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John Myung Bongo 4

Floyd Rose Woes

Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2013
Messages
472
Location
NW Burbs - Chicago
So, I was in the midst of a string change on my '12 Axis Tribute, and I found a boo boo in my D string saddle lock. The block cracked and part of it is jammed in the lock channel :(
I called Customer Service and left a message so I can order a replacement. Just curious if anyone else has run into this issue, and to get feedback as to how tight the saddle lock should be?



Happy New Year! O
 
Back in the 80's when I was using an original Floyd Rose, I used to clip the balls off the end of the string then literally crush the E, A and D strings with saddle lock. Today, I string up using the front end of the string into the Floyd and then just tighten until I feel the string is secured in place and use no more force than that. It's usually all that's needed.

Not sure what material the original 80's Floyd used for the saddle lock but I had to replace one and they were hard to get back then.
 
kimonostereo said:
Back in the 80's when I was using an original Floyd Rose, I used to clip the balls off the end of the string then literally crush the E, A and D strings with saddle lock. Today, I string up using the front end of the string into the Floyd and then just tighten until I feel the string is secured in place and use no more force than that. It's usually all that's needed.

Not sure what material the original 80's Floyd used for the saddle lock but I had to replace one and they were hard to get back then.
Click to expand...

I have been using Fender 150XL pure nickel strings on my Axis's. I thread the open end through the post (ball end left at post), then clip off the unwound leader, and clamp/crush the windings like you said... not crushed completely, but enough to retain it. Perhaps I got carried away a bit on my last change... or I crushed part of a stray winding and it jammed it up.
 
Flash Gordon said:
So, I was in the midst of a string change on my '12 Axis Tribute, and I found a boo boo in my D string saddle lock. The block cracked and part of it is jammed in the lock channel :(
I called Customer Service and left a message so I can order a replacement. Just curious if anyone else has run into this issue, and to get feedback as to how tight the saddle lock should be?



Happy New Year! O
Click to expand...

I have 7 floyd rose and/or "liscensed under Floyd rose), equipped guitars. All full floating.

One is 30 years old, an 87 Ibanez Sabre. It is the only floyd rose guitar that has required any replacement parts at the bridge.

2 others required parts at the nut. One needed a lock pad, at the locking nut, replaced due to a finish crack, purley esthetic, (luke 1 reissue), and another needed a new nut after 8 years of playing it, EBMM Axis, incidentally this was the only non recessed floyd I owned, (it has since been modded to be full floating).

I played that snot out of the ibanez recording and touring for nearly 20 years. It needed 1 Saddle, and one screw replaced in the 20 years I played it nearly every day. I played the guitar so much the neck required a replacement, as the fretbboard seperated and the fret wear rendered the guitar almost untuneable. LOL

It was then replaced with an EBMM luke 1 original. Love that guitar to death.

My take is that decent floyds and Liscened under FLoyd bridges, ie: Good ibanez edge, Gotoh, EBMM branded Gotoh, Schaller, Korean floyds, German floyds etc... , NOT the cheap POS from china etc...are near bullet proof. Certainly like anything, sometimes a part here or there is just a dud, like your block and my saddle.

In the 80s, I used a death grip to tighten them to the point where my allen wrenches would wear rounded and become useless. Never cracked a block. as I became more familiar with the bridge I realised that was NOT necessary. Tightening with a moderate amount of pressure until it stops is all that is needed. Then you're Good to go.

I would imagine that You can get those replacement parts from allparts on the cheap. EBMM customer service is the best in the business though, and I'm sure you will be well taken care of.

Cheers,

Tom
 
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FYI, I have 7 Musicmen with FR bridges... in 20 years this is the first issue ever with any of them... or any EBMM product! I'm not complaining one bit! Just getting feedback.
 
Flash Gordon said:
FYI, I have 7 Musicmen with FR bridges... in 20 years this is the first issue ever with any of them... or any EBMM product! I'm not complaining one bit! Just getting feedback.
Click to expand...

Flash, I never inferred you were complaining, not even slightly. I was just offering up my take on the floyds. No offense intended.

Hope I didn't come across harsh. That was not intended in the slightest.

Cheers,

Tom
 
ZeroFivefour said:
In the 80s, I used a death grip to tighten them to the point where my allen wrenches would wear rounded and become useless. Never cracked a block. as I became more familiar with the bridge I realised that was NOT necessary. Tightening with a moderate amount of pressure until it stops is all that is needed. Then you're Good to go.
Click to expand...

Yep. Didn't know any better. I may have almost bent an Allen wrench doing this!
 
Now that I think about it, the only issue I've had with past Floyd guitars was sometimes that saddle lock would rust and get stuck inside the saddle. I haven't broken any of the newer ones but I'll bet it can happen accidentally pretty easy.
 
I've broken quite a few of those blocks over the years. No big deal, they can be easily replaced. Tough part can be getting the broken pieces out if they're wedged in.
 
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