Using the HBS Trem Setup Kit - PRS Edition

Written By Carl Hardin

Setting Up Your PRS Tremolo-Equipped Guitar

Initial Disassembly

Step 1:
Place your guitar on your workbench (or wherever you normally work on guitars). Loosen and remove the strings, then discard the old set.

Step 2:
Take a piece of masking tape and run it across your shirt to slightly “de-stick” it. Place the tape horizontally across the bridge. This will help hold the bridge in place when we remove the springs and reset the bridge. Always protect your instrument.

Step 3:
Remove the trem arm, flip the guitar over onto its face, and using the proper-sized screwdriver, remove the backplate covering the tremolo cavity. With the cover removed, use a large Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the two trem claw screws. I recommend loosening them until the claw is about one half inch out of the body or untill the springs lose tension.

Step 4:
Remove the springs. I reccomend using a need nose plier with a 90 degree bend. This helps prevent damaging your instrument if the spring slips out of the pliers. Grab the spring just above the trem block, lift it out of the block, and before releasing it, move the spring end until all tension is off. Then remove it by hand.

Step 5:
Flip the guitar back over. Now we can start working on the setup.

Deciding Your Bridge Style

Before moving forward, decide how you want your bridge to sit: floating or flush against the body. This kit works efficiently for both methods. We’ll start with a floating setup.

Understanding the Tremolo

A tremolo is a balancing act between string tension and spring tension. To have your guitar float and stay in tune, you must find the perfect balance between the two. If you have the springs to tight, it will pull the bridge back into the top of the instrument, causing your strings to go sharp, if the springs are to loose, your bridge will lift off the body, and cause your strings to go flat. Whenever I troubleshoot problems on the road, I try to remove as many variables as possible. For example, if I’m dealing with a complicated rig involving MIDI controllers, splitters, and wireless systems, I’ll often plug straight into the amp or profiler first—A to B—before adding variables back in. I applied that same mentality to this tool. I prefer to load string tension first, set the guitar up normally, and once the strings are fully stretched, slowly introduce the springs into the equation.

Floating Bridge Setup

Step 1:
Using the proper-sized screwdriver, back the bridge mounting screws out of the body until they sit about half an inch above the bridge. This gives us room to work.

In your setup kit, you’ll find two bridge height gauges:

  • Long-leg gauge: PRS guitars without pickguards

  • Short-leg gauge: PRS guitars with pickguards

Choose the correct gauge. With one hand, lift the bridge slightly and slide the gauge underneath. Make sure the bridge sits flat on the gauge and that the gauge isn’t pushed into the ramp.

Step 2:
Place masking tape just below the string holes on the saddles and tape the bridge securely to the guitar body. I often use a few strips of tape across the bridge, and a strip on each side of the bridge to help keep the bridge secured. This positions the bridge at PRS’s factory-recommended floating height.

Step 3:
One reason PRS tremolo bridges stay in tune so well is their six-screw mounting system, where each screw has a knife-edge point. If you look closely, you’ll see a notch in each screw that the bridge rides in, creating a six-point fulcrum. For the bridge to function correctly, each screw must be set to the correct height so the bridge sits flush in every notch. With the bridge secured to the top, grab the screw depth gauge and place it against the screws.

Step 4:
Rest your palm on the bridge to ensure it stays firmly against the body. Hold the gauge flat on the bridge with your other hand. Lower each screw until it just kisses the top of the gauge. Repeat this for all six screws. I recommend using a flashlight to check for gaps if you’re having trouble judging contact.

Step 5:
Remove the gauge and we will start the restring process. Flip the guitar on the face of the instrument, and replace the springs into the guitar. Keep the claw where the springs are still loose and not fully under tension. PRS prefers strings to be pulled tight before locking the tuners, but for this setup I leave them extremely loose and then lock the tuner.

Step 6:
Bring the strings up to light tension and verify the bridge is still seated correctly in the screw notches. Flip the guitar over and tighten the trem claw all the way into the body. Now tune the guitar to pitch.

Step 7:
The bridge should still be seated correctly. You can now remove the tape and proceed with a normal setup.

Step 8:
Tune to pitch and:

  • Set neck relief

  • Stretch strings and retune

  • Set action

  • Stretch strings and retune

  • Set pickup height

  • Stretch strings and retune

  • Set intonation in the playing position

Step 9 – Prep

Lubricate each string at the nut. Detune slightly, lift the string from the nut slot, apply lubricant, reseat the string, and retune. I mainly use Lizard Spit Nut Lube. Stretch the strings thoroughly. I use String Stretcha tools—one per string—doing six passes per string and rotating tools to avoid heat buildup. Once the strings are fully stretched and lubricated, we can float the bridge.

Step 10:
With the guitar in the playing position, retune to pitch. Using the correct screwdriver, loosen both trem claw screws a quarter turn at a time. Check the gauge after each adjustment. Continue until the gauge becomes loose and falls out or can be removed. Do not retune yet.

  • If tuning is flat → tighten the claw (more spring tension)

  • If tuning is sharp → loosen the claw (less spring tension)

Adjust until most strings are in tune. Stretch, retune, and repeat until tuning stabilizes. Finally, gently depress the trem arm about a half step and recheck tuning—it should remain solid.

Setting the Bridge Flush Against the Body

PRS tremolos are designed to float, but they can also be set flush against the body if done correctly. Do not simply lower the screws against the body, or you’ll create serious issues later.

Step 1:
With the springs removed, de-stick masking tape and secure the bridge firmly against the top of the guitar.

Step 2:
Place the screw depth gauge on the bridge. With one hand holding the bridge firmly against the body, slowly lower each screw until it just kisses the top of the gauge. Once all screws are set, remove the gauge.

Step 3:
Install your strings as described earlier, leaving them loose before locking the tuners. With the bridge still taped down, flip the guitar over and reinstall the springs.

Step 4:
Bring the strings up to light tension, verify the bridge is seated correctly, then tighten the trem claw fully into the body. Tune to pitch.

Step 5:
Confirm the bridge is seated correctly, remove the tape, and proceed with a standard setup.

Step 6:
Tune to pitch, set relief, stretch and retune, set action, stretch and retune, set pickup height, stretch and retune, and set intonation in the playing position.

Step 7:
Your guitar should now be properly set up with the bridge sitting flush against the body.

Carl Hardin