Rezo-Tube burble?

[grayn]

I have noticed recently, that after using the rezo-tube trem, on my Marvin, often after a quick, rapid waggle, the note I play afterward, burbles.
This only happens if I play the post trem notes, immediately after the trem waggle.

It's not really a problem but I wondered what was causing it?

Anyone

[dave robinson]

[JimN]

I think I know the effect - or manifestation - you mean. I used to get it with the Marquee trem system (but not since I binned the Point unit in favour of a Wilkinson Strat-type trem).

JN

[51 Relic]

Trem springs can cause a nice reverb effect if set up correctly and the Marvins tone depends on them .I use two Burns guitars a Duck Egg Blue Drifter Deluxe with a USA Point trem set with 5 springs and a UK Custom Shop Legend Deluxe .

One cause could be that one of the trem springs or more are not seated correctly in the trem block or the anchor points this could cause the springs to slightly jump in the block .The Drifter had this problem till I fitted 5 springs no problems now . Also i always place a few drops of 3 in 1 oil on the spring ends at the anchor points when restringing . Also I have found that the Burns Marvin does not perform well fitted with light strings 10s or higher would be fine but not 9s

Some players with Strats fit a foam strips between the springs to stop this problem

Good luck with Marvin

[grayn]

Interesting replies. Thanks guys.

I'll keep an ear out for the "manifestation", if it stays the same, I'll not do anything.
If it gets more extreme, I'll try some of the remedies.

BTW, I use 10s.

Cheers.

[ErikMAMS]

Hi Graham
Maybe not quite the same, but I've had/have a similar problems with my Marvin (original april '64 serial #50xx).

What I've experienced to different degress is a slight but audiable short wobble of the note just after the attack. It's short and it's right after the attack - but it's there, and at one point many years ago it was driving me nuts.The intensity of the wobble depends on the note, the picking position and the strenght of the attack - the problem being most audiable on the plain strings, on notes on the middle of the fretboard, and with heavy picking - the heavier attack the more wobble. The problems is reduced with increased string gauge.

After many years of investigation and trying every thinkable solution I've concluded that it's a quirk of the rezo-tube trem design (especially the arm), in comb with the strings vs spring force balance and the playing/attack - in the worst instances with several parameters accidentially coinciding.

My conclusion is that pick attack on the string will pull the trem balance ever so slightly - trem arm a tiny bit downwards - starting a short series of rapid up/down movement, kind of a wobble of the balance - and thereby the audiable note flutter. I believe the relatively high mass of trem arm and the rezo tremplate/tubes in comb with the physical lenght of the arm/trem plate forms enough power to disturb the equilibrium point between the string pull and the force of the springs. My theory is backed up by the fact that I can mimic the wobble effect by 1) tapping the tip of the trem arm in a certain way, 2) the wobble effect is increased when the guitar is in horisontal position (like laying on a table), where the weight of the arm/plate wil be most "effective", and 3) the effect decreased by fitting a shorter trem arm.

I've managed to minimize the problem (but not totally get rid of it) by using 11-52 strings, replacing the standard trem arm for a shorter one, and inserting a piece of very soft foam between the rezo-tube pipes and the backside body cutout, kind of like a mild shock absorber.

To this point I haven't seen another Marvin or heard of anyone else with the exact problem, so could well be a instance on my exact Marvin/body/neck/rezo-tube trem/etc. - I don't know.

Erik

[grayn]

Thanks Erik.

It's amazing how the intricacies of the electric guitar and in particular, the trem system, can throw up so many minor and major oddities, with it's sound production.
Over the last few years I have concentrated on instrumental surf music, which needs an effective trem system. I've been through a lot of guitars and their different trems and there's not one that doesn't have some oddity to it.

So far, even with the occasional burble, the Rezo-Tube is my favourite.