Carvin Wilkinson Instruction Manual - Page 1

Wilkinson Tremolo Instructions Changing Strings • Loosen strings completely by turning the buttons on the Sperzel machine heads. • Loosen the string lock thumb screws counter clockwise on the back of the Sperzel gears. You only need to turn these screws about 2 or 3 turns. • To remove strings, pull strings out of the string post holes. Push strings down into the tremolo saddles so that the ball ends can be grabbed from the back of the guitar. Base Plate Dial-in Intonation Screw 1.5mm Overall Height Adjustment Stud String height Adjustment Screws 1.5mm String Saddle • Insert new strings into the sustain block in the back of the guitar, through the holes in the tremolo cover plate. Pull strings tight. String Feed Through Point • Slide string through the small hole in the Sperzel string post. Take up all the slack then tighten the thumb screw on the back. Cut off the excess string and then tune your guitar. Saddle Lock Down Screw 2mm • Tune up from low E (6th) string to high E (1st) string, 6 or 7 times in order to stretch the tremolo springs. • Stretch your strings using the tremolo arm and by pulling sideways on each string at about the 12th fret. Arm Tension Adjustment Screw 1.5mm Arm Socket Knife Edge • When strings hold their pitch relative to each other, then tuning is complete. Sperzel Locking Tuners Tuning Button String Post Tension Adjustment Attaching Arm: • Slide tremolo arm into socket.. • If you want the tremolo arm to stay up, tighten the arm tension screw at the rear of the arm socket. To swing freely, back off slightly on the arm tension screw. • Remove arm when transporting or storing guitar in its case. Overall String Height Adjustment: • Turn string height studs C.W. to lower action. • Turn string height studs C.C.W. to raise action. • A dime can be used to turn the string height screws. Locking Thumb Screw Loosen Tips: • Don't rest palm on tremolo while tuning up. Note: For maximum sustain, the individual string height saddle adjustment screws should not need to be adjusted on your Carvin guitar because the #3 & #4 and #2 & #5 saddles are designed taller than the #1 & #6 saddles. This makes the individual saddles match the 15" radius arc of the Carvin guitar fingerboard. • When stringing up the Sperzel tuners, do not wrap multiple string wraps around the post. Eliminate as many wraps as possible to keep your guitar in better tune. 1/2 of a turn around the string post should be considered maximum. Individual String Height Adjustment: • First loosen the saddle lock down screw. • Turn height adjustment screws to adjust action. • Re-Tighten the saddle lock down screw. • You can adjust the tension of the Sperzel tuning keys with a small slot head screwdriver. Just tighten or loosen the screw on the end of the button until the desired tension is obtained. To eliminate any backlash, adjust the buttons fairly tight. This will give your tuning buttons a firm feel, which will not hurt the longevity of the internal gears. • A teflon lubricant is recommended on the string saddles, string feed through points and pivot points. • Saddle lock down screws must be loosened before adjusting intonation or individual string height. 12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128 800-854-2235 Spring Tension Adjustment: Your Carvin guitar comes set up with a set of high quality 942 strings. If you continue to use the same brand and gauge of strings, spring tension adjustment is normally not necessary. However, if you switch brands or gauges you may need to re-adjust spring tension. The tremolo base plate should be set up parallel with the face of the guitar body. Follow the steps below. 1. Tune up guitar to pitch. 2. Remove rear cover plate. 3. If tremolo rear end is too high in the air follow steps #4,5,6 & 11. 4. Tighten the two screws on the rear of the guitar that hold the spring claw, 1/2 turn each with a phillips #2 driver. 5. Re-tune and see if the tremolo base plate is parallel with the face of the guitar body. See drawing below. 6. If it's just right, go to step #11. If it's still too high repeat steps #4 & 5. 7. If tremolo rear end is setting too low in the tremolo cavity follow steps #8, 9, & 10. 8. Loosen the two screws that hold the spring claw, 1/2 turn each with a phillips #2 driver. 9. Re-tune and see if the tremolo base plate is parallel with the face of the guitar body. See drawing below. 10. If it is just right, go to step #11. If it's still too low repeat steps #8 & 9. 11. Put rear cover plate back on. Bridge parallel to Guitar Face String Saddle Pickup Guitar Body Overall Height Base Plate Adjustment Stud Rear Tremolo Cavity Adjustment Screws (use #2 phillips screwdriver) Spring Claw Springs Tremolo Sustain Block String Holes for Ball End Strings Tip: • When turning the two claw screws, have your guitar face down on a padded table. Hold screw driver firmly when turning, so as not to slip off screw head and scratch the back of your guitar. 76-00007