CST 24 action too high

[dubbldee]

CST 24, Roswell buckers - Ocean Blue.

I've monkeyed around with this beauty for a while trying to get the action lowered to what I'm used to.

CST 24 with a Wilkinson WVPC tremolo.

I would prefer removing a spring loosening the trem action.

Can I still get low string action?

I've tried, and tried some more.

Wondering if it's a PRS style thing?
Maybe the nut?

[guesstimator]

Hi

I gues it all depends on what you mean by low, and if there are any problem areas on the guitar.

When you say you can't lower the action do you mean that it buzzes if you try or simply that you run out of adjustment?

If the guitar has no major imperfections then there is no reason for not achieving a reasonable action ( to me that means 1.8mm E 1.4mm e @12th fret).

[Deleted]

Do you mean loosening the spring tension so that the trem is floating? As soon as you float a trem (or even USE a trem like these) the action naturally rises as the string end is lifting. If there is no more downward adjustment on the saddle screws there is little to be done on a set neck guitar without resorting to metal grinding or sourcing slimmer (lower) bridge parts.

[dubbldee]

Thanks guys...

Yes, I suppose a floating trem is what I prefer. When all 3 springs are used, it really creates a super tight tension and is kind of unusable. Way too stiff.

I suppose I'll try lowering the saddles as far as I can b4 buzz kicks in.

Funny thing is with my strat all 3 springs are no way near as tight, is easy to use AND nice reasonable action. Comparing the 2 - is that a fret board length thing??

[kz]

I would start the adjustments at the neck.

1) Check the nut slot height:

(Link)

2) Check neck relief:

(Link) Wrongly adjusted neck could cause high action and also impossible situation (to adjust) on the bridge...

3) Adjust the bridge saddles to lowest position for preferred action (try to replicate fret-board radius) ...

4) Check neck angle in relation to bridge

(Link)

It does not matter, whether it is saddles on Acoustic guitar or electric, the logic is the same.

If the straight edge is aiming too low under the saddles, you might have too shallow neck angle, that is preventing proper adjustment.

In that case, it might require to change the saddles or modify them (unless it is bolt-on, where you can use a shim in the neck-pocket) - or maybe a visit to a luthier.

[Deleted]

You can loosen the screws inside the spring cavity that hold the trem claw in place. That will take some pressure off the springs. In fact it is using those claw springs that helps you set your trem response. It can even be fine tuned using those springs to give you exact semi tone or tone lifts and drops when using the trem to pull up or push down. If you haven't done that sort of thing before check out Frudua's channel on YouTube. Lots of good stuff there about setting trems.

Or try this:

Or this .

Or this:

[dubbldee]

Great resources fellas. Wish I could attach an image of the claw screws as they are maxxed all the way in. Would that be normal for this CST 24 Deluxe ? I def have to back them out I'm thinking. BTW the neck is setup nicely.

[Deleted]

Would that be normal for this CST 24 Deluxe ?

Only normal on any guitar where you may not really want to be using the trem much if at all. Of course it makes tuning the guitar easier if the trem isn't responding to every turn of the tuners because it is so severely disabled through maxing the claw in and whacking lots of springs on it, essentially making it a fixed bridge hardtail.