Floyd Rose Oopsie

[saucygitaristak2]

Last time I changed the strings on my Ibanez Floyd Rose bridge I just loosened the springs alot rather than blocking the bridge and now my guitar goes horribly out of tune whenever the whammy bar is touched. I have a feeling that if I just change the strings the correct way now it won't fix it but does anyone have a way get my whammy action back in working order?

[Dave Weiner]

String to Spring balance is key.  There's a discussion on it somewhere on this forum I believe.

[saucygitaristak2]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I took all the strings off at once because I was cleaning it, that's when I loosened the springs rather than blocking the bridge.

[wasoota]

Ah, the Joys of the Floyd. 

Obviously you'll have to get the springs tightened back to where they were. Put the strings back on and tighten them so there's at least some tension on them. Then try to tighten the screws approximately to where they were and then tune up. Now, if the bridge leans into the cavity, loosen them a little, if it's leaning out, tighten them. It doesn't take much, maybe half a turn at a time, because the altered spring tension will require that you loosen or tighten the strings again to tune, changing the bridge position even more than the springs did. Then tune again. Repeat until the bridge is parallel to the body (or maybe leaning a hair upwards).

It helps to have a season or two of your favorite TV show on DVD while you do this. And tell your family you're out of town or something.

[garrett]

Also, I would recommend getting a Trem-Setter. I have one and it is a life saver.

I would go with the Hipshot one.

[Shifted_Paradigm]

Also, I would recommend getting a Trem-Setter. I have one and it is a life saver.

I would go with the Hipshot one.

Unless the tremsetter has been redesigned recently, and seeming that it would require removal of wood in the trem spring cavity, I would strongly advise against installing one.

[Morten]

Also, I would recommend getting a Trem-Setter. I have one and it is a life saver.

I would go with the Hipshot one.

Unless the tremsetter has been redesigned recently, and seeming that it would require removal of wood in the trem spring cavity, I would strongly advise against installing one.

Yup, it does require that you drill a hole in the body in the back of the spring cavity. I've done it. It's a nice device for helping the tuning. And the hole will hardly show if done correctly. Especially after the knife edges get worn and it's almost impossible to get the guitar in tune, the tremsetter really helps. It does not work wonders, but it helps just enough if installed and adjusted correctly.

[Stamos]

I figure ill just post this here rather than starting a new thread. i have the weirdest floyd problem, the bridge seems to be quite parallel to the body of the guitar yet whenever i pull UP on the whammy bar and return it back down, all the strings stay sharp! However, whenever i go DOWN with the whammy (divebombs, etc.) it stays in tune.

wtf?

[Ugur Dariveren]

I figure ill just post this here rather than starting a new thread. i have the weirdest floyd problem, the bridge seems to be quite parallel to the body of the guitar yet whenever i pull UP on the whammy bar and return it back down, all the strings stay sharp! However, whenever i go DOWN with the whammy (divebombs, etc.) it stays in tune.

wtf?

It will be about knife edges.

[Morten]

Yup, as Ugur says, your knife edges are probably worn down. Change them, or get a tremstabilizer from hipshot.

[Stamos]

i have the edge pro bridge (i have a JEM Bad Horsie), what do i do about worn knife edges and how do i check if thats the problem?

[Ugur Dariveren]

i have the edge pro bridge (i have a JEM Bad Horsie), what do i do about worn knife edges and how do i check if thats the problem?

Tune your guitar first.
If your tune goes sharp when you pull up the bar, try pushing it down then it's in tune.
If your tune goes flat when you push down the bar, try pulling it up then it's in tune.
If that happens, your knife edges are worned. That means bridge isn't fully turned back.

Worned knife egdes can be filed or you can change knife edges if you can find them. You can check that link for sharpening knife edges. http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/sharpening.htm but my suggest is don't try filling it yourself. 
I was seen knife edges on ibanezrules.com parts section before. Or change the trem.

[Stamos]

     is there such a thing as 'optimal strings' for a floyd rose? Like as of now I use Ernie Ball 10's and they seem fine, but I hear Dean Markley Blue Steels last a lot longer and are more optimal for people who use the Floyd a lot because theyre a lot stronger. interesting subject nonetheless, what is everyones thoughts?


p.s. i dont know if this is thread hijacking but the thread seemed pretty dead anyway and id rather not start a whole new topic for this. if this is against the rules, someone please tell me. thanks

[dyboali09]

hey all I just got a new guitar the other day and after I set it up its a dream. I dont know why I put off getting a guitar with a floyd for so long But the flody rose bar keeps sliping, you know where you screw it on to the floyd. How can I fix that?