How Do I tune a guitar with a floyd rose locking trem?

[mordified_freak]

I just bought a jackson guitar and it's a pain in the *** trying to tune it, so my first attempt the bridge was sticking that didn't work and strings seemed like they were going to snap at my arm or face even , I'm trying to tune it to Drop C or B , I've heard of cross tuning but it's like yeah I'm a noob with these tremolo things and I don't know **** , if anybody can tell me what I need to do to just be able to tune it!!, I would appreciate the help thanks ! :x

 

[mordified_freak]

ugh after hours of figuring this out lol, I finally got it tuned !

 

[NCdan]

The thing is, you have to adjust your spring tension. If you keep the springs at standard tension (E tuning with 9's), the tremolo will return sharp if you are tuned to B or C with 9's, because with drop tunings there is less tension on one or more of your strings. So, you'll have to find what works well for you. Tuning should be simple: unlock the nut, tune the strings, lock the nut, and then use the fine tuners if locking the nut changed the tuning at all. Make sure you stretch the strings first. Good luck.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

problem is, you have to committ to a tuning and a gauge of strings, then balance out the bar. Any deviation requires that you go back to set up again...

 

[tonymustang302]

im starting to like floyd roses' less and less just because of the pain in the butt to tune. That is why i put a Tremel-no on my KH-2 to lock the stupid thing

 

[NCdan]

Kahlers have a much better feel than Floyds: rock solid; the only downfall is they tend to not return to pitch quite as perfectly as Floyds. Ah, and that resonator sound is not there when using a Kahler. Yup, I like 'em a lot more, even more than the ZR tremolos. But yeah, you do need to commit to a tuning, or your guitar will never really stay in tune, and it won't return to pitch correctly.

 

[schlagdog]

I do it by cutting some wood and putting it behind the bar so it only can divebomb. Then I tighten it up to never move. My first 2 guitars back in the 80's had Floyds and I still have then with the wood trick. Only I was 20 years to late. They were always a pain in the *** for me and have never bought a a guitar with one since.

 

[raz311]

What gauge of strings are you using? You will need a heavier gauge for tuning that low. I use 11's or 12's and still have enough tension in the strings without them being sloppy. As mentioned above, once tuned up, adjust the springs so that the bridge is parallel to the body of the guitar, retune and off you go.

 

[GtrGeorge!]

Tuning is often overlooked. It's an art and a science,imho. With a Floyd, you'll need a little sorcery thrown in..
This is what I teach my students:
1. Buy good strings (I prefer D'addarios...they are American made and the QC is very high)
2. Always put them on a week before you need to gig. Never shorten this!
3. As you take each old string off, put the new one on...
example: Remove the old low E and then put on the new Low E..now go and do that for the A and D etc etc
this maintains tension on the neck and springs and it's wise for many reasons more,as well.
4. Keep the locks on the neck slack all during this:
Once the strings are on, at the 12th fret pull the strings one inch off the fretboard. This stretches them in. Your hands are clean, right? Good.
Note: Take it easy on the high E and B strings with pulling. In their case pull 1/2 inch, not a whole inch and as they are really prone to slipping off their posts.
5. Using a good tuner: Tune it first to Low E D G A B Hi E then repeat. each time the guitar will get a little closer to being "there". Still do not tighten the necks' lock.
6. Play the guitar for about 3 days like this. Bend all the strings often, this will "let out" whatever tension the strings are holding. Because the locks on the neck are loose be careful they dont fall off. maybe put em in the case for the next 3 days.
7. After three days tune again (using an accurate tuner), like before, EDGABE is the order.
8. Now lock the neck down, and have fun.
This works very well. But you can't rush it.
I have my Floyd Rose-guitars set so I can pull up, as well as down. I can pull up as much as a 5th (!!!) and stay in tune. That's from an G at the 12th fret to a D note above. And I stay in tune, almost always.
Like I said, I teach guitar...if you like what I know ,and live in Long Island area, consider taking lessons from me. What I know sure beats trial and error! -George Barry (GtrGeorge!)

 

[goalkpr101]

Good advice GtrGeorge. As far as general tuning you will also need to keep in mind that as you tune your G-B-E strings youre pulling your E-A-D strings out of tune. I learned a long time ago that when you tune a floyd you tune your low E to E sharp, your A in between A and A sharp and your D just a bit sharp. Then tune G-B-E regular. This lowers the top 3 into tune. Its strange and confusing at first but you'll get used to it.

If youre tuning down just do the oppisite. Tune low E to a step flat, A a half step and D just a bit flat then tune G-B-E regular. It'll tighten the top 3 into tune.

 

[droptrd]

Man those Floyds ARE a pain the arss. I just use a "Whammy" pedal now!

 

[Julia]

A little something they don't tell you about the Tremol-no. The way it's constructed it needs some lubing otherwise you'll run into problems with it. Mine started sticking and not returning to pitch. I used some "Lockease Graphited Lock Fluid". Put a tissue under the unit to catch the excess. It'll stink of solvent for a while, but once the solvent evaporates it's like a new unit.

I guess everyone tunes differently. Alexi Laiho tunes his from E1 - E6 in Std D. He tunes his E1 slightly sharp, B less sharp, G less sharp, D less sharp, A very close to right on the money, E6 right on the money. So I figure... Alexi plays a hell of a lot better than I do, so....

 

[goalkpr101]

Unfortunately I got my first guitar with a floyd when they were first introduced and nobody would give any advice on tuning, it was like if you cant tune it you shouldnt have gotten it. Like some magicians secret or something.

 

[LRStrat]

Tuning is often overlooked. It's an art and a science,imho. With a Floyd, you'll need a little sorcery thrown in..
This is what I teach my students:
1. Buy good strings (I prefer D'addarios...they are American made and the QC is very high)
2. Always put them on a week before you need to gig. Never shorten this!
3. As you take each old string off, put the new one on...
example: Remove the old low E and then put on the new Low E..now go and do that for the A and D etc etc
this maintains tension on the neck and springs and it's wise for many reasons more,as well.
4. Keep the locks on the neck slack all during this:
Once the strings are on, at the 12th fret pull the strings one inch off the fretboard. This stretches them in. Your hands are clean, right? Good.
Note: Take it easy on the high E and B strings with pulling. In their case pull 1/2 inch, not a whole inch and as they are really prone to slipping off their posts.
5. Using a good tuner: Tune it first to Low E D G A B Hi E then repeat. each time the guitar will get a little closer to being "there". Still do not tighten the necks' lock.
6. Play the guitar for about 3 days like this. Bend all the strings often, this will "let out" whatever tension the strings are holding. Because the locks on the neck are loose be careful they dont fall off. maybe put em in the case for the next 3 days.
7. After three days tune again (using an accurate tuner), like before, EDGABE is the order.
8. Now lock the neck down, and have fun.
This works very well. But you can't rush it.
I have my Floyd Rose-guitars set so I can pull up, as well as down. I can pull up as much as a 5th (!!!) and stay in tune. That's from an G at the 12th fret to a D note above. And I stay in tune, almost always.
Like I said, I teach guitar...if you like what I know ,and live in Long Island area, consider taking lessons from me. What I know sure beats trial and error! -George Barry (GtrGeorge!)

Excellent advice, specially taking one string off at a time, if you use the same string gauge the floyd will not move. Once a new Original Floyd Rose breaks in, it will stay in tune no matter how you punish it. The biggest problem I found is the bridges marked "Floyd Rose-licensed tremolo" they are usually junk, I KNOW the Original Floyd Rose is more expensive, but you get what you pay for.
I can take my Original Floyd Rose tremolo's springs off and as long as I put them back in the same spot, it will be in tune.

 

[Kranked4Christ]

What about the pros and cons of these, especially compared to a licensed FR? Thanks

 

[LRStrat]

The Original Floyd Rose's main plate(the part that swivels and the saddles are attached to)and the pivot blades are all one piece and is stamped from stainless steel. http://www.banzaieffects.com/files/images_detailed/22891_1.gif I have an Original Floyd Rose I bought in 1987 and it shows no wear at the place where it pivots.
The licensed ones have cheap pop metal inserts at the pivot point. The Schaller Floyd Rose has the inserted pivot points and they cost as much as a real Floyd. http://www.allparts.com/store/guitar-bridges-locking-tremolos-sb-0290-010,Product.asp
Some of the cheaper ones don't lock at the bridge(Ibanze rg240) and they will NEVER stay in tune.
My ESP MKII came with a Gotoh "Floyd Rose-licensed tremolo" and it would not stay in tune until I replaced it with an original one. The Ibanze Edge seems to hold tuning pretty good.

 

[GtrGeorge!]

First, thanks for the compliments: always appreciatted, and again..if your in NY and needs lessons send me an email.
Back to the Floyd...
They are the best/worse vibrato systems ever made,imho. Set up and used properly theycan do amazing things (Brad Gillis with NightRanger couldnt play his signature solos without a Floyd)...but if you break one string...JUST CHANGE GUITARS! As Eddie once said "You cant even one-note your way out of it..."
And as for the various kinds of Floyds..
They vary greatly I had a knockoff in 1985? From Double Eagle (who???) and back then even the ORIGINAL Floyds didnt have the fine tuners (thats how early this was..) well, neither did this Double Eagle...but hey it worked well. It held its tune..and I did extreme playing all night long.
meanwhile the other "Licensed" Floyds have varied greatly.
Its gotten tot he point where I dont trust even trust worthy names,when it comes to Floyds. I dont for example assume a Schaller-Floyd or a Gotoh-Floyd is any good.
I buy the real deal. The USA Floyds.

 

[Dirtdog]

Coming from a lefty I think the licensed ones are as good as the original floyd's. It is hard to find a low profile lefty that I can use. I tried using the original style but the fine tuners always got in the way of my picking hand, so then I got an Ibanez which had a low profile and it just helped me so much. I know have a jackson and insisted on putting there low profile verision instead of the origial floyd do to this. About tuning issues you must also stretch your springs out so that they will broken in. If this is done correctly with proper stringing it will return to zero with no prob. When I change my strings I use to change each one separately, but now I change them all at once. I made a stick covered in painters tape to block the trem from sinking into the cavity, and put enough slack in the strings so that I could loosen each of the Allen screws and pull them out. I then putt all the strings on the bridge part and lock them down after cutting the balls off. On the headstock end I usually have three wraps around the post and make sure that there are no gaps between the post and string. To do this put the string through the hole and grab hold of the string on both sides holding firm, then I use my peg winder to start to tighten the string not letting go of the string coming up from the neck on the first pass I take it over the string going through the post then on the next passes I put it on the bottom side of the string and pull it up to kind of lock the string in place and wind it till all the slack is gone. I then pull out the stick and usually the trem will sink into the body a little, and the retune. After one pass at tuning I pull on each string once down by the bridge then once at the twelf fret than one down closer to the nut. This will ensure that the strings are stretched out. Then re tune again, and stretch again till they wont go out of tune. I usually tune a little flat then lock the lock nuts down at the headstock. this tends to make the strings go sharp then tune with the fine tuners.One word about tuning I have learned, if you use one note to tune to like A 440 tune by octaves rather than the 5 fret 7 fret harmonics, cause the guitar is an equal tempered instrument and the only notes that are equal are octaves. Sorry if I went off a little but this has helped me a great deal stay in tune. I recently switched over to locking tuners which are great. They seem to open up more string resonance which is very cool IMO.

 

[Aaronharmon]

I have a real FR and it never goes out of tune. I rarely touch anything other than the fine tuners.

 

[GtrGeorge!]

but I am RELIGIOUS about getting REAL USA made Floyd Rose bridges. If youre gonna do the Floyd..pay the man.
Its well worth it...avoid a thousand wasted hours and bad notes..
In the USA we still can and do make some good things.
Having said that.... I really dont know if the USA Floyds are still in production.