Mortal Engines Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Is there a way to adjust the bridge or tension with an old Floyd Rose tremolo system? I have never had any luck at home. It works fine at standard 440HZ tuning but as soon as I try to drop it a step the strings lie flat and limp against the fretboard. I know there is a way around it but, I've never asked...I actually do all of my drop tuning with a Les Paul or a Strat instead of the Robin I am talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 If your Floyd is floating, the spring tension needs to match the string tension. You will have to choose between standard and drop, or block the Floyd to keep it from floating. The pits of the universe was adjusting the Floyd on my old Charvel when I scrapped the factory .09's for my preferred .10 gauge strings. Yech. Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squ Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 You have to get it set up specifically for each tuning. There is something you can get to switch back and forth between dropped D and standard. Red Red Rockit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I have a friend who installed a third spring on his Floyd. Solved the float on drop tuning issue completely. My Ibanez actually has a thumbscrew on the back to adjust spring tension. A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 You're talking about switching between Standard tuning and all six strings tuned down a half-step with a floating Floyd Rose, right? As Bill and Squ point out, with a floating trem (Fender Strat-style, Floyd Rose, and fulcrum-style that's not resting flat against the body, but can go up as well as down) you have to have the guitar set-up for one tuning and string-gauge and type, and no others, otherwise you have to re-set the spring-tension, AND (mostly if changing string gauges) the intonation and action (and probably the neck-relief, too). As Griffinator points out, IF you have the trem set "flat-mounted" against the body, NOT floating, you can adjust the spring-tension and/or add an extra spring or two to keep it flat against the body when tuning down. In any of these cases you have to find a balance and a happy-medium between string tension and spring-tension (which also affects the feel of the trem). Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 In any of these cases you have to find a balance and a happy-medium between string tension and spring-tension (which also affects the feel of the trem). Indeed, if you like dive-bombing and other wacky trem tricks, you'll probably NOT want to change the spring tension that dramatically. A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trucks Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 http://www.tremol-no.com/ Dig it. Soundclick Myspace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lokair Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I have set up my 86 kramer pacer so that I can use the trem in standard tuning( up and down). For drop tuning I have an old pick guard piece of plastic cutto the 3/4 shape of the trem. I place between the trm and body, No whammy when in use, but retune to standard and pull plastic. Now I know this works for me my trem is setting right ontop of the body, if its in the body like a modern this would not work. Just quick thing I did for a guitarist in the 90s as tech he loved. So i now use it for tuning up guitars if they are changing gauge or tunings to get a quick referance point. Lok 1997 PRS CE24, 1981 Greco MSV 850, 1991 Greco V 900, 2 2006 Dean Inferno Flying Vs, 1987 Gibson Flying V, 2000s Jackson Dinky/Soloist, 1992 Gibson Les Paul Studio, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrell Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 D-Tuna is an add on you can use to drop the low E to D. You have to adjust and set it up initially, but it works fine once dialed in. You'll notice a small spread in tuning when its engaged on a full floater. I have the tremel-no installed. It works acceptably well for locking the bridge for hard tail action. Double stop bends and pedal effects, etc. But, it will slip after a while and you can't use the bar once you've got it locked down. So, I wouldn't go there for tuning everything down to D. I don't know of any (acceptable for me) way around setting the guitar up with adjusting the spring claw and moving/ adding / removing springs for the tuning... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwasnine Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 "The pits of the universe was adjusting the Floyd on my old Charvel when I scrapped the factory .09's for my preferred .10 gauge strings. Yech. " Billster, that brings up memories. Nightmarish ones. Like changing strings, breaking strings mid-song (and not being able to play), trying different string sets. And the time I went to jam with some friends and they all tuned down a half step. And the time someone asked to borrow my guitar and tried to tune it, using the tuners on the headstock. I know people love Floyds, but my guitar with the trem (which I bought in the late 80's when everything was about the Floyd) is currently retired to the storage room and probably won't come out until I need it enough to block the thing. Steven (who is happily playing a fixed bridge and forever will) "And the guitar players look damaged They've been outcasts all their lives" -Jagger/Richards- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarPlayerFL Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I've been wanting to get the Goldo Black Box for my Kramer Pacer and this is the only place I can find it...with a $30 shipping fee in addition to the price of the piece. Goldo Black Box It's supposed to be the best according to this guy: Vibrato Bar Stabilization Be sure to click the link at the bottom of the first page for the Goldo review. A Jazz/Chord Melody Master-my former instructor www.robertconti.com (FKA GuitarPlayerSoCal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Excellent links, GuitarPlayerFL! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarPlayerFL Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Excellent links, GuitarPlayerFL! Gracias! A Jazz/Chord Melody Master-my former instructor www.robertconti.com (FKA GuitarPlayerSoCal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortal Engines Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 I appreciate all the input guys....I'll probably just wind up selling this guitar and stay with my strat anyway but I'll probably try fooling with the tension a little before I throw in the towel.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 It's been good for me (this thread, that is); I'm gonna be nursing TWO Floyd-be-Rosed guitars back to health for a friend- a really cool old through or set-neck (not sure which it is) Jackson, and a cheaper, but not bad by any means, bolt-on Ibanez. Maybe he'll let me set the Ibanez up as a "flat-mount", while keeping the Jackson's whammy a-float... yeah, that's the ticket... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hey, it's an excuse to buy another guitar! After all, you NEED one for standard tuning and you NEED one for drop tuning. No way around it. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrell Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Yeah - no way around it I'm afraid... That guy didn't try the tremelno. I prefer it because when you want a floyd you want most of the floyd stuff. like the flutter, divebombs for years, pulling up etc. and when you don't want it, you want it solid... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gifthorse Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Dunno if you are attached to the floating aspect but you could always set it up the way Eddie does. His is set up more like a Fender, all the way back. There is no floating whatsoever. I think this probably helps the tone too. http://flagshipmile.dmusic.com/ http://www.myspace.com/gifthorse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trucks Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Of course the cheapest way to get full functionality floydy wangness... http://www.toolreviewguide.com/sites/dgarber/_files/Image/philips%20screwdriver.jpg So you can't tune down with the tremelno? Sucks. Soundclick Myspace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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