Posted: 12/21/2009 4:49:09 PM EDT
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I just got a new Jackson with a licensed floyd-rose system, and I've never messed with one before.
The strings needed changed, not knowing any better, I yanked all the strings out, and now the floating bridge is sitting at an angle. How do I get the bridge back to where it's supposed to be, and what's the best way to go about changing strings on a floyd rose? |
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Push the bar down and put something under the ass end... a 9v battery will get it close.
Put your new set of strings on and get it tuned and adjusted, and live with the comfort that you know not to do that again. Change the strings one at a time. I don't even have a FR equipped guitar anymore, but I figured it out using the internet in like 2002, so I'm sure there are probably youtube videos and online FAQs about getting it adjusted and properly balanced and tuned. Basically the strings are pulling on the front side of the system and there are three to five springs in the back of the guitar that pull on the other side to keep it balanced. A set of .10 strings tuned to standard tuning will exert upwards of 110lbs IIRC, so and you just cut off half of the balance beam. I didn't use the bar that much anyway and ended up selling the guitar it was on. I do kind of miss it though, it was a Jackson Kelly.  
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Glad you got it. I've had Floyds since 1986 or so. I love them but I can also play without them. Of course, I came from the EVH/Steve Vai school of rock. I think I still have an original Floyd Rose without the fine tuners sitting around here somewhere. I got it while working in a music store where Floyd worked years before in Reno. |
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Glad you got it. I've had Floyds since 1986 or so. I love them but I can also play without them. Of course, I came from the EVH/Steve Vai school of rock. I think I still have an original Floyd Rose without the fine tuners sitting around here somewhere. I got it while working in a music store where Floyd worked years before in Reno. I'm really having relearn some things, or be more careful with them, especially palm-muting...but I'm looking forward to learning on it. |
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After I bought an Ibanez with their version of the Floyd I vowed I would never buy another guitar with a floating tremolo unless I was rich enough to hire a guitar-tech. I doubt it'll ever be gigged (i'm gettin' old), but if I did, there's absolutely no way I would play without a backup. This would actually probably be the backup to my PRS |
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Quoted:
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After I bought an Ibanez with their version of the Floyd I vowed I would never buy another guitar with a floating tremolo unless I was rich enough to hire a guitar-tech. I doubt it'll ever be gigged (i'm gettin' old), but if I did, there's absolutely no way I would play without a backup. This would actually probably be the backup to my PRS Yeah, you'd be screwed if you broke a string. |
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Back when I was playing, I had an early 80's American Standard Strat which I put a Floyd on, I also had a couple of Ibanez 570's (I think, maybe 770's) and a 78 Gibson Explorer as backup guitars. I found that over time, I rarely ever broke a string while playing. I changed them out every two nights of playing (if I used it all night) but I usually switched guitars out every couple of songs. I also had a Samson Diversity wireless system with full midi control and two transmitters that I could mute the system, shut one off and grab the other, switch it on and unmute. It was a pretty cool system. When we opened (local band) for Quiet Riot in 1990 or so, Carlos was admiring my system. My stuff was all racked and controlled by a Bob Bradshaw controller and Carlos was still using Boss and MXR stomp boxes mounted in a wooden box. It worked for him. I miss playing, but I knew I'd never make any money in it. I sold off all my crap. I had about $8K in equipment (1990). I need to get another guitar now. I'm looking at a Buddy Blaze Nightsong replica. |
Congrats on the Jackson! 
I'm kinda learning myself too. It's too bad Hemi got banned, he seemed to know alot about Floyd Rose bridges. I dug up his thread about changing strings on a Floyd Rose equipped guitar: How To: Change your strings on a Floyd Rose/Tremolo & Adjusting it for string gauge & tuning And post some pics of your new axe! 
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| I have a old Ibanez usa custom that I have had since forever,I love the floyd rose on it,the trick is to set it up with the kind of strings you plan to use.change them one at a time,and dont change brands of strings.I always make sure when changing strings to stretch them with the nut open tune them 3 or 4 times with the nut open,then make sure the bridge tuners are in the middle of there adj range clamp the nut and fine tune.I play heavy strings,.011's so I added 2 extra tremelo springs to compensate for the extra force on the bridge.The most important thing I have learned about the floyd,is that when you tune it,you need to alternate between strings,start with the high e,then tune the low e,then b then a ect. |
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I never go one by one. I block the trem with a folded up towel change all the strings to approximate tension, then i take it out and tune. As long as you use the same string gauge it wont effect your setup and your trem will level out once you have it back in tune. This way is the fastest in my opinion. |
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3 part video of how to change the trem block to a larger one for more tone/sustain and how to adjust your Floyd, makes it look so easy, it's scary!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qSzjBY_LLE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HALjXGYCBk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEyg_sEACdE |
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Anyone tired of their Floyd Rose setup should check out the Tremol-no. I've heard great things about them, and I'll buy one whenever I get around to finally finishing fixing up the Ibanez |
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I have had one for years, but don't change my strings real often. As was said, if you use the same guage everytime, it's not so bad. Once the strings stretch out and it's locked, mine stays in tune like no other. A guy I jam with is always torquing on his LP and Strat .
( ....but I want another LP  )
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