FIX your FLOYD ROSE TUNING ISSUE with this SIMPLE TRICK!

[@psychoslingers8732]

I always tuned a tiny tiny bit low, then held the strings down across the top where you’re talking about, then slowly and carefully tightened them down. Then I used the fine tuners to adjust to perfect E. It’s not perfect and stupid that there was even a need to do that, but it always got the job done.

[@charliewelch328]

That is how I do it

[@Westw00do]

I'm going to try this method later, it makes sense so worth trying.

[@weekevypeepants]

Yeah I always compensate for that little bit before locking the nut

[@Mike_D_5150]

Me too

[@Vei2aC]

i have a few guitars i have to use this same method you use, but now i see this, going to buy bars for alllll of them =D.

[@tommynoble3428]

My 1993 MIJ Ibanez RG 470 had the same issues WITH the retainer bar and it drove me nuts. My teacher tightened the bar down a bit and then showed me the "bottom of the post" winding method and the problems were solved. Great video.

[@Santacroce73]

That retainer bar is so important to tuning issues. I lowered bars on 2 of my floyd strats and don't even lock the nut on either and they both have rock solid tuning. Great video

[@jamesstewart1794]

Why not lock it down tho ?

[@alphaomega3633]

@@jamesstewart1794 It stays in tune. It has something to do with the string angles

[@TheDudeWithoutFear]

I have this same guitar, same color and everything, and it is my first time dealing with a Floyd Rose. I've watched video after video of people telling me how to tune them with no real difference being made. Your video is the only one that talks about the tension gap like this. I look forward to messing with it! Great video, man!

[@johnnybillyeager6703]

I’m in the same boat.. color and all

[@SeanDS1989]

Lol everyone seems to be buying this exact guitar (myself included). So I noticed before locking the nut, you have to tune the guitar MANY times before it will stay at the pitch you want... is this a floyd rose thing? Or just a cheap floyd rose thing? It's super annoying and I would buy a more expensive tremolo if it would fix it lol

[@markusaurelius777]

@@SeanDS1989 How many times are you stretching the stings? I use a Floyd as well on a Jem Jr and also a Schecter Diamond Series guitar and I have to stretch the stings dozens of times before it will stay in tune. I don't lock it up until I have stretched the strings many times. Check out the video of Steve Vai's guitar tech doing his guitars. He literally holds the entire guitar up just holding the low E string while stretching it LOL

[@booktimelearning]

I had to have one added, too, nice to see this so I know I'm not crazy. : )

[@PeterDunbar]

Brilliant Steve, you’re so right, that’s a massive flaw. Those machine timers at the bridge are so sensitive I can see how it can screw you and have them all the way up versus ideally having them in the middle. That’s insane. Still, great price on a guitar like this. I have always loved Jackson guitars. They sound sooo good.

[@nealparler1980]

Thanks Steve! I can remember Looooong ago, the bar was Not an option, but a standard! But , those days are far Gonnnnne! Thanks Again!

[@antoniotinoco9893]

I just learned something today!! I had a couple Jacksons with a floyd and every time I locked the nut It would go out of tune and now I know why!! I never thought of that! Awesome dude thanks for sharing 👍!!

[@NegZeroSP]

Just about went insane last week when i changed strings on my dinky. So glad i saw this vid. Heading to Amazon to get a bar now. Thanks Steve!!

[@richardsmith9615]

Floyd Roses are just the drizzles at the best of time.

[@smiling4206]

Thanks Steve. This may be the most informative video on KZbin. You have just saved me hours of frustration. Thanks for all the great videos keep up the great work

[@michaelsingley5641]

On my 1991 HM Strat Floyd Rose Lo Pro, I just tune each string about 5-10 cents flat before locking the nut down tight and bring them up to pitch with the fine tuners. I have the fine tuners loosened up quite a bit before hand so it also takes the rattle and slop out of them in the process. Then you have plenty of adjustment either way with the fine tuners after it's locked down.

[@TheLaw1]

Great video man! I've been doing this for years. More people need to know about intel like this.

[@rentblop8070]

It's a good tip! :) I got used to adjusting my tuning on my RG350 by tuning it a bit flat to compensate the effect of pushing the strings sharp when locking the nut. That works, too.

[@erichbaileymusic]

Nice, I'm going to try the string winding thing tonight, and get a bar soon. Thanks for this advice!

[@GuitarAtoZ1]

I've just bought a JS32 V and couldn't figure out why the pitch was changing every time I locked the nut. Brilliant video and very helpful. Gonna order those bars today cheers 🤘🏻

[@R2R3Lockingnut]

My 91 Jackson Rhoads and my 96 Jackson Kelly have the right break angle. I believe something changed recently. Good fix man 👍 I have seen guitars with that type of string retainer that are not set up properly.

[@Superjet113]

Yeah, all my OG Floyd Rose dont have that problem, nor does any of the Ibanez Edge Pro series.

[@RancidAmputation123]

My jackson kelly from a few years ago doesn’t have that problem either. Haven’t noticed any issues with tuning jumping around after locking the nut 🤷‍♂️

[@ArronP]

js32. I have the same guitar, the whammy bar keeps falling off and won't stay in tune alot, my guitars the same color even... I'm just trying to tune it at the head than using Alan keys to tighten it all back up.....I'm fed up of the Jackson Floyd rose combo. but this is the 3rd issue I've had with it... so annoyed 03:50 mine don't have that bar

[@jameswatkins1297]

Awesome tip. I have worked on guitars with Floyd Rose style trems and just accepted the tuning issues, going sharp, when tighting the lockdown nuts at the top. I never thought about how the strings totally rested in the nut area. Brilliant....

[@mikeykhhung]

Why not just use a capo w/screw tension adjustment) before the nut?

[@leokimvideo]

Pixxy I have just stumbled upon this tuning issue. My Son now has one of these guitars and guess what, the tuning alters just as you say once the strings are clamped. And yep on E & A the tuning changes are huge. It had me really frustrated as I was fighting the guitar to stay in tune. Luckily a Google search of this problem had your cheerful face as the top result. I knew straight away I had an expert who could solve the problem🥰

[@chacha134]

This watching this video was the equivalent of a lightbulb going off. Thank you so much definitely going to try the different wrapping on my old Jackson rr3

[@justinvarner7048]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I have this exact same guitar (natural wood finish) and the pitch shift after clamping was the first thing i noticed. I just thought that it was how floyd roses operated. This is amazing. I ALWAYS run out of threads on the fine tuners unless i get lucky.

[@charlesb7831]

I always fill my tuning post full with string always helped with tuning stability. One of the first things I installed on my Kramer Dave Sabo signature model was a string tree and installed a Fu-Tone brass big block and Titanium saddle blocks and screws. Everytime I put new stings on it's super easy and always stays in tune. Same with my old original Kramer Nightswan as well. Even my old Hamer Californian is set up the same way. It's honestly a no brainer. Even if your not comfortable doing that to a guitar, it's cheap to have done by a tech. It's great, all you have to worry about is playing and not fighting with your guitar!

[@Tiago_007]

Hi there, I have a PRS that I bought with the brass Fu-Tone pre-installed. I’m definitely sold on those and now I want to do your same set up on my Kramer Sabo, it came with the term stopper and it holds tune really well when it’s engaged. But I’d like to do the brass block. Do you know which one is the one to get for the Kramer Baretta Sabo? There are many to chose from. Any help would be great!

[@charlesb7831]

@@Tiago_007 42mm Brass big block. I removed my trem stopper and Dtuna. Obviously I kept the parts in the case with the guitar, but I always preferred a floating trem. I never seem to have the tuning issues people say they have and I've been playing Floyd Rose trems for 35 years lol.

[@Tiago_007]

@@charlesb7831 That’s great! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll do what you did, let’s see what happens!

[@nicholasrollins5741]

Steve! Love your videos man. Just realized that for the past year and a half I had the top part of my Floyd Rose screwed in UPSIDE DOWN!!!! The close ups on this videos made me realize that! LOL

[@megablasterboc7474]

Thanks for this info! I'm going to get a string retainer bar for one of my Floyd equipped guitars now!

[@nickyoung3894]

Not sure if you mentioned it, but locking tuners may also help since they have shorter posts. Seems redundant with the clamp but makes string changes faster too.

[@mikemikemike701]

Yep, gotohs drop right in, never have problems with any of my Jacksons… great point.

[@maxmustardman298]

Depends on the brand, sometimes youre at the mercy of having the post holes exactly at the required height. Especially if your nut needs a shim at some point, or needs work at all.

[@HVACRTECH-83]

Yes exactly, locking tuners on every guitar no matter locking nut or not, who wants to wrap strings these days

[@dbrown6451]

Correct, plus the tuners on these suck. Two birds 1 stone.

[@fen79strat]

Thanks for the tip Steve. I am about to install a Floyd speed loader in my next build.

[@ffxiiangel]

Thanks. I never knew the purpose of that bar. Changes everything.

[@edwinstovall3334]

Thank you for this idea. I just got my first neck-through guitar -- a Bullfighter Jackson Soloist lookalike -- and it's the first guitar I've owned both with a Floyd and without the retainer bar. Naturally, I had no idea that the lack of that bar would cause problems. I had heard about this winding technique used on guitars without locking nuts; this is the first I've seen of this technique used in this sort of situation. Brilliant!

[@matrixstar2767]

Did this today myself. Went to a luthier and he didn't want to do the job (never got asked before) and because the bar wasn't ideal. Was not the same as this one. Got a 55mm thinking it would be better. Had to tilt it a little in order to have enough spacing all around. So glad I did this!! Clamping the nut used to go from E to F.

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

Hey Steve just wanna thank you man. I have Dean MAB4 guitar, great one but it doesn't have a bar from factory. I had just same issues like you bro, and i saw your video. I added a bar and tuning is spot on man. Thank you for this great tip man 🤘

[@GabrielGanem]

I have really solid guitars with amazing japanese bridges (gotoh) and I just used them without the locking tuner for YEARS now. it stays in tune using locking tuners, but it always got me thinking. Today I decided to understand it and found your video, that was amazing. thank you very much!

[@stevenneilan6562]

Thank you so much.Added one my firefly. Made a considerable difference.

[@ssstenning]

Got the same issue with Kramer SM-1 gonna get a bar

[@krelbar]

I suppose if you get tuners with a very low post would do the trick as well. I've seen locking sperzels that sit pretty low. Even though its redundant to lock the tuner it does make the string change much easier.

[@Ron_Padgett]

Exactly.

[@GeorgeZimmermen]

Compensated tuners

[@cressmontmusic8839]

I noticed right away as compared to my jem Jr, it never had this issue so it was obvious why. And when you really hammer it and pull up until it nearly bottoms out like Vai, it really went out of tune even when locked because it had such gap. Your recording tone and mix is excellent by the way!

[@sjdrummerboy]

Just got the same one… the purple is awesome

[@eamonahern7495]

My randy rhoads is a JS32. The first time I changed the strings in it, I went to make a spring adjustment and the whole bridge fell out. I eventually got it in tune but the bridge wasn't level. I got in touch with a luthier I know but he was going on holidays at the time so, after some procrastination, I had a go at a proper setup myself using a youtube video as my guide. It took me a couple of days because a string broke near the end of the process so I started from scratch with another new strings set the next day. Anyway, after all that, I didn't have to do a thing to the intonation because it was still spot on and it holds its tuning very well even after playing Slayer songs with lots of whammy bar use. I didn't put a retaining bar on the headstock. More of a version of your no tools solution but not quite going to the base of the tuning peg. Didn't have the issue of it going sharp after locking. I was able to set my fine tuners halfway before locking the nut and didn't need much fine tuning.

[@jodyferguson3068]

That's really great advice Steve that should help a bunch of players

[@jakeshuster6783]

right on great idea man. ill look at that issue with more detail now. seems simple should have known.

[@anthonysthellhammerg4388]

That’s totally awesome you thought of that! Very happy you did it on a Jackson cause this should apply to all jackson guitars cause the headstock are all the same

[@ironsave3201]

Good info. Thanks for reinforcing a great fundamental that’s needed.

[@wasteddude9387]

I got your tip, your link, and your instructions. Thanks brother. Just gotta decide on which Jackson.

[@jfo3000]

I'm for adding a couple wraps all the way on down to the bottom of the post. That's how I've always done it. Then when a string breaks at the bridge, where they always break, you can reel off some string and replant it into the bridge.

[@brandonjackson5865]

That was always my trick especially back when I was a kid, I would put as many wraps as I could get with the string going over the top of itself. My friends would say you got too much string on the post. Then they saw me break a wrapped string at the bridge (edge lo pro )of course and I had it back up and playing in 2 minutes and they saw the method to my madness . I never had the money or a ride to get new strings so I had to get the most out of them, sometimes they looked like flat wounds on the first couple frets after a few nip tuck procedures.

[@bergz77]

awesome those little details great channel steve from boston!

[@ZacharyMoonshine]

Yeah my BC rich was like that with no bar and i never could figure it out when i was a kid. Everytime i locked the nut it went far out of tune and the fine tuners could never get it close enough. That guitar is broken now and since then i stuck with straight bridges. I plan on getting another guitar with a floyd in the near future though, so this is good info!

[@jimmybiter2936]

I always preferred the Kahler lock nut, has a built-in retainer to keep the strings down on the nut

[@terryclark7700]

I have a Jackson JS22 and love it but looking to upgrade to a higher Jackson next year, hopefully the company sees this video and rectifies the problem.

[@lefty99riffs]

Yo that close up "end zone pylon camera" on the headstock is great...after further review....string retainer bar is needed....

[@RandyFricke]

Even though it's being clamped I would still put as many wraps on that post as it needs to take the winds all the way down so the string windings sit nice and tight next to each other.

[@sanjograi4199]

Just got a JS32 Kelly. This is a great tip, gonna try it...Thank you!!

[@IrishBoson]

Could you just tune it a half step down before you lock the nut? Then you'll be in the ballpark as far as tuning goes when it's locked

[@richardsmith9615]

Yes but it's plausible you'd have to find 10-15 cents via fine tuning, which might give you trouble intonating.

[@jimmypop4001]

Hell no

[@jcalzada74]

I had a jackson explorer and like you said is already on tune and after the locking nut is tighten is goes sharp

[@wasteddude9387]

Thank you. I hope I get a JS32Q soon because I just bought the bars in your link. 👍

[@Tifys69]

This is video is such a diamond of shared experience! Thank you for sharing this bit of knowledge!

[@sydwynd]

That's brilliant! Will need to check my guitar with the locking trem for the break angle.

[@dpapaioannow]

i changed mine with the new kahler that has the build in string guide angle thing,way better locking nuts than a floyd type out there...they got it right this time

[@miyaaaaw]

That was a great explanation and demonstration Thank you

[@constpegasus]

Thank you for this information!!😊

[@Polentaccio]

I have a nice custom strat type with this very issue...it's like i have to tune it flat for it to come up to pitch. PITA. Beautiful playing guitar. I have suspected the lack of this bar was the issue and this confirms it.

[@rogergodwill5517]

Man! That Jackson is sick! That color pops!

[@d.j.9961]

Good advice! The high E string on my Jackson is very, very close to the edge of the headstock, if not inline with the very edge. I was considering a floyde Rose 1000 to get better tunning stability! Hopefully this does the job. Thank you!

[@cressmontmusic8839]

That is a crazy coincidence. I JUST picked up 3 different colors of these to decide which finish and noticed this on every one of them. I ended up keeping 2 and just did this 2 days ago.

[@leftofzeroofficial]

I have a couple js22s and had tuning problems, didn't seem to matter how much i stretched the strings, or how i loaded them on the tuning pegs. My salvation? ChapStick. Rub a little chapstick in the string slots in the nut and don't have those problems anymore.

[@chrisbarnette7137]

I got a Kramer Beretta Special Will locking tuners help with the issue of it going out of tune ? Any reply is appreciated.

[@maxmustardman298]

No, they just make changing strings faster. But, for a beginner who doesnt have much experience in that, I would recommend them. Its just easier. And with the gibson style nut on the baretta you certainly dont need a retainer bar.

[@chrisbarnette7137]

@@maxmustardman298 I been playing for years but it keeps going out of tune just slightly . What would you suggest I have oiled the nut and have the bridge flush to the body .

[@maxmustardman298]

@@chrisbarnette7137 does it still have the original nut ? might wanna swap it for a well cut bone or a tusq one, or have at least the original nut checked for proper slots. In the past I also lubricated the bridge saddles ever so slightly, as friction can occure even on those, but the nut usually makes the most problems. Other than properly stretched strings theres not a whole not to be done I think.

[@chrisbarnette7137]

@@maxmustardman298 i will change the nut out. I appreciate it .

[@JulioSerrano2015]

Thanks a lot! I'm thinking in buying that guitar. Great advice! 😎👍

[@yysva]

Thanks for the tip..Planning to buy that gear..with such minimal issue to work with..🤘

[@EmperorSamoth666]

Thanks a lot Steve, nice trick! Cheers from El Salvador.

[@AWallgren]

I gave up on my dinky reverse. It was just a nightmare to keep in consistent tune. Just can't dig Floyd Rose setups. Went back to playing a fixed bridge guitar. Great video. I'm gonna do this to my Jackson and see if I can enjoy playing it..

[@jimbrennanguitar]

Wicked cool point! Thanks

[@Claimjumper55]

Most of my Floyd Rose equipped guitars have the bar but a few don't. I usually just tune them down 1/2 a step and tightening down the nut brings them close. I never thought about winding the post differently though. I think I'll try cutting the strings a little longer to get more wraps.

[@gcr28]

I have a Jackson MJ Soloist with no bar and all the strings except the high e sit perfectly in the nut before it is clamped. It hasn’t caused me any tuning issues so I guess I got lucky or the headstock angle and tuner post height is just right. Anyway, great video, thanks for putting this out here.

[@schitzorage]

Nice job with the addition of that string tree.

[@adisGRANIT]

Thank You very much.Very helpful, because I did met a problem with the bar coming to the same position 0.... looks like my nut bar wasn't screw down enough?...hmmm will try this ...any tips guys with the whammy bar much appreciated. Thank You.

[@Wol1verine]

I got this guitar (White) used on Guitar Center based on your video for $255. Thanks! I also bought the bar for the nut based on what you said earlier.

[@rcjward]

Great observation. Thanks for the tip, Steve.

[@anthonyparker8519]

I just bought a Kramer Majestic and it didn't come with the string retainer bar now this guitar has the crazy headstock

[@pigebear]

I get for the initial tuneing. But after locked and tuned does it help then? I would say no but . Is there a difference after locked

[@tommygibson9515]

Awesome, great trick will definitely use it next restring

[@maxmustardman298]

A bar doesnt belong on a jackson headstock, for me at least. A combination of downwinding on the posts and having low profile tuners helped me so far. At one point I even contemplated putting a thin washer on thd backside of the tuner to decrease its profile even more. But thats not a clean solution of course. Making a thicker headstock would certainly help to solve the problem, you hear me Jackson😉

[@2112GTR]

The Jacksons NEVER had one, and now I think of it, you can see they never did because the truss rod cover covers the area where you would have one. Steve's had to put the bar too far up the headstock towards the tuners, and I really don't think it looks good!! I'm fussy about stuff like that, it just looks 'wrong'!!!

[@davidrapant6398]

The Jackson Phil Collen and Adrian Smith guitars have them maybe per artist request due to these kind of problems. @@2112GTR

[@kereyc5751]

couldnt they just put a different angle on the metal piece the strings arent sitting flat on?

[@robc4180]

Do you use any spacers under the bar to keep it from floating and backing off at all??

[@Zombie_13x33]

I added the same retainer bar to both my jackson dinky with floyd and king v with floyd. They should really include that. Just bought a used js22 in blue just like yours!

[@DarrenWaters75]

Great tip Steve 👍🏾

[@HeckWes88]

Hey Steve I played someone's guitar with a Floyd Rose installed they didn't have the locking nut but instead had an adjustable nut of some brand (unknown) and I believe Dadario auto trim tuners but still had the bar behind the nut. i gave it hell it hardly budget but a few cents on the g string but it was impressive id like to see you try this on a guitar and hear your thoughts thanks!

[@nunocolon]

I have this issue and I would tune to half step down or so maybe 30c off then clamp and ide only need to fine tune 10-cents or so. I have have string tree also. . Clamping still sets it sharp.

[@anthonysthellhammerg4388]

I got the 22 was going to get the 32 but got a used king v for $350 and very happy with my choice,thanks for the video too

[@gingataff]

In the 80s Jacksons often used Kahler trems which have a different locking nut which didn’t have this problem.

[@gregorybrown9101]

Love watching you, bro. Your playing is fire, and you are fun as hell!

[@MikeLute]

Thank you so much for this video, now I know how to get a decent range with the floyd rose fine tuners. 👍

[@bigalb8935]

Nice work Steve

[@samright4661]

I got a Question could you get locking Turners on a Guitar and do away with the locking nut?

[@RichardJanuszewski]

Please tell us what effects processor you are using

[@mattarmstrong1562]

Do you have to loosen the retainer bar each time you change strings?

[@bc454irocz89]

My 1996 mike shanon soloist doesn't have a bar but I've learned to tune flat before tightening

[@davinderbuttar9651]

My clamping blocks are stuck on the guitar after taking locking nut out (with allenkey) , how do I get the clamping blocks off?

[@davidrapant6398]

I just ordered an X series Dinky with the floyd and I see it is missing the retainer bar. Thanks for pointing this out. I went on the Jackson website and the bar is missing on even the Pro series. I noticed the Adrian Smith signature X series has it. Its kinda random. Adrian probably told them to put it on there. Just ordered those off amazon through your link. Cheap fix. My ESP LTD MH-1000 that I've had for over 15 years has one on it. That was a $700 guitar when i bought it back in the '90s.

[@mattsguitarstuff7564]

Totally agree with this video -- I discovered this same thing a few months ago!!!

[@juliodefreitas157]

Absolutely awesome. Thank you for sharing your tips ❤❤

[@TheDarkmore]

Multiple guitars have this problem, I wish they would go with a straight headstock and add the 1$ stringbar... I usually remove the trussrod cover, redill the stringbar and use the 2 screw holes from the trussrod cover, this way I do not have to drill the headstock and can remove the stringbar to restore factory settings.

[@dilyntie3815]

I am having the same problem with the same type of guitar ( Jackson js series king v js32) I can't seem to get anything I will try the push down and see if it works