The ESP Arming Adjuster is one of the best tremolo stabilizers available in the market.

I have been modifying guitars for more than 17 years, and upgrading tremolo systems is my specialty.

After reading my review, you will know if this stabilizer will serve your needs.

Table of Contents

• What is ESP Arming Adjuster?
• How Does it Work?
• Is it Easy to  Install?
• Is there a Big Improvement?
• Will it Increase Sustain?
• Conclusion

What is ESP Arming Adjuster?

ESP Arming Adjuster is a guitar tremolo stabilizer that can help keep the tremolo stay in tune even after deep dive bombs and pull-ups.

It is one of the newest development of tremolo stabilizers that offers competitive stability.

The idea of using this stabilizer is by adjusting the tension of a specific spring against the amount of back resistance required to maintain the zero point.

Breaking a string is not usual, primarily that these days, they are producing stronger and better guitar strings, needless to say, chances of it to happen are still possible.

Using this stabilizer will help you to stay in tune even after a broken string if the tension spring is set correctly. Setting it right, by having a firmer tension, is the trick.

How Does it Work?

This tremolo stabilizer has a spring-loaded plunger that is pushing the tremolo block towards the zero point.

During bends, maintaining the string pitch of the unused strings is usually a challenge. It can be addressed by tightening the spring claw screws for the extra tension throughout the bend so it won’t affect or move the bridge.

The ESP Arming Adjuster will allow you to do that since it can keep the tremolo in zero position even if the tremolo springs are pulling harder.

On the other hand, you can still work on forcing the tremolo to pull-up,  by overpowering the Arming Adjuster’s spring by pulling on the bar.

For the tension, the ESP Arming Adjuster’s springs can be adjusted. The more you work on tightening the spring claw, the harder it is for the tool to push against the block so that it will produce more tuning stability.

To add, the harder it requires to push, the stiffer the adjuster’s spring needs to be, and the harder it is to enable pulling up on the tremolo.

On the other hand, setting the tension of the adjuster spring tension at its minimum can make pull-ups easier but with lesser stability.

Summary Overview

Is it easy to Install?

Installation is just a snap, and you do not need not to follow or read the instructional guide when installing it, as it is simple and easy.

This stabilizer is much easier to install than the Black Box Tremolo Stabilizer because all the mounting screws are exposed.

There is no need to disassemble the ESP Arming Adjuster like the Black Box during installation.

Now, this could be a good thing or a bad thing to some players as the Black Box look very sleek with its partly hidden mounting screws.

Is there a Big Improvement?

Tuning stability is much better, even after some abuse, and it is comparable to the Black Box concerning functionality.

The impact when the tone block hits the point of the Esp Arming Adjuster is not too noticeable for me.

I attached a self-adhesive felt pad to the ball end of the unit as a workaround.

Pulling up has a little feel of resistance, but overall it is not bad at all. Whammy vibrato and dime squeals are both smooth.

This tremolo is keeping my guitar in tune, including double step bends, and there is entirely no feeling of any “hitch” on the zero point.

The guitar stays in tune big time, even without any changes in the way you play.

Will it Increase Sustain?

In terms of volume and tone, this tremolo increases the resonance and sustain of the guitar. It is because it is made of brass, and the rod is massive compared to the Black Box.

Your listeners will notice the difference in the tone, and that could make an impact on your music.

Another thing that made this far from its competition is the price, they come very affordable and cheaper, and this will allow you to buy one for each of your guitars, and leaving you enough budget to pay a spare.

Not only is the price reasonable, but it is also available online.

There are few observations I notice, though, and it may be useful or not, and it will depend on the player’s preference.

For me, the tremolo feels a little stiffer when you increase the tension in the spring to have more stability.

Some guitarists may like it since the guitar is tighter and more responsive.

The drawback is that tremolo flutter can not be achieved even if you set the tension to the minimum.

Conclusion

Considering the price and availability, and performance that is not far behind the more known brand, I would consider buying this other than the leading brand.

It takes the right adjustment, usage, and personal choice, to select which tremolo stabilizer you need. For me, if you will consider all the factors, this is a good option for other tremolo stabilizers in the market.

At a Glance