How to Remove the Tremolo From a Guitar

Many guitarists don't use tremolo bridges when they have them.

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A guitar tremolo can be safely removed from the instrument with care. A guitarist might not use the tremolo features or might find the tremolo an inconvenience because it requires adjustments every time the guitar's tuning style is altered or string thickness is changed. The guitarist may opt to remove it entirely. Removing the tremolo will render the guitar useless until the tremolo is replaced with another tremolo bridge or nonmoving bridge.

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Spin the whammy bar counterclockwise until it disconnects from the guitar's bridge -- skip this step if there's no whammy bar.

2

Detune all of the guitar's strings until they have released enough tension that they can be stretched around the pickups.

3

Flip the guitar over on a flat surface so the strings are facing down.

4

Remove the screws from the back panel that is directly behind the guitar's bridge and lift off the panel.

5

Remove the springs connecting the mounting claw to the tremolo block inside the tremolo cavity one at a time. Remove the strings by lifting the hoop side off of the claw, gently compressing the string until it no longer has physical tension, and slipping the hook side out of the tremolo block.

6

Flip the guitar back over so the strings are facing up and gently rotate, then slide the tremolo unit out of the guitar. You can push the unit out from the bottom and it will rotate out so that the part of the tremolo farthest from the neck lifts up first.

7

Remove the strings from the guitar and tremolo unit to disconnect the tremolo from the guitar completely.

Tips & Warnings

It is also practical to anchor the tremolo by adding extra springs or stopping the tremolo by adding a blocker as opposed to removing and replacing the tremolo unit. Anchoring the tremolo involves adding more springs to the mounting claw and tremolo block while adjusting the tension to make the tremolo unit hard to move. A tremolo stopper is a piece of wood or metal installed in the guitar to block the tremolo's movement.

Leaving the guitar without a tremolo unit/bridge and without strings will cause the guitar's neck to warp over long periods of time.

Removing the tremolo without properly relieving tension can cause the unit to slam into the sides of the guitar's internals and damage the wood.

The tremolo is held in place by a substantial amount of tension. The springs can get launched from the instrument if not removed carefully. Additionally, the block can pinch your fingers if you remove the springs without releasing string tension.

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ReferencesElectric Guitar Info: Electric Guitar Tremolo SpringsFret Not Guitar Repair: Blocking A Guitar TremoloMaxed Out Guitar: Adjusting a Guitar Tremolo SystemAudiozone DK; Floyd Rose Setup and Maintenance; Henrik Hjortnaes; 2011PB Guitars: Tremolo Bridge Electric Guitar SetupPhoto Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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