| Author |
Topic: Where to buy changer springs? |
Dan Behringer
From:
Jerseyville, Illinois
|
Posted 5 Nov 2019 7:03 am |
|
To get to the point – I need to buy 10 changer return springs, the kind that allow a screw inside to adjust tension. I know PSG Parts have some but I’m trying to keep cost down as the guitar I’m working on isn’t worth anything. Any leads on what or where to order would be greatly appreciated.
The details – I bought a miserable Wilcox D10 with the thought that I could salvage enough usable parts to make a SD10 out of it. Right now I’m having doubts that it’s going to work but I’m still trying. My plan is to sell it local to hopefully get someone interested in learning. I just want to break even, not charging for my labor.
[img]
 [/img] |
|
|
 |
David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
|
Posted 5 Nov 2019 7:04 am
|
|
Mcmaster Carr carries a lot of springs at a reasonable price. You might check them out.
Dave |
|
|
|
Paul Wade
From:
mundelein,ill
|
|
|
|
David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
|
Posted 5 Nov 2019 7:27 am
|
|
| Dan..Believe that I have an old set lying about somewhere. If I can locate them, they are yours for the cost of the postage (should be around $6 or $7). Will send follow up P.M. |
|
|
|
Dan Behringer
From:
Jerseyville, Illinois
|
Posted 5 Nov 2019 7:56 am
|
|
David Nugent, Thanks so much, that’s a deal I could do! I hope you find them. I’ll keep an eye out for a PM.
David Ball, I’ve checked through McMaster Carr and looking at thousands of springs just got me confused on what would actually work.
Paul Wade, Thanks for the tip, I’ll keep that in mind. It’s too far to drive but maybe they ship. |
|
|
|
Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
|
Posted 5 Nov 2019 8:41 am
|
|
| Dan Behringer wrote: |
looking at thousands of springs just got me confused on what would actually work.
|
Maybe this will help. Here are some of my notes from when I measured tension and replaced springs on my Sho-Bud and GFI.
| Tab: |
I bought these springs order 2006 August 22
for GFI
century initial
qty stock# len rate tension
6 S-538 1.88 2.6 0.8 for the harder pulls 2,3,4,5,6
12 5911 2.13 2.1 0.8
12 5541 2.38 2.6 0.9
for Sho-Bud
ZZ2-67 (MW)
or
S-545 (SST)
12 2.5 1.9 0.9 === 1.9 should be nice and easy
============
... I tried the springs on the GFI
In general, the springs are too weak. I need more tension than I had calculated. The 6 extra short, stiff S-538 are just right for strings 2,3,4,5,6 on the GFI.
For the other strings on GFI, I will probably remove coils from the 5911 and 5411.
|
Note that I had modified the Sho-Bud and GFI to use longer springs. So I suggest you go a little shorter and stiffer. |
|
|
|
Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
|
|
|
|
Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
|
Posted 5 Nov 2019 12:08 pm
|
|
You could use a heli-coil or similar inserted into some off the shelf springs to make them adjustable. If you want tapered springs that can accept a screw directly you might have to make them yourself, most common springs are wound counter-clockwise.
If you're a do-it-yourself type, Bent Romnes posted a tutorial on that very subject on the builder's forum, have a look here: http://steelguitarbuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1672#p1672. He doesn't mention the wire size he used but it should be around ~0.032", you can get the appropriate stuff fairly cheap from McMaster-Carr https://www.mcmaster.com/spring-wire
If you scroll to end of Bent's thread, someone also suggests using standard issue door stop springs, they are readily available for $1-$2 ea and are actually wound clockwise so they will take a screw directly. Good luck with the project!
 |
|
|
|
Dan Behringer
From:
Jerseyville, Illinois
|
Posted 5 Nov 2019 1:37 pm
|
|
| Wow! The wealth of information on the forum is just mind boggling. I sure didn’t expect all these great ideas. One way or another I’ll eventually get some springs. |
|
|
|
