pro con of Floyd rose

[ksandvik]

I have EBMM trem guitars and Floyd Rose guitars, both are good, they have somewhat different characteristics but I could not decide which one is better. Maybe easier to change strings with a MM tremolo and no need to keep a hex wrench in the wallet. Also, of historical reasons my brain is wired to the assumption that Floyd Rose systems hold tuning better when doing extensive and crazy tremolo work.

 

[BUC]

If you use a trem like Steve Vai or EVH you need a FR and it must float.

My technique is limited to a few dives and some trem/vibrato. My experience is that all the EBMM's do such a great job of staying in tune that even without a locking nut I can to that no problem.

Also I would say that the Floyd Rose guitars I own don't have the great tone and sustain of my other guitars. Might just be my axes but I've had two, and still have an RG3120, and it's got this ping in the attack when cleaned up that I'm not a huge fan of. They sound better with the gain knob somewhere up high...but to me you're hearing more of the amp's tone and sustain and less of the guitar's. The older I get, the more I want to get great tone with less gain, and consequently I've moved away from the Floyds.

On a slightly different subject, my opinion is that you actually get better tuning stability with a bridge that floats. The strings must be able to move both ways across the nut. A dive bomb may leave the string out of tune but if you have enough float to give a little upwards tug on the trem you can frequently get it right back in tune.

 

[clareynet]

Pros: Adds a lot that you can do with your axe. Tends to be pretty stable as far as tuning goes. Floyd tricks impress chicks.

Cons: Floyd tricks actually dont impress chicks. They're a pain in the ass to set up properly. If ya wanna change tunings, you're SOL.

As for quality...OFR's are my favorites. Ibanez makes some nice licensed models. But most of the stuff you'll find isn't gonna compare to an OFR.

 

[decreebass]

One word: fine tuners

EDIT: I should add, in full disclosure, that my JP guitars are far more stable and stay in tune better than any of my guitars with Floyds, so fine tuners would be unnecessary on the JPMM bridge.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Floyd all the way! The dive only I like, axis EVH style, im not to fond of pull ups.

 

[Jamie M]

I hate Floyds and trems, hard tail all the way for me.

 

[noise5150]

Love it or hate it why? go!

I love it for what it does.

Pros:
-stays in tune better than any other trem system especially with heavy use
-most versions, even cheaper imports work pretty well (I've owned guitars with every version you can imagine)
-D-tuna available on non-floating guitars
-fine tuners are great
-Can be upgraded with better parts such as a big brass block

Cons:
-Can't change string easily on the fly if a string breaks at a gig
-More difficult to change strings compared to a stop-tail
-some people find it cumbersome compared to a stop-tail bridge for example

 

[sixstrings]

With musicman vintage trem in action I can't really think of any positive aspects of floyd rose. Tried hard to think of any but absolutely no chance. Slow to change strings, bulky, harder to setup etc etc...
Been a floyd guy for a long time, mm vintage trem changed it all, so easy to use and combined with locking tuners it stays in tune perfectly. Best if you play both for a while and decide yourself though.

 

[ozzyrules]

I love my Floyds, Vintage trems, and hard tails. All unique in their own way. This is of no help, right? lol.

 

[tbonesullivan]

I have this debate with myself every year or so. The majority of my guitars are hardtail, either TOM, or tele-style. I have one guitar with a bigsby and roller bridge, and another with a floating 2 point bridge. Then I have two super strats with floyds that I got mainly because I wanted to see if I could deal with super strats with floyds.

Honestly, I find the non-locking floating tremolos to be preferable. Setting up a floyd rose is a PITA, and string changes can be annoying. If you aren't a whammy monster, there's not really a reason to get a floyd. Just get a 2 point, keep the nut lubricated, use locking tuners, lubricate the trem bearings, and play.

It also should be noted that the JP Ibanez guitars had floyds. his EBMM guitars do not.

Now if only they would make a steve morse with a standard 2 point trem.

 

[Rachmaninoff]

I have a 1996 Ibanez Universe, with a Lo Pro Edge 7 tremolo (actual picture of my guitar):

It's the most stable system I've seen on any guitar, anywhere. There's nothing you can do to make it go out of tune. My JP6 has a really stable trem, but this double-locking thing is unbeatable. Carrying allen wrenches everywhere sucks, though...

 

[ksandvik]

It's the most stable system I've seen on any guitar, anywhere. There's nothing you can do to make it go out of tune. My JP6 has a really stable trem, but this double-locking thing is unbeatable. Carrying allen wrenches everywhere sucks, though...

I keep my wrenches in the wallet, next to some spare picks and an extra set of earplugs. They are small.

 

[billy carr]

I played my axis for a few hours yesterday, took it out of the case today and it was still perfectly in tune. I dig it. Yes there is more maintenance, but it works really well.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I love it for what it does.

Pros:
-stays in tune better than any other trem system especially with heavy use
-most versions, even cheaper imports work pretty well (I've owned guitars with every version you can imagine)
-D-tuna available on non-floating guitars
-fine tuners are great
-Can be upgraded with better parts such as a big brass block

Cons:
-Can't change string easily on the fly if a string breaks at a gig
-More difficult to change strings compared to a stop-tail
-some people find it cumbersome compared to a stop-tail bridge for example

Add to the cons that when you need to retune in a middle of song and your fine tuner is already all the way down or up you are stuck

As for the pros I can have all that with a vintage trem and locking tuners. I'm really not into Floyds reason why I sold my Axis

 

[tbonesullivan]

Floyds definitely are the king in terms of tuning stability with trem abuse. Ony my two floyd guitars I can dump the strings until they are lying on the neck, and then they go back to being in tune.

But, maintenance requires more, and forget about trying to change tuning on the fly. no open E for meee.

 

[Firesource]

As for the pros I can have all that with a vintage trem and locking tuners. I'm really not into Floyds reason why I sold my Axis

Add locking tuners and replace the nut, and you can have all that on your Axis. Previous owner of my Axis did that, and it worked really great! I changed back to the locking nut a few weeks ago just to try it, but I might go back to the other nut.

But, maintenance requires more, and forget about trying to change tuning on the fly. no open E for meee.

That's not different than any other guitar with a floating tremolo. Add a tremol-no or deck your floyds and you won't have that problem any more. (Of course given that you unlock the locking nut)

 

[steevo]

I've recently restrung my strat and left the locking nut off just to see how well it stayed in tune, I've owned it for 14 years and never tried it. Considering it has vintage tuners on it it stayed in tune extremely well. String tension was also reduced which meant bending was easier too, much better.
One thing with a floyd is that when your frets start to wear and you need slight adjustments in string height you can't adjust them individually, you have to raise the whole unit.
The floyd rose concept really needs updating to bring in line with other innovations the guitar has gone through over the last 20 years.

 

[steevo]

I have a 1996 Ibanez Universe, with a Lo Pro Edge 7 tremolo (actual picture of my guitar):

It's the most stable system I've seen on any guitar, anywhere. There's nothing you can do to make it go out of tune. My JP6 has a really stable trem, but this double-locking thing is unbeatable. Carrying allen wrenches everywhere sucks, though...

I have an rg1550, it has an edge pro. Nice bit of kit but it doesn't feel as solid as a genuine floyd. I know joe satriani and steve vai preferred the lo pro over the edge.

 

[gregc]

I like a floating Floyd best. I do not currently own one and am making due with vintage trems and Floyds that sit on the guitar top, Axis style. I really like to vibrato with the bar so I do not often use the 'one way' trem. In fact, I may try to float that one some and see how it performs. A recessed, floating Floyd, set up properly, is a thing of beauty though.

 

[Stratty316]

I've moved to the MM trem over the Floyd Rose. However the only guitar I will buy with a Floyd from here on out is another Axis. I like the no-floating trem and the Axis plays and sounds so nice that it's worth the extra work to change strings.


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