Floyd Rose Again: How to Fix/Stop/Hard-tail

[Junk Yard Dog]

I'm thinking of going back to a Charvel with a Floyd Rose. Seeing a couple of MIMs up for sale. I'm not a big whammy guy and I always hated changing strings on it when I had one back in the 90s, mainly because I just like the ease of string through and locking tuners.

But I may be willing to give it another shot. Looking for ways to 'fix' or make the FR as 'hardtail' as possible. Looked at the Tremel-no, Tremstop, Tremsetter.

I basically want the FR to stay completely straight, if a string breaks and such, and MAYBE with the ability to dive down. i'm not too fused with pulling up on the thing.

Also, I would like to also look at a brass or some other type of block to improve the tone and sustain.

Any suggestions?

Cheers!

 

[Rdodson]

I love my two guitars with the Floyd Upgrades' brass block

http://www.fu-tone.com/catalog/index.ph ... cts_id=183

I always set mine to rest on the body (the back end of the base plate). If there is a tiny, slight backward tilt to the baseplate, or if it is level when the action is right, this works. So, I remove or add a shim at the neck pocket to get it to that point.

If you grew up on VH, the FR has a particular sound with it set that way which will be very familiar.

 

[4406cuda]

I use a block of wood on one side, to stop dives and the product below from pulling up.

https://reverb.com/item/1990197-tremolo ... _BwE&pla=1

 

[BackCrack]

Could just go redneck for pennies. Works fine...

 

[rstites]

There are a couple of MIM models of Charvels that come with a hardtail. Maybe that'd be worth looking into?

 

[ewill52]

brass block and trem stop from FU Tone. I put them in my So Cal, absoulutely love it!

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

OK, thanks guys. I have another question. I'm looking at a MIM Charvel So-Cal. Has recessed Floyd Rose. I'm used to playing hardtails and can usually adapt to most setups, but have my preferences.

I palm mute quite a bit, so I'm thinking recessed is a good way to go, but what say you?

Also, I bend a lot on leads, and want the Floyd to stay straight, so is that where a Trem-stop will help?

I also want to add a D-tuna, but realize that may hinder bending upward, which is fine. I'd dive down more than I would want to dive up.

What are the pros and cons of recessed vs. non-recessed? ...Also, what do folks mean by 'floating'?

Cheers!

 

[Jack Luminous]

I palm mute quite a bit, so I'm thinking recessed is a good way to go, but what say you?

Yes, recessed is more comfy for palm-muting, at least for me.

Also, I bend a lot on leads, and want the Floyd to stay straight, so is that where a Trem-stop will help?

Yes.

I also want to add a D-tuna, but realize that may hinder bending upward, which is fine. I'd dive down more than I would want to dive up.

I'll advise against the D-Tuna, it never works well in my own experience. Even with perfect setup, it's always slightly out of tune, which I can't stand. It's a bitch to setup anyway.

What are the pros and cons of recessed vs. non-recessed? ...Also, what do folks mean by 'floating'?

Non-recessed, usually the Floyd rests against the top. It can only go down, not up. Recessed is usually floating, meaning it goes up and down freely. Strings are closer to the top and it feels easier for palm-mute.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I palm mute quite a bit, so I'm thinking recessed is a good way to go, but what say you?

Yes, recessed is more comfy for palm-muting, at least for me.

Also, I bend a lot on leads, and want the Floyd to stay straight, so is that where a Trem-stop will help?

Yes.

I also want to add a D-tuna, but realize that may hinder bending upward, which is fine. I'd dive down more than I would want to dive up.

I'll advise against the D-Tuna, it never works well in my own experience. Even with perfect setup, it's always slightly out of tune, which I can't stand. It's a bitch to setup anyway.

What are the pros and cons of recessed vs. non-recessed? ...Also, what do folks mean by 'floating'?

Non-recessed, usually the Floyd rests against the top. It can only go down, not up. Recessed is usually floating, meaning it goes up and down freely. Strings are closer to the top and it feels easier for palm-mute.

Hmmm...OK, that helps. Sounds like I'm on the right track except for the D-tuna maybe. ...My band does drop D and sometimes sporadically. So what if I got locking turners instead? Does anyone use locking turners with floyd...and maybe bypass the locking nut on the E and A strings?

 

[Jack Luminous]

Hmmm...OK, that helps. Sounds like I'm on the right track except for the D-tuna maybe. ...My band does drop D and sometimes sporadically. So what if I got locking turners instead? Does anyone use locking turners with floyd...and maybe bypass the locking nut on the E and A strings?

I tried Floyd with locking tuners (without locking nut) and it goes out of tune just like a standard Fender trem. You lose all the benefiits of the Floyd, while keeping all the hassle of Floyd setup. I'll advise getting a second cheap guitar just for the drop-D tuning. There's no easy solution for what you ask. If there were, everybody would be already doing it.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Hmmm...OK, that helps. Sounds like I'm on the right track except for the D-tuna maybe. ...My band does drop D and sometimes sporadically. So what if I got locking turners instead? Does anyone use locking turners with floyd...and maybe bypass the locking nut on the E and A strings?

I tried Floyd with locking tuners (without locking nut) and it goes out of tune just like a standard Fender trem. You lose all the benefiits of the Floyd, while keeping all the hassle of Floyd setup. I'll advise getting a second cheap guitar just for the drop-D tuning. There's no easy solution for what you ask. If there were, everybody would be already doing it.

Well, dammit?? Why doesn't that D-tuna work well, HA!

Thanks, man. You helped in my quest.

 

[xzacx]

Hmmm...OK, that helps. Sounds like I'm on the right track except for the D-tuna maybe. ...My band does drop D and sometimes sporadically. So what if I got locking turners instead? Does anyone use locking turners with floyd...and maybe bypass the locking nut on the E and A strings?

I tried Floyd with locking tuners (without locking nut) and it goes out of tune just like a standard Fender trem. You lose all the benefiits of the Floyd, while keeping all the hassle of Floyd setup. I'll advise getting a second cheap guitar just for the drop-D tuning. There's no easy solution for what you ask. If there were, everybody would be already doing it.

Well, dammit?? Why doesn't that D-tuna work well, HA!

Thanks, man. You helped in my quest.

If you have the Floyd blocked, you can just use the fine tuners to drop to D - there's enough range in them to get there. Also, I think a lot of people mistake what locking tuners are actually for. I'm sure they provide some level of added tuning stability, but it's no substitute for a locking nut if you're a heavy trem user - they mostly just make changing strings faster. But a lot of people (myself included) just string backwards on Floyd guitars (meaning to let the ball end act as the lock in the tuning post), which is even easier yet.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Hmmm...OK, that helps. Sounds like I'm on the right track except for the D-tuna maybe. ...My band does drop D and sometimes sporadically. So what if I got locking turners instead? Does anyone use locking turners with floyd...and maybe bypass the locking nut on the E and A strings?

I tried Floyd with locking tuners (without locking nut) and it goes out of tune just like a standard Fender trem. You lose all the benefiits of the Floyd, while keeping all the hassle of Floyd setup. I'll advise getting a second cheap guitar just for the drop-D tuning. There's no easy solution for what you ask. If there were, everybody would be already doing it.

Well, dammit?? Why doesn't that D-tuna work well, HA!

Thanks, man. You helped in my quest.

If you have the Floyd blocked, you can just use the fine tuners to drop to D - there's enough range in them to get there. Also, I think a lot of people mistake what locking tuners are actually for. I'm sure they provide some level of added tuning stability, but it's no substitute for a locking nut if you're a heavy trem user - they mostly just make changing strings faster. But a lot of people (myself included) just string backwards on Floyd guitars (meaning to let the ball end act as the lock in the tuning post), which is even easier yet.

OK, cheers. So maybe I can hold off on the D-tuna and see how I go with the fine tuner. I wonder if they make slightly longer fine tuners for this purpose?

 

[Fret-Shredder]

brass block and trem stop from FU Tone. I put them in my So Cal, absoulutely love it!

I second this. FU-Tone makes some awesome products that WORK! I have their Big Brass block and trem stop on my San Dimas and am lovin it.

 

[Stradazone]

Hmmm...OK, that helps. Sounds like I'm on the right track except for the D-tuna maybe. ...My band does drop D and sometimes sporadically. So what if I got locking turners instead? Does anyone use locking turners with floyd...and maybe bypass the locking nut on the E and A strings?

I tried Floyd with locking tuners (without locking nut) and it goes out of tune just like a standard Fender trem. You lose all the benefiits of the Floyd, while keeping all the hassle of Floyd setup. I'll advise getting a second cheap guitar just for the drop-D tuning. There's no easy solution for what you ask. If there were, everybody would be already doing it.

Well, dammit?? Why doesn't that D-tuna work well, HA!

Thanks, man. You helped in my quest.

D-tuna works fine when set up properly, I used them on my original Floyds and Gotoh Floyds

 

[Starman22]

With everything the OP has stated, why do a Floyd?? You basically have said in your posts you want nothing about a FR to help your playing. Looks maybe? Get a vintage trem Charvel or a Chubtone with locking tuners. You can then deck the trem to not float, thus giving your drop D a go. You can rest easy for palm mutes, and dive when needed. Put 5 springs on if you really want to stabilize it.

It sounds to me like you don’t need a Floyd at all. I may be wrong so apologies upfront.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

With everything the OP has stated, why do a Floyd?? You basically have said in your posts you want nothing about a FR to help your playing. Looks maybe? Get a vintage trem Charvel or a Chubtone with locking tuners. You can then deck the trem to not float, thus giving your drop D a go. You can rest easy for palm mutes, and dive when needed. Put 5 springs on if you really want to stabilize it.

It sounds to me like you don’t need a Floyd at all. I may be wrong so apologies upfront.

You are right. I played the MiM Charvel So-Cals yesterday and really dug them, but man, it was not an instant bond. I realized I really don't need a guitar with a floyd. I haven't had one in so long and I just like the simplicity without them. To each their own.

I basically would take a So-Cal without the floyd and just a fixed bridge/hardtail. I love the White body, black pickguard, and maple neck.

I liked the Duncan Distortions just fine, but the middle position had a pretty substantial volume drop; more so than usual when using an HH guitar in the middle position.

The pickup selecter was pretty stiff; much more than I would like.

Those little things aside, I still think it's a badass guitar, but I would purchase one used for me. If I loved Floyds.

I'll wait for the MIM Jake E. Lee and hope it comes in maple. Ha!

 

[atrox]

3 of my 4 Charvel's have Floyd's on them. I don't use trems at all, except for one project that is a recording project.

I use this guy on all of them: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CP ... UTF8&psc=1

Only my MIM SoCal has a floating bridge and i blocked it completely with wood.

FWIW, I love my two MIM just as much as my MIA's. The MIM necks have that more plastic feel than my older MIA's (it doesn't bother me at all), but the carbon reinforcement on the MIM ones is nice. While my MIA's quartersawn necks have had to have a few adjustments, the MIM necks have been super stable.