A20V BBR GuitarCenter

Just got this one in today. I think I finally figured out what I like about these guitars. The shape lends itself to rest my right arm on the rear "fin". I have a hitch in my right shoulder from my days in the Navy(I wouldn't let those quacks touch me). So with this guitar shape my shoulder doesn't ache. Or it's all in my head and the voices are right.

Not even cleaned yet.








Showed up on guitarcenter's used gear. Amazed it was there the next day. For about half what the last BBR sold for on fleabay.

Plays nice and sounds great. Needs new strings a cleaning and a tremolo setup. The trem is different but similar to a bendmaster but the small adjustment arms with the claws are facing downward. I'll take better pics later.

Here are a few pics of the tremolo. It's an odd one. I have put new strings on it and adjusted it to hay and back and it won't return to center. Any ideas guys. I guess this is why all these guitars have a wonderbar installed over the top of these??? Since I don't have the guts to convert it to a wonderbar I guess I will block the trem. That should do the trick.

The adjustment setscrews all need replaced since they stick out way too far and hurt my hand when I palm mute.


Need to install a ground??

TVill25 wrote:...I have put new strings on it and adjusted it to hay and back and it won't return to center. Any ideas guys.

Just off hand I'd recommend that you add a third spring for more stability. Very often that does the trick.
I'd also repeatedly work the trem after you tune each string to pitch. That should help it "settle". And of course be sure the new string windings are completely tight with no more room to slip.

Need to install a ground??

Maybe. Normally yes, unless it's already grounded to some portion of the the bridge. Are you experiencing any noise in the circuit?

There's more than likely a ground going to the bridge post inserts.

Second what Barry mentioned, it's all about tension between the strings and the springs.
Want to have it parallel to the top of the body.

Is it pulling down or tail up?

With the third spring in there is barely any tension on the springs. That actually made tuning it worse. With two springs it now has better spring tension and sometimes returns to center. THe fulcrum points are not sharp on this trem they are rounded?? When I got the guitar the trem was tilted way back(their version of blocking it I guess). So I adjusted it to be level and then set overall string height(I do have 6 guitars with trems).

On the ground, there is noise and I don't see a ground going to the posts.

Thanks for the help guys.

TVill25 wrote:With the third spring in there is barely any tension on the springs. That actually made tuning it worse....

Don't forget that you also have to adjust the two screws in the "claw" to balance things out. Just adding the spring is not going to cure it by itself.

Yes I am aware of that.

Do the fulcrum points look 'worn' rounded.
Any sharp edges either side of the contact point?
Also do the posts have a pronounced V or are they more of a U shape?

U shaped not worn???

Bugger, eh?
Trem's are the spawn of Satan!
Pretty much run out of ideas at this point. Hard to make recommendations without being hands on and all that...

Sounds like the knife edges are sticking on the post?

I think so. All other trems I'v seen the fulcrum points are sharp not these. I think they are sticking