Floyds: Estd <=> DropD using fine tuners alone?
- Thread starter Adieu
- Start date
Rockstar216
New member
Re: Floyds: Estd <=> DropD using fine tuners alone?
Nope fine tuners wont cut it not long enough. You would have to use a D-Tuna device and even then it only works if your bridge is set up for dive only not floating.
Nope fine tuners wont cut it not long enough. You would have to use a D-Tuna device and even then it only works if your bridge is set up for dive only not floating.
J E C
New member
Re: Floyds: Estd <=> DropD using fine tuners alone?
I play all most exclusively in Drop-D. I have it set up with a floating OFR with 9s on a 25.5" scale, but with a .048" to a .052" (it depends on what they have in stock when I buy a new set) in place of the .042". Replacing the .042" with a string in that size range will give you a lot better tone, and the tension of it tuned to D will be similar to a .042" tuned to E. I came up with this 30 years ago by tuning my guitar to E standard then replacing the .042" with the next largest size and tuning it to D. Then replacing that one with the next larger size and tuning it to D, and so on until the rest of the guitar was in tune when that string was tuned to D. I think that happened with a .048" or .049". I have not tried tuning from Standard-E to Drop-D by using the fine tuner. That wouldn't work in my case, with it set up Floating.
I play all most exclusively in Drop-D. I have it set up with a floating OFR with 9s on a 25.5" scale, but with a .048" to a .052" (it depends on what they have in stock when I buy a new set) in place of the .042". Replacing the .042" with a string in that size range will give you a lot better tone, and the tension of it tuned to D will be similar to a .042" tuned to E. I came up with this 30 years ago by tuning my guitar to E standard then replacing the .042" with the next largest size and tuning it to D. Then replacing that one with the next larger size and tuning it to D, and so on until the rest of the guitar was in tune when that string was tuned to D. I think that happened with a .048" or .049". I have not tried tuning from Standard-E to Drop-D by using the fine tuner. That wouldn't work in my case, with it set up Floating.
Re: Floyds: Estd <=> DropD using fine tuners alone?
Nono, not with a dtuner... And trem set to float.
Tried it just now, ALMOST got it (couple cents flat on the low E) - guitar was tuned to DropD with all fine tuners as far "out" as they go. Managed to get a low E with the fine tuner almost all the way down, but the other 5 floated flat, and after adjusting them, even with the LowE's fine tuner all the way down, it wad still a teeeeensy bit flat (other strings' fine tuners had to go down about halfway, btw)
The guitar: ESP Eclipse (OFR), DR DDT 11-54s, neck set to no visible relief whatsoever, action set superlow
...now, I was wondering if tweaks to string gauge, action, neck relief, etc. could get me those extra couple cents out of the lowE fine tuner. Or, hey, maybe a longer thumbscrew??
Nono, not with a dtuner... And trem set to float.
Tried it just now, ALMOST got it (couple cents flat on the low E) - guitar was tuned to DropD with all fine tuners as far "out" as they go. Managed to get a low E with the fine tuner almost all the way down, but the other 5 floated flat, and after adjusting them, even with the LowE's fine tuner all the way down, it wad still a teeeeensy bit flat (other strings' fine tuners had to go down about halfway, btw)
The guitar: ESP Eclipse (OFR), DR DDT 11-54s, neck set to no visible relief whatsoever, action set superlow
...now, I was wondering if tweaks to string gauge, action, neck relief, etc. could get me those extra couple cents out of the lowE fine tuner. Or, hey, maybe a longer thumbscrew??
Rockstar216
New member
Re: Floyds: Estd <=> DropD using fine tuners alone?
I get what you're trying to do but your not going to get to Drop D and back to E with just using the fine tuners. I've done hours upon hours of research about how to go about getting a guitar with a (FLOATING floyd) from E to Drop D and back and this is what I have come up with.
Your going to need one of these two devices.
1. A tremol-no. They have three variations but either one will work with a floyd.
2. A D-Tuna
Once the Tremol-no is installed this will allow the guitar to be put in one of three modes.
1.Floating
2.Dive only
3.Hardtail
When the guitar is in Hardtail or Dive only mode you can tune to drop D or any other tuning with out to many problems. Hardtail is ideal for that. BUT if you want to go back to floating you HAVE TO tune back to which ever tuning it was set up to in the beginning or your in for a load of trouble.
Now the other way would be to install a D-tuna but you would only be able to use it if your bridge is blocked off or you have a flat mount floyd. So you would really want the Tremol-no anyway for this to make it a whole lot easier.
Now with the Tremol-no and D-Tuna installed you can get to Drop D and back to E with little to no hassle. BUT like I stated before you have to put the guitar in either Dive only or Hardtail mode before using the D-Tuna and you have put the guitar back to standard before going back to floating.
If you want to be in Drop D with a Floating Floyd you're going to have to set it up and string it up like that from the beginning but your not going to be able to go back and forth.
I get what you're trying to do but your not going to get to Drop D and back to E with just using the fine tuners. I've done hours upon hours of research about how to go about getting a guitar with a (FLOATING floyd) from E to Drop D and back and this is what I have come up with.
Your going to need one of these two devices.
1. A tremol-no. They have three variations but either one will work with a floyd.
2. A D-Tuna
Once the Tremol-no is installed this will allow the guitar to be put in one of three modes.
1.Floating
2.Dive only
3.Hardtail
When the guitar is in Hardtail or Dive only mode you can tune to drop D or any other tuning with out to many problems. Hardtail is ideal for that. BUT if you want to go back to floating you HAVE TO tune back to which ever tuning it was set up to in the beginning or your in for a load of trouble.
Now the other way would be to install a D-tuna but you would only be able to use it if your bridge is blocked off or you have a flat mount floyd. So you would really want the Tremol-no anyway for this to make it a whole lot easier.
Now with the Tremol-no and D-Tuna installed you can get to Drop D and back to E with little to no hassle. BUT like I stated before you have to put the guitar in either Dive only or Hardtail mode before using the D-Tuna and you have put the guitar back to standard before going back to floating.
If you want to be in Drop D with a Floating Floyd you're going to have to set it up and string it up like that from the beginning but your not going to be able to go back and forth.
Last edited:
