Floyd Rose FRX on a BC Rich Mockingbird Over view for

Jackson ‪@eklypse69‬ asked me about what I thought about the FRX I put on my Mockingbird and expressed concerns over getting one from issues others have / had and told him about.
These are my thoughts and what I have done with mine. Hopefully it addresses most common questions and issues and presents an open minded opinion. Over all I like it other wise it would not be on one of my most favorite instruments.
I have mainly used the Washburn Wonderbar system on the odd guitars I have owned or do own that have trems which in my opinion is still one of the best trems ever made.

[@hillaryknox]

Thanks for this. Answers so many question I have about this bridge, which I don’t own yet.

[@borgonianevolution]

You are very welcome! what guitar are you thinking to mount it on?

[@hillaryknox]

Les Paul. Probably Epiphone or Tokai.

[@lifespanofafry1534]

Looks like a pain in the ass to setup. Sounds great 👍🏽

[@borgonianevolution]

Not really hard surprisingly. Two steps to do. Replace tail piece posts with the FRX posts and slide it over those. Put down the pads and use the leveling screws. Then its just like a normal Floyd to string and set up. thank you. I do love the way this guitar sounds wit that EMG 85 in the bridge position rather than an EMG 81

[@eklypse69]

Thanks! And you're right - that floyd rose key is absolutely essential equipment for intonating those beasts!

[@borgonianevolution]

I certainly wish I had one to set this beastie up. Did that cover what you were wondering about or just make you more standoffish?

[@eklypse69]

@@borgonianevolution that was exactly what I was after! And I am definitely interested in getting one in the future after that.

[@eklypse69]

I usually run 11-48 6 string and & 11-58 7 string. But I'm still intrigued. I might have to get one of these soon. Thanks again!

[@borgonianevolution]

you DO realize these are for guitars not bass right? 🤣🤣them are some beefy strings.

[@TornelliGuitars]

Thanks for reminding me that I don’t want to go anywhere near a floyd anytime soon! 😂

[@borgonianevolution]

Dam Traditionalists!!! 🤣😀Mornin Gio

[@TornelliGuitars]

@@borgonianevolution 🤣 we give you fancy guys something to rebel against! Morning my friend 😀

[@borgonianevolution]

@@TornelliGuitars Oh we are sooo past all that. I completed my first necktodomy this afternoon. It was a success!! should be minimal rework to get it back in properly on that LP project. I am however fully toasted from sitting on that deck most of the afternoon. It was shady but dead humid air all day..

[@castle6660]

I have put these on 2 different guitars now... A Dean ML and an Edward's star... BOTH guitars I've had the same issue... The string height at the 12 fret is double what the original guitars had. Action was 2mm ish... After the Frx Action is at least 4mm... I don't understand... No matter how low the bridge is... No matter how low the height adjustment screws are the Action won't lower... after the first six Frets on the guitar the action is so high it's unplayable. I was thinking maybe a truss rod adjustment so I checked the neck by holding down the first fret holding down the last fret and then seeing how much play there was on the string in the middle..... and it's exactly how it was with the normal bridge on it...... just the action once you let go goes to an unplayable height ANY information would be greatly appreciated.

[@borgonianevolution]

I will take a guess and say you did not read the spec's on the FRX that state the height requirements. The base plate that mounts the unit is thick and adds a lot to the total height. Depending on the guitar the only two solutions would be if it is a through neck or set neck guitar is to route a pocket into the body to get it lower (which totally defeats the reason to use the FRX) OR.. if it is a bolt on neck to shim the neck properly to get the break angle in line with the usable bridge height range. The draw back there is a bigger break angle pushes the head stock back wards making it extremely prone to breaking should the guitar fall like the old school Les Pauls.

[@castle6660]

@@borgonianevolution I appreciate the response..... thank you very much

[@borgonianevolution]

@@castle6660 I ran into the exact same problem as I bought mine to go on my "BRS" build and it had almost 3/8 inch string height on the 24th fret when the FRX was at its lowest possible mounting.

[@user-df1ie4vf5j]

What is the width between post to post? And what would you say are the thickest string to put on them?

[@borgonianevolution]

Which posts are you asking about? The ones on the front of the base plate for leveling, The ones the base plate gets mounted to or the posts the blade the trem pivots on? I Only use 9-42 or 9-46 gauge strings on all my guitars. I would assume anything you could do drop D with a normal Floyd on without adding springs. Much more and I think you would be stressing the mounting post holes?

[@user-df1ie4vf5j]

@@borgonianevolutionthe mounting posts where the tailpiece was, the bridge I have in my sg is 81.9mm post to post and interesting, I’m aiming for drop d if I’m honest!

[@borgonianevolution]

@@user-df1ie4vf5j It is hard to measure perfectly center to center on the studs but it is around 81 or 82mm by the scale I have. Many have put these on SG's with zero issue. EDIT: just make sure you look at the spec sheet for the minimum height as that plate throws people off adding a bit more than they thought it would be action wise.

[@user-df1ie4vf5j]

@@borgonianevolutionis there any chance you could help with a little guidance involving the minimum height and action please?

[@borgonianevolution]

@@user-df1ie4vf5j Here is the link to the installation PDF. cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1711/6239/files/FRX_Installation_Instructions_WEB.pdf?1 If you lay a straight edge on your fretboard all the way back to the posts you should measure the distance from the top of the body to the bottom of the straight edge. If that measurement is below 15mm than the FRX will not work. Mine sits really low to get the action I want with MAYBE 1.5 to 2mm to spare between the mounting plate and the top of the post inserts. The bottom of my low E string at the bridge is between 15 and 16 mm to the body..

[@partialcapo]

ive been using this for about half a year. ive had to replace the leaf spring 4 times now. it always cracks at the same spot and doesnt hold the ball properly. pain in the ass becuase when it works its great.

[@borgonianevolution]

interesting. I have never heard of that happening.

[@aaronchambers6580]

Did it fit the mocking bird bridge spacing without modifying? I have one i really want to put it on

[@borgonianevolution]

Yes It sat right on there. The only thing you need to be aware of is the thumb screw and the ball threads may be long enough to hit the body or the post inserts. All the good and bad parts I learned about doing this on my Mockingbird are in the video.

[@richardjones2811]

Any grounding issues with it at all?

[@borgonianevolution]

None that I can hear. I will update this soon though as I a changing pickups from the EMG / DiMarzio combo to a custom wound humbucker set. Still shouldn't be a problem but I may have to shield the control cavity better.. More on that later.. For now just the standard grounding in the bridge post hole works like normal.

[@robtoothill]

I use 12-62's and detune 2 frets on all strings... I think I'll stick to fixed bridges!! 😉🤣

[@borgonianevolution]

That is a good plan as deep down you are just a confused bass player with strings that thick! 🤣🤣🤣

[@owlperchedsilo3745]

don't like those FRS's .

[@borgonianevolution]

To each his own. But I gotta ask if you dont like them why bother clicking on the video? Thanks for the comment thou as that always helps.

[@owlperchedsilo3745]

@@borgonianevolution, they go out of tune a little more than they should, but mostly the bulkiness and cheap Pot Metal it is made of, you would think for almost $300, it would be made of quality metal, but it is not. when removing these to re-install the regular bridge and tail piece back on, the FRX left two small punctured holes. this happened to two different LP'S that had the FRX system on them. the removal was done by two different and very experienced Luthiers and both times, two puncture holes, two different LP'S, same thing. makes you wonder. don't know you would say "why bother clicking on the video", i was just curious of other peoples experience with the FRX.

[@borgonianevolution]

@@owlperchedsilo3745 I asked because you have no videos up. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with the system. Most times when people make comments and have no videos posted they are just spam accounts to grief people. But you have experience so plus to street cred for an honest post in reply mate.