Struggling keeping my floyd in perfect balance/staying in tune

  • Thread starter Thread starter Metalhex
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Get in the habit of always using the same tuning and string gauge (I'd even recommend going one step further and using the exact same brand of strings) on your Floyd Rose (or any sort of floating tremolo) equipped guitars.

You'll save yourself from a lot of fucking around
 
Briman24 said:
The best way and easiest way to tune a floyd........block it so it only dives!??
Plus if you want to install a d-tuna, you need to block so it dives only.
But if you like pulling up and all those Vai tricks.......then ..........
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You're not wrong!
 
Going sharp when locking the nut was one of the first and easiest fixes I ever encountered.

But here is a crazy one for ya. I got one of the first import Washburn Dimes to come into Texas in the mid 90's. The Floyd would not intonate on the low E saddle with a set of 10-52's. With it all the way back,not only was it still a tad sharp,but the string locking block portion of the saddle wouldn't move(up/down for fine tuning) because it was hitting the base plate where it angles up for the fine tuners. I had to pull the saddle off,grind a little bit off the back where the long screw goes thru the back of the saddle to lock the string block down,then ALSO grind the 45 degree bevel into the bottom of the string block portion so that it would fine tune up/down. When I was done it worked perfectly and even tho a little of the thread for the string block screw was lost,that trem never gave me any trouble for all the years I beat on it.

Yes...I realized later that I SHOULD have taken it to my guy and had him fill the post holes and move them back a tiny bit instead. But I was high as fuck and wanted to play my new guitar that night at band practice.

Meth is a hell of a drug.
 
seedofc said:
All you really need to know is that a floating bridge works by balancing the tension of the strings against the springs. If you get to where you're close to being in tune and the bridge is angled upwards, it means you need to screw the spring claw into the guitar body further, thus pulling the strings. Rinse and repeat until the bridge is level. In these posts, you never mention the spring claw, so I assume this is the part you're missing. If you change tunings and/or string gauge, you're effectively changing the string tension, so you have to compensate by adjusting the spring tension too.
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Yeah but if you're close to being in tube with bridge angeled upwards then lock it, when you adjust claw screws to level the bridge, it will be out of tune again.
 
Metalhex said:
Yeah but if you're close to being in tube with bridge angeled upwards then lock it, when you adjust claw screws to level the bridge, it will be out of tune again.
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Don't lock it until it's level and in tune. If the bridge is angled upwards and it's in tune, that means the springs need more tension. So screw them in a little, then detune (from the headstock). Keep doing that until it stabilizes. Lock only when it's level/in tune or close enough to where you can finish it off with the fine tuners.
 
haven't read all the replies - but I use coins and masking tape. Basically get a stack of various coins (as they're all of varying widths), find the perfect thickness to slide between the rear accessible Floyd Trem block and the body of the guitar - this will place the Floyd in a neutral position - check and double check the flush of the trem on the face of the guitar when doing this. When you have perfect pitch of new strings (same gauge) you should be able to easily slide that coin stack out with the masking tape tail on it; if the trem needs adjusting due to change of string gauge; simply adjust springs once the guitar is tuned to then allow the coin stack to pull out with relative ease.
 
Devin said:
Get in the habit of always using the same tuning and string gauge (I'd even recommend going one step further and using the exact same brand of strings) on your Floyd Rose (or any sort of floating tremolo) equipped guitars.

You'll save yourself from a lot of fucking around
Click to expand...

I second this motion.
 
Devin said:
Get in the habit of always using the same tuning and string gauge (I'd even recommend going one step further and using the exact same brand of strings) on your Floyd Rose (or any sort of floating tremolo) equipped guitars.

You'll save yourself from a lot of fucking around
Click to expand...
Fucking A!

42-9 D'Addarios have more tension than 42-9 EBs and Dunlops. Stick to the same gauge and brand unless you know how to set-up your Floyd.
 
Been playing d'addarios 10-46 for 15+ years for that reason and they break less often.
 
Tighten the screws that hold your locknut to the neck. I see tons of Floyds where those are loose. Stretch strings thoroughly before clamping. Clamp TIGHT. when you change strings, put some wine cork cut to the right size under the bridge to keep it level. Why wine cork? Because it wont dent your guitar or hurt the finish, even nitro.
 
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