Damn Whammy Bar !

[Cool_Nestea]

I am a relatively new guitarist, and I am having trouble getting some production out of a whammy bar. I don't know what I am doing wrong, perhaps I didn't put it on right, or perhaps I am doing something wrong. Can someone help me and give me some information , please? It would be greatly appreciated :D.

Thanks,
Cool

[disturbed_pyro]

what kind of problems are you having??

[Cool_Nestea]

well, i just dont know exactly what its supposed to add to playing. i dont know if i put it in tight enough, or what, it just doesnt do anything. >:( damn thing.

[disturbed_pyro]

well, it depends on whether it's a floating trem or a fixed trem (trem is short for tremolo, another name for the whammy bar). If you have a fixed trem, it can only go down, making the strings go slack. If it's a floating one, it can go up or down.
The bar is usually used in rock music, where it is used to make "divebombs", where the player slackens the strings as far as possible. The floating trem is used for the same purpose, but can also be used to tighten the strings up, making them higher-pitched. Dimebag Darrell of Pantera uses his floating trem in the end of "Cemetery Gates", where he imitates the vocalist's yelling.

What kind of guitar do you have, and what kind of trem??

[Cool_Nestea]

well, its a cheap brand of guitar, because im really just starting out. It's an austin or something, i got it at a pawn shop for like $100. The whammy bar, i dont think is a floating one, because you can only tighten it downwards, but i dont know ::shrugs::.
thanks,
cool

[disturbed_pyro]

well, try this:
screw (im guessing thats how your bar connects to the guitar) the bar in, then press in, towards the guitar body
then try to pull up. if it doesn't readily pull up, you have a fixed trem

[Cool_Nestea]

cool. i figured out how to use it a bit, i think its a locking, because it doesnt not readily move up. thanks for your help, i just want to ask one more question. i know it detunes the guitar, but does it have any negative effects on it if done, say too hard or a lot? it seems it would. thanks,
cool

[disturbed_pyro]

yea, it definitely does
if you do it too much or too far down, you'll screw up your tuning. also, I think if you do it a whole lot, you'll eventually have to replace the springs on the trem.
other than that, i don't know of any other damage. a more seasoned player might want to reply if there is more....
::cough:: cyberfret ::cough::;)