Floyd's

[GuitarStv]

I take off all the strings (no other way to clean the fretboard and frets) but block the trem in the middle floating position before I do it. You get good at it..it isn't that hard. But it is amazing to me that a better system hasn't been invented yet. The Speedloader was a good idea but looked terrible. But it really needs to be re-designed.

What killed the speedloader was the damned strings. Nobody wants to be limited to a single brand of strings. What if they stop selling them (like they actually did).

[ICTGoober]

I have never had the occasion to work on a guitar equipped with a Speedloader. I remember some of the Kramers had a Schaller-made Floyd with these square tubes on the back end of the unit, and you could use ball end strings.

[JMP/HBE]

Schaller Lock-Meister is what i have. Identical to Floyds on blueprints but better design.

[Mincer]

It is like the Steinberger system, which uses double ball strings. It is a brilliant idea until you realize strings are only made by a few companies (all have since stopped) and cost 3x as much. It really is a great system, though. The ball fits in a slot at either end, and half of a turn, you are in tune.

I never examined a Speedloader up close, but the Floyd Rose-branded guitars were hideous.

[nexion218]

I take off all the strings (no other way to clean the fretboard and frets)

Well, rhere actually is... As dave74 has said: pop the whole unit out ehile strung up, pull it to the side, do the work, pop it back in and change strings one at a time.

[Mincer]

That seems like a mess. I'd rather not have to pop anything. Just get something to put under the bridge to stabilize it.

[nexion218]

Well its not any different when you adjust string action: you take out the springs and let the bridge sit completely loose. You just have to take out the completely detached bridge from the cavity. But I understand if someone likes a "cleaner" looking method - I'm just too lazy to find the "right sized block to use... And I bet that you cannot use the same block for all guitars as the cavity size and/or the sus block size will differ, calling for a differently sized block. Or can you?

[Mincer]

I use a small metal plate which is padded on the bottom. It is more like a ramp, really, and it fits between the saddle length adjustment screws and the body, keeping the bridge plate parallel to the body when you change strings.

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Well its not any different when you adjust string action: you take out the springs and let the bridge sit completely loose. You just have to take out the completely detached bridge from the cavity. But I understand if someone likes a "cleaner" looking method - I'm just too lazy to find the "right sized block to use... And I bet that you cannot use the same block for all guitars as the cavity size and/or the sus block size will differ, calling for a differently sized block. Or can you?

How do you adjust the action with the strings off? The strings have to stay onboard and strung to their regular tension otherwise there is no way to determine if you have reached the proper action.

Dude...do you even play guitar or just hang around?

P.S. Yes you can use the same block for nearly all guitars: A nine-volt battery should do it.

[nexion218]

Hah! I never thought about that! I was stuck with the idea that this blocking trick happens in the rear cavity between the susblock and the wall of the cavity itself

[nexion218]

How do you adjust the action with the strings off? The strings have to stay onboard and strung to their regular tension otherwise there is no way to determine if you have reached the proper action.

Dude...do you even play guitar or just hang around?

P.S. Yes you can use the same block for nearly all guitars: A nine-volt battery should do it.

With that out of the way, I never said that I adjust action with strings off. For starters, we were talking about working on the frets and board of a Floyd equipped guitar and both dave74 and I have suggested that its easy, you just have to remove the bridge unit from the guitar, pull the strings aside and do your job on the board then reinstall the bridge. That way you avoid doing a whole setup from ground zero.

Mincer found this to be a messy solution, to which I replied that its not much different than setting up the action of a Floyded guitar, since to adjust the height adjustment screws of the unit, most people knowing what they're doing remove the springs to avoid blunting the baseplate knives by turning the height adjustment screws under full string tension. You remove the springs, adjust height and reinstall springs then check the action. Rinse, repeat until its where you want it to be. Yes, the Floyd has its iherent flaws, cumbersome setup being one if them.

But of course there are people who do it under full tension, then use their full force to tighten the string clamps and blocks and then run around internet forum whining about their sh!tty Floyd which wont stay in tune, return to zero or hold the string...

In case you still don't understand I suggest taking up reading classes instead of guitar.

[GuitarStv]

I use a small metal plate which is padded on the bottom. It is more like a ramp, really, and it fits between the saddle length adjustment screws and the body, keeping the bridge plate parallel to the body when you change strings.

I use a couple wedges of folder cardboard. Same kind of idea, they're ramp shaped. Takes a few tries to get the cardboard compressed enough to work well though.

[ErikH]

I have one of these that I use when changing strings. Can't recall when I got it but it was probably 25 or so years ago. Definitely after I purchased my Baretta.

Changing the strings isn't too bad for me. I don't playing a Floyd equipped guitar as my main one anyway. Though it is dive-only, I find this tool very helpful with getting to the string lock allen screws on the back. Once they are changed, remove the block, stretch them out, tune up, stretch, tune. Rinse and repeat until they are stable, lock the nut, fine tune if necessary.

https://www.shredneckstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=46

[Mincer]

Guys, simmer down. Its a Floyd. No need to call each other names.

I have one of these that I use when changing strings. Can't recall when I got it but it was probably 25 or so years ago. Definitely after I purchased my Baretta.

Changing the strings isn't too bad for me. I don't playing a Floyd equipped guitar as my main one anyway. Though it is dive-only, I find this tool very helpful with getting to the string lock allen screws on the back. Once they are changed, remove the block, stretch them out, tune up, stretch, tune. Rinse and repeat until they are stable, lock the nut, fine tune if necessary.

https://www.shredneckstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=46

This is the same thing I use.

[ICTGoober]

The first "name" player I ever heard of using a Floyd was Randy Hansen. His was made by Floyd himself, of unplated brass.
The second was Edward Van Halen - who is basically responsible for the acceptance of the Floyd into the market.