tremolo controversy

June 8, 2008 8:55 AM

tremolofilter: Floyd Rose pros and cons

I'm feeling some 80s-guitar gear nostalgia. I used to have a Charvel with the Floyd Rose-licensed tremolo and I'm thinking of getting one again for old times' sake. As I recall it was pretty fun to play. Stylewise it's several miles from what I do now but that's part of the appeal I guess.

Anyway, I don't remember the tremolo being a pain, but I read horror stories now about upkeep and setup. I can do basic adjustments on a guitar, but I'm no guitar tech. If you go with the non-floating, single-locking type is it really that complicated?

As always, I go to the mefi nation instead of the guitar forums because there's a bit more perspective here.

posted by mundy to Media & Arts (2 answers total)

They're not that complicated to maintain, as long as you don't make drastic changes after they set it up for you. I remember putting heavy strings on a guitar with one of those Floyd Rose type things, and they yanked the bridge an inch off of the body.
posted by ignignokt at 10:49 AM on June 8, 2008

I always struggled with my FR II until a guitar tech added 2 more springs in the back - (there were 3 but there are 5 'slots) especially with heavier guage strings. It improved immeasurably. However, I've almost never used the locking nuts, and left them off. The little micro tuners on the trem were enough for 2 or 3 hours heavy playing, other wise i just tuned at the machine heads normally.

So anyway, more springs = good for me.
posted by daveyt at 3:59 AM on June 9, 2008