Which Floyd Rose's have the free swinging arm?

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ledvedder

ledvedder

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I'm trying to sort through all the Floyd's that are available. Which ones have the free swinging arm instead of the arm that screws in and gets tight at a certain point?
 
My Lo Pro Edge on my 92 S540 is free swinging
 
Both types can be adjusted to swing freely. Old ones from the 80's, The arm is threaded. Then they went to a non threaded arm that has a collar on it that you tighten to adjust the amount of play in the arm.
 
I have them all and for convenience, nothing beats the collared arm. The original one the "swings" is a pain in the ass. You need a wrench to tighten it, which is why Floyd came out with the collared arm improvement.
 
Switched my arm from the original screw-in style to the collared style in the late 80's...couldn't switch back soon enough. For a trem abuser like myself, the collared ones are complete garbage IMO...they end up free swinging no matter what you do to remedy it. I'll take the old style any day, even if it adds several seconds (and a wrench) to the time it takes me to attach the arm...I've got that kind of time ;)
 
maddnotez":1tuc3cxz said:
My Lo Pro Edge on my 92 S540 is free swinging
If you like it that way, that's cool. If you don't want it to swing freely, replace the bushings at the base of the trem arm.
 
Where is the best place to get original floyd rose trem arms? Too many of the aftermarket ones dont fit right, too loose in the receiver and then you have to tighten the collar so tight its hard to move and it comes loose really fast. I need to replace several in black.
 
rupe":pe7rppd2 said:
Switched my arm from the original screw-in style to the collared style in the late 80's...couldn't switch back soon enough. For a trem abuser like myself, the collared ones are complete garbage IMO...they end up free swinging no matter what you do to remedy it. I'll take the old style any day, even if it adds several seconds (and a wrench) to the time it takes me to attach the arm...I've got that kind of time ;)

I have never used a quality collard bushing that didn't stay still, however, I have use shitty ones that didn't work and were replaced with quality ones. I still have some old school screw in floyds that I use because I like the look, and quite frankly I don't use the bar on them that much. When I had my Jem, the first thing I did replace the bushing with the collared floyd bushing. It is a direct replacement. My Jem arm never moved when I didn't want it too and I then had the best of both worlds. The Lo Pro and the collard arm. I hate the way the Lo Pro arm is designed.

I never minded the wrench on the old ones, but they can become stripped over time, and are just less convenient as the collared. You are the first person I have ever heard to complain about a collard original Floyd arm....and I value your opinion. I am just shocked to hear about your experience.
 
you can use the collared bar and set it so it swings freely. I actually prefer them. Depending on how tight you tighten it you can have it not move at all, move easily with the hand yet stay where you leave it have it real loose where it will swing
 
Shawn Lutz":2zj85ey6 said:
you can use the collared bar and set it so it swings freely. I actually prefer them. Depending on how tight you tighten it you can have it not move at all, move easily with the hand yet stay where you leave it have it real loose where it will swing


This. This is how I use it. I switched, because I hate "play." None of my floyds have any "play" anymore. I couldn't stand that wiggle. Even when it swings, there shouldn't be "play" as far as I am concerned.
 
drewiv":2klhgn2p said:
maddnotez":2klhgn2p said:
My Lo Pro Edge on my 92 S540 is free swinging
If you like it that way, that's cool. If you don't want it to swing freely, replace the bushings at the base of the trem arm.


Ya, for sure...Im too cheap, thinking about selling the guitar anyhow...I do hate having to reach for that damn bar.

Sorry for invading your thread. I have a Jackson too and its the same as the above replies. Tighten that bitch up. :D
 
For the collared Floyd arms, go to a hardware store and get you some #6 o-rings in the faucet repair area. These will fit snugly at the bottom of the threaded base and will offer tension to the collar and keep it tight. You can the have whatever swing in the arm you desire without the give that we all hate. However, I've heard it said that EVH trem arms on the old kramers were extremely loose and had tons of play. For me, the arm needs to swing around with ever so slight friction, but not get loose and cause the play.
 
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