I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

[Xeromus]

so here's the update, took it to my tech, he leveled it for me, but due to the new strings probably, it's now a half step flat. When I try to tune up with the fine tuners I run out of room and the strings are still not up to pitch. I'm trying to avoid taking the tuning locks and repeat the same mistake I had last night. I'm mainly a fixed bridge man and this is driving me nuts, first time I had a problem with this on this guitar. Any tips?

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

I had to adjust the spring tension on mine the other day. First time ever. It happened right after we bought an air conditioner in our house, and my guess is that it's a temperature/humidity phenomenon. I had to do it to one Jackson (USA with Original Floyd), but not the other (MIJ w/Licensed) so go figure.

After I changed strings the Floyd was pointing down a bit. So I had to go in and tighten the tremelo springs, tune again, tighten again, tune again etc. Like a balancing act until everything was right.

So, if the season has changed, temperature, humidity or whatever you might have to go through this.

I think your tech should reset it for you no charge, with strings tuned to standard. That's what you paid him for. If he's welching on the deal, bag out on him.

You can learn to tame your Floyd with enough patience and trial and error. One thing is... I don't think you can hurt it.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

yeah he did it for free for me, maybe I"ll take it back in tomorrow if I can't get it right. I can't tune up and get all the strings in tune without it lifting the bridge.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

the hell with this, if I have to mess with this guitar this much I might just sell it and say the hell with floyd rose all over again.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

okay I'm officially super pissed :grumble:

I'm putting the guitar down for the night. I'll take it back in tomorrow.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

just put it down, thats the best solution. just relax and watch tv or something for the rest of the day, i was the same a couple of days ago. but then again, im like that everey time i change strings,.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

Of course, if the intonation, action, or angle of the Floyd is off, it'll never be quite right, but provided those are set up properly....

Unlock the nut, then set all the fine tuners to a middle position. I usually have them fairly high, so I have plenty of room to tune sharp, once the nut is locked down.
Then, tune the guitar to pitch and play it for awhile, also stretching the new strings out. After it stays in tune fairly good, tighten the nut bolts, and re-check the tuning using the fine tuners. Wank hard on the bar up and down, even slacking the strings, then yanking up. Abuse it. Check the tuning again and make final adjustments. It should stay stable at that point. If not, make sure your tech really dialed in the intonation.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

Of course, if the intonation, action, or angle of the Floyd is off, it'll never be quite right, but provided those are set up properly....

Unlock the nut, then set all the fine tuners to a middle position. I usually have them fairly high, so I have plenty of room to tune sharp, once the nut is locked down.
Then, tune the guitar to pitch and play it for awhile, also stretching the new strings out. After it stays in tune fairly good, tighten the nut bolts, and re-check the tuning using the fine tuners. Wank hard on the bar up and down, even slacking the strings, then yanking up. Abuse it. Check the tuning again and make final adjustments. It should stay stable at that point. If not, make sure your tech really dialed in the intonation.

thanks joneser, you're always a help. Maybe something isn't quite right because I did that exactly, for quite some time, and they still would all stay flat no matter what I did. Maybe I should go back to 4 springs again, I had him take out one spring to try to loosen up the bar action which was great for a while. This is the first string change I did with that adjustment. Maybe that has something to do with it. I use .10's on this guitar too. Maybe I'm going to have to compromise flexibility of the bar for more tuning stability. Not even a couple of days ago it was spot-on, and nothing had been changed since, this problem only occured after putting on a new set of strings.

I always get really frustrated when working with a floyd rose so I always have the local guy do stuff like this for me. He's awesome and takes care of me all the time so I think I'll just bring it in to him tomorrow and see what he suggests. It's been a while since I had a floyd equipped guitar and I'm trying to get used to it again.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

It sounds like your strings are stretching, then falling flat after you lock down the bolts. Just don't lock them down till you can keep the guitar staying in tune with them unlocked. When unlocked, just stay off the trem bar. If it stays in tune unlocked, then it should be fine when locked, then fine tuned. Don't touch the springs because that'll throw off the intonation as well as change the bridge angle. The metal base plate on the Floyd should be perfectly level with the top of the guitar, when setup right.

 

[psy]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

Attach a "back box" and you'll be happy

 

[southadc]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

Mine eventually goes out of tune beyond what I can recover with the fine tuners, but I've never had a problem popping the lock-nut open to re-tune using the machineheads. I've done that continually for the last fe years, and when I took it for a set-up there was nothing really wrong with it. Something doesn't sound right there.

 

[some_dude]

Re: I still can't get my floyd rose into tune

Just loosen off the fine tuners and pop the string locks off and tune like you normally would with a hard tail. When it's in tune, pop the string locks back on and fine tune.

Properly set up, a Floyd should operate just fine with three springs in it. That's all I use in mine and it works fine.

www.floydrose.com - there's a faq there that has pics and sh*t that might help you out too.