Batwing Tremolo Block

[Amateur player]

Hello I'm a newcomer to this forum having returned to playing guitar in retirement.

I have a Burns Batwing guitar with a 'knife edge' tremolo system, the threads on the tremelo block, where the arm screws in, have stripped and although I have tried various places for help but it seems that Batwings have vanished.

Does anyone know if there is a replacement or a fix (tried PTFE taping etc none of which are satisfactory). I've looked at Fender replacements, some look the same but I'm not sure about screw thread sizes etc.

If anyone has any knowledge that would help I would be most grateful.

Thanks

Norman

[RayL]

Hi from another Batwing owner. If the thread is well and truly stripped then probably the only answer (apart from a replacement unit) is to drill out the hole and insert one of those springs that screws in and replaces the thread.

It might be worth trying a replacement arm first. Almost as soon as I got mine I replaced the arm since I prefer a shorter arm and I didn't want to shorten the original so I bought a replacement (from Axesrus, I think) and cut that down to 4 and a half inches. A new arm might just make better contact with whatever thread you have left.

Out of interest, what colour is your Batwing?

Ray

[Amateur player]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to this Ray. The thread is definitely 'well and truly' stripped.

I have asked an engineer friend for information on what you have suggested and I await his reply, I think that is going to be the only option as it would seem that Fender replacements are unsuitable, there does not appear to be a replacement block available (one was sold on ebay last February) Burns do not seem to want to talk to me (answerphone told me that there would be no one in until 28th August - that was on the 30th!!) and no reply to email.

The guitar itself I have been very happy with, it sounds good, stays in tune pretty well and I use it far more than the Cort X6 that I also have. The guitar, bought second hand, is a sort of muddy salmon/pink colour, I think all Batwings were made in the same variety, and I would have thought not too popular compared with the strong colours of Fender etc.

Thanks once again

All the best

Norman

[Amateur player]

Just for the information of anyone else who may have the 'stripped thread' problem, I took Ray's advice and inserted one (actually three to make up the full length of thread) of the Helicoil type spring threads. The job was easy to do and the result works. The thread is a little tighter than the original, hopefully it will wear a little with time, but other than that the repair is successful. Thanks to Ray for the tip.

All the best

Norman

[RayL]

Norman,

I'm glad it was successful. There seem to be two very distinct styles of tremolo usage. There is 'arm stays where it is put' and there is the 'dangly' style where the arm hangs limply downwards and is 'scooped up' by the right hand after the note has been struck for a touch of delayed vibrato.

Hank obviously favours the first - it enables him (among other things) to ease into a note by bringing it into tune from slightly flat - a very 'Marvin' sound.

Would your 'muddy salmon/pink colour' be what is described in the Burns catalogue of 2005 as 'Candy Red' ? The other standard colours for the Batwing were two-tone sunburst, Teal Green (ugh!) and Baby Blue.

batwing catalogue 2005.JPG

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The number of Batwings made was probably relatively small but custom colours nevertheless made an appearance. This one of mine is in Fiesta Red.

Batwing fiesta red.JPG

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The camera seems to have made it more red than it really is - the actual colour has a bit more pink. The white stripe across the body is just a reflection of a window)

Ray