Changing string gauge on a Floyd Rose, need some help

[RayKnight]

The original strings used in the shop when I bought the guitar is a 9. I want to change it to a 10 because I've always been playing with 10 (Regular Slinky). After reading up and testing things out, my Floyd Rose raised after I tune everything.

I read up about Spring Tension and String Tension. Any idea on what I should do? Should I add in springs or bring down to a shop and get it checked? Or can I D.I.Y this?

 

[rex922]

do u see 2 screws drop the tuning a step(so the strings dun snap due to too much tension) then screw them in till the bridge is level

 

[donutator]

adjust the springs in the cavity until the trem is parallel with guitar body

 

[tyzjames]

Tighten the 2 screws that is connected to the springs in the guitar cavity so that the tremolo bridge will lower down. After you tighten for a bit, retune your guitar and check if the tremolo bridge is still raised or lowered. Then trial and error again.

 

[RayKnight]

Thanks guys. How long must I wait for my strings to set in before I tune and adjust the springs to avoid any further complications?

 

[rex922]

Thanks guys. How long must I wait for my strings to set in before I tune and adjust the springs to avoid any further complications?

stretch them manually youtube should help with this

 

[RayKnight]

Thanks. Can I assume something? I should tune everything down one step, after locking the strings then I will "tune the Floyd Rose" to the correct standard tuning, is that it?

 

[tyzjames]

dont have to be exactly 1 step down.. just tune to the original tuning (eg EADGBE) then after you tune your last string, if the rest goes out of tune then tune the fine tuning screws. Be sure to set all the fine tuning screws to the centre or neutral first before tuning your guitar.

 

[rex922]

tuning 1 step down is a safety precaution.

 

[mus]

You should screw in the screws a bit by bit and tune up. See if the spring tension and strings tension is equal. Search on youtube, there are a few video tutorials.

Before locking your locking nut, whammy the hell out of your new strings. Then tune up, stretch it, tune it up and whammy again. Do it a couple of times then lock the locking nut. Should stay in tune for a long time!

 

[RayKnight]

Set up, tuned and locked. Everything is great now, my first Floyd Rose experience. Thanks everyone for all the advice and help, it sure is useful!

But is it okay if my bridge is slightly raised? Very slightly, 1 or 2 mm.

 

[ShredCow]

You would want it to be at perfect float. If the bridge is tilted, it will affect its return to pitch.

The floyd rose is probably the most stable bridge - its a thing of joy - but it has its quirks. Its not too difficult to deal with them... just need to spend a bit of time figuring out stuff. Then the concept of strings vs springs will become more apparent and you'd be a happy panda.

 

[backagain]

Changing Strings

By the way, I think guitar with Floyd Rose bridge should use 9s' instead of 10s'.This is the reason why all guitars with Floyd Rose like Ibanez,Jackson, ESP and Washburn are fixed with 9s' when they leave the factory. Even if you were to fix 10s' the tension of the string will be very stiff making guitar difficult to play.Have you tried 0.095 gauge?

 

[RayKnight]

You would want it to be at perfect float. If the bridge is tilted, it will affect its return to pitch.

The floyd rose is probably the most stable bridge - its a thing of joy - but it has its quirks. Its not too difficult to deal with them... just need to spend a bit of time figuring out stuff. Then the concept of strings vs springs will become more apparent and you'd be a happy panda.

Is the FR supposed to be 'floating lower' on the end with the High E string?

By the way, I think guitar with Floyd Rose bridge should use 9s' instead of 10s'.This is the reason why all guitars with Floyd Rose like Ibanez,Jackson, ESP and Washburn are fixed with 9s' when they leave the factory. Even if you were to fix 10s' the tension of the string will be very stiff making guitar difficult to play.Have you tried 0.095 gauge?

No, I haven't. I've been using 10 gauge strings for acoustic and electric so I decided to stick with it.

 

[Whitestrat]

Set up, tuned and locked. Everything is great now, my first Floyd Rose experience.

Or so you'd think.

I'd advise you to bring this to someone for a set up instead of tweaking any further. Having changed a string gauge, your neck is a little more bowed now. and your intonation has become off. it's not as simple as just readjusting the bridge.

 

[RayKnight]

Or so you'd think.

I'd advise you to bring this to someone for a set up instead of tweaking any further. Having changed a string gauge, your neck is a little more bowed now. and your intonation has become off. it's not as simple as just readjusting the bridge.

I figured, I'm taking it down to Davis. I asked them and they said setting up for a Floyd Rose cost about $15-16.

 

[theunknown]

I figured, I'm taking it down to Davis. I asked them and they said setting up for a Floyd Rose cost about $15-16.

i thought thats the price of restringing a guitar....

 

[RayKnight]

I don't know, I went down there today and asked, the guy said $15-16 to "setup a Floyd Rose". I mean, that was what I asked. I asked "How much does it cost to setup a Floyd Rose? Cause I'm changing my gauge" and that was what he said.

 

[airforcekc]

guitar always out of tune

Hi,
I am new here, any one have use GOTOH machine head locking type before?

i have problems with it, after change to this Gotoh Machine head my guitar still out og tune after a few bending. can anyone help ?

 

[RayKnight]

What's the recommended gauge for a Floyd Rose guitar? I've been using 10 before this guitar and I don't wanna switch back to 9. But is it recommended for me to switch back to 9?