Quote:
Originally Posted by jmitchell42
now, there is a plate on the back that i was going to clean under/around that had 4 screws in it that i unscrewed. when i did, the neck came off. got it lined back up and screwed back it. was really careful in putting it back on, so i didn't think much of it, but i am hoping that isn't the problem.
That shouldn't be the problem imo.
First of all, the neck is meant to be able to be taken off. When appraisers on like antique's road show for instance are checking out an old Fender Stratocaster from the 50s or 60s, they always take the neck off cause Fender stamped the dates there on the neck. I believe you might even have had to take it off to adjust the truss rod back then. Might be wrong on that though imo.
The bridge definitely looks like it is depressed like you're dive bombing with the whammy bar. What the deal is, the strings are pulling so much tension, and the tremolo springs aren't providing enough counter tension to keep it where it's supposed to be. They usually come with 3 springs btw, so no worries there. You may check to see if that plate that the springs hook on to can be screwed in, which would increase the spring tension, but idk mang, you might just wanna take it to the shop imo.