One key thing I'd like to say for those of you trying this for the first time. Stretching your new strings properly before tuning and locking down your tremolo system is especially important on guitars with floating bridges. If you don't, your guitar will constantly be going out of tune, and you'll lose that perfectly level bridge over time. After you install the strings, tune them properly. Then begin stretching and retuning each string one at a time. Stretch the string by pulling it straight up away from the fret board at the 12th fret, then check it's tuning and adjust accordingly. Do this until the strings do not change tuning after pulling up on them. Hope this helps.
Haha! Dude ... I am a drummer with an audio interface and an amp sim. (Coming from edrums -> VST drumming) I just grabbed a used cheap Harley Benton, with the Floyd Rose Special trem system ... It's look so cool, and I WANT to try a Dive Bomb and Dimebag Squeals! I am also a physicist and I always need a plan for a special project. This is a masterplan. This makes so much sense. Just loosen the springs, but that block in, tune, tighten the springs back until everything is in a - kind of - equilibrium . Done! Great content!
Dozens of videos I have gone through to try and understand my floyd and this guy showed me and told me things no one els even bothered to mention let alone explain. THX
I own several guitars, and I must say, this video is among the best I've ever seen. My Ibanez guitar constantly went out of tune within 10 seconds of stretching and tuning it, and this had been happening forever. Every time I came up with a great riff, trying to replicate it was a struggle because the guitar would be out of tune. It was incredibly discouraging, especially since it's my favorite guitar, but dealing with the tuning was a real hassle. I turned to RU-vid and stumbled upon your video. I followed the procedure you recommended, unsure of what the final result would be. Miraculously, it worked! I've been playing it for days now, and the tuning is perfect. Thank you so, so much for your help. Please keep these videos coming!
You saved my life! I was about to get someone else to set it up for me but your method worked flawlessly and my floyd never sat better in its life! Thank you so much!
Just got a jackson V with floating bridge. My first time back to playing in 12 years. Was starting to get really frustrated last night with the back and forth to go down to D standard. Saw a comment on another RU-vid vid that mentioned a block. Then found this video. Looks like it will work great. I'd like to support you, but I have so many little wood scraps in the garage, that I'm just going to measure my gap and cut my own block, because I just want to get this done right away. Thank you for the great video and great tips however! We need good vids like this.
I do agree to the comment below. This is indeed the one of the most useful videos on this matter. I had a lot of tunning issues with my PRS Torero. Now my guitar stays perfect in tune. Thx!
this is funny, I just got a 2012 Torero SE a few days ago and it's my first floyd! Been eyeballing string length and spring tightness but I think I definitely gotta get one of those wedges haha.
I just happened to purchase this on amazon months ago without realizing that it's a special block that makes tuning floyd rose guitars easier. Thanks for the items and this video. I went from being nervous that I was going to destroy my guitar to feeling like a floyd rose expert.
You should know that this isn't a full setup on a guitar just a bridge setup (no I don't work on guitars for a living). When you pay for a full setup they adjust more than just the bridge if they do the job properly. They adjust the neck bow, intonation, etc.
I'm a total noob, owned my first ever guitar (Mitchell HD400) for 2 days now and following your general directions (I just cut a small triangle wood wedge out of some scrap wood) I managed to re-string and fully tune my guitar in about an hour. Not too bad for my first time ever re-stringing a guitar and with a Floyd Rose no less. It will definitely go much faster next time. Thanks for the video.
Not long bought a Jackson DK3 and I have never previously owned a guitar with a Floyd Rose! A string change was imminent but I had been putting it off since due to fear of making a hash of it. Having breaking a string earlier today, I had to find my minerals and at least attempt to restring the guitar, as it played phenomenally since the day I got it. After searching for an in depth but to the point tutorial, I settled with this video. What a great step by step walkthrough! Could not have been simpler with the assistance of this video! Thank you!
It's funny how every video I watched doesn't use this technique, they block it on the other side of the brigde and all that does is stop it from sinking not lifting, this worked perfectly for me thanks my friend.
Hey SkyScraper! I wanted to say thank you for this video, I'm a sales employee at a music retailer and was hoping to gain some insight on how trem systems work and how they differ from other bridge systems. I can thankfully say I learned quite a bit from this, and after watching this video I decided to get the Luthier's Pack of trem wedges that you offer for the repair tech that works at my store. I surprised him with the set of wedges as a gift, and funnily enough, he had previously tried to make his own trem wedge out of wood that unfortunately didn't turn out as well as he'd hoped! He was immediately impressed by the quality of them, and I think he'll use them a lot! I was glad to get him something that will hopefully make his life a little easier when working on customers' guitars, and more importantly, the new custom shop Strat I ordered that he will also inevitably work on! 😅 Thanks again for the quality products and service. Rock on dude!
Right on! I'm glad the video helped and thank you for the order. I'm sort of a trem nerd, so if you run Into anything goofy that you can't sort out, drop me a line.
I actually like a light forward pitch to my trem setup. But I'll have to try the string reverse loading with the string ball at the tuner. That looks interesting!
There's nothing wrong with adapting the "factory recommendations" to your liking. As you well know - as long as it's balanced, it will play just fine. When you get into a large forward lean, you can start to affect string radius and intonation because the contact point on the saddle becomes affected.
One thing that I rarely see in these Floyd Rose set up videos are the round tuning adjustments for each string. I backed them off all the way and then tighten 1/2 turn. Strings stretch over time but they never tighten up overtime. So by backing that round tuning adjustment all the way out gives you a lot more adjustment capability as the string stretches over time. I hope I'm making sense here.
I mastered it being that my dad got me a Randy Rhoads replica V in the 90s........through a lot of frustration, trial and error. Then one year I was shown how. I wish I had RU-vid growing up. Videos like this would have saved me so much time.
@@SkyscraperGuitars I do. I got two different usa Randy Rhoads. Ones a custom and I picked up a Demmelition v and I got a Charvel model one San Dimas. Love them all. I played a 59 Les Paul custom and I will say it's the best guitar I've ever laid my hands on.
Wow this really helped me! I've been having problems with my PRS Floyd Rose always going out of tune with just moderate tremolo use. I followed your instructions to the letter and now I can divebomb flat and sharp and it stays in tune! You saved me a trip to the local tech. It's good to know how to maintenance it myself too.
This is the best Floating Trem tutorial I've seen! I've always done it a different way but figured that had to be better ways, then saw your tutorial. Subscribed!
This is the greatest video for the Floyd Rose I've ever seen. Especially if you wanted to do some repair work on the side. I've always stayed away from the FR because I had an Ibanez version that I wasn't sure how close they were. So I wrestled with it and hardly ever changed strings. I didn't play as much guitar until recently, I mostly played bass. They are easy to tune.
I got my first guitar with a floyd on it, and I of course researched all kinds of videos on changing strings etc. People in music stores were telling me how complicated it is to set them up proper. I bought a set of these blocks and it worked perfectly my first try. Really stupid easy really. Thanks!!
Skyscraper is a good company and you know your stuff, it was a pleasure talking with you today, and if I do run into any questions at all I won't hesitate to call or email you thanks again! Keep ROCKIN \M/
I'm 18 and learned on an Epiphone Les Paul. Bought a used Strat copy a few days ago and felt like a god after I managed to fix the broken Trem system on it. The previous owner managed to completely strip one of the screws that hold the spring claw in place so I replaced it and set it up, and it stayed in tune after stretching in the strings and messing with the tension a bit. Nothing beats the feeling of completing something you found intimidating at first!
Took a little time with your method. I used the back of a string winder as the block. So After it was blocked, I gradually tightened the claw screws, and bam. It worked. Took me some tries though.
I personally take off one string at a time and replace it and tune it, leaving the old strings on until I get to that string. That way you don't have to block the tremolo at all, and when you're done all you have to do is a slight compensation on the tremolo spring screws. Takes less than 10 minutes for sure.
Your method doesn't work if you're changing tunings. All new guitars come in standard E from the store. But what if you want it setup in drop C? So you have to use the block to save time.
Just ordered the luthier pack and neck work station. I've got two floyd rose trems and haven't bothered changing strings or tunings in so long because I always had to end up paying someone to do it for me. Watched this video (jumped ahead the first time and failed) after a while was able to fix my own problems! I did end up using electrical tape and a gopro battery as a temporary wedge but you've got a product that provides a permanent solution as well as instructions that make it less of a migraine than it usually ends up, so "shut up and take my money!" Thanks for the clear instructions and ready-made products guys!
EXCELLENT VIDEO!!!!! In the ocean of you tube your video finally helped me with my Jackson dinky after spending money and over 5 high e string replacements your video saved me time and future set up know how thank you !
I recorded one a few weeks ago. I will have it edited and up on YT soon. While I was filming the steps, I was able to create an eBook to go along with the video. You can download a free copy here to get you by until the vid drops: bit.ly/TheSkyScraperMethodForFloydRoseSetup
Do you mean once the block is in place (perfectly level bridge) and you're first tuning her up to pitch? Another way to put it is: do you do all your stretching before you tighten up the springs to get the block to fall out?
I tried setting up a Floyd with 10-52 gauge strings and for the life of me i couldn't get it to sit level with the spring claw all the way back. Only had 3 springs on, would adding more help put more tension onto the trem and bring it back some?
If you run out of tension range (i.e. the screws that hold the claw are all the way in) you'll need to add a spring. If you're screws are all the way out, you need to subtract a spring. I'm guessing you are moving from 9s to 10s?
I bought a secondhand Dinky and my best guess is the previous owner tried to do a string change with a different gauge and didn't bother trying to figure out how to set it back up. According to the Jackson website the original strings were 9s. Great channel, btw! Thanks for the response. As you may guess, Woodeso's Mods brought me here. Here to stay!
Floyd Rose makes springs with higher tension now and they are noiseless. I had springs that made noise through my Duncan JB pickup. You can get those springs from Stew Mac. You want the RED heavy duty springs (link)- www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Bridges_and_Tailpieces_for_Electric_Guitar/Floyd_Rose_Tremolos/Floyd_Rose_Noiseless_Tremolo_Springs.html
Imagine how Pat O'Brien has it. The man is tuned to Bb and Ab standard with a FR and was plagued with tuning problems for hours until he got his new Jacksons.
Very useful advice. I have a JEM JR. which came supplied with the trem sat high at the back. I used your video to set it back in place and retune . The only problems I had were that the trem cavity wasn’t finished brilliantly (with wood particles sitting in the paint) so the block I used wouldn’t sit square until I had rubbed the cavity lightly with sanding paper. And also I had to use a block on the other side of the trem sustain block because the springs pulled it way too much in... I’ve since learned that I didn’t need the 3 springs. In all though a fantastic learning experience that I would have been wary of attempting had it not been for your video. Many thanks.
Serious question: I've just purchased a new Jackson with FR which has to last me forever. I used the block technique to set it up initially with my preferred strings - worked very well but I had to unscrew quite a bit to level, which made me nervous. I tend to change strings every 2-4 weeks, depending upon how much I play. Is it safe to loosen and tighten those spring screws so often?
Once you pick a string gauge you shouldn't need to adjust from there out. If you use a trem block or some other item to block your trem, you can do a few things to avoid adjusting the claw. You can get your strings roughly to pitch, then remove a spring (or two if you want it to balance nice)... You can tape the block in place while you tune up... You can over tighten the E strings to provide a bit more tension... But to answer your original question... You should be able to back the screws off a 1/2 turn while you change strings... That should not hurt your guitar over time. I have never stripped on out, I have never broken one and I've never messed up a claw. I use the correct size screw driver and I never use power tools on this adjustment. Be sure to stretch your strings BEFORE you adjust your claw and you should only have to tune up once when you change your strings. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll be happy to answer them.
dude, thank you so much! you're a genius.. - I just measured up my 2 floyd guitars and decided to order the Large model (1/2" - 5/8")... I can't wait to try it out, thank you!
@@nataandrichardflora7660 he's saying to first tune the lowest string aka the low E string then the G and keep alternating sides to make sure that it is faster with tuning so he is not saying to tune it literally with that tuning but in that order for a standard tuned floyd rose guitar. I wanted to make sure people understood cuz this is truly a lifesaver.
Thanks very much for sharing. Just changed the string gauge and tuning on my first Floyd. While I can’t say I was very fast, there wasn’t much headache using your method. Guitar is set up now much better than it came from the factory.
There is now underwear at my feet - great video, especially putting the ball of the string in the machine heads instead of cutting, makes intonation in drop tunings so much easier.
I just tried these blocks for the very first time, and followed your video to a “T”. WOW!!!! AMAZING!!!! This method literally shaved hours off the time it usually takes.
I'm always tickled to hear other players who use this method for the first time. There would be a lot few Floyds in the trash can if everyone knew how to do this! :D
SkyScraper Guitars I totally understand! I’ve fought with setting them up for years. Always got tired of going back and forth for days waiting on it to settle, then adjust, then settle, etc. Again, you have my deepest thanks for creating such a cool device! I can’t wait to perform setups on a few other guitars in the collection now! :D
I've been stringing floyds this was since my first Kramer back in the mid 80's. I keep a bit more string as to reuse a string broken at the bridge several times. Well done.
I've looked for videos that include blocking the bridge and this is by far the best overall method, the most clearly explained, and the most concise, as well as being a great production that's well presented. Knocked it out the park here dude. 🤘
@@SkyscraperGuitars hey sorry for the noob question. But i’m kinda new floating bridges. Does doing all of these steps in the video affect the action and intonation?
This video has really helped me out with setting up my floyd. I just use business cards and stack them up till my floyd is flush, then tape the cards together so i have the size for my guitar. But this method is great!! Saves a huge headache!!
Thank you! If you run into any issues, just reach out. I'm posting a handful of set-up videos over the next few weeks and almost all the guitars have a floating trem, so you can see the process a few times on different guitars.
I though about this solution sime many months as an evidence to set easily and fast a Floyd rose. You confirm I was right. Next Time I have to restring a Floyd, I will use this tip. Thanks !
To think that the 14 year old me used to know how to do this all the time. I’m 26 now and can’t even remember any of it. I stopped playing at 19 and it’s all lost now. It’s crazy how fast time goes.
I recently got my first floyd rose guitar. I put new strings on the day i got it and it was a "learning experience" getting the float even doing one string at a time. I will give your blocking technique a try next time.
Life saver on the block. I made a makeshift one with two cm×cm sticks and used tape to fine tune the thickness and shoved it in the back till the bridge was perfectly parallel with the body. I'd have never thought to tune a floyd rise bridge this way. Perfect in tune and parallel bridge first try. It also made intonation soooooo much easier.
Yo, that trim wedge is genius. Simple design, but will redesign how I tune and change strings on a floating bridge. IDK why this isnt in every music store in the world. You need to market this, you have something going, just need to educate potential buyers and let them know this thing exists.
Thanks for the kind words brother. I wouldn't say I'm keeping this a secret, but I don't do a bunch of marketing. We are barely keeping up with demand on all our tools. Most of the time when you visit our website there is at least one item that is not available... I could go to China and have them turned out by the million, but I'm dedicated to having all my products 100% made in the U.S.A. so I can keep a close eye on quality. I also have a weird issue with slave labor and communism but that's a completely different discussion. Rock on!!!
I just purchased my first Floyd Rose guitar (floating bridge). I was a little nervous because I knew the stringing is obviously not like your standard setup. I decided to replace the strings that came on it since it was not in a box. I kept wondering why the strings kept coming out of tune after tuning other strings. After watching many different videos, I found this one.This was straightforward. I love the freaking wedge! Made things so much easier. My gosh what a life saver. I bought one from SkyScraper Guitars because I did not want to go through the hassle of making one. Thanks!
Very helpful product and instruction video. I ordered the block from the website and received it today. Used it to set up my Jem 777 and it worked very well. I used to struggle and sometimes pay a local guitar setup guy to do the same thing.
Thanks so much for this. The Edge tremolo on my Ibanez RG was a pain in the a**e mainly because I didn't understand how it worked. I've messed it up once before and it cost me around £30 to get fixed. You've saved me embarrassing myself at the guitar shop again!
Yep. The Edge has the exact same principles. This procedure usually defines the break over point for players... Once you get this down, you'll start to like the floating trems A LOT more. 👊
I think if you have a minor raise or dive into the guitar at the tuning you are going for, you can do sort of repurpose the compensated tuning method that Doug Marks suggests. Basically, he suggests tuning 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 6. 1 is high E, 6 is low E. I. Addition, if your string is 5 cents sharp, tune it 5 cents flat. Once it is all tuned, it should be nearly there. For setting the float, we can use the same sort of method. If you have the fine tuner side dipping slightly from the guitar, release the tension from the spring claw screws to about the equal amount. Then, use the compensated tuning method Doug suggests. Check the float of the bridge to make sure it is even. The one thing to be careful of is if the bridge is dipping or raising a lot from the guitar. This is mainly to deal with it slightly off.
Thank you so much for a great video. I can confirm if anyone wants to know ... this works on the Ibanez JEM jr. Tremolo system as well. Following your instructions it only took me about 20 minutes to get the guitar in tune. Before I found your video I tried everything on Earth and never could get it to stay in tune correctly thanks again
Hi @ SkyScraper Guitars, Just out of curiosity.. from your experience, would the following steps make any sense ? 1) Block the bridge 2) Unscrew the locking fasteners 3) Release the tension of the strings and get them out 4) Put new strings in 5) Tune strings and pull on them at 12th fret - repeat operation until they keep in tune 6) Let's say the guitar would not have the bar after the locking fasteners. Think of the Jackson JS32 DKA-M Dinky guitar. 7) Remount the locking fasteners. Based on point 6, the strings might gain a little bit more tension (because of the locking fasteners pressing on them) 8) Finish tuning using the fine tuning knobs on the bridge 9) Unblock the bridge I am not, by any means, doubting the method you have shown. I just want to understand why the steps I posted above, would not be correct. I used to own a cheap guitar which only had a standard tremolo and I am now looking to buy a new guitar, which has a Jackson licensed double locking tremolo. Looking forward to your reply !
Yes. That process would work just fine. Smart to adjust the fine tuners before dropping the block. If you have everything set properly, the locking nuts shouldn't affect the pitch, but it does tend to happen. Good luck with the new Jackson!
