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Humour me please on this one - it’s a bit geeky...
Traditional six screw Stratocaster tremolo bridge
Vs
Non-Fine Tuner Floyd Rose
Both work with a conventional neck and a bone / TUSQ nut.
While undoubtedly the Floyd will stay in tune better, will it really rob / destroy the tone?
It seems fashionable to trash anything Floyd Rose, but it seems counterintuitive to me since most ‘upgrades’ to the traditional Strat tremolo seem to add mass, be it a sustain block or a thicker baseplate.
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
Full Floyds are the only thing that works for staying in tune when actually using the bar in the 20th century way, but there is always a compromise-if its floating there will be a loss of tone transfer due to the lack of coupling to the body.
Even these can be tricky to keep working well, the pivot wears and sometimes it helps to be able to pull back to bring tuning back in.
Try using one the way EVH has it set up--with no pull up, and see how it works with a cheaper version of a Floyd, it doesnt. But setting it up that way means full transfer of tone due to body contact.
Guthrie started using a none fine tuning version on his sigs, and I'm not sure if it is set up floating, but his reasoning is that there is no string behind the saddle to be affected by bending, so less string to go out of tune.
I like all 3 types of trem, both floyds and the traditional strat, but the only one I USE for any tremolo work is the original locking floyd, it is really the only one that will stay in tune after a divebomb, and I do use them both floating and decked, I prefer floating but it does make you play in a certain way.
The main reason I like these things is the acoustic reverb effect from the springs, which can also affect the tone in loud clean playing-sympathetic vibrations with the strings. Usually I use all 5 springs, and have it decked hard, but have been experimenting with 3 springs and a wooden block, which essentially creates a hardtail with a built in reverb.
Floyds are more hassle settiing up, but when they are set up-they work, traditional strat tremolos take constant work to keep them in tune, so maybe a non fine tuner Floyd is a good compromise.
just my own opinion, never used any of the good Ibanez copies, just know from my own experience, only the original or schaller german Floyds work as advertised, which is why they cost so much.
YMMV
cheers
andy k
is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?
is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?
6-screws can be fine, I have a Hipshot one which can take abuse. I did make a stainless shim which might help a bit. Setting the screws is key. Had no problems with a humble Squier CV Strat one either, once the screws were set and the usual bone or Tusq nut, and a roller tree for that one.
Also have an 80s locking Floyd, I don't have any issues using that for whatever. Horses/courses. All good, just different.
My 2-post Strat is my fave I guess, it's so low maintenance, I added a "self lubricating" Tusq nut which is pretty amazing (relatively like), haven't had to lube that at all which is a first for me. I can do anything with that and put it down and next day will be near as dammit in tune, it's just so easy to leave with. I don't buy into this old pony about it sounds different, only 6-screw will do and all that.