floyd rose pros and cons

[a7x_rox_12]

what are the pros and cons of a floyd rose?

i am debating about whether or not i should purchase a floyd rose equiped guitar

and... how significant is the quality difference in the original floyd and a licensed floyd?

thanks

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

The originals are better, for the most part, but I like the Ibanez Edge the best of all of them.

Do you want to do whammy stuff? If so, Floyds (or locking trems) are the way to go. Also, if it's a good trem, and setup properly, it'll stay in tune better than a fixed bridge.

 

[Sykes]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

pros-stays in tune better

cons-more involved sting changes-all your other strings drop a bit when you bend a string

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

Why a Floyd Rose? Will a non-Floyd trem do? The need for a heavy duty trem will outweigh the cons of it IMO.

Con: Simply put, string changing. Don't be one of those morons who bypasses this known fact and buys one just to be dissapointed.

 

[larry_emder]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

Also, if it's a good trem, and setup properly, it'll stay in tune better than a fixed bridge.

Can someone else verify this? It doesnt seem to make sense to me.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

Pros: Adds a lot that you can do with your axe. Tends to be pretty stable as far as tuning goes. Floyd tricks impress chicks.

Cons: Floyd tricks actually dont impress chicks. They're a pain in the ass to set up properly. If ya wanna change tunings, you're SOL.

As for quality...OFR's are my favorites. Ibanez makes some nice licensed models. But most of the stuff you'll find isn't gonna compare to an OFR.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

If ya wanna change tunings, you're SOL.

You mean between songs songs, right? If so you can be inventive...

Then there's the D-Tuna...

 

[Mephis]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

I've had 2 floyds now. A licensed and now my amazing OFR.


IMO they're the best bridge type around, I never seem to ever get sour strings with them, and they have a very even and balanced sound about them. (They don't lose sustain unless they're made like ****. So far, out of the floyds I have played, they sustain better than most fixed bridges.)

The only con is the fact that if you bend a string all the rest of them go out of tune.

I personaly like changing strings on a floyd more than I do a standard guitar, if you block it properly it's easier. Tuning can take awhile, but once it's in tune you'll only have to even make very minor adjustments untill you change the strings.

Plus strings usually always break at the saddle, so if you pull the string through the tuners so that the ball end stays at the top and you don't trim too much string off, you will be able to thread some more out. Which saves alot of money.

As for their uses as a trem, they're the best system I've experenced. Though I never use it much except for when I'm shredding or playing with harmonics.


If you plan on changing tunings alot, avoid a floyd at all costs. (They usually have to be completely re-setup for different tunings and string gauges.)

 

[mind_transplant]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

Pro: They allow you to produce sounds that a fixed bridge simply can't, and they stay in tune better than any other system when properly maintained.

Cons: Maintaining them does require more time (and patience) than most other bridges, and you're stuck with one tuning per set-up.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

Can someone else verify this? It doesnt seem to make sense to me.

Yes, it's true. Once the strings are go through their initial stretching period, I usually don't have to touch the tuners again until the strings get old and start dying - as long as there's not a drastic temperature or humidity change, which any guitar is susceptable to.

The reason being, the locking nut holds the string in place. On the better Floyd Roses, especially the original, the strings absolutely won't budge. When the bridge is set up properly it always returns to the same place so it remains in tune. On a hardtail, you can have the string binding on the nut or even pulling at the tuners (not as likely if you have good tuners and a proper wrap, but still a possibility).

Floyds have a greater range than any other trem (except the Edge trems, which are basically a copy anyway). You can dive past where the strings are stop ringing and, on a recessed floyd, pull up over a step. I've never noticed any sustain issues and I personally like the tone of a Floyd.

The only con is a slightly more complex stringing process. You have to get it close to in tune, then lock down the nut and use the fine tuners to get it back in tune. ALL of the other issues are really issues with any floating trem - going out of tune when strings break, other strings going out of tune when you bend, balancing the bridge between the tensions of the strings and springs. Anything you can fix by blocking another trem can be fixed by blocking a Floyd.

 

[a7x_rox_12]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

i also have a american fat strat that i will use for standard tunings

i never go below D

 

[jmh151]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

I have a few original Floyds and an Ibanez Edge. I like the performance of an Ibanez Edge better- it's smoother. However it seems that Original Floyds have better sustain and tone.

I have fixed bridge guitars, like a Telecaster and Les Paul. Tuning stability is better on a Floyd equipped guitar since the strings lock right at the nut and bridge. With my extreme string bending, I usually have problems with the string binding up at the nut on the non-Floyd guitars. Though I don't use the trem much, I do like how they stay in tune. It's also easier to adjust the action at the nut since you just unscrew the nut and add a shim or sand the shelf, whereas on a normal neck you have to carefully knock or cut the nut out of its slot, do your work, possibly install a new nut, and have very good skill at cutting new string slots.

 

[a7x_rox_12]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

aight cool

so i think that what everybodys gettin at is that the floyds are a good bet if i don't change tuning alot

 

[WhoFan]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

I own a bunch of strat style guitars and 80% of them have trems... vintage trems, American Standard Trems, Floyd Copies, and one real FRO bridge.... I like them all for different reasons. I love Floyds....

Pro's... If you want to do any of those huge EVH or Vai style dive bombs and still be in tune, the Floyd is for you.... Forget using a vintage style trem for that stuff... It does not work... I have one guitar, a warmoth that was put togther by one of teh better techs in my area... locking tuners, a well shaped bone nut, and a Fender trem... I can maybe do some Van Halen style dives with the bar 1 or 2 times before i am notciable out of tune, then after that i'm so far out of tune it sounds awful. If you feel the need to be doing trem tricks the Floyd is your friend! I have also found the Lock Nut helps tuning in general.... you can bend the heck out of the strings during solos and there is no slipping once the strings are stretched...

Con's.... for me not many i can see.... Original Floyds are Costly compaired to other bridges but worth it if you want that type of trem playing. I prefer the Original to almost all others out there... But i have a few copies that i use because they were stock on my Jacksons and Fernandes.... I had a few issues with the cheap copies but got them worked out to the point they stay in tune just as well as my Original.... i changed the Trem Posts and the Nut on one of my cheaper Jacksons and it works great! Floyds have a tone of there own.... They are not as good sounding as say fender style vintage trem and bone nut, but they do not sound bad either... It depends on your style more then anything.

 

[a7x_rox_12]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

well i have a good strat and it sounds great

but i am really wanting something that i can go crazy on so thats why i want the floyd

 

[WhoFan]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

well i have a good strat and it sounds great

but i am really wanting something that i can go crazy on so thats why i want the floyd

yup the Floyd may be for you... I block mine so they only go down in pitch... i can still change tunings but have to unlock the nut first and tune up.... takes more time.. I stopped using floating trems 15 years ago... i find with my heavy handed pickup and strumming i had a lot of bridge flutter with a floating trem....

Just my opinon, but i think the best way to get a quality Floyd Guitar is to have a Warmoth or USACG built around the Floyd bridge you pick... For myself i want a Warmoth strat with no pickguard, Original Floyd, all Maple neck and some Duncans... But i may give USACG a try so time will tell..... or should i say money will tell... i may sell some gear to get this custom strat idea together....

 

[theodie]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

Can someone else verify this? It doesnt seem to make sense to me.

I will vouch for it 100%!

A floating Floyd will take a good setup and a longer break in time for strings but, if that thing is blocked, it will be the ultimate in stability!!!!

 

[jmh151]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

A very important point to a Floyd guitar, if you're building one from parts, is the neck angle. If you recess the Floyd it won't be a problem, but if you have it rest fluch so it only goes down, you need a 2 percent neck angle which only Warmoth provides

 

[watersbluebird]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

i had a washburn mg32 for many years but found the licensed floyd on it a complete pain in the buttocks. whenever i touched the trem, it never returned to the original position and all the strings would be slightly out. i hate it when people play guitars slightly out of tune! i've since bought an epiphone les standard and love the fact that once it's tuned, it generally stays tuned. if only i could have afforded a proper floyd, it might have eased my pain!!

 

[theodie]

Re: floyd rose pros and cons

i had a washburn mg32 for many years but found the licensed floyd on it a complete pain in the buttocks. whenever i touched the trem, it never returned to the original position and all the strings would be slightly out. i hate it when people play guitars slightly out of tune! i've since bought an epiphone les standard and love the fact that once it's tuned, it generally stays tuned. if only i could have afforded a proper floyd, it might have eased my pain!!

Was it floating???? Sounds like it by your description.