Pierre
Stratologist
Alright... well you know, I've only started playing 3 months ago, but I got a guitar with a Floyd and because I had read about them, I had NO problems whatsoever. It's all about knowing about them. So I made this little guide thingy. It's not complete (it's not like I have loads of experience with it...) and if some of you are willing to make a 'super Floyd guide', I'd be more than happy for this to be the basics for a more complex and complete guide. So suggest and criticize away 
The Floyd Rose is a floating bridge. It is not fixed to the body, but rests on two poles. The balance is achieved by countering the string tension with springs. This brings to the rule number 1: unless you have A LOT of experience, do NOT change the string gauge by yourself: the tension will change and your neck will suffer.
The Floyd system has two units: the bridge itself and the locking nut. The bridge locks the strings too, that is why a Floyd and its many licenced derivatives are considered a double locking tremolo. It ensures tuning stability after abusive use of the whammy bar. Judge by yourself: My licenced cheapo Floyd is 17 years old and stays in tune PERFECTLY even after a good dozen of full divebombs.
But of course there is a pay off: The bridge has to be stabilized all the time you tune and it's a hassle. This means that Floyds don't like alternative tunings. Each change in tension in one string changes the tuning of others.
Make sure you clip out the ball ends. They won't fit the Floyd. Or else put them through the machineheads but it looks ugly
Stringing
Assuming you want to change strings, there are 3 ways to do it (Make sure you clip out the ball ends. They won't fit the Floyd. Or else put them through the machineheads but it looks ugly ):
1) take all the strings off, restring, tune. It takes 2 hours, it's hard, and a pain in the ass. Don't do it unless your Floyd is not recessed and it won't back into the body this much. But even so, it's fairly annoying.
2) replace the strings one by one. This method also takes a long time, though less than for 1) and is fairly easier to tune. Though of course, the new strings won't stay in tune for a bit. What I did when I got new strings was doing ****loads of divebombs to stretch the strings out. Then I tuned it again as I'd do normally.
3) block your tremolo. Use anything between the bridge and the body so that it doesn't sink into the guitar. Then, change your strings all at once or one by one.
Tuning
Ok... so your strings are on the guitar, they are stretched though not tuned? Now you need to tune...
1) ensure the strings are properly locked in the bridge. Use an allen key to tighten them if necessary. (I'll add pictures later)
2) that's when problems start... People have different ways of doing it. I mess about a lot with the spring tension at the back so tuning is also done differently taking care of this. Let's just assume the spring position, string gauge and wanted tuning are constant. The way I do it:
Usually the locking nut is unlocked because the fine tuners don't have such a big range. I tune my low E to proper pitch using the mahineheads, then I do the high e, then A, then B, then D, then G. And I repeat it. All the way. Usually it takes 3 to 4 times doing this. When the guitar is in tune, I simply lock the nut and use the fine tuners to finish.
The Floyd Rose is a floating bridge. It is not fixed to the body, but rests on two poles. The balance is achieved by countering the string tension with springs. This brings to the rule number 1: unless you have A LOT of experience, do NOT change the string gauge by yourself: the tension will change and your neck will suffer.
The Floyd system has two units: the bridge itself and the locking nut. The bridge locks the strings too, that is why a Floyd and its many licenced derivatives are considered a double locking tremolo. It ensures tuning stability after abusive use of the whammy bar. Judge by yourself: My licenced cheapo Floyd is 17 years old and stays in tune PERFECTLY even after a good dozen of full divebombs.
But of course there is a pay off: The bridge has to be stabilized all the time you tune and it's a hassle. This means that Floyds don't like alternative tunings. Each change in tension in one string changes the tuning of others.
Make sure you clip out the ball ends. They won't fit the Floyd. Or else put them through the machineheads but it looks ugly
Stringing
Assuming you want to change strings, there are 3 ways to do it (Make sure you clip out the ball ends. They won't fit the Floyd. Or else put them through the machineheads but it looks ugly ):
1) take all the strings off, restring, tune. It takes 2 hours, it's hard, and a pain in the ass. Don't do it unless your Floyd is not recessed and it won't back into the body this much. But even so, it's fairly annoying.
2) replace the strings one by one. This method also takes a long time, though less than for 1) and is fairly easier to tune. Though of course, the new strings won't stay in tune for a bit. What I did when I got new strings was doing ****loads of divebombs to stretch the strings out. Then I tuned it again as I'd do normally.
3) block your tremolo. Use anything between the bridge and the body so that it doesn't sink into the guitar. Then, change your strings all at once or one by one.
Tuning
Ok... so your strings are on the guitar, they are stretched though not tuned? Now you need to tune...
1) ensure the strings are properly locked in the bridge. Use an allen key to tighten them if necessary. (I'll add pictures later)
2) that's when problems start... People have different ways of doing it. I mess about a lot with the spring tension at the back so tuning is also done differently taking care of this. Let's just assume the spring position, string gauge and wanted tuning are constant. The way I do it:
Usually the locking nut is unlocked because the fine tuners don't have such a big range. I tune my low E to proper pitch using the mahineheads, then I do the high e, then A, then B, then D, then G. And I repeat it. All the way. Usually it takes 3 to 4 times doing this. When the guitar is in tune, I simply lock the nut and use the fine tuners to finish.
