You do the setup the same way that I've been doing it since almost when I started to use and love Floyd Rose systems (licence, special, etc.). There are a few points/tips that I have to mention: · All the setups that I do, even tho it's a little bit, just a little bit more difficult, I do it in playing position. I've noticed that gravity and neck-rest thingy affects the intonation, string height and pickup height. You to the setup in certain position but when you sit or stand up and put your guitar in playing position, it changes. · The wood block can be customize with any piece of wood, a saw and some sandpaper. I have one for two guitars that I have (sand paper two faces of the block). · Before intonation, by the way you did a fantastic job mention how to do it properly and with the correct tools,I advise to first take the old strings, clean the guitar, put the new strings, tune it to pitch, check the relief of the neck, check the pickups height and then the intonation. · When putting new strings, release the springs just a little bit, lock the bridge by putting some thin enough pieces of wood underneath the base plate of the bridge but just to lock the strings and putting some tension on them, because it is a struggle to move the bridge with the tremolo bar every time you put and string and lock it due springs tension, specially for beginners on this. Everything else, OH MAN! You are on point :) Greetings from Mexico.
exactamenteeee, te sorprendería la cantidad de ``técnicos `` he visto ajustar guitarras en su mesa de trabajo, y a la hora de tomar la guitarra siempre están mal ajustadas
Spring tension is the simplest part. I've had my first floyd guitar for a week and I've got it down, tune to whatever you play in after you have your action intonation amd neck relief set then tighten or loosen the springs to where the bridge is parallel to the body while being in tune. It's really simple guys.
@@Ayyem93 You do neck relief first, then the action. But I'd set up the springs before intonating. You don't want to have the bridge at a different angle or height before finishing the intonation, That's just how I'd do it but your method would end up working too. I really agree with you about the spring tension being quite simple. I'm pretty sure I figured it out on my own like 20 years ago when I barely knew what I was doing haha
That's a nifty intonation tool. But I stopped using feeler gauges years ago. It's much quicker to just use two fingers one at each end of the fretboard and you could see the relief. I don't you string height measurements either. I lower the action until it buzzes. Then I bring it up until it stops buzzing. That's the maximum lowest action. I call that the Billy Sheehan method, he made it popular .
That's how you sell products. Watched the video, went straight to your webstore and bought the block set and intonation tool. A bit pricey but it'll be worth it. I remember what a pain in the ass changing strings and intonation used to be on my Jackson back in the 90's.
The diagonal set-up of the tremolo springs, in this video allows them to maintain a higher tension of the outside springs, preventing the need to tighten the screws excessively or adding a fourth spring. Many luthiers recommend this approach to spring set-up. Great video! Thanks for offering your tools to the world!
Everytime I've tried the diagonal setup with three springs it's causes tuning issues when using the Floyd. I see it so often but I've never got that to work.
This is great!! My order a set of 4xTrim Block plus Intonation and it arrived in 3 days. Thank You, man! Now I do all the Floyd Rose tremolo guitars setup and restring like a Pro.
Great video! I used a Sharpie pen instead of a 9v battery for a trem wedge, worked really well. I found that if the Sharpie wasn't big enough I could add a guitar pic until the trem was flat.
Thank you man. What a generous upload. I have been stressed about this kind of diy project given the value of these guitars like the Kramer and the Charvels. Bravo guitar mentor. Great ad lib too; really a great tutorial and educational film.
I love that you gave other options other than your product for those that don't have extra money currently! Thank you. Will probably buy a Trem Wedge in the future though.
Mate, I loved this video! Great tutorial and I love your on-screen presence! You've made it entertaining, shared knowledge and kept it fun. As someone who has struggled with Floyd's in the past, thank you! Subscribed and I will be getting those trem blocks too :) Cheers!
I'm sure you hear this a lot , but fantastic video. Extremely informative , very well paced and professional. Why can't more youtube videos be like this???
DUDE! You just made my day!!! Thank you for taking the time to reach out and share your thoughts. I am a huge YT consumer, so I try to put content out there that I would like to see. Rock on! -Greg
Just bought a jackson randy rhoads with terrible paint job, stripping it down, changing to active. My first floyd rose. Really glad I found this video. Took the scary floyd monsters away. Cheers
This is an awesome video! Just what i needed. I just broight home my fender squire stagemaster with dual bucks. Nice sounding git-fiddle and plays well too. Took forever figuring out how to change strings and tune it back. 😒 but I won! Will your intonation tool work for mine? It appears it will. Oh my tuner is the tc electronic poly tuner which has a strobe function. As well as my tuner of my tc electeonic bh250 which is also a pretty soild tuner. You opinion on using those?
Stupendous...thanks much....never saw anyone put strings on "backwards" so to speak with the colored metal loop ends on the head.....cool....may try that.
Tom, you do an incredible job of working with the crazy designs I come up with and turning them into the best luthier tools available on planet earth. I constantly get comments about the quality of the SSG tools and you are the reason people's jaws drop when they open their packages. I couldn't make these tools a reality without you.
You Sir, are the man! So love the tools, the process you shared is spot on for me, 5-5 on FR Trems. Invaluable...EVERYONE! Support this guys knowledge, buy something!!
Just started watching this vid - man, this is how you do it. Lay out all the tools, give a brief explain of them. As a former mechanic, I appreciate this greatly. Looking forward to the rest of it, and I will buy your tool for sure (pretty small - wish it came in a case or bag or something). Also subbed up.
I just purchased a used Ibanez JS100 in great condition - EXCEPT for the Floyd Rose set-up, that was almost unplayable. Greg's video, plus his tuning blocks, made the major part of set-up really straightforward. The intonation tool that I also purchased from Skyscraper is obviously of really high precision quality. I've not previously dared tamper with intonation, but with the right tool, it's easy!Thanks Greg, for helping us simplify maintenance, and focus on PLAYING! Cheers!
All this time and I never thought to block the trem before tuning up. I sold two amazing Floyd equipped guitars because of the never-ending tuning dilemma when all I had to do was block the trem. This video is a godsend!
I've struggled with Floyd Rose style tremolos for so long and have sold guitars simply because I couldn't get them set up and tuned properly on my own. I bought a new Ibanez with a double locking trem, followed your instructions (with my own makeshift block) and got it set up perfectly. Thanks!! I'll be buying a proper block for my guitool box. I''m going to recommend this video to anyone and everyone.
Well glad to have you back on the dark side, I feel the pain but I never sold my guitar, my jem jr is now 8 months old I started playing 10 months ago. After buying my jem jr it’s been a massive pain in the ass. It’s been “professionally set up” twice. After the last time a few days ago I thought everything was good, it wasn’t until the next day the intonation was off again. Replaced the strings, adjusted the truss rod, adjusted pickup height and action height of the strings and had to take apart the internals and found springs stuck under the pickups not even on the screw posts to raise the pickups. The pickups aren’t level still, can’t tell if the guitar needs a little chipping away in that specific cavity or if it’s caused by the faceplate. What I do Know is that with them basically all flat against the guitar it’s fixed a lot of shitty sounds like the G string sounding like a damn banjo. Idk why or how I’ve put up with this when I’ve got 2 guitars that are way brighter quality but just suck to play because they don’t feel good in my hands. The schecter is close to my Ibanez but the neck is slightly thicker, but the main issue is that I drop tuned it and all the songs the app uses are drop d or eb. Probably for the best. It’s way easier coming up with Melodie’s and rhythm with my drop tuned guitar. Just feels so natural, my gretsch just weighs a lot and makes me not wanna touch it either. My fender acoustic I only use for recording specific parts but I hate that fender or any fender for that matter. Every fender thing I own is broken except the acoustic. But I just don’t enjoy acoustic playing. The sounds are lovely but it lacks everything I enjoy about guitar.
@@SkyscraperGuitars I'd like to state again, because it's not really evident from the video, just how well this little tool is made. Tiny little thing, but beautifully machined, you just want to take it out of the packet and hold it when it arrives.
Thanks, nice tips! I have an Edge Zero II trem but you give very good tips. I could think of two advantages of having the springs straight, but I honestly don't believe it makes a noticeable difference in the sound. Like you say, you explain how you do it. Thanks again!
I've heard of some people doing that, but I don't understand why. I see you have an option, because the holes are there, but what difference does it make having the springs straight?
I'm new to setting up my Ibanez w FloydRose type trem... wish I'd watched this 2 weeks ago! Purchased the intonation tool and fret rocker today. Live here in Westminter. Thank you Thank you Thank you!
hi i final yy got a round to instal a b ig block and bought the intonation tool. thetool wont r each fin e tuners and saddle. its on a ibanez prestige. any fixs ?
Would like see you set up a peavey Wolfgang special! I tried putting strings on it for the first time and I screwed the action up on it can’t get it back the way it was
I just purchased a Schecter Reaper 6 with a licenced Floyd Rose and a BC Rich Mockingbird with an original Floyd Rose. I have always played Les Paul guitars so the Floyd has been a nightmare for me. I saw this and purchased the kit just over a week ago and cannot wait until it arrives here to me in the UK 🇺🇸🛫🛬🇬🇧
Excellent and informative videos....can u give me some advice?... i always seem to get this problem when restringing my 22 fret guitars and the problem is that the strings seem to have a lot of tension when bending a note?...i dont get it on my 24 fret guitars?...i use 9 gauge strings...thanks in advance.
Excellent video! I've had a Floyd guitar(Jackson reverse dinky) for 25+ years, and its nice to learn a new trick or two about easier ways to set them up. One thing I've always wondered. On "regular" guitars with a bone or plastic nut, people always go on about filing and setting the nut height. With a Floyd, its steel, and you never see anyone adjusting the height. Are they just that accurate because they are machined? Also, mine doesn't have that extra bar behind the nut, and now I see why I need one. When I put new strings, I put the fine tuners all the way out, then 1 turn in because after tuning and all that, when I tighten the nut locks, it makes the note sharp and sometimes I have to turn them out. That extra bar probably prevents that by keeping the strings flat against the nut. I will definitely be using your "ball end on the tuners side" technique. Genius!
You'll find shims under a lot of FR nuts. The nice thing for factories is that they don't have to file them, so as long as you are consistent with production, they should all sit perfectly on the neck. Over time, they don't wear nearly as much as a bone nut since the strings are clamped. As for the clamps and going sharp. The key is "snug". You don't have to make the clamps tight, just snug. It takes very little pressure to keep the guitar from slipping out of tune. That said, I always plan on the strings going just a tick sharp... Tis the nature of the beast. Take care and thanks for the great comment!!! Greg
i just purchased a guitar fitted with a floyd, i am getting this for sure do you recommend installing a trem setter on a floyd?? i personally installed on my other guitars with vintage trems
I have a question , i bought a jackson mj series dinky with a gotoh trem system and had it set up by a local tech and i have adjusted the springs a slight bit due to tuning changes and needed to get bridge back level , but issue im havin now is when i bend the bottom E or B string i notice it pulls my tune out slightly for a sec as i bend , kinda of a warble sound as i bend strings , is there any advice to fix this , should i lay the bridge back or up a small bit to fix this , thank you for any help
Nice Kramer. Had a 84 , with rounded head stock tip. Candy apple red. First good guitar i ever owned. I I wish you go more into detail on how you set your intonation
when checking for neck relief make sure to put the capo on at the first fret and not push at the last fret as some fretboard have a slight decline near the very end (rule of thumb 1 fret before the last fret)
Great video man. I bought the intonation tool and the trem blocks and set up my dean ml using this method and it came out great. All my buddies want me to set up their Floyds now lol
Awesome! You now have the blessing/curse of knowing how it's done!!! I can't tell you how many friends I've helped out over the years... Its amazing how easy it can be to take a guitar from o.k. to outstanding.
That Skyscraper gizmo you created seems like the only logical choice to do this process. I wasn't entirely sure what to do with adjusting that little bolt on the saddle, then somehow moving the saddle forward/backwards appropriately without it flying away lol. I've changed strings/tunings to the point where I'm in bad shape as far as intonation. My hardtail guitar is so simple with only 1 easy screw to adjust :p
Best tutorial for this I've seen and to the point. Too many 45-60 minutes videos I've watched where they don't even touch on intonation. This is great. And your intonation tool is out of stock on your website. Do you know when more will be available?
Thanks for the kind words! We have a batch of intonation tools on their way to anodize right now. We should have them available in about 2 weeks. You can use the contact form on our website and I can put you on the notification list when they are ready. (sorry, YT doesn't allow DMs anymore...) www.skyscraperguitars.com/contact
I can't figure out my floyd rose. I'm about to take it in to a shop. It came to me with the trem severely riding high (traded for it). I tried switching strings and for some reason, it just keeps tuning and tuning and tuning and tuning. Every time I tune up, the trem gives a little and it detunes... all the way until the trem is 45 degrees. Any ideas what to do? I'm thinking it needs new springs but idk its only 3 years old.
Great video and really cool guitar! I just got one of the new SM1 models and they're fantastic, although 1988 is my birth year so that makes yours just that much cooler! :)
Hello! What do you recommend using as a shim for one of the saddles if the strings radius isn't correct (low on the 5th string compared with the D and Low E)
Where can I get the blocks and intonation tool you used? Also I'm still a bit gun shy about messing with the truss rod . But I'm trying to setup a brand new Jackson king V. Should I be okay to trust that my neck is fine at this point and adjust action if necessary at the bridge? I want to do this myself so I can be confident in the process for now and the future. It may sound like I'm little nuts but I think this is all part of knowing my instrument inside out.
So I have this ocd where i just love seeing things in order. Today o got my guitar that i stashed years ago. I saw that the small intonation thingamajigs we're all uneven so I made them all flush. Boy i did not know what a shit of a mess i did when I made those adjustments and that's why I am here now.
My guitars are on stands and collecting dust too Greg..lol...I'm diggin' the intonation tool mate but won't work on the Jackson licenced Floyd Rose...Have a good one mate.
The biggest problem I have with my Floyd Rose is the B string always seems to buzz in its locking nut groove. I can't seem to remedy it. Here's a tip from me about changing strings. I find changing one at a time is best. For example: De-tune the old bass E. Then take it off. Replace with the new bass E and re-tune. Then take the old A off replace with the new A and then re-tune. Etc.
I been doing setups since about1993 and seen many done and watched hundreds of videos and I could never do setups accurately unless I do the entire job in playing position on my lap!! Gravity pulls and playing position is best
Does your intonation tool work on Jackson Floyd's or gotoh specifically the Jackson jt580lp or gotoh GE1996t? Currently have the Jackson in my ke3 but thinking about replacing it with the gotoh but want the tool either way
GREAT VIDEO! I LOVE that intonation tool! Where can I get one? At your store? I have been using a tiny hammer to gently tap the saddle forward. This is so much better. subbed.
Yes. We have them on www.skyscraperguitars.com/store. If you have any questions at all, just reach out. There is a contact form on the website and the questions come directly to me. -Greg
Hi, I am having trouble with the buzz on the 6th string. I've learnt that it can be fixed by turning the screw on both sides. However, I don't know if it is okay that the whole bridge leans from the bass side to the treble side. Any advice? Thanks.
I did a "setup" from stock 9s to 10s doing the see-saw and spring dance once. Don't know how I finally got it, but I did. I'll never do it that way again though. I wanted to throw my new guitar out of the window. Just ordered a set of the blocks now, and I already have my Pick Pocket tool ready.
hi great vid, im getting the intenation and block set from your store. how do you take a twist out of a neck? like one side is flat and other side has a slight bow{either way,up/down} ?
Twist is a BOOGER to deal with. Most guys will replace twisted necks. Randy Shartiger and Dave's World of Fun Stuff both have videos on taking out twist. I use a heating blanket and it's 50/50 at best... Probably more like 20/80 if I'm being honest.
Thanks, I appreciated this video enough to order the intonation tool and I just received it today. It's going not make intonation that Floyd Rose a lot easier. The Floyd does have it's advantages on my PRS Custom 24, but sometimes I wish I had just put a Bigsby on instead.
Thanks for this video. Thanks also for the FREE e-book. I saw another video like this with the sustain block's tension springs being adjusted and voila, it's in tune and intonated. I must give you higher marks for depth of instruction and production value of your video. Besides being mesmerized by that cool tuner, why did you tune/intonate with the old strings, get rid of them, then start again with new strings?
I always "rough in" the setup with old strings if I can. That way I know if everything works before I blow a new set of strings. Also, I can play the guitar after the adjustments and see if there is a high fret or something else that will need repair. If I changed the strings first, then I'd have to throw them away if I had to take them off for a fret repair... I usually rough in, then change strings, then let the guitar sit for a day or two, then go back through everything and make sure it's still happy. I hope that answers your question!
