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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Change Floyd to hardtail?

N

Nitrix

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Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
34
I am currently testing a Steve Morse Y2D with floyd. It has a drop dead finish and a neck to die for. I have a lot EBMM's and this neck is possibly even nicer than my Rosewood Axis. It is incredible.

One problem. I hate Floyd's. They always p$%s me off, and even when i try to use it gently (like a Bigsby) there is even a disconcerting "thump" when I release the Floyd after depressing it. Maybe this is normal, but I hate it.

Can I take the Floyd out? Can I drop a Music Man trem, or another kind? I would like to see it stay 100% Music Man. Can I order a hardtail intended for a Y2D?

Just curious. This guitar is incredible and I would rather not let it go.

Please let me know your opinions.

Nitrix
 
Lou

Lou

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Jan 23, 2003
Messages
1,356
Location
MA
Don't go thru the hassle of swapping it out. It's a lot of work and you need to find a competent luthier. Sell the guitar and find a hard tail.
 
roburado

roburado

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Jul 18, 2005
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6,089
Location
Commerce, MI
Tim O'Sullivan said:
Just take the arm out and and do up the claw springs. Instant hard tail!
Click to expand...

Or...you can take the guitar to a luthier and have them block it up. All it will take is a little piece of wood to prevent the thing from moving. It's a bit more expensive than Tim's idea, but when you bend a note, it won't pull the trem at all.
 
the24thfret

the24thfret

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Jan 4, 2007
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2,458
roburado said:
Or...you can take the guitar to a luthier and have them block it up. All it will take is a little piece of wood to prevent the thing from moving. It's a bit more expensive than Tim's idea, but when you bend a note, it won't pull the trem at all.
Click to expand...

I did this with a fully floating tremolo in the past, I think a Floyd Rose 2. Basically you just get a small block of wood, hopefully painted black, and get it under the trem so that the trem rests on it. The trem should be level when it's resting like this. Then you can increase the springs or claw tension in the back to make sure the thing is really clamped down and won't move at all. Works just like a hardtail, you won't know the difference.
 
roburado

roburado

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Or...you can take the backplate off and put a piece of wood in the space between the trem block and the body.
 
N

Nitrix

Active member
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
34
Here's why I'm even thinking about it...

Thanks to everyone who replied. The consensus seems to be similar to how I plead in traffic court: "guilty with an explanation, your honour!"

I can't just put a MM trem or hard tail bridge as a direct substitute for the Floyd. I have to perform (or get someone a lot better than me!) at least a little voodoo to make it happen. I am trying to decide if it is worthwhile.

I have an original Morse, and have tried one hard tail Y2D. I was thinking about that hard tail this past summer, and then a Rosewood Axis SS came in. Sold! The one with the Floyd shows up last week for another customer who decided he didn't want it because it was flame instead of quilt. I need another guitar like a hole on the head, but the flame is incredible on this one and it is grabbing my attention. The sales guy who HATES EBMM's (likes Flying V's and not much else and is actually a pretty cool guy - at least he is honest!) says I should try it - it is the best neck he's ever played. I should have known better. If you put your hands around a MM neck, it is usually game over. So here is a guitar that I instantly don't want because of the Floyd, but has the best neck I have ever played. Even for EBMM. This thing is just sick. I know it is impossible to describe but it is SILK. I attached a couple pictures. Even the headstock looks wicked!

Because the Floyd is set against the body, it isn't as bad as some trems I have played. It doesn't move when I rest my palm against it, which is how I normally play

Decisions, decisions. If this is my toughest decision, then I live a charmed life.

If I do decide to get it I will post more pix. If I decide not to, I am sure another EBMM will darken my doorstep soon!

P.S. I promised Robelinda pix of the collection months ago. Sorry I haven't been able to get around to it. Home renos have my guitars piled in closets.
 
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