Down-tuning with a Floyd Rose

doc-phil

I am currently looking for a new guitar, the one I have in mind is an ESP LTD with a Floyd Rose with locking tuners. Before I go ahead with the purchase, I want to know more about tuning with the tremolo. Is it a mission to tune down a guitar with a FR? I've been reading online that it's quite a tricky process and doing it wrong can result in cracking of certain parts of the neck ??? I am constantly going from drop C to drop D to standard on my current (non-Floyd Rose) guitar. Will I be eternally frustrated with having to carefully reset tuning and intonation every time I want to change tunings??

DonovanB

You need to pick a tuning and stick with that on one guitar. Otherwise you'll be constantly adjusting the intonation and neck which is a bitch on any guitar, but even more kak on a guitar with a floating trem.

With the double locking system, every time you change tunings you have to undo the neck lock as well. then tune, lock it up, then tune again. then your action will be different because the bridge relies on a balance between the string tension and the spring at the back.

If you are going that low, why not go for a 7 string?

doc-phil

Ah it'll be quite a rash to have to stick to one tuning. At least I'll have my old guitar for when I wanna change up the tunings. So I suppose I'll have to weigh up the benefits of using the trem with the annoyance of being restricted to one tuning. As a player who has never used a trem system or felt the need for one in my playing, do you think it would be more worth my while sticking with a fixed bridge?

I'm still trying to get the hang of 6 strings, so I don't think I want to make the move to 7 yet ?

inflames

A double locking FR is a bitch like Donovan said. Is it worth it, um well if you are going to play metal all the time then I don't think so.
It does have it's pro's and is allot of fun!

Well done Don on the 7 string, that would be super, but takes a while to get used to. a Ibanez 7 string is on my to get list ?

AlanRatcliffe

doc-phil wrote: As a player who has never used a trem system or felt the need for one in my playing, do you think it would be more worth my while sticking with a fixed bridge?

Absolutely. Double locking systems are for those that need them and are prepared to put up with their foibles to get the advantages. So if you don't really need one, rather get a fixed bridge - especially if you want to downtune.

doc-phil

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
doc-phil wrote: As a player who has never used a trem system or felt the need for one in my playing, do you think it would be more worth my while sticking with a fixed bridge?
Absolutely. Double locking systems are for those that need them and are prepared to put up with their foibles to get the advantages. So if you don't really need one, rather get a fixed bridge - especially if you want to downtune.

I do like the idea of being able to dive-bomb and pull off some insane squeals a la Dragonforce. I'll give it a good think over. The guitar hanging in the shop has a floyd rose and it's being offered with quite a substantial discount. I don't wanna have to pay a lot extra for a fixed bridge that has to be ordered especially. The model I'm looking at is the see-through blue ESP LTD MH-1000 deluxe if anybody is interested.

WantzChas

I ONCE and only ONCE tried to go from standard to dropped C and then I bought a fixed bridge guitar. You get loads of fret buzz and the action is crap. Tuning a Floyd Rose as it is, is quite time consuming and annoying, so either get a 7string or a fixed bridge guitar.

doc-phil

WantzChas wrote: Tuning a Floyd Rose as it is, is quite time consuming and annoying, so either get a 7string or a fixed bridge guitar.

I suppose you're right, the novelty of being able to do dive-bombs will probably wear off after about ten minutes, then I'll be stuck thinking 'Dang, I wish I had bought a fixed bridge!'.

inflames

I do like the idea of being able to dive-bomb and pull off some insane squeals a la Dragonforce.

Like you said, the novelty will wear off with time ?

I don't know my FR trems that well, but a friend of mine has one tuned in drop C, and no fret buzz at all.

DonovanB

WantzChas wrote: I ONCE and only ONCE tried to go from standard to dropped C and then I bought a fixed bridge guitar. You get loads of fret buzz and the action is crap. Tuning a Floyd Rose as it is, is quite time consuming and annoying, so either get a 7string or a fixed bridge guitar.

You can set the neck and action for that kind of tuning, but constantly changing tunings, especially drastic changes like that. Dedicated guitars for those unings is probably best.