Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
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JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
If you get an ORIGINAL Floyd Rose, the only thing you have to worry about is:
1. It makes the guitar a little brighter.
2. You have to make an effort to keep your picking hand off the bridge if you normally play that way. It will bend the strings out of tune.
Advantages:
- Always stays in tune
- Killer divebombs
- Looks cool/you can brag to your friends about it.
And despite what some people (especially guitar stores that do restringings) say, they aren't that much harder to restring than anything else. You just have to keep up with the Allen wrench.
If you get an ORIGINAL Floyd Rose, the only thing you have to worry about is:
1. It makes the guitar a little brighter.
2. You have to make an effort to keep your picking hand off the bridge if you normally play that way. It will bend the strings out of tune.
Advantages:
- Always stays in tune
- Killer divebombs
- Looks cool/you can brag to your friends about it.
And despite what some people (especially guitar stores that do restringings) say, they aren't that much harder to restring than anything else. You just have to keep up with the Allen wrench.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
Good points.
When setup perfectly, they stay in tune, no matter how much you abuse the trem.
You can depress the trem, making the strings flap against the fretboard, then let go of the bar and you're back in tune. No other trem can make that claim.
The original Floyd Rose is the best one, mainly because of the cuffed/screw ON type of bar, as well as quality metal parts and triple chromed - meaning it doesn't corrode nearly as fast. Licensed versions often have screw in bars that feel looser over time, and single plated chrome, which pits much faster. Also, lower quality metal means more screws stripping etc...
Negatives.
Floating trems are useless if you break a string....all other strings go sharp. If there's not enough spring tension, bending a note may cause others to go flat at the same time. If you're fine tuners are out of adjustment range, you have to unlock the nut again. Clamping the nut too tight often results in a broken string at the nut.
If the system is not setup 100% perfect, you'll have intonation and tension hassles.
This is the #1 reason why novice Floyd users begin to hate them....they don't know how to properly adjust them or set them up. Mostly because intonating a Floyd is a royal pain in the ass. You've got to loosen the allen bolts holding the saddlepiece and nudge it, retune, check intonation, and keep doing it over and over till it's right.
Good points.
When setup perfectly, they stay in tune, no matter how much you abuse the trem.
You can depress the trem, making the strings flap against the fretboard, then let go of the bar and you're back in tune. No other trem can make that claim.
The original Floyd Rose is the best one, mainly because of the cuffed/screw ON type of bar, as well as quality metal parts and triple chromed - meaning it doesn't corrode nearly as fast. Licensed versions often have screw in bars that feel looser over time, and single plated chrome, which pits much faster. Also, lower quality metal means more screws stripping etc...
Negatives.
Floating trems are useless if you break a string....all other strings go sharp. If there's not enough spring tension, bending a note may cause others to go flat at the same time. If you're fine tuners are out of adjustment range, you have to unlock the nut again. Clamping the nut too tight often results in a broken string at the nut.
If the system is not setup 100% perfect, you'll have intonation and tension hassles.
This is the #1 reason why novice Floyd users begin to hate them....they don't know how to properly adjust them or set them up. Mostly because intonating a Floyd is a royal pain in the ass. You've got to loosen the allen bolts holding the saddlepiece and nudge it, retune, check intonation, and keep doing it over and over till it's right.
MikeRocker
What's Your Forum Nameologist?
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
Advantages:
-Always stays in tune
Disadvantages:
-You need a tool kit to change strings
-You need a tool kit to tune beyond the range of the fine turers
-If it's floating, you can't rest your hand on the bridge
-If it's floating, you can't do double stop bends (bending a string while holding a non-bent one) and have them stay in tune
-If it's floating and you break a string, the guitar is absolutely useless until you put a new one on
-I personally feel that the floating ones rob sustain and resonance from the guitar. If I was gonna get a Floyd guitar (and I'm not), I'd get one that was flush-mounted and down only.
Unless you plan to do some heavy whammy bar work, my opinion is that the trade-offs aren't worth it. If you are doing heavy vibrato, they pretty much can't be beat for staying in tune.
Advantages:
-Always stays in tune
Disadvantages:
-You need a tool kit to change strings
-You need a tool kit to tune beyond the range of the fine turers
-If it's floating, you can't rest your hand on the bridge
-If it's floating, you can't do double stop bends (bending a string while holding a non-bent one) and have them stay in tune
-If it's floating and you break a string, the guitar is absolutely useless until you put a new one on
-I personally feel that the floating ones rob sustain and resonance from the guitar. If I was gonna get a Floyd guitar (and I'm not), I'd get one that was flush-mounted and down only.
Unless you plan to do some heavy whammy bar work, my opinion is that the trade-offs aren't worth it. If you are doing heavy vibrato, they pretty much can't be beat for staying in tune.
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Metalman_666
New member
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
I didn't know you couldn't do double stops even with a Floyd Rose... that's insane...
And does it really have to be set up PERFECTLY for all to be working fine until the next string change? .... oh and what's the range of the fine tuners?
I didn't know you couldn't do double stops even with a Floyd Rose... that's insane...
And does it really have to be set up PERFECTLY for all to be working fine until the next string change? .... oh and what's the range of the fine tuners?
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
I'm not trying to argue with you - you made some good points - but I'd like to point out a couple of things:
-My guitar came with the allen wrenches mounted to the back of the headstock (which is a moot point if this is going on an existing guitar)
-The sustain may or may not be killed - I've never played/heard before and after - but my Jackson sustains forever (again, this depends on the guitar it's on....may not be the case for a bolt on neck)
About the string breaking: I think that's the reason a lot of people don't gig with a Floyd equiped guitar. You're definitely SOL if you're in the middle of a song and your guitar goes sharp because it's missing a string!
MikeRocker said:
I'm not trying to argue with you - you made some good points - but I'd like to point out a couple of things:
-My guitar came with the allen wrenches mounted to the back of the headstock (which is a moot point if this is going on an existing guitar)
-The sustain may or may not be killed - I've never played/heard before and after - but my Jackson sustains forever (again, this depends on the guitar it's on....may not be the case for a bolt on neck)
About the string breaking: I think that's the reason a lot of people don't gig with a Floyd equiped guitar. You're definitely SOL if you're in the middle of a song and your guitar goes sharp because it's missing a string!
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
The range on the fine tuners is pretty good, though I couldn't tell you exactly how much range you get - probably a full step, if I was going to guess. But, I've rarely had problems with it. You don't want to use the fine tuners to achieve an alternate tuning, anyway. When you change the tuning, your intonation goes out of whack. I guess that's another disadvantage. It's not made for quick tuning changes. Of course, most guitars will need a slight intonation change with a different tuning, though it's usually not noticable.
Yes, it needs to be set up PERFECTLY.Metalman_666 said:
The range on the fine tuners is pretty good, though I couldn't tell you exactly how much range you get - probably a full step, if I was going to guess. But, I've rarely had problems with it. You don't want to use the fine tuners to achieve an alternate tuning, anyway. When you change the tuning, your intonation goes out of whack. I guess that's another disadvantage. It's not made for quick tuning changes. Of course, most guitars will need a slight intonation change with a different tuning, though it's usually not noticable.
MikeRocker
What's Your Forum Nameologist?
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
I know a lot of people swear by their Floyds, if I was more of a whammy guy, I'd definitely get one. I'm more of a traditionalist - I'll take Bigsbys and vintage Strat vibratos myself.
No problem at all, it's all just opinion anyway, no one is right or wrong. I totally respect polite differences of opinion!JacksonMIA said:
I know a lot of people swear by their Floyds, if I was more of a whammy guy, I'd definitely get one. I'm more of a traditionalist - I'll take Bigsbys and vintage Strat vibratos myself.
Stringmachine
New member
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
Floyds are great if you plan to use it a lot. It stays in tune when set up perfectly, no matter what you do to it. A little bit harder to change strings. And the sound is a little bit thiner/brighter.
If you are not going to use it a lot, don't bother.
Floyds are great if you plan to use it a lot. It stays in tune when set up perfectly, no matter what you do to it. A little bit harder to change strings. And the sound is a little bit thiner/brighter.
If you are not going to use it a lot, don't bother.
\m/(00)\m/
HeadBanginologist
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
the only thing i dont like, is the setup problems. it just takes longer than other guitars
thats about it with me, though i like my les paul better, the floyd equipped guitar sounds killer as well
the only thing i dont like, is the setup problems. it just takes longer than other guitars
thats about it with me, though i like my les paul better, the floyd equipped guitar sounds killer as well
O
Old Ghost
Guest
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
One more thing to add is that if you decided to switch to a different string gauge, you need to adjust the springs tension on the back or the bridge will be sitting too high ( heavy gauge ) or too low ( light gauge ) from the cavity/ body.
One more thing to add is that if you decided to switch to a different string gauge, you need to adjust the springs tension on the back or the bridge will be sitting too high ( heavy gauge ) or too low ( light gauge ) from the cavity/ body.
krankguitarist
Krankitupologist
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
IMO the original floyds don't rob too much sustain. Some of the die-cast licensed models do though.
changing strings on a floating floyd isnt too difficult if you know how to do it. All ya gotta do is block off the trem and have a couple of allen wrenches handy.
A floating floyd is really only for the player who's pretty serious about using the whammy bar. It takes some time to set up, and some time to get used to. If you rest your hand on the bridge, it will take some adjustment of your picking style in order to play in tune.
IMO the original floyds don't rob too much sustain. Some of the die-cast licensed models do though.
changing strings on a floating floyd isnt too difficult if you know how to do it. All ya gotta do is block off the trem and have a couple of allen wrenches handy.
A floating floyd is really only for the player who's pretty serious about using the whammy bar. It takes some time to set up, and some time to get used to. If you rest your hand on the bridge, it will take some adjustment of your picking style in order to play in tune.
E
Erlend_G
Guest
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
I totally agree.
Mattt said:
I totally agree.
MattPete
New member
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
Maybe it's just me, but I've never had problems resting my hand on the bridge and causing it to go out of tune.
It's harder, but certainly not impossible.
I played a Floyd equipped guitar for years, and it wasn't until 2 years ago that I got a hard tail. It turns out that I had to relearn how to do double-stop bends on the hardtail, as I had been unconscioulsy compensating when playing the floyd guitar.
MikeRocker said:
Maybe it's just me, but I've never had problems resting my hand on the bridge and causing it to go out of tune.
It's harder, but certainly not impossible.
I played a Floyd equipped guitar for years, and it wasn't until 2 years ago that I got a hard tail. It turns out that I had to relearn how to do double-stop bends on the hardtail, as I had been unconscioulsy compensating when playing the floyd guitar.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
I think the Floyd Rose doesn't add any brightness.
I love the OFR (Original Floyd Rose). Yes, I want to marry it.
I think the Floyd Rose doesn't add any brightness.
I love the OFR (Original Floyd Rose). Yes, I want to marry it.
Ironjose
New member
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
last sunday i compare two floyds licensed tremolos, actually they both were from ibanez, the LT1 the cheapest tremolo around (i think) and the new Edge III, they both sounded a lot similar, i have to add that the pups where the same, so the tremolo had something to add, right? in tone.
JJ
last sunday i compare two floyds licensed tremolos, actually they both were from ibanez, the LT1 the cheapest tremolo around (i think) and the new Edge III, they both sounded a lot similar, i have to add that the pups where the same, so the tremolo had something to add, right? in tone.
JJ
O
Old Ghost
Guest
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
The sustain issue is noticeable specially when playing clean without any kind of overdrive/distortion or reverb from the amp or a pedal. Overdriven or distorted, the lack of sustain is barely noticeable on Floyd equipped guitar. Personally, I prefer the original floyd over the licensed one. There is such a big difference in feel and tone between the two. The original floyd is of a higher quality than the licensed one.
The sustain issue is noticeable specially when playing clean without any kind of overdrive/distortion or reverb from the amp or a pedal. Overdriven or distorted, the lack of sustain is barely noticeable on Floyd equipped guitar. Personally, I prefer the original floyd over the licensed one. There is such a big difference in feel and tone between the two. The original floyd is of a higher quality than the licensed one.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
And the sun is green in the morning!
And the sun is green in the morning!
Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of a Floyd Rose trem?
The whole lack of sustain/tone thing is completely over-rated....it's not nearly as big of a deal as people make it out to be. With a *quality* guitar and a quality FR this is negligible IMO. I've compared a near stock Jackson SL1 with a stock Les Paul Custom and the sustain was damn near equal as well as quality of tone.
Furthermore, if you are gigging, you should have a backup guitar anyway...regardless of whether I was playing a Les Paul or a Superstrat w/ Floyd I'd always reach for the backup as soon as I broke a string.
Intonation only needs to be set ONCE just like anyother guitar. Yes it is a bit of a pain but as long as you take care of your guitar and stick with the same strings it only needs to be done once in a long while I've found.
The whole lack of sustain/tone thing is completely over-rated....it's not nearly as big of a deal as people make it out to be. With a *quality* guitar and a quality FR this is negligible IMO. I've compared a near stock Jackson SL1 with a stock Les Paul Custom and the sustain was damn near equal as well as quality of tone.
Furthermore, if you are gigging, you should have a backup guitar anyway...regardless of whether I was playing a Les Paul or a Superstrat w/ Floyd I'd always reach for the backup as soon as I broke a string.
Intonation only needs to be set ONCE just like anyother guitar. Yes it is a bit of a pain but as long as you take care of your guitar and stick with the same strings it only needs to be done once in a long while I've found.
