GuitarMaestro Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 Hi! I am thinking of converting my first and favorite guitar of all time my Fender USA Strat to a low pro floyd rose tremolo. Technically this is no problem for me, but I wonder if it will change the sound of my beloved guitar much. I think it shouldn't make much difference in comparison to the standard trem, as both trems have about the same mass and the floyd is mounted exactly the same as the Fender trem. Does anyone here have expirience in that area? Thanks, Marcel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 well, the blocks are the same, but the pro is bigger then a standard fender trem, so that may affect sound, but startin to get into the minut little details here, odds are any difference you hear will be in your head... of course now that i've said that i'm sure everyone else will say the exact oposite.... i think the posts are actually in different locations, i have the diagram here for retrofiting a strat with a floyd, specifically it shows you where to place the posts in relation to the 2 types of posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted March 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 Thanks Derek! i think the posts are actually in different locations, i have the diagram here for retrofiting a strat with a floyd, specifically it shows you where to place the posts in relation to the 2 types of posts!" Can you send me a scan of that diagram? That would be great!!!! Thanks, MK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted March 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 Other people'S opinions on the sound issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreamLine Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 according to most tone freaks, tone is 'thinner' ever so slightly with a FR tremolo, but its not very noticeable at all.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLS Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 Ive played a Strat with a floyd and it didnt sound much different. But it sure felt alot better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 according to most tone freaks, tone is 'thinner' ever so slightly with a FR tremolo, but its not very noticeable at all.... they're probably just not used to playing in tune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 according to most tone freaks, tone is 'thinner' ever so slightly with a FR tremolo, but its not very noticeable at all.... they're probably just not used to playing in tune I know that feeling . I'm thinking of either blocking off the trem completely on my strat and making it a hard tailpiece, or fitting it with a FR. I just don't like the idea of having to unlock the nut to change tunings . Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotass Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 according to most tone freaks, tone is 'thinner' ever so slightly with a FR tremolo, but its not very noticeable at all.... they're probably just not used to playing in tune I know that feeling . I'm thinking of either blocking off the trem completely on my strat and making it a hard tailpiece, or fitting it with a FR. I just don't like the idea of having to unlock the nut to change tunings . Devon wait isnt FR floyd rose? and dont those require a locking nut? so wouldnt you have to unlock the nut w/one ? i dunno man, i dont think a Floyd Rose gives bad tone, or worse then a regular trem. We all know how tone-**** Vai is, he uses mostly all Floyd Roses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Thanks Derek! i think the posts are actually in different locations, i have the diagram here for retrofiting a strat with a floyd, specifically it shows you where to place the posts in relation to the 2 types of posts!" Can you send me a scan of that diagram? That would be great!!!! Thanks, MK! just got my scanner today i'll see if i can get it working properly tomorow to scan in a 1:1 picture, course the measurments are on there, so worst case, you can just scale it when you print Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 according to most tone freaks, tone is 'thinner' ever so slightly with a FR tremolo, but its not very noticeable at all.... they're probably just not used to playing in tune I know that feeling . I'm thinking of either blocking off the trem completely on my strat and making it a hard tailpiece, or fitting it with a FR. I just don't like the idea of having to unlock the nut to change tunings . Devon there is no quick, or even normal speed "changing tunings" on a floyd, for me at least it's a good half hour, gettting the nut lose, getting the strings in the tuning i want, then tuning again, then tuning again, then tuning again, then tuning again, then tuning again, then finally locking the nut once the bridge is back where it should be, and guess what, if you're using new strings, you'll have to unlock the nut and doo that all over again once the strings strectch out in 5 minutes the exception being the d-tuna, but EVH developed that based on his down pitch only floyd.. BUT once you finaly get the strings stretched out you only have to tinker with the fine tuners every now and then, i haven't unlocked the locking nut on my strat for over 2 months... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 there is no quick, or even normal speed "changing tunings" on a floyd, for me at least it's a good half hour, gettting the nut lose, getting the strings in the tuning i want, then tuning again, then tuning again, then tuning again, then tuning again, then tuning again, then finally locking the nut once the bridge is back where it should be, and guess what, if you're using new strings, you'll have to unlock the nut and doo that all over again once the strings strectch out in 5 minutes it only takes me about 5 to ten minutes...but i have been doing it a long,long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowser Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 well you could always go to guitar center or something and grab a floyd strat and play it a while. then plug in your guitar or a similar one into the same setup and listen again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belial Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Why not just go with a wilkinson and locking tuners? be easier overall wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted March 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Thanks for the hints! Concerning the wilkinson: I was already thinking about that, but I guess it will not be better than the fender trem in combination with locking tuners....Correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaughthammer Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 yes, correct. i have a wilkinson trem.... it is much better than the fender trem, if you go to the pich possibilities. but it tends to detune a little after dive bombs... or a litlle more... in fact, after a dive bomb you have to completely retune your guitar (i have no locking tuners.... but i don't think that would change much but i have a roll nut and that changed nothing) but i have a little prob, i just bought a kahler trem but i cant install it, because the pivots are to small (M5), so they don't fit in the holes (1/4") that are there. can anyone tell me how to remove the metal pieces in the body (in german called "einschlaghülsen") where the pivots are screwed in?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Would a FR with locking tuners accomplish the same thing as a locking nut? I really don't have much experience with FRs except one of my friends has one that's always out of tune . I use a lot of alternate tunings and like to be able to change them quickly, so if locking tuners do the same thing I'll probably go with that. Althout that means pumping more money into this not-so-great guitar . Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 I really hate the FR locking nuts. If you put one on, say goodbye to your ability to fine tune the height of each string (something that's unacceptable for me as a player). You are also stuck with the metallic tone of the open strings, especially the high E. Also since the floyd is longer, it has more leverage, which means if it's set to float, it warbles easily when you rest you hand on it. Fine tuning string height at the bridge means using shims (a headache getting it just right). Although my WD floyd copy has height adjustment screws which is a real nice upgrade over the original FR design. You are also stuck with the sound of steel saddles. On the stock trem, you could do a simple mod (drill 3 holes) to use the vintage type brass tele saddles, which sound superior, IMO.(cast brass saddles sound great too, compared to steel ones, in my own experience) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted March 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Concerning the Wilkinson Tremolo: Why should it stay in tune better than a Fender? I see no reason for that....Locking tuners increase the tuning stability of every non-locking trem. Why is the Wilkinson supposed to stay in tune better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLS Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Locking tuners wouldnt work well as a replacement for a locking nut because when you do a divebomb the strings might come out of the nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaughthammer Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 afaik locking tuners are just so locked, that they don't turn when you accidently touch them or hit something with them.... so while using a tremolo they are usualy not turned, so that wouldn't change very much. the problem is, that the srtings are not going easy enough over the nut, and after relaxing them, they won't go back to the original position if you coult build a nut, where the strings may go over w/o any resistance, than locking nuts woult be absolutely useless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 roller nuts and graphite nuts are pretty close....locking nuts are still the best though, if you trem is set up correctly - it cannot go out of tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaughthammer Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 if you trem is set up correctly - it cannot go out of tune. it can, for example if the temprature changes.... @GuitarMaestro: are here any more germans??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 I think a fellow named ACE on this board is in Germany. I'm not German, but I have a residence permit for Germany Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Ah, true slaughthammer...but thats just one of those things I was meaning it cannot go out of tune from excessive trem use... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.