New vs. old Gotoh and D-Tuna

[tonelover]

Some people including myself have experienced a difficulty with the D-Tuna pointing so far down on the re-designed Gotoh that the D-Tuna is unusable. I know others have successfully installed the D-Tuna on the new Gotohs and while I can't explain why some can and some can't, on a couple of my Tributes it is impossible to get the D-Tuna working and here's why.

These are pictures of an older Axis on top and a newer Axis Tribute underneath. As you can see, the newer version has adopted a lower profile design which has less rise, so the back end of the trem that presses down on the top of the D-Tuna is simply lower. Doesn't matter if I use long or short screws or if I undo the fine tuner all the way, the back end of the trem sets the stage for how far one can go.

I'm not harping on EBMM, they are not responsible for the D-Tuna. And my Axis Tributes are truly fine guitars. But one of the major selling points for me of the Axis is being able to use the D-Tuna because my band switches back and forth between E and D quite a bit. Yeah, I have my older Axises set up for the switch and the new ones I just set up one way or the other, but I'd sure love to be able to use the new ones for both on the fly. I hope that in the future that Gotoh can make a bit of an adjustment to help us D-Tuna addicts out, and I have sent them an email to them to let them know.

 

[Tollywood]

I have the solution, and you will thank me for it later: buy a Floyd Upgrades tremolo and drop it in. I am not affiliated with the company, I am just a very satified customer. FU-TONE.COM ::: The Ultimate in Tonal and Performance Upgrades for your Locking Tremolos!

The Gotoh floyds ebmm uses are top notch, and even have a brass block. But, the F.U. floyds are built to your specs and have two features I love: the bar can be tightned on the fly to stay put or it can swing as freely as you choose. It also has an allen wrench hidden in the tip. Genius. Oh, and no D-tuna issues at all.

Here's mine:

F.U. High Performance bridge
- brass spring claw
- noiseless springs
- Titanium saddle inserts (no more cracked saddle inserts for Tollie!)
- 42mm Titanium big block
- black hardware

 

[AndyK]

Looks like FU takes a Gotoh trem, adds a big block, some other bits, and charges double for the unit.

 

[tonelover]

If I could drop something in that would be fine, I just don't know what would be perfectly compatible.

 

[dibart77]

Hey guys, some thoughts:

First, the "new Gotoh" nomenclature is incorrect. The old (forever) EBMM Floyd Rose was made by Gotoh. The new one (introduced around the time the Axis Tributes were released) is NOT manufactured by Gotoh, as I was told by someone inside EBMM. Not sure who the new manufacturer is, but it's not Gotoh.

Second, and it goes without saying and @tonelover also said it: It ain't EBMM's problem to make sure the Floyd they choose to use works with an aftermarket part. ESPECIALLY this aftermarket part!

Third, we know the old studs (the black ones) and the new studs (the chrome ones) are not interchangeable -- the new ones need a much smaller diameter hole in the body.

Fourth, it remains unclear whether the old Gotoh or a Floyd Upgrades bridge will work with the new studs. That is the big question here. I have an old Gotoh and Tributes, but I don't want to take apart one of my Tributes to try it (a) because that's a PITA and (b) because I would be afraid of wrecking the studs or the knife edge on the old Gotoh. Who will do this test?!?

​

 

[tonelover]

I am eager for a cost effective solution to this issue if anyone comes up with one.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I always wondered do people with this dtuna on their guitars use it alot cause I know for me bein in a cover band and playing a wide variety of songs I don't play in drop D a that much and for the songs I do I just switch guitars.
And I wouldn't want to experiment on my guitars either but if someone figures it out I would
Like to see it.

 

[tonelover]

OK guys, here's what I'm going to do. Ordering the Gotoh GE1996T which appears to be the premium Gotoh locking trem and has pretty much the same dimensions as the trems in my Axises. Mojotone.com has them (back ordered until early March). Keeping my fingers crossed, will report back next month!

 

[dibart77]

Right on!

 

[tonelover]

OK, wanted to follow up on this. I was waiting for Mojotone to get their Gotohs in and I just received mine today. It's a Gotoh model GE1996T and it seems to be a perfect drop in replacement on my Axis Tribute without having to change out the posts or anything else, and halleluya, the D-Tuna works on it. It can be calibrated correctly and when pushed in to the E position there is plenty of clearance to the body although you can't tell from my pics. I did have to use the absolute longest screw I had for it to work but again, it will work and that's what I've desperately been wanting. Happy, happy, happy. I haven't put it through it's full paces yet and perhaps individual experiences will vary, but I pushed it in and out a few times with some whammy dives and what not, seems to be holding its own as it should. Too bad I had to spend what I did to get the D-Tuna going on some of my Tributes but in the long run it's worth it to me.

Sorry if it seems that I have been obsessing over this issue but I love the guitars and want to use them as much as possible. This will certainly help to get some back in the rotation again since my band switches back and forth all night long.

 

[Tollywood]

Thanks for the update...I am also a big D-Tuna user, so it's important to me that they work properly. That being said, I'd like to review the new tremolo that ebmm is using in place of the Gotoh.

For starters, if you do not use a D-Tuna, then the new tremolo is an improvement over the Gotoh. The Gotohs always seem to have pitted metal on their edges (see the side view in the pic above). If they were to smooth out the metal before plating, this would not be the case. The newer units are much smoother on their sides; none of the pitting.

Getting the arm to swing freely on the Gotoh is easy. I can't get the arm on the new unit to swing freely. But the tremolo itself works like buttah (that's butter to those who don't live in New England)...nice and smooth.

The Gotohs have a brass block, and the block on the new one looks like cast metal that is gold in color, but I'm not sure about that. I haven't taken the unit out for inspection. Also, the tremolo bar goes right into the block, instead of being held in place by a collar.

So, if I didn't rely on a D-Tuna, I would love the new units. But, I do use the D-Tuna, so for now, a drop in replacement Floyd is what I need. I use Floyd Upgrades (F.U.) tremolos.

 

[Big Jazzer]

tonelover - thanks for the detailed report and pics

The new in-house trem has plus(sic) and minuses.
The arm is the one from the Petrucci trem which is a larger diameter; at resting, it sits at a significantly higher an angle on the Tribute Axis for someone used to the Gotoh model. On my Tribute, when the arm was depressed for a dive-bomb, on passing around 80% of its travel limit, there was a ping (both audible and felt) as the trem plate snapped through a notch. Whether this was on the plate or the post I never did ascertain. Understandably, I was not impressed. Those are the minuses.
The plus it that the fine tuners are thin and matte finished, which is more like an OFR.
For me, the minuses outweighed the plus.
The Gotoh is one of the finest trems on the market and was an integral part of the quality package on an Axis. I lament its passing. I am pleased to see there is an alternative, albeit at extra cost (not the Floyd Upgrades one as the less said about them, the better).

 

[SteelCity]

My new Axis (DOB 1-17-13) obviously has the newest tremolo. Having never owned any of the earlier models I can't compare, however, I find this new tremolo to be quite sturdy, no pings.

I wanted to add the D-Tuna as well and was a little disappointed to find out that it didn't play nice with the newer version. After owning the guitar for about three weeks now though, I'm not as disappointed as the guitar as a whole far exceeds my expectations. So I'll happily drop down the old fashioned way, via the fine tuner. It takes an additional 5 seconds over the D-Tuna, but it doesn't add more working parts that may compromise being in tune.

Tollie: My trem arm swings freely with no problems. Did you loosen the hex nut hidden underneath the plate? It's located on the upper right corner of the block and can be accessed by depressing the trem.

 

[kimonostereo]

Wow! That's awesome news. Although my D-Tuna works fine on my tribute, I really like the Gotoh fine tuners a lot better. I may just pick one up and swap it.