Steinberger R-Trem spring

[Kunaj_]

Steinberger newb here. I just bought a Steinberger Spirit Pro. Even though I bought it used it plays well and is in pretty good condition overall.
However, it seems that there is no center spring which controls the tension when bridge is not locked. The screw moves back and forth freely with no effect.
Is there any place where these springs can be bought separately? Or is there any general purpose spring to could be placed here?

[Be.eM]

No center spring at all? This would make the trem top probably being pulled out by the string tension when unlocked… hard to imagine, and sounds very unlikely. Is that a used instrument?  In order to be sure you'll definitely need to disassemble that trem to check its components. So take off the strings, and take the trem top (pivot base) off the guitar, and then make a pic of what you find. It's possible that the spring tab on the bottom of the pivot base is broken, too.

Getting a spring in the US: https://reverb.com/item/24389384-brand-new-steinberger-r-tremolo-replacement-spring-for-r-trems-gr-series-spirit-hohner-cort

Getting a spring in Europe: https://www.headless-europe.eu/Bernds_Guitar_Pages/Parts.html

Bernd

Edited October 7 by Be.eM

[paulrerrie]

I got a standard medium load (blue) 51 x 16 mm spring for my Chinese headless trem from ebay seller 'uLus-UK'  and bought the 44  mm long version for my licensed KB trem. Both work fine with 10 gauge strings although a red spring could offer slightly more stiffness along without having to  screw the adjuster in as far: Compression Spring Heavy Duty Stiff Heavy Load Die Springs ISO  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186096110775?var=694111647871

http://www.steinbergerworld.com/tt_spring.htm has the spring specifications. The spring rate (force-constant) based on inches and pounds is approx. 100. Also the load that causes 50% deflection is similar to the tension of 9 gauge strings, so that may be why it was chosen. 

[Kunaj_]

On 10/7/2024 at 10:45 AM, Be.eM said:

No center spring at all? This would make the trem top probably being pulled out by the string tension when unlocked… hard to imagine, and sounds very unlikely. Is that a used instrument?  In order to be sure you'll definitely need to disassemble that trem to check its components. So take off the strings, and take the trem top (pivot base) off the guitar, and then make a pic of what you find. It's possible that the spring tab on the bottom of the pivot base is broken, too.

Getting a spring in the US: https://reverb.com/item/24389384-brand-new-steinberger-r-tremolo-replacement-spring-for-r-trems-gr-series-spirit-hohner-cort

Getting a spring in Europe: https://www.headless-europe.eu/Bernds_Guitar_Pages/Parts.html

Bernd

You are are right. The spring is there after all. The previous owner likely has done some tampering with the spring since he said that he had replaced pickups and ball bearing washers on tuner knobs.

Also, the center block which controls the bridge is definitely slightly tilted on the left side. I'll try to post some pics here when I get the chance.

 

 

[Kunaj_]

Finally got a chance to take some shots:

https://imgur.com/a/KpTOH4f

The bridge floats normally when lock is released. Just no effect when trying to  tune the strings as group.

Tuner knobs are also pretty hard to turn. I've heard these bridges occasionally have that issue. I've had my hands on two of these guitars so far and both of them have had equally annoying tuners.

[Be.eM]

6 hours ago, Kunaj_ said:

Just no effect when trying to  tune the strings as group.

Not a surprise. Your Master tuning knob is obviously broken/loose. It doesn't turn the screw and thus doesn't adjust the spring tension.

 

Regarding the individual tuners: adding teflon washers between tuner and tuner housing helps. I'm not a friend of those bearing solutions, but teflon washers are fine.

Bernd