Tune down a guitar with floating tremolo?

[Daemon]

I just got a EBMM JP BFR, but I don't have any experience with the floating tremolo. Does anyone know what to do if I want to, for instance, tune the guitar from E standard to D standard or drop C. I know you have to do something about the tension of the springs on the back of the guitar(equal tension on strings/springs), but I don't know exactly what. Should I try to block the tremolo(with some sort of Tremol-no, or something) or is there a method of how to do this?
Please help!

 

[azazael]

If you are not sure take it to a tech.
It will need a complete setup to go all way down to that.

 

[Daemon]

Thank you.
I will take it to a tech soon.

 

[nobozos]

Hi Daemon, welcome to the forums. I think also, that taking it to a tech is the answer for your immediate problem.

The thing you need to remember, is that you need to decide what gauge of strings you are going to use, and what tuning you want to be in, and stick with it on that guitar. You wouldn't to be able, for instance, to re-tune it to standard 440 without a setup and adjustment.

The following is for information only. Please take it to a tech and have them set it up for the specifications you want the first time:

Your floating trem is a balancing act between spring tension, and string tension. When you tune down, you decrease the string tension, therefore, the spring tension increases, and pulls your trem back so that it is no longer level with the body. In order to level your trem, you need to remove the access plate to your trem springs on the back of the gutiar, and loosen the two big screws on the trem-claw. I would start with one full rotation of each screw, and re-tune. When the trem is level with parallel with the body, and the strings are in tune, you are done with the spring tension part.

The next thing you will need to do is set your intonation. This is done by playing the string open, and at the 12th fret. If the note at the 12th fret is sharp, increase the vibrating length of the string by moving the bridge saddle toward the back of the guitar. If the note at the 12th fret is flat, decrease the vibrating legnth of the string by moving the bridge saddle toward the neck.

The difference in tension on the neck due to the reduced tension on the strings may require you to monitor the neck relief. If you hold the E string on the first and last fret, on the 8th fret, you should be able to slide a matchbook cover between the string and the 8th fret (this is subjective, since preferences vary)

After any neck adjustment, re-check your intonation, and adjust if necessary.

That's it.

 

[Daemon]

Thank you for this detailed information, nobozos. I'll take it to a tech. By neck relief, do you mean the truss rod? And how do you adjust the action?

 

[nobozos]

Yes, that's the truss rod adjustment. To adjust the action on your guitar, you would follow all of the steps that I've outlined. If, after you have followed all of these steps, you find that you want to raise or lower your action, you would simply raise or lower the two pivot screws at the leading edge of the trem. Make sure that you turn both screws the same amount, and use small adjustments.

 

[Daemon]

You mean these two screws?(link)

 

[nobozos]

Yup. The setup from EBMM is top notch though, so once you get the neck adjusted properly, you shouldn't have to mess with those. There are actually disadvantages of having your action too low.

 

[Roubster]

I would highly suggest to NOT adjust the action using the Trem Posts as was suggested. You can adjust the action/height of strings individually by raising or lowering the saddles. This is not a floyd rose system, so you should not have to touch those two posts whatsoever in any tuning.

 

[Bungo]

Or you could try this?

Not used one myself but read one positive review recently. Seems like the easiest fix if it does what it says on the tin.


MORPHEUS DROPTUNE - Morpheus Droptune

 

[Daemon]

Thank you for all your answers. I'll check out the Morpheus Droptune.