How do I set up a Floyd Rose tremolo?A Floyd isn't much harder than a normal setup — it just needs patience and a method. Here's what the forum's experts say. Start with the basics Alan Ratcliffe, our Guitar Doctor, says setting up a Floyd from scratch takes little more than a normal setup — just more patience 1. Every adjustment affects every other one, so expect back-and-forth between springs, bridge angle and tuning 3. Springs and string gauge Changing from.011s to.009s? Loosen the two spring claw screws to match the lower string tension 3. Alan usually sets the fine tuners most of the way up — strings stretch over time, and that gives you the biggest adjustment range 3. Heavier strings make the trem more stable under palm muting and hard picking; lighter gauges make dive bombs easier 3. Tuning order matters Tune from the bass side first — those adjustments shift the tension balance more than the treble side 3. Overshoot each string slightly sharp: as you tune the next string the bridge pulls forward and the previous string drops 3. Stretch strings in thoroughly, and tune in a jumbled order (5th, 2nd, 6th...) rather than straight down, so tension shifts evenly 6. Locking nut checks Alan Ratcliffe: if the guitar goes flat after dives, check the nut locks are firmly clamped (not overtightened) and that the clamp ridge runs parallel to the strings — a wrongly-fitted lock only clamps one string properly 6. No lubricant on the strings 6. For action and bridge height, read a proper step-by-step setup guide — the Jemsite tech setup series Alan recommends in the threads covers bridge height, nut height, truss rod and intonation. If you're unsure, take it to a tech and watch what they do 4. From these forum threadsfloyd rose setup (2010): Is a Floyd setup really that hard? Alan says noTuning a Floyd Rose equipt guitar (2009): Alan's spring-claw and tuning tricks for floating tremsSetting action on a Floyd (2009): Which setup guides to read for action on a FloydFloyd Rose Problem (2008): Why your Floyd goes flat after dives: locking nut fixes
