Difference in FR trems

[steve_k]

Curious about Floyd Rose tremelos. I have never been a big fan of them, mainly because of the need for alt tunings and the various pain in the nuts associated with that. Nor, have I been much of a dime bomber. But, I have a few guitars equipped with them.

I must say, the one's on the Anderson guitars are hands down 10x better than what is on my Charvel CS. They look the same, but damn sure don't feel the same. Some are good, some are crap, even down to the tuner screws. Maybe some guitar companies just slap them on and some actually take the time to condition them.

So, it has me wondering if there are different grades of Floyd's, manufacture, etc. that one needs to watch for and questions to be asked, upgrades, home remedies, etc. Hopefully, Floyd doesn't have a factory in Beijing (Froid Rose).


Steve

 

[Tawlks]

I thought that Suhr's have a Gotoh floyds?

 

[EXPcustom]

Original made in Germany Floyd Rose is what I like best. It says made in Germany right on it and it does not have "liscened by Floyd Rose" engraved on it by the fine tuners. I know lots of people say good things about the Gotoh ones that Suhr uses but I always thought those were sub-par compared to the real Floyd Roses.

 

[steve_k]

OK. Will have a look. I am fairly pissed at Charvel and Music Zoo. I know damn well the guitar wasn't set up. They could have done with a little post-install maintenance on the FR, the fine tuners we rough running in and out and the familiar spring interference. But, took it apart and it is good to go now. The action was set way to low as well and not sure it was even tuned. Piss poor if you ask me.

At the opposite end of the spectrum. I haven't even had to re-tune the Anderson yet. A small adjustment on the bottom E string. This, after about 5 days. And, the FR is smooth as Irish band-aid skin.

 

[Doubleneck]

I'm not sure what the difference is between the Floyd on your Anderson and the the other guitars you own.

If a Floyd isn't set-up correctly it doesn't work well, all of my guitars equipped with a Floyd Rose have been set-up professionally by my guitar tech and work very well, maybe that's the problem your encountering?

I don't really use the Floyd for dive bombs etc...I just love the tuning stability of a Floyd Rose.

 

[steve_k]

I'm not sure what the difference is between the Floyd on your Anderson and the the other guitars you own.

If a Floyd isn't set-up correctly it doesn't work well, all of my guitars equipped with a Floyd Rose have been set-up professionally by my guitar tech and work very well, maybe that's the problem your encountering?

I don't really use the Floyd for dive bombs etc...I just love the tuning stability of a Floyd Rose.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I am looking for....stability. And, you hit the nail on the head of Anderson vs. Charvel/Music Zoo. A professional concerned about QA/QC vs. discounted retailers looking to move more guitars than anyone else with shitty to no service. They may just ship them without setting them up. Then, its on Charvel. It will be the last one from them.

Steve

 

[Doubleneck]

Original made in Germany Floyd Rose is what I like best. It says made in Germany right on it and it does not have "liscened by Floyd Rose" engraved on it by the fine tuners. I know lots of people say good things about the Gotoh ones that Suhr uses but I always thought those were sub-par compared to the real Floyd Roses.

I own a Suhr Modern with a Gotoh Floyd, a 1998 Peavey Wolfgang with whatever Floyd they are using, a Wayne Charvel Rock Legend with an original Made in Germany Floyd Rose & a Charvel USA Production guitar with whatever Floyd they are using, and they ALL work & sound great?

Please explain how the Gotoh is sub-par?

 

[Stramm8]

Is the Charvel you have a production or custom model? I think the production/promods come with a cheap-ass floyd copy. I would definately look at the bottom of the floyd to make sure it's german made. I am fairly confident Anderson would use an original german floyd or a gotoh. The gotohs are nice but I prefer the "original" fwiw...

 

[Motorpud]

I was talking to an unnamed builder a few months back and he was telling me that he has been replacing OFRs with Gotohs lately because the Gotohs are just better. He said the OFRs that have been coming out are inconsistent and just not that good lately. I haven't used a Gotoh floyd in ages so I can't comment personally

 

[steve_k]

Is the Charvel you have a production or custom model? I think the production/promods come with a cheap-ass floyd copy. I would definately look at the bottom of the floyd to make sure it's german made. I am fairly confident Anderson would use an original german floyd or a gotoh. The gotohs are nice but I prefer the "original" fwiw...

No, its a Custom Shop model. Should have the OFR. But, now I got to check.........

Gotoh, Kahler, or OFR...I wouldn't mind which, as long as it has been checked out before leaving the shop and worthy of being on a custom shop guitar. So much for bitching. Its not bad, just a noticeable difference in produced volume (Charvel) vs. quality (Anderson). There was only about $500 difference in price but that's nothing compared to the difference in playability. Fender just can't get shit right in any of their business lines.

Steve

 

[shadowfax29]

This post is a few years old now so things could have changed but who knows. This was posted by Suhr over at Huge Racks in regards to OFR vs Gotoh floyds

What are some of the issues you're seeing with the new Original Floyds? :?:



You have a few days?
1) sometimes the back of the saddle is too tall preventing the fine tuner from having a full range of motion.
2) The way the string leaves the saddle it does not have a firm break off point, the string slides around in the saddle. This changes the intonation, buzzes and can just sound bad. We have to get a detail dremel bit and re-controur the saddle with magnifiers on to see what we are doing. we have to do this on them all
3) fine tuners pinched too course and are rough many times
4) Saddle heights uneven requiring regrinding or shimming
5) Roll away at nut not correct making the string not leave the nut edge where it is supposed to leave. This also screws with intonation and the strings can buzz when played open.
6) Casting bumps in the nut slots which have to be ground off, mayb e 1 out of 5
7) Saddle to rear section of the saddle is sloppy, this cause string buzz, saddle pin has to be removed and saddle pinched to tighten it up.
8) Hold plates that hold the blocks up are not pushed up far enough so sometimes the screw pin doesnt align up with the hole in the block and you wind up cracking the block.
9) Sometimes the arms start to wiggle and there isnt much you can do since the cap on top is snug
10) I'm sure there are a few other things I'm leaving out....

They are a pain, I wish Kahler would make Floyds again I have no idea what is stopping them since the patent has run out.

But at the same time, I have an Anderson with an OFR and have zero problems with it, plus I trust Tom just as much as I'd trust Suhr, I really can't see him putting something on one of his guitars if there was a better option. So who knows.

 

[gbsmusic]

Original made in Germany Floyd Rose is what I like best. It says made in Germany right on it and it does not have "liscened by Floyd Rose" engraved on it by the fine tuners. I know lots of people say good things about the Gotoh ones that Suhr uses but I always thought those were sub-par compared to the real Floyd Roses.

I agree and I always put the oversized brass block on them, 42mm if it will fit. Makes a huge difference.

 

[steve_k]

Original made in Germany Floyd Rose is what I like best. It says made in Germany right on it and it does not have "liscened by Floyd Rose" engraved on it by the fine tuners. I know lots of people say good things about the Gotoh ones that Suhr uses but I always thought those were sub-par compared to the real Floyd Roses.

I agree and I always put the oversized brass block on them, 42mm if it will fit. Makes a huge difference.

Just got done with an order from Killer Guitar Components. Great little store by the way. Ordered a 3/4" x 42" brass block, brass claw and Graph Tech string saver saddles. That should turn the Hyundai into a Hemi.

Steve

 

[steve_k]

I've always ordered OFR's directly from Steve at http://www.prorockgear.com and have never had a problem. TMZ seems shady, union represented?

Thanks for the linkage. Not sure about TMZ labor.


Steve

 

[JackTripper]

Original made in Germany Floyd Rose is what I like best. It says made in Germany right on it and it does not have "liscened by Floyd Rose" engraved on it by the fine tuners. I know lots of people say good things about the Gotoh ones that Suhr uses but I always thought those were sub-par compared to the real Floyd Roses.

+1 on the German ones, I have about 13 guitars with German OFR's on them and they are the best, I have a couple from the early 80s that are just butter. Never been impressed with the licensed ones.

Charvels CSs typically have a 12" radius fretboard, which is what the OFR is set up for (without bridge shim). So it should be a perfect match.

Not sure why it's not working for you, may simply just need to be setup properly.

 

[gbsmusic]

Original made in Germany Floyd Rose is what I like best. It says made in Germany right on it and it does not have "liscened by Floyd Rose" engraved on it by the fine tuners. I know lots of people say good things about the Gotoh ones that Suhr uses but I always thought those were sub-par compared to the real Floyd Roses.

I agree and I always put the oversized brass block on them, 42mm if it will fit. Makes a huge difference.

Just got done with an order from Killer Guitar Components. Great little store by the way. Ordered a 3/4" x 42" brass block, brass claw and Graph Tech string saver saddles. That should turn the Hyundai into a Hemi.

Steve

 

[nighttrain69]

i had all the upgrades done on my caparison equipped floyd ,and i can tell ya it makes a huge difference , im not a dive bomber either..but the guitar was noticably louder when played unplugged and thru an amp, the guitar cut more and no noise,was very happy with the upgrades

 

[steve_k]

Thanks for the info. When I get done upgrading this one, the only stock component will be the trem bar.......ordered the big block to so it won't pull back.

And, pulled it from the classifieds. The body is pretty cool and a rough finish. Frets could use a wipe with some emery cloth. Gonna toss the EVH signed limited edition relic pick up in the bridge too. Finally found somewhere to put it. After sinking more money into it, I will list if for.......um.............$4500.





Steve