Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

[rockerrocker]

Hello everybody, so I got my Floyd Rose set up just the way I like, but I find that when I bend one string, the other strings go down in pitch, so for example if I'm bending one string up a tone and then going straight to a non-bent fret on the next string (while holding the original bend), the non-bent note goes a semitone lower.

Obviously its a case of the extra tension on one string having a knock on effect on the whole bridge and slacken it off. I can't put more tension in the springs because it will throw my action out of whack.

So I pilfer a couple of springs from another guitar and re-set up the trem, this time with 5 springs - more rigidity. It helped the issue a small amount but did not have the effect I was after.

Does anyone know how I can get more rigidity into the trem - basically making it harder to bend 'down' without having to increase tension on the springs? Are there 'extra stiff' springs I can get hold of? If so, what should I be searching for as I don't seem to be able to find anything on google/ebay. Or is this just something I have to deal with (or, more likely, give up on floating trems)?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

Block the floyd and add extra springs. This keeps the floyd in place while letting you bend and keep other notes in tune. You can't do this if you're trying to keep a floating setup.

What gauge of string are you using? I find that four springs with .11 - 52 on my Charvel will hold in tune for pedal steel type licks. I just used whatever allparts springs the music store had at the time . . .

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

That's what Strat-style vibratos do. You just need to learn to bend the second string up as well.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

Usually ppl try to loosen up a FR not stiffen it. Higher string gauge will stiffen your floyd. But won't solve the problem of bending and other strings getting out of tune.

 

[LogicallyInsane]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

I've been jonesing for a tremol-no myself ... allows you to bend without any other strings losing pitch, also helps it stay in tune better.. its got fairly good reviews, although I can't give you my own, because I ain't purchased it yet. Lol. Id at least give that a look if I were you.. allows you to have a floating tremolo, a dive only tremolo, or you can lock it off completely..

Sent from my LGL75C using Tapatalk 2

 

[rockerrocker]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

Thanks for the advice so far, people.

LOL yea I know most people want it all floppy, and I tried to set it up like that at first, but I just found there were too many disadvantages as far as I was concerned.

I have played a strat for a good 20 years and I've never had this issue with it, or at least not to the extent that I notice it. Then again, I keep a hell of a lot of tension on my springs which essentalli makes it close to a hard tail.

That Tremono looks very interesting, could be the answer and it's adjustability would be good for switching to songs where I need the trem arm. Also looks like something that I could make fairly simply.

I still think springs that are harder to stretch will solve my problems though... I'm not bothered about using a bit of muscle for a dive, as I said I keep my strat nice and tight anyway, I like it that way. But I can't get on with this bending issue. It sounds awful. So if anyone knows of anything...............

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

There's also something called a tremsetter that used to be sold (maybe they still are). It works to even out small fluctuations by acting like a stablizer and still lets you bend both up and down.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

Tremol-no is a good product. I've used it no two guitars and would recommend it. I don't notice the problem with bending too badly on my Jackson when I have it free floating though. Lol maybe my ear is just bad of I've gotten into the habit of bending the other string and don't know it.

 

[LogicallyInsane]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

I've got some pretty stiff springs in my washburn tremolo right now, and I still have the issue with the bending string changing the pitch of others. Which is the whole reason I'm jonesing for the tremol-no. Lol.

I had a hipshot tremsetter in it at one point, and frankly you have to be a rocket scientist to get that thing to work right apparently. So I don't recommend it. Lol.

Stiffer springs might work for you, but in my case they didn't. As far as finding them, I just went thru allparts and eBay for various different ones, and went with the stiffest feeling ones out of the group and threw the others in my cheapo strat copy/parts bin..
Sent from my LGL75C using Tapatalk 2

 

[rockerrocker]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

Ok, looking at my strat trem, it seems the reason I have never had this problem before is that I have a lot of tension in my springs, but the trem does not 'pull up' very far, as the tension in the springs hold the trem against the body of the guitar - diving is possible, but more difficult than on a floating trem, and the problem with pedal steel style bending is eliminated.

So, do I want a fully functioning floating trem, or a guitar that works properly for my playing style? I'll take the second one please!

I'm thinking what I will try first is to place a block of woodbetween the tremolo block and the main body of the guitar, in front of the block. This will stop me being able to perform pull ups, but as I'm used to the strat setup anyway, I only really use the whammy to do dives so this doesn't really bother me. I will then put loads of tension on my springs by tightening the screws a bunch; the wood block (obviously cut to the right size so as to keep my optimum action) will stop the tremolo from being pulled back too much, I will still be able to perform dives and the added tension on the springs should stop strings going out on bends. If required, I can simply remove the block for full-floating trem as it will be kept in place by tension and being 'blocked in' by the springs acting as a cage. It may even rest against the springs and go a way to eliminating noise from spring vibration!

So that's the plan. I would like a tremol-no, but they dont seem to sell them here (UK) so the shipping is putting one out of my current budget.

Anyone any ideas why I shouldn't do this? Thanks all.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

I'm thinking what I will try first is to place a block of woodbetween the tremolo block and the main body of the guitar, in front of the block. This will stop me being able to perform pull ups, but as I'm used to the strat setup anyway, I only really use the whammy to do dives so this doesn't really bother me. I will then put loads of tension on my springs by tightening the screws a bunch; the wood block (obviously cut to the right size so as to keep my optimum action) will stop the tremolo from being pulled back too much, I will still be able to perform dives and the added tension on the springs should stop strings going out on bends. If required, I can simply remove the block for full-floating trem as it will be kept in place by tension and being 'blocked in' by the springs acting as a cage.

Yes. Blocking the trem and adding extra springs for greater tension will work. . .

Block the floyd and add extra springs. This keeps the floyd in place while letting you bend and keep other notes in tune. You can't do this if you're trying to keep a floating setup.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Stiffening a floyd/floating trem?

I'm thinking what I will try first is to place a block of woodbetween the tremolo block and the main body of the guitar, in front of the block. This will stop me being able to perform pull ups, but as I'm used to the strat setup anyway, I only really use the whammy to do dives so this doesn't really bother me. I will then put loads of tension on my springs by tightening the screws a bunch; the wood block (obviously cut to the right size so as to keep my optimum action) will stop the tremolo from being pulled back too much, I will still be able to perform dives and the added tension on the springs should stop strings going out on bends. If required, I can simply remove the block for full-floating trem as it will be kept in place by tension and being 'blocked in' by the springs acting as a cage. It may even rest against the springs and go a way to eliminating noise from spring vibration!

Let me correct a couple of issues here. The wooden stop-block does not affect your action in any way. It eliminates tremolo pull-up range completely, it's a dive-only setup. The stop-block should rest against the sustain block, but the springs need clearance for dives. Use rubber tubing or masking tape for muting the springs. Good luck.