Gotoh 1996T vs OFR

This is quick comparison of the Gotoh 1996t and the Original Floyd Rose.

[@Kreln1221]

*One important difference in specification are the different radius heights of the six saddles. Whereas the **_Original Floyd_** has a combined radius of 305mm, which is basically 12", the **_Gotoh_** has a radius of 350mm, which is just a hair over 13 3/4". As most modern instruments with a Floyd have a radius of 16" or more, whether over the entire fingerboard, or at the upper end of compound radius fingerboards, the flatter radius of the **_Gotoh_** would probably match modern fingerboards better. (Why they don't use a 16", or 406.4mm, radius, I don't know.) When Floyd Rose the Man invented his famous trem decades ago, the guitars that he initially intended them to be installed on were the **_Fender Strats_** of the era, which generally had a more curved radius of 12", and even on vintage instruments that had very curved fingerboards of 7 1/2".*

[@primaltone9064]

Thank you John. That’s a good point and good information.

[@comment.highlighted]

Wow. That is a Great Point. I’m definitely going to have to research this. Thanks 🙂

[@bot-uz9ph]

Schaller has more variation to buy.

[@fernanong4070]

I'm so satisfied with GOTOH GE1996T

[@esotericsoundlab]

GE1996T "SPECIALLY PROCESSED Steel Saddle" - G-GOTOH

[@raceboy1971]

Nice job bro! Great explanation!

[@primaltone9064]

Glad you liked it!

[@craigharrison5406]

I prefer the Gotoh over an OFR. The little details like rounded saddles with a satin finish feel more comfortable in my hand. The trem bar sits at a different angle than the stock Floyd Rose. It seems to angle up slightly higher than the Floyd bar which I find more comfioratable and easier to grab while also giving you more clearance from the strings when dive bombing.

[@primaltone9064]

Hi Craig, Thank you for your comments. Your point of view may be very helpful to anyone who’s “on the fence” about the Gotoh tremolo. I really like them as well. Rock on Craig!

[@krumple4skin548]

I think i need the gotoh for my rg 550. Your voice sounds alot like mr black's.

[@primaltone9064]

The Gotohs are nice. Who is Mr. Black?

[@mrchrisbeaver]

Do you know if this would fit into an Ibanez Jem that currently has a lo pro Edge?

[@primaltone9064]

Hi Chris, I don’t have any personal experience with swapping those two. From what I’ve read, the saddle radius differs. The Gotoh has a 12” radius and the Edge has a 16” radius which makes the Edge flatter. Also, the stud spacing is 73mm on the Edge and 74mm on the Gotoh. I believe the rout might also need to be modified. It is not a drop in situation.

[@chrisharris4975]

The Lo Pro Edge is the best trem ever made. It came on the Jem there is no better trem for this guitar. If troubles replace with the same. Anything else would be a downgrade

[@GuitarONtatami]

The Gotoh would rather fit on Entry level 555 or Junior JEMS but not on the high end ones equipped with Edge or Lopro Edge

[@mateuszkrajewski2810]

Hi, As you I swapped FR Special on Schalller Lockmeister in my Fender Strat Player. I gave the FR Special to my friend to his project before I mounted the Lockmeister in my Fender. And I don't remember how it looked like earlier with FR, but with Lockmeister I have little space between tremolo block and guitar body, what gives little tremolo range, when I want push up the whammy bar. So are you sure that the FR Special has the same dimensions as Lockmeister ? Maybe you know where is the problem and how can I fix it ? Or maybe this guitar has this problem also with FR Special and I did't see this before ?Thank you in advance.

[@primaltone9064]

Hi, The sustain blocks come in different heights: 33mm, 37mm, and 42mm. You may need a shorter one. I believe the player Strat takes a 33mm sustain block.

[@mateuszkrajewski2810]

​@@primaltone9064Thank you for your feedback. I don't think so, that it depends from height of sustain block. Could you send me photo without springs cover how it looks like in your guitar ?

[@primaltone9064]

Hi Mateusz, I will send you some pics over this weekend as I am not at home this week. Thanks for supporting the channel!

[@satchrules101]

Hi , would a 42 mm steel block be okay for a Floyd rose 1000 ? I just ordered a steel block from alienX .. supposed to be a kick Ass block . Just hoping it works well on my modified 84Krammer .

[@primaltone9064]

42mm represents the distance from the bottom plate of your tremolo. A thicker block doesn’t usually pose a problem. However the height is pretty important. I would double check the block you’re replacing and verify that one is 42mm high.@@satchrules101

[@btbb3726]

Thanks! 👍🏻

[@hydorah]

That's annoying that Gotoh introduced an incompatibility in trem arms between the two systems. I think the best value Floyd style trem is the Schaller branded system. They make the OFRs anyway. People are still getting confused between OFRs and 1000s I see reading the comments

[@Ikillintel1]

The only difference between the OFR and 1000 Series is where it’s made. The FR website is a great source for information about the products and their construction and materials as they have it all laid out. The Korean 1000 Series is made with the old tooling from Schaller , Schaller got new CNC machines to produce the OFR and its parts. I understand some people have an issue with the 1000 saying the fine tuners don’t turn as smoothly as the original… I’ve not experienced that but if people will take and use just a drop of 3&1 oil on those fine tuners and run them in and out, they’ll operate perfectly… then just wipe the access away… when I bought a FRS to see what all the fuss was about with the knife edges… I put a little 3&1 oil on the post… no problems no matter how hard you push or pull on it, I do the same for all my OFRs and 1000s.

[@beesknees6970]

@@Ikillintel1 The story now is originals aren't even made in Germany anymore. They are prohibited from having the words "made in Germany" on them now. They obviously aren't made there anymore.. since it's not made in Germany anymore, you can't put "made in Germany" on them anymore. All of the originals now are prohibited from having those words on them.

[@ericandrews1661]

Yeah, I appreciate the information. This isn't something you see much of. I have gotohs on most of my guitars and have a couple of ofr1000s. They are fine. I think I prefer the gotoh. Fine unit. One thing that wasn't mentioned is that the gotoh has keeper screws in the block that clamp the spring ends in place.

[@primaltone9064]

Hi Eric, I’m glad you liked the content. I was not aware of the keeper screws. Mine didn’t have the keeper screws but I do see where they’d go. They will be getting installed. Thank you for contributing to the channel. That is great information.

[@andrewsantos3283]

I'll go with the gotoh1996t here. The only other that can compete is the schaller floyd rose trem.

[@MagnusGoGo]

Does the Gotoh feel lower profile than the OFR due to the angle on the fine tuners?

[@primaltone9064]

Hi Magnus, To me, height wise, they feel pretty similar. However, the Gotoh when set floating, seems to be a little spongier but not in a bad way. Rock on!

[@Galacticgospel.]

can you fit a Goth on a Strat?

[@primaltone9064]

Hi el ultimo, That’s a great question! It is not drop in fit. I don’t believe the posts are the same center distance from one to the other. Also, it may need a recess to achieve the desired string height. I hope that helps.

[@Ikillintel1]

That's because Gotoh makes the saddles for Graphtec and Graphtec assembles them and impregnates them with the string saver material, those saddles are also made of ZINC which people complained about with the Floyd Rose Special...the Gotoh 1996T sub-saddle is also made of zinc.. The Floyd Rose Original and 1000 Series are superior in construction and materials as well as durability, upgradable not only between their other tremolo options but also accessories , Sustain Blocks, Hollow Points, ect, ect. The Gotoh is just a cheap imitation, the price point reflects the materials to make it.

[@markharmon9892]

I have only ever heard good things about the Gotoh

[@hydorah]

I did not know about all that use of zinc in the Gotoh! That sucks. I think the best value Floyd style system is the Schaller branded version, the people who make the OFR. I have a few OFRs and a 1000, the OFR is definitely way ahead in terms of fit and finish, although the performance seems equivalent, so a 1000 is pretty decent value. Thanks for that insight about the Gotoh I was thinking of acquiring one, not sure I'll bother now

[@markharmon9892]

@@hydorah The only part that is zinc would be the bottom part of the saddle that bolts to the base plate. The part of the saddle the string clamps within is hardened steel along with the base plate. The block is brass. The GOTOH has several "upgrades" too like the fine tuners being tilted away from the hand, the saddles have a more ergonomic shape, the posts lock solid using an internal grub screw, the bass pivot is open ended to prevent binding with the posts, the push in arm bushing design and the screws that prevent the spring from coming out of the block. It is fantastic system made by a reputable manufacturer. The only downside is it not having many parts (if any) to customise as the Floyd Rose systems.

[@Ikillintel1]

@@markharmon9892 I suspect the baseplate is not hardened through and through but SPOT hardened at the knife edges. They make no such claims on their own website about their product, it’s not fair to communicate on behalf of Gotoh when you don’t know either… information made public by a company is different than none or exchange via email… because employees can “ mis speak” in emails when it comes to legality, but when a company makes public statements of its products they’re held accountable… no public spec’s on the website except “ specially processed steel saddle” … see how deceptive and vague that comment is about their own product? The reason people believe that thing is on par with the OFR is the same reason people believed in the magic of the tone wood fairy 🧚 you got guys like The Tone King talking out his ass about the Gotoh material and construction because him and his buddies scored a deal to obtain Gotoh tremolo’s for pennies on the dollar for their custom made guitar line. Gotoh does not publish a material and construction list because they’d be held legally liable for false advertising when someone tests the material proving otherwise… but NOT publishing those details it’s all rumors and fandom that claim their product is this or that not them. There’s a reason the 1996T costs a fraction of the price of an OFR. There’s also a reason FU-Tone has his tremolos made by Gotoh .. because of profit margins… one way or another you’re not getting the same quality from Gotoh or FU-Tone that you’re from Floyd Rose.

[@Ikillintel1]

@@markharmon9892 keyword HEARD not proven, not communicated publicly… rumors and hearsay.