I'm trying to set up my new Floyd rose equipped strat and it is really turning out to be a pain...Im following the directions on this site but the directions seem to jump around alot ...If anybody has some recommendations of sites to go to for directions or general advice it would be greatly appreciated...Im not new to guitars just new to Floyd rose equipped guitars ...

Any competent tech will tell you it is an annoying, often time consuming process to setup a Floyd which is totally out of whack. There are MANY variables which will be encountered and a lot of constant readjusting/retuning as one goes along. My point is, there is no nice, neat, BRIEF package someone can give you on this subject. But because I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm going to try.

The first thing I try to do is to get the action simply, "ballpark" to where it is desired. I then try to get the bridge plate parallel to the body with the guitar in tune. Putting a shim of some sort behind the tremolo block and the back of the tremolo cavity rout will force the bridge plate parallel and immobile and will speed up your zeroing in on the appropriate float of the plate. Now comes the fun part: Tuning, retuning, adjusting the claw, more tuning, more adjusting the claw; I think you get the idea. Rule of thumb is to have the strings higher than pitch when you start and back them down as required, NEVER try to tune them up. If you haven't found out already, as one string goes lower in pitch, it raises all the others and vice-versa. So, this will keep you busy for a while.

Upon stabilization of the plate where you want it and the strings in 440, from here you can remove the shim and start your tweaking for your exact action, intonation, etc. But before you do, let's say you have 3 springs in and you've decided you only want 2 because the tremolo action is too stiff. Or, say you want the opposite. Well, guess what? You must go back to the paragraph before this one and start all over again.

Oh, and if you're really not in the mood, you'd do best to walk away and come back when you are.

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You dig?

The good news is that once everthing is right, it will stay good for years

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

+ 1

Bookmark FRP: http://www.glowingtubes.com/p/FloydTuning.htm

+1

Right.. It may be a pain of a process to set up and intonate at first, but once you get it down, it just becomes a normal string change/tuning process. After you tune every string for about the 5th time, you'll start to notice that the needle drops less and less backward each time you tune until the string tension, and Spring tension, balance each other out and it stays in tune..

Think about it like a tug of war between the Strings and Springs. You're trying to make them both equal, while in tune, and the bridge is plate is parallel with the body.

One thing I would add about Floyds, is you need to pick out a string gauge you plan on using for a long time. You can't all of the sudden go from 9's to 10's without going through the floating adjustments again.

If you do that, you just made the tug of war between the strings and spring favor the "string" side. Because 10s are a heavier gauge, it will have a stronger pull, and the bridge plate will lift up in the back. So you would need to adjust the spring tension to compensate.

I've had so many people come to me frustrated because they didn't understand that. "THIS THING SUCKS!!!" Did you use different strings? "Yea, I just used what I had lying around!" Well, there you go. That's a problem. You have to use the same gauges every time.

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I just picked up a Charvel ProMod and was quickly reminded of what a PITA Floyds are. Do yourself a favor and pick up a Tremol-No. They should come standard on any Floyd equipped guitar.

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2007 American Series Strat (Black/Maple) SCNs
Charvel San Dimas (Polar White) SD 59 & JB
Hot Rod Deluxe
Marshall JCM 2000 50 watt
Taylor 410 CE
Epiphone Les Paul
1983 Kramer Pacer

Thank you for all the replies but i have admitted defeat and it is on its way to the luthier that i use for fine tuning of the action..I just can't seem to get it right...I have no problems changing the strings installing new pickups and didn't think this would be the pain in the a#* that it has turned out to be..

I will go ahead and pay him the extrat money he jokingly ask for if you want to watch him and ask questions..But i must know the secrets of the Floyd Rose it has become an issue of honor.. :

Thank you for all the replies but i have admitted defeat and it is on its way to the luthier that i use for fine tuning of the action..I just can't seem to get it right...I have no problems changing the strings installing new pickups and didn't think this would be the pain in the a#* that it has turned out to be..

I will go ahead and pay him the extrat money he jokingly ask for if you want to watch him and ask questions..But i must know the secrets of the Floyd Rose it has become an issue of honor.. :