : hey everyone i recently won 1983 Elite Strat from auction that was received today. : : The guitar is in great shape, electronics work fine and it plays well, no probs there. : : Few things I'm not certain of though hopefully someone here knows what's up and : : can help. The original owner sez he "bought it new like this" and offered to refund. : : I chose to keep the guitar and further look into it since it's in such excellent shape : : and neck is barely played, wood smells new! (bonus :) Plus I really dig the sound. : : This Strat was obviously well taken care of. It will see ALOT of continue use with : : me here. I'm going to be playing every days, 3-4 hours per. and more on weekends. : : Before getting into it -just to let you know I tried calling local guitar shops here which : : specialize in Fender service. No luck there. 3 times I was told to "call Fender" : : "they will know" "sorry i have never heard of that -"what's it again? sure it's Fender?!?" : : etc/etc to the point of nausea. I realize they are busy and have a business to support. : : I respect that.. Still -just for a few (maybe 10?) minutes of their time would lead to : : loyal guitar-guy customer (me) for life if they treat me right. which didn't happen in : : this case. And Fender does not at all return my emails! Any suggestions of who to : : call at Fender, or repair shops in California San Jose/San Francisco/Morgan Hill Bay Area : : (i live in Morgan Hill..) would be truly and ultimately appreciated. Im sincere guy and : : wouldn't dick a technician around for info then run off somewhere else after he spends : : 20 mins researching parts/info for me. i don't do that shit altho have heard stories from : : good tech friend who repairs keyboards.. ok enough rambling sorry -onto my Strat issue.. : : happyhappyjoyjoy woohoo! : : :) : : ok. : : The tremolo socket screw where arm attaches into unit is 'loose' with no way to tighten. : : And tremolo arm does not 'lock' into hole. The tremolo socket bolt itself just twirls : : around, unlocked. Hope this makes sense cuz difficult to explain with typing... : : I have looked underneath pickguard compartment as well as inside tremolo cavity. : : thought a bolt fell out in shipping. Nope. Everything appears to be where : : it should. Parts ok and intact. No evidence of stripped threading, missing : : screws, bent parts/etc. Looks brand new in fact. which makes me wonder.. : : Is this 'loose/non tensioned tremolo arm and loose socket/attachment bolt a feature? : : Any way to tighten this down without damaging my guitar? : : Please note: this does not effect tuning of guitar or 'pressing down' on tremolo arm. : : it is the tension as to how the arm and socket bolt fit, both 'loose' : : rest of tremolo works ok. : : Another question: : : How do I make the tremolo 'float' to enable bending up as well as down? : : Right now my Strat's tremolo is flush against guitar body and operates in downward : : only position. Can't bend upwards at all, would like to. At least have the capability : : and if i didn't like, put back to down-only mode. wouldn't want to be stuck without : : having choice and only 1 mode 'down'... Hope it's not this way.. : : I've heard from 2 other 1983 Fender Elite Strat owners contacted from internet. : : 1 said his tremolo "floats, bend up/down ok no problem" and the tremolo attachment : : bolt/hole where tremolo arm attaches is firm" - tightened down and not loose. : : And tremolo arm "stays put, firm and does not fall back down to dangling position : : where you must grab every time." : : The other person said his Elite Strat tremolo doesnt float, down bend only (like mine) : : tremolo arm is 'loose - works ok' "arm must be grabbed from dangling position every : : instance of use" "it doesn't stay in place" : : again, like my strat. : : Which way is the tremolo system on a Fender 1983 Elite model Stratocaster : : *supposed* to operate? Is mine broken and require additional parts, repair or : : further adjustment? Anybody else here on the 'board play an Elite Strat? : : This guitar is my only instrument right now as of selling my tried/true Ibanez RS440 : : from back in the days when I first began playing. I don't collect guitars to look at 'em : : (no money!) Bought this Strat to PLAY as I've always liked this model, could never : : afford one recently until happening on the auction. Which was pretty cool. It was like : : ' I *have * to grab this!" regret/etc you know the drill. Happy i did since this model : : Stratocaster is very well constructed. The sound resonates through the body as you : : play too which I have never experienced before, giving an almost acoustic quality to : : the sound. Very pleasing. Except for the flimsy untightenable dangling tremolo arm : : + loose socket / attachment bolt ;) : : whew. thats alot to digest. well there you have it. hopefully all my rambling makes : : since at 2am as i sit here sleep-typing. Any Fender techs here? or experienced : : guitar repairpersons familiar with '83 Elite Strat? i'd like to hear from the experts here : : too. : : ok thanks for reading all this. you are brave :) LOL ok take it easy. : : any help with this *greatly* appreciated. This guitar is special one to me. : : In fact, my only one! I want to insure correct setup so that it plays 101 % : : the flimsy tremelo arm/bolt deal is a bugger. : : regards, : : VINCE