This here is the much maligned, dreaded Edge 3 "trem". I guess trying to alter history by calling it a vibrato bridge will not get support. Anyway, the Ibanez Edge 3 Vibrato bridge. ( I have recently seen a real Edge, what a difference! Now to see an Edge Low Pro, that should be just the ticket...)
The arm is a loose fit in the socket, no, not that loose, it plugs in with nice friction, what I mean is, it has free play when you nudge it. You have to take up a bit of slack before it moves the bridge. I do not play with it much at all, but I would like to have it a good fit, how else can one get gentle, subtle, controlled vibrato effects (fretting fingers excluded)?
(I have made up a shorty arm for my Squier Strat too, it screws into the block, but, getting that to be a close fit is also problematic. That one has an O-ring between the block and plate, for some friction. Ideally requires a "set screw" with a friction pad on the arm threads. Later, next time.)
My solution for the Edge 3 is this "load spreader", turned up from POM-C (Ertacetal, Delrin), press fit on the arm.
With the material's low friction properties, it will not bind. The bridge top is not flat/perpendicular to the arm hole, sigh. But the fitting adds an extra support point to the arm, effectively removing the free play (slop?). I shall also experiment with an O-ring under it, probably go all mushy again with a rubber spacer in there.
The arm has been shortened a lot. Sort of fits in the palm when playing, not in the way of the pick. Now, to master the gentle skill of using it, without dropping the pick or losing the guitar.
