Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?)

[KeeperOS]

I just got a new guitar (haven't actually got it since it's still being set up but anyway). My first Floyd equipped actually...

It's a rather cheap guitar which for whatever reasons I loved to death and against my better judgment am planning to upgrade the hell out of it
(I am fully expecting to pay significantly more for the upgrades than I did for the actual purchase).
This is it by the way: The Swing EZ-10

I emailed the manufacturer asking which Floyd would be a direct replacement and they answered that the Schaller would be.
However I am far from impressed with the Schaller (as I am with today's OFR) and would much rather prefer to use the Gotoh (which I both like better and is considerably cheaper).

So, assuming what the manufacturer says is accurate would I be able to install a Gotoh Floyd Rose instead of a Schaller and what problems could I run across?
(I've been already told that the block might be a bit longer and I may have to remove the trem cavity cover which for me is a non-issue as I remove it anyway:naughty

What are the dimensions I should measure?
Also, if one could tell me where I could find the dimensions for the Gotoh (I found the Schaller from Warmoth) I'd be much obliged!

Thanks!

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

If the guitar comes with a Schaller, then I would just leave it personally. I have used both the Gotoh and the Schaller, and there is little difference once they are set up correctly.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

The are not interchangeable. The Schaller requires a smaller route- you'd have to do some fouring for an OFR or Gotoh to fit since the screws stick out more on an OFR or Gotoh

Quality on the Schallers is good. I have a 1991 Jackson with a Schaller Floyd Rose, and it's still working fine. Only problem I had was some rusting/freezing up on the string lock blocks, which would've happened with any other Floyd if it wasn't oiled regularly.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

It is powedersteel things...with the dumb collar vibrato arm
The Gotoh is a top of the line thing, good steel(studs with small allenadjusters to keep the height right) and serious block as well...
Cannot rememeber the spacing, the measurements are there on the Gotoh site, I think Schaller have their own as well...(they make the OFR...still)

 

[mustaine-who?]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

But you can replace the long locking bolts on the Gotoh with shorter ones and use it...

I have 2 guitars...one with a Schaller and one with a Gotoh...and I prefer the Gotoh. It feels better, feels more solid, and is easier to move around on...

I like'em so much I just bought another!

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

^ yeah you beat me out on the Gotoh the other day. I was looking for one in black like that. Hope it works out for ya, Gotoh's rock!

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

If the guitar comes with a Schaller, then I would just leave it personally. I have used both the Gotoh and the Schaller, and there is little difference once they are set up correctly.

Only problem is it's NOT a Schaller. It's a "SWING" cheap copy. It's just that the manufacturer said that the Schaller will be a drop-in replacement.

The are not interchangeable. The Schaller requires a smaller route- you'd have to do some fouring for an OFR or Gotoh to fit since the screws stick out more on an OFR or Gotoh

Quality on the Schallers is good. I have a 1991 Jackson with a Schaller Floyd Rose, and it's still working fine. Only problem I had was some rusting/freezing up on the string lock blocks, which would've happened with any other Floyd if it wasn't oiled regularly.

Are you sure about the OFR and Schaller having different dimentions?
Because Schaller says on their web page that their Floyds and the OFRs ARE interchangeable, hell they say even their parts are!
Yeah, 1991 Schaller AND OFRs were still top notch, however if you take a look at the ones made these last couple years you'd be SERIOUSLY disappointed. Suhr didn't switch from the OFR to the Gotoh for nothing...

...Cannot rememeber the spacing, the measurements are there on the Gotoh site, I think Schaller have their own as well...(they make the OFR...still)

Well, all I could find was a low resolution scan of their catalog where half the numbers were hardly discernible at all. If you can find it please post the link here

But you can replace the long locking bolts on the Gotoh with shorter ones and use it...

Could you run this one more time by me cause I didn't quite get it?
Remember, this will be my first Floyd!

Thanks ya'all!

 

[cream123]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

that's a killer guitar!!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

Will keep an eye out for specs...

 

[jmh151]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

Only problem is it's NOT a Schaller. It's a "SWING" cheap copy. It's just that the manufacturer said that the Schaller will be a drop-in replacement.

Are you sure about the OFR and Schaller having different dimentions?
Because Schaller says on their web page that their Floyds and the OFRs ARE interchangeable, hell they say even their parts are!
Yeah, 1991 Schaller AND OFRs were still top notch, however if you take a look at the ones made these last couple years you'd be SERIOUSLY disappointed. Suhr didn't switch from the OFR to the Gotoh for nothing...



Thanks ya'all!

I have Schaller, OFR's, Ibanez Edge, and Gotohs.

The saddles on Schallers and OFr are interchangeable, as are the blocks, arms, locking blocks.

The OFR has longer bolts on the saddles. Meaning the bolts stick out further on the rear of the trem. The Schaller bolts don't stuck out as much, therefore the route for a Schaller is smaller than an OFR (that is, if the guitars have recess routes, which most do these days).

A Schaller will drop right in an OFR routed guitar. An OFR's bolts stick out too far, and therefore, the body has to be routed to allow clearance for the bolts.

Also, I tried using the shorter bolts from a Schaller on an OFR- they weren't long enough to intonate properly.

Furthermore, I've read the Schaller route places the posts 1/16" closer to the neck, which, in some cases, makes it difficult to properly intonate an OFR if replaced

 

[darnright]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

FWIW...I just installed a Schaller FR II in a guitar and had to make about a 1/16" enlargement on the existing route. (It had an Original Floyd in it new). This is the one my friend stripped and gave to me. I put in the Schaller and a pair of Alnico Pro II's and I love it!!
By the way...that guitar is gorgeous. I don't know if that is a veneer or photo-flame ..but I don't blame you for getting it!!

Good luck on this project, I am anxious to hear how it comes out!

-dave

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

A Schaller will drop right in an OFR routed guitar. An OFR's bolts stick out too far, and therefore, the body has to be routed to allow clearance for the bolts.

Oh, that makes more sense

...By the way...that guitar is gorgeous. I don't know if that is a veneer or photo-flame ..but I don't blame you for getting it!!

Good luck on this project, I am anxious to hear how it comes out!

-dave

that's a killer guitar!!

Thanks!

No, no veneer and no photo-flame, nor is it maple at all.
It's a FULL, LP thickness EBONY top (yep, the wood) over a Mahogany neckthru (both neck and wings, the stripes are Hard Maple). Check this out:

In the 2nd photo you can better see the thickness of the top if you notice the shiny part of the arm rest contour!

Just as an indication, the dealer (who is who I got it from) has one for himself and he actually put a Tom Anderson pickup in the bridge!
(The one with the huge pole pieces)
He says it RAWCKS!!!

 

[ryanrobles]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

Ok, here’s my 2 cents.

I owned a Richie Sambora MEX strat which was fitted with a Fender/Schaller Locking Trem and Nut stamped “Floyd Rose II”.

When the Schaller knife-edges got damaged, I replaced it with a Gotoh Floyd Rose in this guitar. In terms of fit, the Gotoh fitted perfectly.

Main differences I consider are;

1. Trem arm angle is slightly different. On the Schaller model, the angle of the arm is greater.
2. Trem arm tension. The Gotoh model has a superior method of tensioning the arm; it features a delrin collar and tension grub screw similar to the Wilkinson bridges. I found the Schaller trem arm useless as it consistently worked its way loose.
3. The block on the Gotoh is solid brass and has screws underneath which secure the trem springs in place.
4. The Gotoh saddles are more curvy than the Schaller – small difference.

I consider the Gotoh bridge to be superior as more though seems to have been applied to it. Shocking really, as the Schallers are supposed to be as good as the Original Floyds which they also produce.

Hope this helps...

 

[jmh151]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

Ok, here’s my 2 cents.

Shocking really, as the Schallers are supposed to be as good as the Original Floyds which they also produce.

Hope this helps...

Floyd Rose has many patents on the FRO, they never license the full design out. That's wht the licensed versions will always be slightly different than the Original.

A complaint of the original FRO's was that the hardened steel baseplate made the tone brittle. As a result, Schaller attempted to improve the design by using a die cast base with hardened steel inserts. They also shortened the bolts to make the trem less fugly.

The Schaller Floyd Rose 2 is a piece of junk- it's not the same as the Schaller Floyd Rose found on more expensive guitars.

The Schaller has a different feel than an ORF- it's more wobbly- in between an Ibanez Edge and FRO.

Having all 3, I feel the Gotoh is as good as, if not better than, an FRO, and better than a Schaller. The Schaller is still a great trem, but the Gotoh and FRO feel more solid

 

[uOpt]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

I never understood this:

Did Schaller make the original Floyd Rose?

And is a trem labeled "Floyd Rose II" a Schaller-made OFR?

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

Schaller is the primary manufacturer of the OFR (there's also Ping) and they build their own version as well.
I think the Floyd Rose II is the cheaper version of the OFR made from cast iron.
AFAIK that is also manufactured by Schaller...

So, apart from the longer block what are the rest of the different dimensions between the two and what kind of modifications would I need to make to install the Gotoh in a Schaller route?

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Are the Gotoh and Schaller Floyd Rose interchangeable (and what's the difference?

OK, after much search I was able to find both the dimensions of the Gotoh and the Schaller.

When reading them I couldn't find any problem but I could have missed something so if you could please check them too and tell me what might cause me problems:
- The Gotoh GE1996T
and the
- Schaller (in pdf):
Front/Back view
Top/Bottom View
Sides View
Parts photo

Thanks!