GOTOH 1996 T?

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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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These seem to be priced about the same as a FR special. We all know the quality on the specials.. sure they will do but not exactly anything you can lean on and abuse. I think the FR looks better but no denying that the Gotoh gets great reviews for it's range , feel, and accuracy. Somewhat stiffer and doen't do the floyd flutter but reliable and well built. Anyone have experience with these on a guitar where you swapped out an original or 1000 series? What did you notice? Up where I am , it is almost a 200$ difference between FR original and a 1996T. I am pricing out a build to see whether it is even worth my while as a hobby vs buying off the shelf. I am going to have a go at doing fretwork on a "chaina" neck and if it goes well, I am going to progress to a build.
 
I did and the Gotoh did have some good things but the Floyd went back on after a couple weeks. I just prefer the way it vibratos.
 
I love the Gotoh trem. More sparkle and liveliness in the sound than modern German OFRs on the same guitar
 
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SoooRad said:
I love the Gotoh trem. More sparkle and liveliness in the sound than modern German OFRs on the same guitar
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What are the differences feel wise to a floyd? Anything he foyd can do that this can't really? i mean it dives and goes back up.
 
I have one on a 7-string. It's a very nice piece. Feels high quality and works like you'd expect. I bought it because it was so much cheaper than a German Floyd and would do it again in a heartbeat.
 
Kapo_Polenton said:
What are the differences feel wise to a floyd? Anything he foyd can do that this can't really? i mean it dives and goes back up.
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That’s pretty much it. Haha

In my opinion it feels nicer to rest your hand against, “rounder” edges. Functionally it’s the same of course, but just seems a little bit more ergonomic.

You’re in the Canada, correct? I’ve ordered my last 2 from Solo guitars. Factoring in exchange and import taxes, their price is as good as you’re going to find.
 
SoooRad said:
That’s pretty much it. Haha

In my opinion it feels nicer to rest your hand against, “rounder” edges. Functionally it’s the same of course, but just seems a little bit more ergonomic.

You’re in the Canada, correct? I’ve ordered my last 2 from Solo guitars. Factoring in exchange and import taxes, their price is as good as you’re going to find.
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Yup, just ordered some files for fretwork and next step might be a 1996T. It's a no brainer given the price and our exchange rate. 350$ before tax for an original .. talk about blowing a budget right out the gates. They've got pretty good prices from what I have seen. If they could get some 22 fret necks in that are under 100$, I'd have a go at one of those too.
 
SoooRad said:
In my opinion it feels nicer to rest your hand against, “rounder” edges. Functionally it’s the same of course, but just seems a little bit more ergonomic
Click to expand...
This is a much better description than what I gave above of the Gotoh. But there is a slight difference in the way they vibrato. It’s really close, I guess I like whichever one I’m playing. Which is not unusual for me.
 
I asked around in all types of forums before deciding on which unit to go with and virtually everybody said the GOTOH . Apparently Suhr scrapped using the orginal Floyds in favor of the Gotoh .
 
BlackKey said:
What's the differance to a FR?
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I had trouble multiple times with the hinged saddles. I learned the hard way then started to remove them, lube them, and work them until they moved freely before I installed the bridge. Extra hassle that's all. Would work fine once I did that.

I don't know exactly what Suhr's problem with them was and maybe they work better now, who knows but still like the Gotoh for the money.
 
There are only 2 negatives that I see:

1. Looks. They don't look as cool as the old bulky floyd and are a bit longer.

2. Drilling wider holes as the posts are larger. Which has it's benefits too of course. Or are you guys just dropping these right in place of a floyd and using same posts?
 
I don't have experience with using a Gotoh 1996 on a floating setup, but It's my favorite trem for a decked Floyd setup hands down. As said before, the ergonomics of it feel more natural when the picking hand is resting there, and the fine tuners are quite superior to traditional Floyds as far as I'm concerned.
 
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sahlomonic said:
I don't have experience with using a Gotoh 1996 on a floating setup, but It's my favorite trem for a decked Floyd setup hands down. As said before, the ergonomics of it feel more natural when the picking hand is resting there, and the fine tuners are quite superior to traditional Floyds as far as I'm concerned.
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I am all about the decked floyd anyway, I don't do many pull ups so sounds like the 1996 is right up my alley and worth a shot.
 
Geo said:
The GOTOH is my go to floyd. Can't beat the value for the money and less trouble setting up than a real floyd.
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Me too. They're nicely made, smooth, and better fine tuners.
 
Gotohs came stock on EBMM EVH guitars. Good enough for eddie, good enough for me 😉

They're also John Suhr's choice of trem.
 
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