Hate setting up floating trems?

[Iceman0124]

I know I do, (I have little experience with them for a reason) and I've searched and read tons of articles and watced tons of videos.....this one finally made things easy for me

YouTube - Floyd Rose Tremolo Setup (English)

YouTube - Floyd Rose Tremolo Setup (English)

It was the last bit near the end (2:40) of using the spoon (or any flat rigid item that can hold the bridge in the desired position, I used a fork), with that in place tune up, if while tuning the bridge raise up simply adjust the rear springs to bring it down to the "spoon" and continue, when its up to pitch (I'd stretch the strings if they are new at this point), if the "spoon" doesnt easily slide out, adjust the rear springs slowly until it just easily slides out and your done...perfect even float with the proper spring/string balance in under a minute for me, I used to struggle for hours to get close to the proper float and tuning stability.....

Hope this helps others as much as it helped me

I know this is probably old hat for the guys that use floating trems alot, but those that dont...like me ,this vid was a life saver

[diceman]

I don't mess with Floyds - but I just deck my strats. Problem solved!

Thanks for the link - my Ibanez EX needs a good setup done on it...

[kspeed]

Never use a battery to hold the bridge up, all it'll do is dent or crack your finish. A rolled up sock or wash cloth is the better choice.

[Iceman0124]

to hold it up while stringing I use a cap from an old flash drive, sits totally in the cavity and doesnt touch the finish. When I used the fork for tuning/setting the float, I put some thin yet rigid cardboard over the spots touching the guitar to prevent marring.

[Rikochet]

wow, thanks man, i just got a new rg750, and this video was really helpfull

[Jason]

Originally Posted by diceman

I don't mess with Floyds - but I just deck my strats. Problem solved!

Thanks for the link - my Ibanez EX needs a good setup done on it...

Strats are easy to setup though if you follow the instructions right on the Fender website... you just don't like them? Even with the cheapo bridge on my Squier, it stays in tune just fine and doesn't bother me having it floating about 1/8" off the deck.

[diceman]

Jason - I really just never, ever use it. So I deck it. I'm sure that there is a marginal increase in sustain and tuning stability. Not that I'd likely notice anyways!

[Jason]

Originally Posted by diceman

Jason - I really just never, ever use it. So I deck it. I'm sure that there is a marginal increase in sustain and tuning stability. Not that I'd likely notice anyways!

Yeah I don't ever use mine either. I think my son uses it more than I do... when I'm trying to play it he runs up and gives the bar a yank. I set it up according to Fender specs anyway... I figured the floating bridge might help create part of the "Strat sound", that's my reasoning anyway.

[Dave1968]

Hey! Thanks for that!! It brought back lost memories from Guitar World in the 80's when my Shovel (Charvel) as Gibson referred to them in their ad's had tension problems!! Ha ha!

Cheers

[rik5117]

I installed a tremol-no system in my ibanez since I really don't use the tremolo that much. Most of the time is in the fixed position, but can use the tremolo when I want to.

[Loserface300]

FRs are a pain in the ASS just to restring........ i did the mistsake of not doing it one at a time...

[Iceman0124]

Follow that vid and its a snap....its so easy a Corey could do it!

[jodymauk]

I have used them for almost 30 years..Like second nature to me......

[Iceman0124]

I've avoided them for almost 20.....not so daunting anymore though

[diceman]

FAC ME!!

I just watched the video. Learned a lot. A WHOLE LOT. I've had my Ibanez since I was 12 - so... almost 16 years. It was my first guitar. I don't know how or why I've been doing this for 16 years, but when I string a Floyd, I've always just chopped the ball ends off and clamped the naked string between the saddle and the block. WTF??!! I have no idea why I've been doing it that way... but I'm clearly an idiot.

Well, you learn something new every day. Boy do I feel foolish!

[jodymauk]

My little tip is ......
Restring the guitar backwards....Ball of string at the tuner peg..
Cut the string a little behind the fine tuners and the bridge itself.This will allow you to wind the string about 3 or 4 times around the tuning peg...

8 out of 10 string breaks I have had happens at the bridge where the string is locked...

Simply un-lock the nut,,Unwind the broke string until you can re-lock it in the bridge,,tune the guitar,lock the nut ,then fine tune the guitar........TAAADAAA.....
You will find that you are not that far out of tune once you get the tension back on the strings from before the string broke.......Works for me..
This cuts down on having to re-string every time a string breaks........that would suck...
Plus instead of a spoon scratching the finish of your guitar...I block it from underneath at the spring block....9 volt battery works for this.

[diceman]

Jody - so I have been doing it right. I've always done the same thing - leave a few wraps up top, and reclamp the string when it breaks at the saddle. In the video, it looked as if he had a ball end down in the saddle and clamped in when he pulled the end of his string out - I was like "holy shitballs!" It looks like I've been doing things the right way after all. Whew!

[jodymauk]

Originally Posted by diceman

Jody - so I have been doing it right. I've always done the same thing - leave a few wraps up top, and reclamp the string when it breaks at the saddle. In the video, it looked as if he had a ball end down in the saddle and clamped in when he pulled the end of his string out - I was like "holy shitballs!" It looks like I've been doing things the right way after all. Whew!

Thats the way I have done it forever....The only time I ever take "ALL" the strings off is to condition the fretboard.....
Leaving the balls on stops the chance of the string slipping at all,It gives them a good tight wrap...
I re-string one at a time starting with the 1st (High E) string and tuning them as I go.......
Jackson guitars recommends you use 9's on thier guitars with Floyds....Did that dude say he uses 12's.? No wonder he had to put the extra springs in....I bet thats one stiff a$$ trem to use .......
I like mine free and smooth,Some times I like to do the Brad Gillis slapping effect...Gives it that growling/gurgling sound.....
Its at 2:21 in this video...Click the youtube link.

You Tube

You Tube

[Rikochet]

wait, let me get this straight, instead of cutting the string just long enough, I should cut the string longer then needed and just add a few wraps on the tunning pegs? as you can tell, im a noob to these things

[Mark H]

That vid is right on!
I do the ball end up at the tuners thing too, with extra string for breaks.

Now on my Jackson and ESP I use 10s and need 4 springs? That has always made me wonder? Although I like the stability that 4 springs gives, with the habit of resting my palm on the bridge.Never had any prob using the trem with 10s and 4 springs?
4 springs helps keep a "flutter" sounding in control, not just wacking the body and more musical to me?

[Iceman0124]

Glad folks are finding it useful, theres still other aspects that can be tricky,but the most important, setting the float is no problem at all for me now. Still have issues with the collar....ended up having to locktite it down and wrap the arm threads to keep it tight. As cheap as my RG was, and as good as it sounds and plays now, I'm not going to invest much more if any money in it, instead of new pups and quailty bridge, I'd rather buy another with said upgrades built in.

[Sinster]

Cool video.. Good info..

I do something similar... or I just hold it in place with bar and then tune it.

[Iceman0124]

Mine holds surprisingly great tune especially for it sporting a Licensed floyd II ( chaep version with no mechanical lock at the the bridge), strings load into the fine tuner posts. I Think followinfg the vid instrusctions on get the proper float set have a lot to do with the stability

[Mr. Snappy]

I just slide a couple of standard tavern-issue beer coasters under it to hold it up. Beer coasters and duct tape also make excellent tremolo backplates. Don't have to take out all of those screws to make spring adjustments.

[VictorLazarus]

I used to hate doing it; but I ok at the moment. My current Ibanez stays almost perfectly in tune. If it wen't really, really out I'd still prob take it to a tech cos £20 (or so) is worth the time it'd take to get it perfect again.

MVL.

[clane04]

My first Floyd Rose was my last Floyd Rose. I thought it was a pain in the ass. Perhaps I should have had more patience with it.

[Iceman0124]

I always just got fed up with the tug of war finding the right balance between springs and strings, that simple bit in the vid of placing an object to set the bridge in place ,then tune solved all my major issues, my only complaint with them now is the nut itself, hate having to dig out a wrench when the fine tuners run out of room....may put on a roller nut and locking tuners in the future....though probably not on my cirrent RG, plan on getting a nicer on or a S series in the near future.

[Mr. Snappy]

They actually come pretty natural to me. I have no idea why. I used to be "the man" everyone in my area brought their Floyds to for setup back in the '80s. I've done dozens and dozens of them.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by jodymauk

I have used them for almost 30 years..Like second nature to me......

Once you understand how they work they are really pretty simple to restring and set-up as long as you have the right wrenches