Floyd rose special for shaller

Paul64

New member
Sorry if this has been mentioned before I have trawled through old posts and still not sure about this. My son has a Dean Ml made in china , with a Floyd rose special attached , but Im not sure its the real deal . 20 seconds of whammy bar use and its out of tune , a string to f , d and g out .
Its stays in tune if you dont touch that floyd . its been to a Luthier for a set up truss rod and other bits adjusting , im useless with anything other than a hardtail .
So is this floyd a chinese copy? as its useless .
Well his birthday is due and I thought I would buy a Schller floyd rose unit to replace it , will it be a straight swap , so not to waste money and it dont fit the guitar .
Dean ML Far beyond driven model .
Thanks for any advice .
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

I’m assuming that you have properly stretched the strings before locking the nut? Yes?
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

New strings on when came back from Luthier , all was well for a while till now. JUst wont stay in tune at all .
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

I wouldn't be alarmed if the knife edges were worn. Does tuning "come back" when you pull the bar back up or down?

If the edges are worn, you can carefully file them.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

no tuning doesnt come back , I know its a grover FR but not sure on how they last to be honest .
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

First off the thick plate Schaller Floyds have fought with for years. They were used on Gibsons, Washburn USA guitars and on some of the Carvins back in the late 1980's - mid 1990's I have owned and I HATE THOSE SYSTEMS!!! 2 consistent issues I have had with that system. 1- base plate is made from soft metal and the saddle screws will strip really easily. 2 for what ever reason have had consistent issues with the saddles on those systems holding strings. Just a few days ago was fighting one on my early production Washburn USA MG 104 and had 2 strings that would not hold so had to remove and clean /oil the blocks from the saddles. Had that issue at some point with every single one of those systems I have owned!!
STAY AWAY FROM THOSE THICK PLATE SCHALLER FLOYD'S THEY ARE JUNK!! The real OFR built by Schaller is a nice unit but the think plate versions are NOT!
Use only the OFR system or the higher end Ghotos if you want long term stability. They are by far the best 2 units in current production.
These are the units I prefer from Ghoto.
https://www.amazon.com/Gotoh-Floyd-...d=1515428947&sr=8-1&keywords=floyd+rose+gotoh
 
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Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

Nothing stays in tune like an original 1984 Floyd rose. They are pricey, but I feel it is worth all of the money.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

First off the thick plate Schaller Floyds have fought with for years. They were used on Gibsons, Washburn USA guitars and on some of the Carvins back in the late 1980's - mid 1990's I have owned and I HATE THOSE SYSTEMS!!! 2 consistent issues I have had with that system. 1- base plate is made from soft metal and the saddle screws will strip really easily. 2 for what ever reason have had consistent issues with the saddles on those systems holding strings. Just a few days ago was fighting one on my early production Washburn USA MG 104 and had 2 strings that would not hold so had to remove and clean /oil the blocks from the saddles. Had that issue at some point with every single one of those systems I have owned!!
STAY AWAY FROM THOSE THICK PLATE SCHALLER FLOYD'S THEY ARE JUNK!! The real OFR built by Schaller is a nice unit but the think plate versions are NOT!
Use only the OFR system or the higher end Ghotos if you want long term stability. They are by far the best 2 units in current production.
These are the units I prefer from Ghoto.
https://www.amazon.com/Gotoh-Floyd-...d=1515428947&sr=8-1&keywords=floyd+rose+gotoh

They have different spec levels, though. From what I've heard, their higher end "Lockermeister" series is very good, on par with OFR but slightly friendlier price tag.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

I love the German Floyds, but, bang-for-the-buck, the Gotoh system is truly unbeatable
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

You can get a new Floyd Rose Special which gets a hardened steel base plate, but zinc saddles and block for $90. This is more than adequate unless you want to spend twice as much for the all steel version (German).

Before anyone starts to poo-poo the Special, remember that the Ibanez edge comes with zinc saddles and block.

The Gotoh version is also an excellent option, but about $30 more and parts are not quite as plentiful as the Floyd.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

Thats an option, but after youd buy ofr saddles and block then youre back up to about $140-150 which you can get a nice used Original Floyd for that...
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

Thats an option, but after youd buy ofr saddles and block then youre back up to about $140-150 which you can get a nice used Original Floyd for that...

There would be no reason to change the saddles or the block.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

The Floyd Rose Special has a hardened base plate, but comes with zinc saddles and a cast metal trem block. The saddles and trem block are the weak links on that unit, so it doesnt make sense to me to spend money to upgrade one when there are used OFR's all over the place for sale in the $120-150 range. (Musicgoround,reverb,ebay,etc..)

I get what youre saying, but to me it isnt a viable solution.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

There is nothing wrong with the FRS, but back up a second. I think the FBD comes with the special, no?

The special is the same basic design that comes on all the Ibanez, and the exact same bridge that comes on all the Floyd Fenders.

There is something else causing the guitar to go out so quickly.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

I would put the money you would spend on a new floyd rose system and pro installation towards buying a better guitar.
 
Re: Floyd rose special for shaller

It my sons Guitar , and he likes it , I bought a Dimebucker and had that installed . The floyd is the weakest link in the chain at present .
He has a Gibson junior , Ibanez s series , so hes ok with what he has , just need the Ml to be sorted .
 
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