tuning with Floyd Rose trem

[Llewzaher]

Howdy , got my guitar delivered ..very impressed on how it plays , a little bit to getting used to as I have played a G&L legacy for 10 years , and being lefty that is the only guitar I played... ( tho I have played a Variax a couple of times..)

Anyhoo , I am having a little bit of issues with keeping this in tune ..I am not sure if it is because it is a new guitar , or because it has the trem . The guitar was shipped July 22/09 to the store .I purchased it online last week . I am just wondering if I need to undo the locks , and tune the guitar with the regular keys first , then fine tune it on the other end? If I keep tuning ti the way it is going I will have the knobs turned all the way in and still not be in tune .. I am thinking part of this is because the guitar has been not played too much since it was ordered , as it is a lefty and their are not too many of us around.. and maybe the stirngs haven't broken in etc..

But I also have had not a locking trem guitar for 20 odd years and just need some input on the best way etc..thx

 

[glip22]

Always tune up with a Floyd. I tune in the following pattern Low E-High E-B-A-G-D. The most important thing is to stretch your strings. I use my thumb and index finger and pull up on the string and go up and down the board. I do it three times per string and retune after each stretch. I also find a Floyd likes to have a very slight tilt backward. Not much- barely noticeable. And always lube the knife edge. I always set intonation with the nuts just about tight, but not too much so I can loosen or tighten the string. I want my intonation dead on with the nuts clamped as this is how it is played.I rarely ever have tuning problems with a Floyd. They are as stable as can be when set up properly.

 

[Llewzaher]

thanks for the response. The intonation do you mean the bolts at the bridge that hold the strings in place ? Or the clamp at the nut that locks it ? Thanks..

 

[glip22]

thanks for the response. The intonation do you mean the bolts at the bridge that hold the strings in place ? Or the clamp at the nut that locks it ? Thanks..

Tighten the locking nuts at the headstock when setting the intonation just enough so you can loosen or tighten the string still.. Also never crank down on the saddle bolts when setting. Ultimately you want your intonation set with the locking nuts at the headstock tight which is how you play.They say to set it with them loose. I find if you do that, everything goes sharp when you tighten them.