Floyd Rose vs. Original Trem

[Aristocat]

So aside from looks, I'm debating on which of the two to use on my Super Strat build.

I like to dive down mostly and I really do not need to dive up or flutter so that knocks the Floyd Rose out on that alone. At the same time, tuning is a big thing for me as with my Les Paul I'm considering 11's again because I knock the strings out of tune too often.

So question is, which of the two do you guys prefer and why?

I'm gonna be using it most Dokken/VH etc. applications and a Floyd would be supreme there but I'm trying to do this cheaply.

Another question is that is the Floyd Special a horrible investment or could I get by with that for the interim knowing that I'm going to upgrade to an Original or a Gotoh/Schaller down the line.

Thanks for the help,

-Domenic

 

[maddnotez]

Well from a stay in tune standpoint I only have 2 comparisons.

I love my S540 but the lo pro edge, although feels amazing just doesnt stay in tune.

However any floyd I have ever had, licensed or not stayed in tune very well.

 

[Aristocat]

Well from a stay in tune standpoint I only have 2 comparisons.

I love my S540 but the lo pro edge, although feels amazing just doesnt stay in tune.

However any floyd I have ever had, licensed or not stayed in tune very well.

That's the thing. I've always been an LP guy and while I love Strats, I tend to knock them out of tune fairly easily. I used to have a Charvette that was pretty cool and it was non-floyd so it kept pretty well in tune.

Even if I got a Floyd, I'd get a Tremol-No and keep it in Dive Only/Hard Tail mode.

I want to get a body with a non recessed cavity and rear routes so I don't have to go back and do any drilling etc. later on.

 

[AndyK]

It wouldn't be a super Strat without a Floyd! It would be a regular Strat.

 

[maddnotez]

If the build is nice, I would go all out and get the German OFR

 

[xzyryabx]

can you do a strat type bridge with locking tuners and locking nut?

 

[blackie13]

I used a PING FLoyd Rose for years before the Gotoh...
It was amazing...
Love the new gotoh too...
Got the ping for 140$ I think...

 

[Aristocat]

It'll be bitchin'

I honestly want to make the most outlandish Super Strat I can. I'm thinking of either swirling, copying Lynch's M1/Bengal Tiger or doing a purple body with gold hardware.

A customer once said they wanted a purple drum set because it's the color of royalty . I would emblazon that on the back in a heartbeat.

I want a cheap but reliable Floyd. I know that's an opposing statement as well. I'm not opposed to Gotoh/Schaller etc. I'm gonna Tremol-No it anyway so it's more about the 'look'. I want to do a single humbucker in the bridge but I'm gonna drill for coil/reverse phase and series/parallel. I may or may not install a tone control as I can get into a more mild territory with the switches.

It's gonna be in the Super Strat vein but it'll also be a workhorse as my Les Paul is too unreliable. I did just get the LP refretted with SS wire thankfully. I've had eight fret dressings in the two and a half years that I've owned it. Never doing that shit again and thankfully I've done them all so it saved me some money.

 

[rupe]

If you aren't well-versed in keeping a vintage style trem in tune, go with a Floyd...you'll be cursing yourself later if you don't.

 

[NinjaRaf]

What about locking tuners? Or just throw a locking nut on there. I love floyds, but it doesnt sound like you need one. A locking nut would solve all of your tuning issues.

 

[Aristocat]

If you aren't well-versed in keeping a vintage style trem in tune, go with a Floyd...you'll be cursing yourself later if you don't.

I think it's because of my technique.

I have an aggressive right hand and I do a lot of runs/bends. When I put some locking tuners on my old Strat; problem solved!

I'm most likely going Floyd. I just hate setting up and maintaining Floyd's.

 

[Aristocat]

What about locking tuners? Or just throw a locking nut on there. I love floyds, but it doesnt sound like you need one. A locking nut would solve all of your tuning issues.

That's a solid idea as well.

I think a Floyd just looks classic on a hot rodded Strat.

Could I use a standard trem and then put in a Floyd later on or will the dimensions be different?

 

[bulletproof_funk]

Just looking at the Warmoth site section on body routes you may have some issues trying to accommodate both traditional and FR trems as it doesn't look like the routs are similar enough, although you may be able to have a large enough cavity routed for both (may not look that nice though). Also if you're going to top-mount the Floyd (i.e. no recessed cavity) you'd probably have to get an angled neck pocket to properly align the neck with the taller FR bridge saddle height or possibly shim afterwards. In short it'd be the least fuss to choose one or the other up front unless you want to go all EVH.

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Op ... tions.aspx

 

[Aristocat]

Just looking at the Warmoth site section on body routes you may have some issues trying to accommodate both traditional and FR trems as it doesn't look like the routs are similar enough, although you may be able to have a large enough cavity routed for both (may not look that nice though). Also if you're going to top-mount the Floyd (i.e. no recessed cavity) you'd probably have to get an angled neck pocket to properly align the neck with the taller FR bridge saddle height or possibly shim afterwards. In short it'd be the least fuss to choose one or the other up front unless you want to go all EVH.

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Op ... tions.aspx

Yeah this is a little daunting as I haven't fully made up my mind.

Musikraft has a great selection too.

I may have to call up Warmoth and get a matching body/neck combo so once I slap it together, everything will be tight.

Specs:

Single Humbucker (not wood mounted)
1 Volume
3 Mini Switches
Non-Recessed Floyd
22 Fret Neck with SS6150 Wire
Flame Maple Neck
Basswood Body
12" Radius
Duncan JB/Super Distortion

 

[Anonymous]

I don't really use the trem much; recently bought a GFS Floyd (Made In Korea, probably by Ping) and it looks pretty solid for the price. Locking nut and/or tuners is also a good idea

 

[Aristocat]

I don't really use the trem much; recently bought a GFS Floyd (Made In Korea, probably by Ping) and it looks pretty solid for the price. Locking nut and/or tuners is also a good idea

How long have you had it?

I had two Strats. One with a Floyd and one with a Standard and I never used them all that much. I'm definitely going with a locking nut and locking tuners as well.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't really use the trem much; recently bought a GFS Floyd (Made In Korea, probably by Ping) and it looks pretty solid for the price. Locking nut and/or tuners is also a good idea

How long have you had it?

I had two Strats. One with a Floyd and one with a Standard and I never used them all that much. I'm definitely going with a locking nut and locking tuners as well.

I've played for about 1 hour with it
Although I can tell construction is pretty solid (steel & brass), I can't say for tuning stability

 

[Aristocat]

I don't really use the trem much; recently bought a GFS Floyd (Made In Korea, probably by Ping) and it looks pretty solid for the price. Locking nut and/or tuners is also a good idea

How long have you had it?

I had two Strats. One with a Floyd and one with a Standard and I never used them all that much. I'm definitely going with a locking nut and locking tuners as well.

I've played for about 1 hour with it
Although I can tell construction is pretty solid (steel & brass), I can't say for tuning stability

Well damn that's a lot of time

Thanks for the info though and I'm gonna check it out. As long as I get a quality neck and a decent body, all the hardware can be upgraded later on.

 

[shgshg]

. I'm definitely going with a locking nut and locking tuners as well.

Huh? Why would you do that?

 

[luxxtone]

Sounds like you should for sure get a Floyd and locking nut. You don't need the locking tuners with a locking nut, it's not going to help anything…..unless you just like if for faster string changes? Anyway, you can save even more money by just getting a Trem Stop, instead of the Tremol-no. It's like only $10 or $15 and will make it dive only….but not complete hardtail mode like a Tremol-no can. And if you have a body with a vintage trem route, you'll need to obviously drill new holes for the floyd posts if you ever switched. Along with installing a locking nut on the neck, which can be a bit of a pain to do.

If you set up a floyd correctly, they stay in tune great….even most of the cheaper knockoffs are OK. Especially if you use a Trem stop, it will stay in tune really well. Keep the posts and everywhere the string touches lubed with Tri Flow…..that stuff is like magic. That's my free tech tip of the week!