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KevTN

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Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
281
I have a really stupid question. I have never owned a Floyd Rose guitar and I know that there is a 'process' to change the string and such. Anyone have a good resource? I maybe comming into an AX-40 to play around with. Thanks
 

guitarp77

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Aug 19, 2011
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1,094
Location
Santiago, Chile
As Mike says...

It is not as easy as changing strings on a hardtail bridge, but it ain´t nuclear science either...

You´ll be OK. Just have to be a bit more cautious while re-stringing your axe.

Good luck!
 

cyndicate

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2012
Messages
14
For a beginner a Floyd bridge is probably going to drive you crazy. It takes practice but once you have it setup you never have to mess with it for a long time.

There are a bunch of videos on youtube that explains it but here are some tips that have helped me in the past.

1. If your guitar is in tune already, change the strings 1 by 1. Make sure to use the same gauge, any changes in string gauge affects tension and you would have to either tighten or loosen the springs on the back to relieve/increase the tension.
2. When leveling the floyd make sure the bridge is parallel with the body. You would have to increase or decrease string tension to fix this.
3. If you remove all the strings and try to re-tune the guitar, adjust the bridge to where it's parallel to the body then block it. Then tune to pitch and adjust the springs on the back to level it if any adjustments are needed.
 

OU812

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Dec 1, 2010
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274
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A Canadian in Prague
If the AX-40 is like the Axis and the Floyd is sitting flush on the body, then you have nothing to worry about and its pretty much like changing strings on a vintage Strat trem. A recessed floating bridge is a bit of a different story....
 

cyndicate

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Joined
Sep 14, 2012
Messages
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If the AX-40 is like the Axis and the Floyd is sitting flush on the body, then you have nothing to worry about and its pretty much like changing strings on a vintage Strat trem. A recessed floating bridge is a bit of a different story....

Good point! I wouldn't worry about it if it's like the Axis bridge.
 

OU812

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Dec 1, 2010
Messages
274
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A Canadian in Prague
Only thing you have to be careful of is, on some guitars the Floyd has a tendency to popup on its pivot posts when all tension is released from the strings. I had an 80's Japanese Kramer (Floyd sat flush on the body) that did this, but a USA model did not. Same setup. I think the knife edges were more dull on that one thats why it didn't do it.

My Axis does it, learned the hard way but no damage done although 4 letter words were muttered. Fold a microfiber cleaning cloth for example about 3-4 times, tilt the Floyd forward and place the cloth underneath so the cloth is in between the ass of the bridge and the body before loosening all the strings if you're gonna removed them all to do a fretboard cleaning etc. Basically you want the Floyd to be tilting forward slightly, put a bit more pressure on the pivot posts so it stays put. During regular string change just change one string at a time and its fine.
 
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