Basswood mods.

[Owwwccchhh]

Re: Basswood mods.

When you change tunings you have to put a deck of cards or something under the bridge to block it off so that it's level with the body or near level as possible then tune to your desired tuning.
Be sure to back your fine tuning screws out a bit so you have adjustment.
Once you are in "tune" remove the cards or whatever is blocking the trem then remove the back cover to expose the springs and the claw.
While you are plugged into the tuner use the screws on the claw that screws into your body to get your low E and high E in tune.
If your intonation is on this should be all you need, you can change strings and go from tuning to tuning with this method, it is what I do and it works on every
Floyd or Ibanez trem I have tried it on.. Once your low E and high E are in tune leave the claw along and fine tune your guitar at the Floyd, set your action and you're done..
When you blocked the bridge level you essentially trued the action and all you are doing in the back of the guitar is fine tuning the bridge.
This will work for either dropped or standard tunings. I have gone as low as drop C personally on my Floyds..

Other options are blocking the trem so its either dive only or stationary or getting a tremlono setup and making it more of and EVH or 80s style bridge.
I didn't ask what kind of guitar you have? I am assuming that you have a recessed Floyd Rose that pulls and dives?
If you don't disregard my lesson and all you will have to do is adjust the claw if your string and tuning change pulls the bridge away from parallel on the body.

Oh, I'm just asking general questions so I know if I want to install a Floyd or not. It seems complicated, how does a standard trem system compare to this? Is it more simplistic?

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Basswood mods.

Standard trem is fine, If you're not really going to use a trem, hardtail that sucker and be done with it..
String thru the body and a Gotoh or Gibraltar hardtail and run like the beagle!
Then you can change tunings and strings all you want without any tremolo side effects.
Fender trems are okay but they have horrible tuning stability if you're gonna be shredding and divebombs like crazy..
If you don't do that stuff then you don't need a trem and a hardtail is gonna get you way better sustain and resonance because the bridge and strings are in contact with the body and the wood..

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Basswood mods.

Just block the floyd. You get all the benefits of a hardtail, you can use the trem for divebombs, your guitar doesn't go out of tune when you break a string, and you can play with alternate tunings (as long as you're not tuning up). Properly set up, a floyd will stay in tune much better and for much longer than any guitar without a locking nut. They're awesome.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood mods.

Standard trem is fine, If you're not really going to use a trem, hardtail that sucker and be done with it..
String thru the body and a Gotoh or Gibraltar hardtail and run like the beagle!
Then you can change tunings and strings all you want without any tremolo side effects.
Fender trems are okay but they have horrible tuning stability if you're gonna be shredding and divebombs like crazy..
If you don't do that stuff then you don't need a trem and a hardtail is gonna get you way better sustain and resonance because the bridge and strings are in contact with the body and the wood..

I agree with this except feel that Standard Unlocked Trems definitely have their place.

I love Floyds for "flicking" and serious dive bombs that a Standard Trem can't really handle while staying in tune. However, for light vibrato and non-knee-jerk-reaction usage a Standard Trem that is properly setup can be used and still stay in tune brilliantly well.

Nothing wrong with a hardtail either–definitely more simple for changing tunings.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Basswood mods.

oh the mod is pickups and a bridge change. haha i thought it was going to be something more risky.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Basswood mods.

I agree with this except feel that Standard Unlocked Trems definitely have their place.

I love Floyds for "flicking" and serious dive bombs that a Standard Trem can't really handle while staying in tune. However, for light vibrato and non-knee-jerk-reaction usage a Standard Trem that is properly setup can be used and still stay in tune brilliantly well.

Nothing wrong with a hardtail either–definitely more simple for changing tunings.

I'm glad you clarified this, I am not a strat guy.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Basswood mods.

I honestly thought he was going to cheese up his body.

man i need to do that one day. I love those cheese casters.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood mods.

I'm glad you clarified this, I am not a strat guy.

Mainly Les Pauls if I'm not mistaken?

I honestly thought he was going to cheese up his body.

man i need to do that one day. I love those cheese casters.

Ha! You could do an angry rat in the middle like the Skull of your Shincaster

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Basswood mods.

Yes, I am a Les Paul and fixed bridge guy mostly. Any real strat I have ever owned has had the bridge blocked on it..
I own one Ibanez RG with an Edge at the moment and I'll probably block it before its over too lol!

 

[Owwwccchhh]

Re: Basswood mods.

Nah, sorry Mr. Steen. I just was kinda told that basswood bodies were too soft to get mods put in place by the guys over at the Chapman forums. So I thought I'd get a second opinion, and I couldn't find a single thread about it online. So I thought I'd ask here, you guys are definitely helping by the way. Any good hardtail bridges?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood mods.

Yes, I am a Les Paul and fixed bridge guy mostly. Any real strat I have ever owned has had the bridge blocked on it..
I own one Ibanez RG with an Edge at the moment and I'll probably block it before its over too lol!

Never personally cared for any of the Edges personally...some guys do but wasn't my cup of tea. lol There are tones with a Floyd (I like to add a big brass block) that I miss but I really like my Fender 2 Point Trem System.

Nah, sorry Mr. Steen. I just was kinda told that basswood bodies were too soft to get mods put in place by the guys over at the Chapman forums. So I thought I'd get a second opinion, and I couldn't find a single thread about it online. So I thought I'd ask here, you guys are definitely helping by the way. Any good hardtail bridges?

Well it is a soft wood but its not termite infested soft lol

I've heard great things about Hipshot bridges. You can always get a Fender Hardtail that works great as well.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Basswood mods.

Ha! You could do an angry rat in the middle like the Skull of your Shincaster

Such a good idea.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood mods.

Such a good idea.

I hereby challenge you to do just that sir

 

[uOpt]

Re: Basswood mods.

"Hold up through mods"? What is that supposed to mean. Removing random pieces here and there? I think given both the softness and the low weight you would quickly run out of material.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Basswood mods.

Nah, sorry Mr. Steen. I just was kinda told that basswood bodies were too soft to get mods put in place by the guys over at the Chapman forums. So I thought I'd get a second opinion, and I couldn't find a single thread about it online. So I thought I'd ask here, you guys are definitely helping by the way. Any good hardtail bridges?

That kind of hurts our feelings that you are gonna take the advice of those lymey monkeys on the chapman forum over ours.
At this point I'm lost as to what you're trying to do?
Have you bought a guitar and just plan on bolting crap on and cutting wood away?

 

[Owwwccchhh]

Re: Basswood mods.

Just a pickup swap. The guys over at the Chapman forums said that it was too soft and that I needed something made out of mahogany. So... I was more or less lost. Then I was wondering about bridges. Just... Something that has a trem that holds tune. That was it.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Basswood mods.

This thread has been funny.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Basswood mods.

If you don't do that stuff then you don't need a trem and a hardtail is gonna get you way better sustain and resonance because the bridge and strings are in contact with the body and the wood..

I think this is not true. My single cut mahogany Ibanez ARZ800 sustains very good (like in more than 10 seconds on bended 14th fret on G), but two of my floyd guitars (Carvin DC135 neckthrough maple, and Kramer 210 superstrat : PLYWOOD!! body, bolt-on) sustain for days.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood mods.

Just a pickup swap. The guys over at the Chapman forums said that it was too soft and that I needed something made out of mahogany. So... I was more or less lost. Then I was wondering about bridges. Just... Something that has a trem that holds tune. That was it.

I'm guessing those guys have never picked up an old Charvel Model 3 with Seymour Duncans and DiMarzios in them...

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Basswood mods.

Just a pickup swap. The guys over at the Chapman forums said that it was too soft and that I needed something made out of mahogany. So... I was more or less lost. Then I was wondering about bridges. Just... Something that has a trem that holds tune. That was it.

huh.. basswood is to soft to drill holes..? really ? this is the kind of advice that is given on some forums these days?

to do some routing or what. truthfully.. it makes those things easier if the body is of a softer wood..

as for bridges that stay in tune.. I have one guitar with a vintage style fender trem with 5 springs holding her down and is flush with the bridge..tuners are locking.. a few others with floyds.. been meaning to block them but haven't yet

depends what you are planing on doing.. to me...A floyd isnt all that difficult to setup and maintain BUT one must understand the machine for best effect..