changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

[Christopher Caruana]

So Im thinking about swapping the original 80's Schaller (german) floyd rose for an original floyd rose on my '87 jackson strat. Its top routed, so I don't have to worry about it fitting in my recessed space.

Im just wondering if I can swap for an OG floyd without any issues

Ive been doing research and I was wondering about 2 things....

1. Are the stud/post sizes the same for each trem? or is one larger than the other?

and

2. Will I have intonation issues if I change to the OG Floyd? I read that some of the jackson trems are mounted closer to the nut than the floyds and won't intonate correctly

thanks
:fingersx:

 

[HALENisking]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

Regarding intonation, the posts would have to be significantly difference in mounting position for you to run out of intonating space on the baseplate. I doubt that would be the case, though I have no first hand experience with specifically switching a schaller trem for an OFR. Seems like a range of over a quarter inch would not be likely.

 

[dystrust]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

I've swapped a few trems around, and a Schaller and OFR should be the same dimensions except for retaining-screw length which won't be an issue with no recess. A better question is why would you want to swap it in the first place? The Schaller FR is an excellent bridge; Dime for example preferred them to an original Floyd. I can't say I've noticed a lot of difference between the two.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

I've swapped a few trems around, and a Schaller and OFR should be the same dimensions except for retaining-screw length which won't be an issue with no recess. A better question is why would you want to swap it in the first place? The Schaller FR is an excellent bridge; Dime for example preferred them to an original Floyd. I can't say I've noticed a lot of difference between the two.

Most of the metal is pretty rusted, including the knife edges. Tuning is fairly good still, but it does get a little fussy from time to time. I think the base plate may be a tab warped too because I got the baseplate to sit level on the base string side, but the treble side is sitting up at a slight angle. Im not doing anything at the moment, just think for down the road

 

[dystrust]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

Most of the metal is pretty rusted, including the knife edges. Tuning is fairly good still, but it does get a little fussy from time to time. I think the base plate may be a tab warped too because I got the baseplate to sit level on the base string side, but the treble side is sitting up at a slight angle. Im not doing anything at the moment, just think for down the road

That makese sense. If you're looking to replace a worn out trem, another option to consider is a Gotoh Floyd. I believe the posts should like up and intonation should be OK as well, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe someone with a bit more experience can confirm?

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

Don't think you'll have any issues and I prefer the OFR over Schaller, Gotoh or any other version. Did the swap on a Charvel Model 5 and a Robin previously with zero issues.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

I figured there shouldn't be any issued with the OFR since it and the schaller are built to almost built to the same spec

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

While all that is posted above is technically correct, the real answer is "maybe".

The two units do mount at different points so there ARE differences BUT they are within the margin of the saddles' travel. HOWEVER, if the intonation point is too far away from dead-center as it is right now already, swapping the two units MIGHT cause you to get outside of the travel area of the saddles.

As an example, I swapped a SWING Floyd Rose copy (for all intended purposes a Schaller-copy) for a Gotoh Floyd (OFR dimensions) on my EZ-10 and I BARELY had enough travel on my low E and G strings. Still intonates perfectly fine but it was close!

vs

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

Ill have to check and see how close the saddles are for the current bridge. I may just end up buying another schaller floyd so I don't have to worry about it, but we'll see.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

The Schallers have a darker tone than OFRs, in my experience. The biggest design difference I've found lies with the nut - OFR nuts are taller, for one, but they also require a bit more of the fretboard to be shaved off since the point where the string actually rests in the nut slot is ever-so-slightly more forward due to the nut being cut at an angle just below that point. Schaller nuts typically go straight up, which puts the base of the slot even with the edge of the base of the nut itself.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

The Schallers have a darker tone than OFRs, in my experience. The biggest design difference I've found lies with the nut - OFR nuts are taller, for one, but they also require a bit more of the fretboard to be shaved off since the point where the string actually rests in the nut slot is ever-so-slightly more forward due to the nut being cut at an angle just below that point. Schaller nuts typically go straight up, which puts the base of the slot even with the edge of the base of the nut itself.

I had no idea the nuts were different......at this point, it looks like it would be much less of a headache to just go with a Schaller Floyd rather than an OFR

 

[HALENisking]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

I had no idea the nuts were different......at this point, it looks like it would be much less of a headache to just go with a Schaller Floyd rather than an OFR

Couldn't you keep the schaller nut and just replace the bridge?

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: changing 80's scholar floyd rose for an OG Floyd

Couldn't you keep the schaller nut and just replace the bridge?

Unfortunately the nut has to go too. It has some pretty deep grooves cut into it from the strings. Or I could get just a schaller nut and get the floyd for the actual bridge. We'll see