A good starting point is to have a rough estimate of how much you need to lower the action by. If you need to lower it by 0.5mm, then take the springs out, lower the posts by 0.5mm and then re-install the springs. If you find that you need to lower or raise the trem posts slightly, then you can make that micro-adjustment with the springs and strings still under tension since it wouldn't be as dramatic a movement. Hope this makes sense?
i never understood this theory - piece of advice that has been circulating forums lately. doesnt the whole bridge move and "grind" against the posts when you actually use it? i'm sure the subtle movement - friction of lowering the posts is way softer than the actual use it is designed for...
It is. You don’t want that knife edge damaged at all or it won’t sit properly at neutral. Floating bridges are a technical marvel that we take for granted. But so much depends on that thin point of contact.
Yeah I don't think it's necessary to loosen the springs every time you need to make adjustments, but having ruined the knife edges and posts on one low-end Ibanez Edge III by adjusting the thing like crazy while under tension, I'd rather give out advice that is on the safer side than to have someone damage their guitar based on what I told them. I don't follow this advise for my Original Edge/Edge Zero guitars myself, but for trems that use cheaper metal, it's probably better to adjust it without much tension on.
