Floyd Rose retrofit

A

Ahpook

New member
Hello everyone,

I am diving into a project I have wanted to do for quite a while which is fitting a Floyd Rose into my MIM Strat. I am comfortable (I Think :) ) with most of the procedures such as the nut replacement, etc. I am going to keep it dive only so not sure how much routing is going to be required under the bridge itself.

Anyway, my main concern is the trem posts are going to be fairly close to the pickup cavity. I am sure that area will need to be beefed up a bit. Any ideas on what could be used to strengthen the wood there so the posts don't rip or crack the wood? A strip of metal strapped in the PU cavity perhaps? Would metal play havoc with the JB's magnet ?

I know its a bit wacky but I have gone back and forth on this idea forever and just am going to go for it. I picked up the Strat body for cheap so nothing lost if it goes bad. I will have learned something regardless :)

Thanks in advance
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Ahpook said:
Anyway, my main concern is the trem posts are going to be fairly close to the pickup cavity.
Click to expand...

No super strat has this problem, why does yours have to be the exception ? Maybe dowel/plug the existing bridge pup cavity and make new cavity a little further from the posts? However if the wood is indeed weak, this is gonna back down anyways regardless from the distance from the cavity. In my Carvin the wood around the posts failed and my tech had to cut , remove a big piece of the old maple and fit a new harder piece of maple.

The same tech who fixed this (and til today is fully stable ) also fixed my 7-string : https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...Ibanez-UV70p-Thomann-does-not-want-to-replace , the one which @beaubrummels beaubrummels wished turned to dust. Still fully solid till today.
 
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Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Just do it. I've been wanting to but can't get off my lazy @$$.

And post pictures to motivate me.
 
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Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

greekdude said:
No super strat has this problem, why does yours have to be the exception ? Maybe dowel/plug the existing bridge pup cavity and make new cavity a little further from the posts? However if the wood is indeed weak, this is gonna back down anyways regardless from the distance from the cavity. In my Carvin the wood around the posts failed and my tech had to cut , remove a big piece of the old maple and fit a new harder piece of maple.

The same tech who fixed this (and til today is fully stable ) also fixed my 7-string : https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...Ibanez-UV70p-Thomann-does-not-want-to-replace , the one which @beaubrummels beaubrummels wished turned to dust. Still fully solid till today.
Click to expand...

It should be ok, but I have had an old Kramer split in that area. I had hoped to beef it up a bit while I was in there.

I did just get a tip from a buddy, though. He said to soak the end grain of that area in water thin CA glue. He said it will soak in and strengthen the wood considerably.

Sounds good to me :)
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

CA is brittle I am afraid, no elasticity, I had tried to beef up my carvin in various ways (epoxy, methylmethacrylate, etc), nothing worked, the floyd posts have to be mounted on solid hardwood.
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Ahpook said:
Anyway, my main concern is the trem posts are going to be fairly close to the pickup cavity. I am sure that area will need to be beefed up a bit.
Click to expand...


This has always been a problem for Stratocasters with OFR. The bridge post would creep forward and eventually pull out. Even the vintage style two-post was a problem on some swimming pool routes. (Ibanez had this problem with Basswood bodies)

I had this problem with my '90 Strat Plus and swapped in a Gotoh trem with larger diameter studs.

I don't know of a permanent fix other than an aftermarket body (or one with SSS routing)
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Ahpook said:
It should be ok, but I have had an old Kramer split in that area. I had hoped to beef it up a bit while I was in there.

I did just get a tip from a buddy, though. He said to soak the end grain of that area in water thin CA glue. He said it will soak in and strengthen the wood considerably.

Sounds good to me :)
Click to expand...

This was a problem with the old Kramers, since they were held in place using wood screws. These have later been swapped with studs and inserts, which is a far more stable and generally superior way to attach the bridge.
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Sirion said:
This was a problem with the old Kramers, since they were held in place using wood screws. These have later been swapped with studs and inserts, which is a far more stable and generally superior way to attach the bridge.
Click to expand...

I have the studs with inserts installed and the locking nut modification completed.

The FR nut is a bit janky as it hangs off the shelf by a small amount. It is solid, though!
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Sirion said:
This was a problem with the old Kramers, since they were held in place using wood screws. These have later been swapped with studs and inserts, which is a far more stable and generally superior way to attach the bridge.
Click to expand...

hahah my kramer is still the same, would not change this configuration unless broken!! And I bought it in 1990!
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Ahpook said:
I have the studs with inserts installed and the locking nut modification completed.

The FR nut is a bit janky as it hangs off the shelf by a small amount. It is solid, though!
Click to expand...

good job man, maybe you need R2 nut?
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

I thought that properly applied/clamped wood glue is usually stronger than the wood it is holding together. Or is that just for soft 2x4s?
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

greekdude said:
hahah my kramer is still the same, would not change this configuration unless broken!! And I bought it in 1990!
Click to expand...

I have a few as well, and none of them have ever needed a change. That said, you see broken ones every now and then.
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Well, the guitar is all done. It intonates well and the string height turned out fine after a small shim in the pocket. I've blocked it for dive only and have a D-Tuna on the way :)

One thing I did notice is more of a brittle tone coming out of the bridge pup now that the Floyd Rose is installed. Maybe not as punchy, perhaps? The pickup is a SH-11 Custom Custom. It's not terrible but the Floyd definitely altered things.

Any ideas? Throw a Jb in? :)
 
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Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Can you just EQ the amp differently? A JB is going to sound more brittle than a CC. If you were going to swap pickups, I'd go with an Invader.
 
Re: Floyd Rose retrofit

Mincer said:
Can you just EQ the amp differently? A JB is going to sound more brittle than a CC. If you were going to swap pickups, I'd go with an Invader.
Click to expand...

The reason I mentioned a JB is because I have one in my parts box. And you are certainly correct. Doubt it should be a replacement for the CC. I do like the CC!

Anyway, I have been adjusting some controls (Marshall DSL40c) and its seems much better. Still has this strange undertone when played acoustic and slightly there when amped. Its a rattle or ... I can't think of a word and can't diagnose

I may run some 10's on it since I tune this guitar half a step down.

Thanks for all the help
 
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