Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

['59]

In the eternal Strat modding process I've decided to go for a tremolo system with more range and was thinking about getting a NFT Floyd Rose (similar to the 78 prototype) and mounting it flush to the body for down-only action. It works for me because I dislike locking nuts and tuning at the bridge, and I get to save $100. Plus I like a flat bridge better for palm muting.

But then I got to thinking, if I go through with this I'll need to drill the for the posts, replace the pickguard with one that will fit the base of the tremolo, angle the neck, probably get a better nut, likely one that has wider spacing, and no doubt readjust pickup height and deal with a Floyd's bothersome intonation.

Are there any bridges that will either drop right in to a 6-point trem spot or do so with nothing more than drilling for the posts?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Any trem will do the same thing as a floyd if you only want to do down, and don't do locking.
Of course you'll get all the hideous tuning issues of course whichever bridge you go for.
The advantages of the Floyd setup are the up and down movement, plus the tuning stability of the locking nut.

Edit - check out the Super V trems.......They have an alternate locking setup for standard fender necks and body drilling.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Any trem will do the same thing as a floyd if you only want to do down, and don't do locking.

A non-locking vibrato won't have nearly as much range as a locking nut equipped guitar. A Floyd setup will loosen the strings to the point where they're almost coiling back up. A non-lock nut will not.

Before you replace anything, make sure your guitar is setup properly. In my experience, a non-locking trem stays in tune better when it's floating than when it's decked.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Before you replace anything, make sure your guitar is setup properly. In my experience, a non-locking trem stays in tune better when it's floating than when it's decked.

The NFT Floyd Rose is a locking unit. They have the same range as a Floyd Rose, ie spaghetti strings, and I've seen guys get the same level of stability as with a locking nut with them. The reason a Floyd Rose has so much range isn't so much the locking nut as it is the pivot point is further away from the saddles.

The things you will want to have to pay attention to are mostly near the headstock. You will without a doubt need locking tuners, if you don't already have any, a well cut and lubricated nut, and preferably roller string trees. The reason I mention the string trees is because without a locking nut, the treble strings have more room to not end up back in their proper slot when they return back to tension.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

If the bar had that much range, wouldn't the strings pop out of the nut slots?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

That's what I was thinking. It might only really be a problem on the treble strings though, if you don't have a string tree or retainer bar.

I think it was Carvin, but I know at least one company has sold Floyded guitars without locking nuts as production models, so it may not be an issue.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Interesting, and I stand corrected.

I bet if the headstock has a good tilt, like the Carbon/Kiesels, it wouldn’t be an issue.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Interesting, and I stand corrected.

I bet if the headstock has a good tilt, like the Carbon/Kiesels, it wouldn’t be an issue.

When I was using locking tuners with the Kahler on my Charvel Model 4, I could bottom out the bar without the strings popping out of the nut. Actually returning to pitch was an entirely different matter and I have a locking nut on there now.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

When I was using locking tuners with the Kahler on my Charvel Model 4, I could bottom out the bar without the strings popping out of the nut. Actually returning to pitch was an entirely different matter and I have a locking nut on there now.

Model 4 has a tilt back headstock, right?

 

[dystrust]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Model 4 has a tilt back headstock, right?

It does, and this is what it looks like now:

But with 6 strings :lol:

That's a Kahler 5521 locknut, btw.

 

[akio]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

For dive only and no bridge fine tuning, did you consider the Floyd Rose Rail Tail?

 

['59]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

I haven't. What's the range on that one like?

 

[akio]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Dive range is going to be limited by either the arm or the block. The Rail Tail block can be slid forward or backward to change clearance with the back of the rear rout, so you should be able to get more range than the 6-point. There's also the Vega Trem, has a similar installation method but is so short front to back that it can do pull ups and completely clear the top rout.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Super-Vee Bladerunner?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2p0l0RZkkw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk-IyDLK0-M&t=110s

 

['59]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Is there a difference between the 2 and 4 hole models of the Blade Runner except the aesthetic?

 

['59]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Oh, and what's the range on a Blade Runner? I read one guy say that he got an octave down on the A and a full step up. That's the type of range I'm looking for, was his claim accurate by any of your accounts?

 

['59]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Nobodys played a Bladerunner to the point where they can tell me about the range?

 

[dystrust]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

Nobodys played a Bladerunner to the point where they can tell me about the range?

I've never played one, but Itsabass had a pretty bad experience with one on a MIM Strat a few years ago.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

I don't know the range about the Bladerunner but from Guitar World vid it looks like a lot.
I don't have the Bladerunner either, I'm just currently looking to upgrade my trem on my LTD Strat and the Bladerunner got good reviews, stays in pitch and seems a no-brainer to install. As all piece of gears, some like some don't.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Any Drop-In 6-Point Bridges With Floyd Rose Range?

I've never played one, but Itsabass had a pretty bad experience with one on a MIM Strat a few years ago.

I think they sorted out the quality control issues, but I can't be sure. As for the range, they don't have quite the range of a Floyd, but they can dive to the point of spaghetti strings, so it doesn't really matter too much at that point anyway.