Lyre/Maestro lock out ideas

[Lanny Hussey]

Hi there,
New member here, long time SG player.
I have a collection of 60’s SG’s that see steady service both in the studio and live, most often in alternate tunings that change regularly.
I have this nutty idea to figure out a simple device that can temporarily ‘lock out’ the tremolo function on my Lyre/Maestro equipped SGs. If I move between open G and open G minor, a simple half step tweak of the B string could eliminate wasted time. Does something like this exist?

 

[Gibbo SG]

Well, no, but it would likely consist of a hook that would hold the tremolo bar in place at the rear of the guitsr beside the output jack. It would be a retractable thing that would also need to look cool.

 

[Von Trapp]

Since the construction prevents any kind of blocking the only way to do this is to make something like a screw that ends in a C-shape with the C-part tight enough for you to clip the trem arm into it. Screw this into the body next to the lyre thing and then swing back the arm so that it clicks in place. Since the Vibrola is so steady the easiest solution would be to just not use it however...

 

[PermissionToLand]

Yeah I don't see what the problem is, it's not a spring loaded trem that you need to adjust spring tension for each tuning. I suppose it may end up angled one way or the other too much. In any case, vintage guitars just aren't best suited to rigorous gigging, and I don't think the Maestro was designed with much beyond standard tuning in mind. Remember, they sold Juniors with a bridge for a wound G string for many years. I use a separate guitar for our drop tuning songs that's set up just for that.

 

[SixStrRzr]

I put three cut-to-length popsicle sticks inside the spring to immobilize the spring. Positive? Invisible. Neutral? Maybe got me 90% blocked. Negative? Altered the guitar's resonant frequency and put a dead string ring on G string, 12th fret.

Oh well.

 

[Rusty Chops]

I put three cut-to-length popsicle sticks inside the spring to immobilize the spring. Positive? Invisible. Neutral? Maybe got me 90% blocked. Negative? Altered the guitar's resonant frequency and put a dead string ring on G string, 12th fret.

Oh well.

I’ve taken pieces of credit card or a Tupperware material slice and put them between the top of the guitar and that piece of spring steel.
It tightens up the action quite a bit so “G” bends, etc don’t sink other strings, and the trem is still usable, just tighter action.
I have some popsicle sticks I’m planning to do bridge stuff with, but under the curve of the Maestro might be a great application!
My latest Maestro equipped new SG came with strip of something under there. I really like how that guitar reacts, stock. Improved!
I’ve never been a huge fan of Maestro terms before, but I’m beginning to be!