Floyd Rose Anxiety

[Eagle]

In the same way options in a Fractal unit are an obstacle or hangup for some people. There's a learning curve one has to go through in order to use it properly and without giving them a headache. For some, the juice ain't worth the squeeze, no matter how easily you, I or anyone could set one up. It's not so much the Floyd itself, just the barrier to entry.

I so hate to stay in tune!

 

[JiveTurkey]

In the same way options in a Fractal unit are an obstacle or hangup for some people. There's a learning curve one has to go through in order to use it properly and without giving them a headache. For some, the juice ain't worth the squeeze, no matter how easily you, I or anyone could set one up. It's not so much the Floyd itself, just the barrier to entry.

 

[Frodebro]

Assuming by "Floyd", you mean 'locking tremolo', I have some experience with one on a friend's guitar, and from how much of a PITA it was for me, a total novice, to change his strings, and compared to my EBMM guitars, that all have full-floating, non-locking trems..., I can literally go nuts on the trem on any of them, and only 1 doesn't come back in tune, and that's because 1 string is hanging up somewhere. I'm sure I could get that one to retain its tuning too, but I just don't bother with it.

The Majesties and my JP all have roller saddles, and my JR Cutlass has a rounded saddle of some type, so I'd imagine that helps, along with a properly-cut nut, locking tuners, and using lube on the saddles & nut slots when I change strings.

So my stance is, unless you gig and play like EVH, I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze.

There are plenty of guitars out there with stable non-lockers, but generally the ones that can compete with lockers are not found on entry or midrange guitars. My PRS Customs are both rock solid for tuning stability. I have a couple SEs that are close, but not at the same level as the Core models, even after cleaning up the nuts on both of them (which helped considerably, but still not to the same level of stability).

 

[DrewJD82]

Assuming by "Floyd", you mean 'locking tremolo', I have some experience with one on a friend's guitar, and from how much of a PITA it was for me, a total novice, to change his strings, and compared to my EBMM guitars, that all have full-floating, non-locking trems..., I can literally go nuts on the trem on any of them, and only 1 doesn't come back in tune, and that's because 1 string is hanging up somewhere. I'm sure I could get that one to retain its tuning too, but I just don't bother with it.

The Majesties and my JP all have roller saddles, and my JR Cutlass has a rounded saddle of some type, so I'd imagine that helps, along with a properly-cut nut, locking tuners, and using lube on the saddles & nut slots when I change strings.

So my stance is, unless you gig and play like EVH, I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze.

I so hate to stay in tune!

Tuning stability isn't actually why I prefer a Floyd for some stuff, it's entirely the feel of it. When using a LoPro/Edge it feels like an extension of the strings, like it requires the same pressure/control to bend the strings as it does to work the bar and it feels much more congruent to me. Meanwhile, the floating trem on my Strat requires a bit more pressure/work to use in the same way, I'm assuming due to the 6-screw aspect.

That thought just made me wonder, being unfamiliar with a ton of Beck's playing, but I'd love to A/B a song he played on a Strat and one he did on the Jackson (was it a Jackson? He had some superstrat in the 80's, don't you have the same one, Eagle?). I'm curious if I'll hear what I'm describing above in the playing at all. I'm mainly speaking on the use in the context of slurred notes, something Vai snagged from Beck and I snagged from Vai.

 

[PorcinePicker]

There’s nothing to fear but also little to gain. Fixed bridge is where it’s at, man.

But then how do you get your wrr-rrr-rrr-reeeeeeEEEEE and neeeeeeeeoooowwww(crunch) sounds?

(for the record, about 2/3 of my guitars have FR bridges)

 

[Eagle]

Tuning stability isn't actually why I prefer a Floyd for some stuff, it's entirely the feel of it. When using a LoPro/Edge it feels like an extension of the strings, like it requires the same pressure/control to bend the strings as it does to work the bar and it feels much more congruent to me. Meanwhile, the floating trem on my Strat requires a bit more pressure/work to use in the same way, I'm assuming due to the 6-screw aspect.

That thought just made me wonder, being unfamiliar with a ton of Beck's playing, but I'd love to A/B a song he played on a Strat and one he did on the Jackson (was it a Jackson? He had some superstrat in the 80's, don't you have the same one, Eagle?). I'm curious if I'll hear what I'm describing above in the playing at all. I'm mainly speaking on the use in the context of slurred notes, something Vai snagged from Beck and I snagged from Vai.

A Kahler then a Floyd on two Soloists. Depends on the recording. I can tell by listening.
Locking trems go down in pitch differently depending on the type. Six screw trems can work but there is a lot more to hang up and go wrong . They don’t feel stiffer though if set up correctly.

 

[HomespunEffects]

But then how do you get your wrr-rrr-rrr-reeeeeeEEEEE and neeeeeeeeoooowwww(crunch) sounds?

(for the record, about 2/3 of my guitars have FR bridges)

*Laughs in Jake E Lee*

 

[Sascha Franck]

There's absolutely nothing awkward in operating a FR. It's all pretty logical and the only mildly annoying thing is that it might take a minute more to change strings.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Meanwhile, the floating trem on my Strat requires a bit more pressure/work to use in the same way, I'm assuming due to the 6-screw aspect.

It's likely because the posts are closer to the saddles. On FRs, they're quite far away, which results in less movement causing more detuning.

 

[la szum]

In what way is it an obstacle or hangup?

Dude. I am so not repeating this conversation with you. You are too smart to not be able to figure it
out on your own, and it is way too obvious.

And we already did this dance a couple of months ago. Remember?

 

[6CA7-A]

All this stuff is on Utube man. Crack your oyster and don't be a pussy.
Some you fuggers never woulda survived the 60's & 70's.

 

[PLX]

All this stuff is on Utube man. Crack your oyster and don't be a pussy.
Some you fuggers never woulda survived the 60's & 70's.

 

[Eagle]

It's likely because the posts are closer to the saddles. On FRs, they're quite far away, which results in less movement causing more detuning.

This is correct. Also the lock nut prevents the string tension being distributed behind the nut as well.

 

[AlbertA]

Having a Floyd Rose Tremelo creates so much anxiety for me.

No reason for it. I had one since I was 16 years old.

I want the benifits but I'm scared to death to buy a guitar that has one.

Go get it.

My freind and guitar mentor says he stays away form them because they're too much trouble.

Exageration.

I'm just so intimidated by the whole idea of owning one. I heard it's a real pain to change strings,

Changing strings is not that big of an issue, maybe it takes a couple of extra steps. This is what I do:

• Unlock the lock nut
• Drop the whammy bar, put a rag by the tuners (helps avoid denting the recessed cavity when removing strings).
• With the whammy bar down a bit Unlock the bridge saddle blocks, remove the string.
• pull the strings out of tuning peg hole (see no cutting even necessary)
• Put new strings through the tuning peg hole and into the bridge (ball end hangs by the headstock, so no need to cut the ball ends until the end, just as you would cut normal string slack on any other guitar) and lock the bridge saddle - do not over-tighten.
• Start tuning from low E to high E. Do it in the same sequence for about 6-7 iterations. Stretch the strings
• Do another iteration. Lock the nut, use the fine tuners after to tune again.
• Cut the string slack.
• See not that different than in a normal guitar.

and even more of a pain to change tunings.

That one is true. A D-tuna lets you one switch to drop D but that's about it. Changing tunings throws the whole balance off - but not that different than with a floating Strat trem.

Are they as horrible as I think they are?

Nope.

Are they only for professional musicians that have their own guitar techs following them around?

Nah, anyone can do it.


However it is true, intonation is a pain in the ass.

Also DO NOT ADJUST bridge height under string tension, you will dull your knife edges - so yeah that's a pain in the ass - but you really only have to do it once during first setup.

If you change string gauges or tunings, you'll have to rebalance the spring tension, so yeah that will take some time to adjust - it's not really something you would do in a gig for example. (D-Tuna excepted)

 

[Sascha Franck]

Put new strings through the tuning peg hole and into the bridge (ball end hangs by the headstock, so no need to cut the ball ends until the end,

I actually just leave the ballend at the tuning peg's side and cut the string to fit into the locking saddles properly. It actually locks the string right there which makes the initial tuning easier (especially as I always play a bit before locking the nut). Some people seem to have aesthetic issues with that, I don't. And there's the benefit of no sharp string ends sticking out.

Psssht, don't tell anyone: Decades back, when I was piss poor, I used to wind up quite some extra string rounds, so whenever a string broke at the bridge (which is where they usually break), I would just open the locking nut for that string, pull off some windings so the string would reach the saddle again. Amazingly enough, there have been pretty much no intonation or tuning issues, even if the strings had some noticeable marks at the position where the locking nut held them before that operation. Wouldn't do so anymore, but in case you have no spare strings around, it might still help to save the day.

 

[Mikael Dez]

All this stuff is on Utube man. Crack your oyster and don't be a pussy.
Some you fuggers never woulda survived the 60's & 70's.

 

[Mikael Dez]

I'm glad I owned a Floyd equipped guitar so that I would confirm in my heart that fixed bridges are where it's at.

 

[Sascha Franck]

so that I would confirm in my heart that fixed bridges are where it's at.

Never. Ever!

 

[Mikael Dez]

Never. Ever!

 

[6CA7-A]

You think a FR is bad try setting a 7.25/9.5/12 inch radius on Fender type bridge saddles.
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