Good luthier to install a FR on a Gibson Les Paul Standard

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Econ

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Does anyone know a good luthier that would install a Floyd Rose trem on a Gibson Les Paul Standard? I have sent a note to Phil Jacoby (Philltone), but don't know if he does this kind of a job. I know that Gary Brawer in SFO could do it, but it his price is very high (not that it isnt worth it. I do know that Gary's work is top notch).

Anyway, I would like to see if there are any good alternatives aside from Gary or Phil. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
 
I cannot help you with your question but I want to offer something to consider.
I had a Gibson Les Paul of my own routed/modded for an Original Floyd Rose + big block. The work was amazing (my luthier is one of the best... he's local only though) but we both agreed that it hurt the tone quite noticeably. If given the chance, I wouldn't do it again. In my case, the guitar wasn't a "special" SOUNDING Les Paul to begin with. BUT if your's is special sounding, I would really cogitate the idea long and hard before you follow through. Best of luck with whatever direction you go.
 
Thank you all for the feedback. I wanted to buy an Axcess, but for that I need to unload some gear and the market right now is pretty bad for sellers.
 
If you can wait for the FRX to come out, no modding and you will retain the value of your guitar. It is due any day now. Yes it is more then a regular floyd, but when you count the cost of paying someone to mod your guitar it will equal out to about the same and you guitar will not lose value.
 
An original Floyd Rose is 199. Those are made in Korea and START at $399 msrp... Not sure what retail is.
 
Metlupass2":2ps9wq7s said:
An original Floyd Rose is 199. Those are made in Korea and START at $399 msrp... Not sure what retail is.
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yeah so 200 for a OFR plus another 300+ to have the guitar routed out properly and a guitar that no longer has much value.... Not sure what you aren't getting about this.....
 
Metlupass2":8chd6y58 said:
An original Floyd Rose is 199. Those are made in Korea and START at $399 msrp... Not sure what retail is.
Click to expand...

Yeah I am assuming street price is going to be $299 on the FRX chrome.
 
bananaladonpcp":f1sp8cty said:
Metlupass2":f1sp8cty said:
An original Floyd Rose is 199. Those are made in Korea and START at $399 msrp... Not sure what retail is.
Click to expand...


yeah so 200 for a OFR plus another 300+ to have the guitar routed out properly and a guitar that no longer has much value.... Not sure what you aren't getting about this.....
Click to expand...


If you read my post I suggested just buying an Les Paul Axcess. I would advise against the routing and everything. I just said those new bridges are pricey. You're reading too much into nothing. :doh:
 
There are better options out there. Try to find a 'Les Paul shred', which is a studio with a factory FR. I don't think they make them anymore and don't know if they made very many. Or do what I did (which was before the Shred existed) - find a BFG tremolo. These came stock with a Schaller non-locking trem, but a Schaller FR drops right into the bridge route - same studs, same spacing. Then, you only have to have your luthier route to add a locking Floyd nut.

Mine came out so good, I went out and bought an Axcess thinking it would be even better, but it wasn't. Maybe it was because the BFG was weight relieved, but it sounded and sustained much better than the Axcess IMO. Clearer, with more space around the notes. So it was a no brainer to sell the Axcess. I added a homemade big block to the BFG Floyd too, which didn't hurt, I'm sure. Here's mine;

w7ezv8.jpg


243p9vc.jpg


33ygti8.jpg


2uh0bnl.jpg
 
Given the amount of $ it would take to convert an LP, you might be better off getting a LP shred if you are on a budget. They stopped making them in 2012, but some stores may still have "new" Shred LPs in stock. I got mine at a Guitar Center in April of this year for less than $1000.

Guitar Center has Trad Pro II LPs that have OFRs as well, the one in Birmingham AL had 2 new ones when I was there last week. Those were around $2100 if I remember correctly.
 
sytharnia1560":xngecylf said:
why not go for one of these instead http://www.floydrose.com/catalog/tremol ... series/frx No routing needed so guitars tone will stay relatively in tact
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Wow, Floyd reintroduced the old Gibson Floyd from the '80s? I see he made it look like shit by adding the extension, produces them in Korea instead of Germany and charges $400...interesting. I used to have two of the original Floyds he made for Gibsons. They worked every bit as well as original floyds, required zero routing, installed the exact same way, didn't look retarded, didn't allow you to lock it as a fixed bridge though. They weren't made in Korea. In case you don't know what I am talking about, see below...

lp_floyd.jpg
 
Rufus Leaking":3bc66n1x said:
There are better options out there. Try to find a 'Les Paul shred', which is a studio with a factory FR. I don't think they make them anymore and don't know if they made very many. Or do what I did (which was before the Shred existed) - find a BFG tremolo. These came stock with a Schaller non-locking trem, but a Schaller FR drops right into the bridge route - same studs, same spacing. Then, you only have to have your luthier route to add a locking Floyd nut.

Mine came out so good, I went out and bought an Axcess thinking it would be even better, but it wasn't. Maybe it was because the BFG was weight relieved, but it sounded and sustained much better than the Axcess IMO. Clearer, with more space around the notes. So it was a no brainer to sell the Axcess. I added a homemade big block to the BFG Floyd too, which didn't hurt, I'm sure. Here's mine;

w7ezv8.jpg


243p9vc.jpg


33ygti8.jpg


2uh0bnl.jpg
Click to expand...

That thing is awesome :rock:
 
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