Finally Done!

I essentially did what I planned, though it took a few tries and I ended up drilling out one of the holes and replacing with a dowel a few times :-( Very painful. However I finally have the guitar together and that stupid Trem King is but a painful memory. As always, it was a big learning experience and I emerged knowing a lot more about how to install this trem, and also how to set it up. Just so I don't forget, I want to record a few things about that.

• The "blade" should be parallel to the guitar body.  To get it right, install the bridge with springs, string up and tune up. If it's not parallel to the body, tighten or loosen the springs a little, then retune and see how it looks.  Repeat as needed
• String height is adjusted using only the two posts, not the saddle heights. Remember that they have internal locks that are opened/closed using a small hex wrench inserted from the top.  The warmoth site has a nice illustration of this.

 

• Adjust the saddles so they are at their lowest position.  Then raise B, A a bit higher than the E and G, D a bit higher than the B,A, so  as to match the neck's curvature.  It's really a little bit! I calculated that for a 16 inch  neck (which is the final radius of the Warmoth compound) that the differences are around 1/64 inch!
• Now adjust the height of the posts so that the strings are the height you want above the fretboard
• Hmm, at some point we have to check the neck and adjust relief to taste
• The bar has female threads, so screw it in.  It doesn't seem necessary to tighten the screw to keep the bar functioning nicely.