#1937021 - 05/04/08 08:07 PM
Floyd Rose trem System
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-Will-
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I tried doing a search but anyone who spends any time here on the forums knows that the search functionality leaves a lot to be desired. Anyway, I'm a newby and was wondering what the consensus is on Floyd Rose, I've been offered a great deal on a Fender Standard Floyd Rose Stratocaster but am a little weary because of the Floyd Rose. Please let me know your opinions.
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#1937055 - 05/04/08 11:01 PM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Bluesape]
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Fumblyfingers
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To me the Floyd is an awesome unit. Once you get used to the process, string changes are just a little more time consuming but no big deal. The way they stay in tune is so great, that is my main thing with them. A stock Fender tremelo is terrible for staying in tune. You can work around somewhat by putting graphite lube in the nut and watching the winds on the string tree machine heads and setting the bridge plate up well etc etc and also doing a little push pull on the bar for the last time before continuing playing ....but what a pain in the ass as far as I am concerned. By the time you have broken out the graphite and done all that I won't be that far behind you stringing my Floyd guitars.
There is nothing worse than going out of tune when you are in a session and under the gun to lay down your parts quickly and precisely. I have a lot of confidence in Floyd Rose systems.
The only reason one is not on my '64 Strat is because it is a real '64.
Plus routing out the body to allow pulling up on them is nice also.
Mine have been bulletproof. The only failures I have had on them in over 20 years of playing the crap out of them was a couple of times the little string pressure blocks rusted from my sweat and got stuck and it took some effort to get them out and the pockets cleaned out. Now I drop a bit of oil in there from time to time to avoid that. I broke a saddle from over tightening way long ago...I do not over tighten anymore. I had a pivot screw pull out of the wood on one guitar.......it was leaning way forward and on another guitar it broke through to the wiring cavity. This was a weak area for early Floyd's that used pivots with wood screw threads. Now they have inserts which are press fit into the guitar body and have a machine thread inside for the pivot to screw into. Much better, stronger and more precise height adjustment as well, easier to to turn it with the Allen while under string tension as well rather than the old slot screwdriver type.
Reif, what's with all the talcum on the guitar and your hands....do you powder for speed?
I used to do that but it got expensive and I almost got a hole in my nose......LOL, just KIDDING GUYS!!!!!!!!!
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#1937093 - 05/05/08 05:39 AM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: GeoffB]
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guitarzan
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i am in agreement with Fumbly. awesome tuning stability.
i also dig the feel with bends. i do however prefer a flat mounted floyd, routed floyds mess with the double stop bends becuase they are floating and the bridge moves as soon as you start bending. but flicking the bar gives a cool "cricket" chirp on notes. i love Strats with floyds.
they are a little more time consuming at string changes but it is worth it IMHO. only a real floyd though, stay away from copies.
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#1937144 - 05/05/08 07:25 AM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: guitarzan]
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Greg B.
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Will, if you are getting a great deal on it, I'd get it no matter. If you don't like the Floyd, take the bar off, set it up with all 5 springs, and go like its a hardtail. You could even go as far as to block it or at least get one of those Tremsetters (don't know much about how those work, tho). At the very least you'll have a good Strat, whether you use the Floyd or not.
My experiences with a Floyd are that if you take the time to get it set up properly (or have someone do it for you), you can't beat them. If it not set up properly, then it is nothing but problems. I really like them, but they just don't really fit in my playing style so I don't own a guitar with one.
BTW, Reif is that chalk all over your ESP? To keep your hands dry? If that's what it is and why it is, thats a great idea!
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#1937157 - 05/05/08 07:42 AM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Greg B.]
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Trucks
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Floyd Rose good.
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#1937294 - 05/05/08 10:38 AM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: -Will-]
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Mudcat
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You have to play the guitar to get a feel as tho whether it will work for you, even blocked off and immobilized if you don't want to use the whammy.
I have never felt comfortable playing one of these things. The back-end of the assembly always gets in my way.
Your mileage my vary.
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#1937309 - 05/05/08 11:01 AM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Trucks]
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Xplorer
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Me also likey floyd rosey
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#1937380 - 05/05/08 12:46 PM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Xplorer]
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Caevan O'Shite
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I'm not a Floyd guy in general, but I'd still consider a guitar with one if I liked everything else about it.
If the particular guitar sounds and plays nice with it (set-up correctly, anyways), and the bridge's radius matches that of the fretboard, then it should be fine. If you can, try the guitar out first, or arrange for a conditional return if you don't care for it.
Be sure that you like the sound of the Es- both the 1st/High-E and the 6th/Low-E, that they balance well enough with the other strings in chords and lead-lines. Some guitars lose their Es a little with a Floyd, usually as a combination of string-spacing relative to the pickups and their polepieces, and the general tone of some Floyd units. (This can vary some from one to another depending on who actually manufactured the Floyd in question, and what it was actually made from; note the statements made by various "Licensed by Floyd Rose"-brands of trem-bridges and guitars.)
Seymour Duncan even had some pickups marketed just for this anemic-E-response on some Floyd-equipped guitars...
As long as it's set-up correctly and there're no worn or damaged parts, it should work fine, even very fine, as a trem-unit.
Eddie Van Halen certainly managed to sound pretty good at times with some Floyd-equipped axes!  Maybe you can, too. 
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#1937406 - 05/05/08 01:28 PM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
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Gifthorse
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For a locking tremelo I dunno if there is one that stays in tune better than a Floyd Rose. If you like your bridge to float in the middle they are a pain in the ass. I mean changing strings and if you like to bend notes alot it will detune the other strings.
The screws on each side of teh bridge can kind of wear down, unless they fixed this with new designs. They can get little burrs that make it more unstable. I think one way to avoid this is to use the bar gently and always try and bring it back to the middle instead of just going all Vai on it at all times. That right there will wear out your bar within a year.
I remember reading an interview with Steve Vai a longtime ago and he said he would wear out floyds like they were going out of style cuz of how much of a sicko he is with the trem.
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#1937550 - 05/05/08 05:45 PM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Gifthorse]
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Picker
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Never owned a guitar with a Floyd. I was too broke to buy one when they were hot, and then they weren't. I figured I wasn't missing much after I heard what folks had to say about 'em when the big rage for them was over.
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#1937573 - 05/05/08 06:32 PM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Picker]
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Gifthorse
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I think they rock for what they can do. Dunno if you could set one up so it was more classic feeling. Probably.
I don't think the big rage for them is over though. If I was 19 again you can bet I would have a Floyd on my guitar!
I have always thought it would be cool to have a customized fixed tele styled bridge with a double coil in it surrounded by the bridge but also with fine tuners.
I think fine tuners rock and would rule on the right fixed bridge guitars as well.
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#1937639 - 05/05/08 08:48 PM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: -Will-]
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GuitarPlayerFL
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Make sure you like the sound of the guitar. A Floyd gives a more metallic tone to the guitar...less woody sounding.
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#1937640 - 05/05/08 08:48 PM
Re: Floyd Rose trem System
[Re: Gifthorse]
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Griffinator
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if you like to bend notes alot it will detune the other strings.
Exactly why I hate them. I bend like an idiot, both riffing and playing lead. Damn a Floyd.
If I want big whammy action, I'll take a Kahler any day.
Edited by Griffinator (05/05/08 08:49 PM)
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Moderator: myles_rose, A String, Bluesape
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Just kidding. Thanks for the replies, I'm just a little apprehensive as I don't have any experience with them, or any experience period.
