Floyd's

[Securb]

Wooden clothes pins disassembled work well as a block. You put them together with the angled sites facing so you can adjust the tension.

I got one of these blockers I love it. It stabilizes the tremolo but if you want to pull up you still can.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Sounds like you are changing one string at a time, which works pretty easy. It's when you need to replace the whole set and clean up the guitar (requiring all strings to be off at once) that it's more of a pain.

Ive done that plenty of times, too. If you put the same gauge strings back on, it’s no big deal.

 

[dystrust]

I always preferred Kahlers.

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Me too. I always hated Floyds until I set one up dive-only.

 

[JamesPaul]

Maybe I just need to get better with the Floyd. But for now it's the clipping the strings, locking them in the saddle and the fine tuning. The Floyd floats more freely and I push it sharp just turning the fine tuners. All these combine to make it a more lengthy process for me.

With the Kahlers, I'm just dropping the string in. They don't float free enough to cause any fine tuning trouble.

I think all the stretching, tuning, repeating and locking in between are about equal between the two. There doesn't seem to be any adjusting required since I'm not changing string brand or gauge.

But the Floyd does do a better "Cricket" thanks to that more freely floating bridge.

Next time one of my Kahlers or my Floyd needs a string change, I'll do both and time them to see how bad it is.

 

[Demanic]

I got one of these blockers I love it. It stabilizes the tremolo but if you want to pull up you still can.

I like using 5 springs.

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[Lucius Paisley]

You can't see it too well, but Sean Hart (Tartar Control) has what is referred to as a Mini-Floyd.


He lost one of the plates that is supposed to hold in the string and so just puts them through like a standard trem, but it still floats and does what it's supposed to.

 

[JamesPaul]

I like using 5 springs.

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5? Where's the symmetry in that? When you have 6 places for strings. :laugh2:​​​​​

 

[Demanic]

5? Where's the symmetry in that? When you have 6 places for strings. :laugh2:​​​​​

Well, if you take a look at the block, there are only 5 holes for the spring ends to go into.

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[dave74]

I use a small metal plate which is padded on the bottom. It is more like a ramp, really, and it fits between the saddle length adjustment screws and the body, keeping the bridge plate parallel to the body when you change strings.

I used to just fold up a cloth to about the right thickness and do the same thing. That way it's soft on both sides.
Taking the bridge off completely only takes a minute longer each way (so a couple total), and it completely spares all the pressure on the bottom.






If you (anyone in-general) do jam something under the unit, be careful to not be bending inward those little metal things that contact the underside of the block-lock screws.
That is sometimes the cause of pesky vibrations people often gripe about with floyds. (when you get the fine-tuner knob almost all the way down it will stop vibrating because it's tight like it should be)
Those should be straight or curved outward and hold tight against the bottom of the long screw throughout the fine-tuner knob's range up and down.

 

[Mincer]

https://www.shredneckstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=46

This is what I use, and it is padded on both sides, and tapered on one to get the right angle. The pic doesn't show the bridge as parallel, but it can be kept that way. But, you shouldn't have to buy something like this (or wedge a rag under there), OR remove the springs to properly take the strings off the guitar. It is a system in need of a re-design.

 

[PFDarkside]

I have one of these that I use when changing strings. Can't recall when I got it but it was probably 25 or so years ago. Definitely after I purchased my Baretta.

Changing the strings isn't too bad for me. I don't playing a Floyd equipped guitar as my main one anyway. Though it is dive-only, I find this tool very helpful with getting to the string lock allen screws on the back. Once they are changed, remove the block, stretch them out, tune up, stretch, tune. Rinse and repeat until they are stable, lock the nut, fine tune if necessary.

https://www.shredneckstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=46

I really like the way this guitar looks...

 

[Securb]

Truth be told I find changing the strings on a Bigsby more of a pain in the ass than the Floyd.

 

[Leon Of Late]

Fortunately (or unfortunately), thanks to this thread, t purchased both the Trem Lock Trem Blocker and the ESP Arming Adjuster. I wanted to buy the Rockinger Black Box Tremolo Stabilzer, but I could only find the brand name on Reverb shipped from Germany for crazy shipping prices. I found the site below that gave a decent list of products on the market and reviews of each. Not written in the best English, but I got what I needed out of it and thought the Rockinger was the best, but was ok with the ESP as runner up. I don’t do a lot of whammy work anyhow, so I don’t need maximum flexibility and flutter capability. This was/is a good thread.

https://guitarfretbuzz.com/best-tremolo-stabilizer

 

[Securb]

Did you also get the tool set for the back of the headstock if not time to go back to shopping.

 

[Leon Of Late]

Ha, I already have that thankfully.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Truth be told I find changing the strings on a Bigsby more of a pain in the ass than the Floyd.

Agreed, and even less worth the hassle.