Help! My first experience with Floyd Rose tremolo
Mitch
struck me that I bought this guitar probably around 1990-1992, never
learned to play, and put it away.
So the strings on it are the original.
I started playing it (I'm very much a beginner) and it plays great and
holds its tune.
I watched some YouTube videos that gave good instructions for changing
the strings. I changed them one at a time, retuning everything several
times before moving to the next string.
When I was done, the bridge was leaning WAY up. The head of the bolts
that lock the block in place are about an inch off the guitar.
Why is this? I know that when I started to change the stings I had to
push down on the whammy bar just to lift the bolts up far enough to get
at them.
What did I do wrong? How do I fix it?
Mitch
ed s
> Then I broke the high E string.
time for new strings and a tuner.. e
Peter Russell
the springs in the tremelo unit.
I really suggest an electronic tuner - even the
classical pro's use them these days.
If you can find one with a built in metronome this would be good too.
Peter.
"Mitch" <Mitch@...> wrote in message
news:2Rttn.2979$vX7...@en-nntp-11.dc1.easynews.com...
Mitch
>
> I really suggest an electronic tuner - even the
> classical pro's use them these days.
I used a tuner!
It definitely wasn't tuned high, because when I suspected that it might
be I checked it against the piano. The pitches were correct.
I was really hoping to play the guitar over the holiday weekend, but
since I don't know what I did wrong I don't know how to fix it.
Sean
Where did the string break? If it was at the bridge end, check the parts
where the string is in contact with the bridge. There could be a burr or
some other imperfection that cut the string. If it broke at the nut end,
check there for the same kind of thing.
I once had an Ibanez with a Floyd Rose, but I got rid of it pretty fast.
That thing drove me crazy. I can see how the Floyd Rose would be good
for someone who does a lot of whammy bar work, because once you get the
guitar in tune it does stay in tune very well. But it's too damned
complicated otherwise.
ed s
Did you use the same guage strings ? If you used heavier guage - there
would be more tension to come to the same pitch. Maybe some 9's will
get you back otherwise you need to find out how to get more tension
( in the Floyd - I have no idea, on a Strat its easy) to counteract
the string tension. e
hugh hasson
wrote:
>O
>get you back otherwise you need to find out how to get more tension
>( in the Floyd - I have no idea, on a Strat its easy) to counteract
>the string tension. e
you tighten the springs in the back... its.rocket science
Mitch
>
> Where did the string break?
About 3" from the nut.
Mitch
> Maybe some 9's will
> get you back
I replaced them with 9's. I'm assuming that's what they were to begin
with, but it's just an assumption. They were whatever strings came on
the guitar 20 years ago.
Peter Russell
extra slinkies ??
"ed s" <esha...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c64ea0e4-cf49-487a...@r1g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
Tony Done
"Mitch" <Mitch@...> wrote in message
news:2Rttn.2979$vX7...@en-nntp-11.dc1.easynews.com...
Re Ed's explanation. What gauge strings did you put on? Most electrics I've
seen in the shops have been fitted with 9s, anything heavier would pull the
trem up, but your effect sounds extreme. Could a trem spring have come off,
or something like that?
Tony D
Sean
In that case it doesn't seem likely that it has anything to do with the
guitar. It must have been a bad string, or maybe you inadvertently
kinked it when you were uncoiling it.
RichL
news:JzNtn.17028$pv.1...@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
Looks to me like that's what probably happened, especially since he replaced
the strings with 9s.
Peter Russell
"hugh hasson" <h.ha...@ukonline.co.uk> wrote in message
news:rj3fr5hv645hi30aa...@4ax.com...
Mitch
> Could a trem spring
> have come off, or something like that?
>
> Tony D
>
I just checked...2 springs, both still attached.
Alan Meyer
> Peter Russell wrote:
>>
>> I really suggest an electronic tuner - even the
>> classical pro's use them these days.
>
> I used a tuner!
> It definitely wasn't tuned high, because when I suspected that it might
> be I checked it against the piano. The pitches were correct.
You do know, don't you, that middle C on the piano is actually an
octave higher than "middle C" on the guitar? The guitar is tuned
an octave lower in order to avoid having to use both treble and
bass clefs in the notation.
If you managed to tune to exactly the same pitches on the two
instruments as are indicated by music notation, you were WAAAAAY
too high on the guitar - a whole octave to be exact.
Alan
Cyberserf
Mitch,
You need to block the trem. The thing about a Floyd is that the
tension of the springs in the back must be exactly the same as the
tension of the strings. Place a deck of cards (without the box)
between the body and the spring block (in the back)...now loosen the
spring claw. This effectively removes the springs from the
equation...and the top of the floyd should now be even with the body.
Unlock the nut, unlock the bridge, remove the string, install the new
one, tune it up, stretch it (pull up at the twelf fret about an inch),
tune it again, stretch and tune. You want to make sure the fine tuners
are in their central position when you do the next few steps. The
third stretch time is usually the charm, if you stretch again, it
should hold its tune. Now tighten both the nut and the bridge locks.
Here's the magic...with the guitar upside down (the back is facing the
floor), tighten the spring claw slowly and evenly until the cards
start to fall out...once this happens, the spring tension is exactly
equal to the string tension and the bridge should be even with the
body. Floyds stay in tune forever, but once a string breaks, they all
go out...so if you're giggin with one, better buy two so you have a
backup...changing strings is a bit of a bear, but once you get the
technique down it does get easier.
HTH, CS
Cyberserf
>
> - Show quoted text -
I forgot to mention, once you've properly tightened the spring
claw...you will likely have to use the fine tuners to achieve
perfection...don't loosen then nut or bridge locks to do this or
you'll be back to square one...use the fine tuners, if all the other
steps have been properly followed, you should be very close and the
fine tuners provide a good deal of play.
Luck, CS
Tony Done
"Alan Meyer" <ame...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:hpb9d4$tcs$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Been there, done that. Even when using pitch pipes I've managed to get into
the wrong octave.- String tension was the giveaway. The most likely
explanation yet, IMO.
Tony D
ed s
> "Alan Meyer" <amey...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
Try to tune a Sitar with 21 strings and wooden pegs -> boing *(&^
$##^&.
Mitch
>
> You do know, don't you, that middle C on the piano is actually an
> octave higher than "middle C" on the guitar?
OMFG! I know pitches goddammit!
Mitch
>
> You need to block the trem.
Thanks. I saw this same method on some vids since I "messed it up."
In fact, I nearly stole the rubber doorstop at work today, but morals
got me.
So many different methods for dealing with this tremolo.
Someone told me that the spring screws aren't meant to be messed with
frequently because they will eventually strip the wood.
I dunno.
Cyberserf
You could simply unhook a spring from the claw to get the same effect,
but frankly, you're only giving it a turns or so to take the springs
out of the equation (wedge the deck of cards against the body
cavity)...the screws holding the claw are long enough and the need to
mess with it infrequent enough that, IME, it simply isn't an
issue...but hey, if you've got a quicker method of restringing a
Floyd, have at her and publish the details...been looking for a better
way for a number of decades so I'd love to hear it about any
alternatives ;-)
-CS
Alan Meyer
No offense meant.
Alan
Tony Done
"Mitch" <Mitch@...> wrote in message
Did you figure out what was the problem? It is possible to end up in the
wrong octave even if you know what you are aiming for, I've done it myself a
few times, and ended up with broken strings. These days I work up carefully
to the correct pitch, starting with the 6th string.
Tony D
Sean
It used to happen a lot back in the late 60s and during the 70s when
playing music often involved certain medicinal additives that could
interfere with certain cognitive processes...
Tony Done
"Sean" <se...@fakemail.con> wrote in message
news:3Pswn.1358$z%6.869@edtnps83...
Senility, not psychoactives in my case.
Tony D
ed s
> "Sean" <s...@fakemail.con> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
Practice is the cure for both.. e
Sheldon
"Mitch" <Mitch@...> wrote in message
>I recently found, in my closet, an Ibanez EX guitar (made in Korea). It
>struck me that I bought this guitar probably around 1990-1992, never
>learned to play, and put it away.
>
> So the strings on it are the original.
>
> I started playing it (I'm very much a beginner) and it plays great and
> holds its tune.
>
> I watched some YouTube videos that gave good instructions for changing the
> strings. I changed them one at a time, retuning everything several times
> before moving to the next string.
>
> When I was done, the bridge was leaning WAY up. The head of the bolts
> that lock the block in place are about an inch off the guitar.
>
> Why is this? I know that when I started to change the stings I had to
> push down on the whammy bar just to lift the bolts up far enough to get at
> them.
>
> What did I do wrong? How do I fix it?
Okay, here we go. I'm assuming you tuned the guitar to the correct pitch
and you used the same gauge strings that were on it. It's possible the trem
was up when you got the guitar and just forgot about it after all this time,
and the guitar was never setup properly from the beginning. When you pulled
the guitar out to play it the guitar was tuned to itself, but wasn't at
standard pitch. Many of us play this way when we don't have a tuner and are
just playing on our own. Sounds fine to your ear. Also, the strings were
stretched out allowing the trem to fall into a down position.
When you put the new strings on anything could have happened, and a broken E
string is a common occurrence when a novice strings a guitar. Just get a
new E string, they sell individual strings. Tune to pitch, making sure you
are in the right octave if using a piano. I know, I know, but it's easy to
be off if you're not a musician. If the trem still comes way up you will
have to adjust the springs in the back of the guitar. Don't overtighten if
you see the trem coming up. Try to balance the trem springs with the tuning
if you want the trem to float.
Seriously, if you want to start playing again take it to a guitar tech and
have him/her do a proper setup. Maybe that's why you gave up in the first
place. A poor setup can make any guitar very difficult to play. Once setup
you can take it from there. Just keep using the same brand and gauge of
strings and all will be well from then on. You may have to tweek the
intonation when you put on new strings, but that's about it.