How To Setup a Guitar With a Floyd Rose Tremolo

[@orangecrush6776]

Jim is a great teacher but the cameraman may as well have used a tripod and gone to lunch for all the closeups he missed

[@SanDiegoNico]

Exactly. Great information being presented but not shown. 🙄

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

THANK YOU!!! YES! Exactly this comment right here!

[@TigerEye777]

I was thinking the same thing while watching this. Sometimes pictures are better than words. I for one have a hearing disability and can't understand what is being said sometimes depending on how clear and loud the person speaks. Although this video did answer some questions for me and show me a few things I didn't know.

[@brandonkris8300]

Cameraman was 10/10 trash.

[@rareform6747]

After 50 years of playing and setting up guitars , Love Locking Tuners on Strats , Game Changer !

[@BrandonNorton]

I use a block I made from some Legos to hold the bridge in place when I change strings on my FR. It works perfect. This whole process just takes practice and gets easier each time.

[@hchoe741]

does your child know

[@hotmetalhelix3550]

@@hchoe741 😁

[@alexcorona]

I 3D printed one, most libraries now have them free to use. Or schools if your kid goes to one.

[@Tsuchue]

Legos for the win !

[@EvansFanily]

Don’t know why, but it is very pleasing to me to see a Gibson video featuring a Kramer guitar. Respect.

[@Tony-Jabroni]

Kramer is Indonesia gibson made

[@dangolguitartech]

The key to mastering a Floyd is patience and repetition, at least in my opinion. Take your time at first and before you know it, it’s really not that much different than anything else. I feel like a traditional Bigsby is harder as far as regular string changes goes. And remember this: no matter what type of bridge it is, stretch your strings. Stretch them, retune them and stretch them some more. Good luck, everybody!🤠

[@philgood6379]

Right, only patience can do a nice set up. I changed 9's to 10's on my esp, a bit of time but once it's done, the tune is very (very) stable and.. let's rock !

[@stevenglasl1443]

I’m learning that now. I’ve been playing for a while now but just purchased my first guitar with a Floyd rose tremolo. This video has been incredibly helpful to be honest. There’s just too many guitars I enjoy the sound of but I’ve turned away from because I didn’t want to deal with it. Welp…here I am ready.

[@justinfletcher3419]

The efficiency of running the strings backwards through the headstock blew my mind.

[@brucek2946]

I have a Kramer 610 that I bought new back in 1989.. Same Color with Middle and Neck single coil pups and a 3 way split toggle (Hum/Reverse Pol/Single) for the humbucker .. it has been a fantastic guitar !! ... Your Tips were very helpful and I greatly enjoy this series !

[@wolfgangrittner6637]

True Luthier works with any guitar without a problem!

[@ckaras100]

Love these videos!!! Did the virtual guitar setup, and I’m pretty happy that I can perform setups on my guitars

[@synonyx]

Best FR vid out there! Thanks, Gibson for doing this even though I know you don't sell many FR's!!! I finally got my FR in tune.

[@larryseel9005]

Great tip about loading the strings backward, Jim. Thank you.

[@joeyskar]

I really want Christopher Walken to show us how to restring and adjust a Floyd Rose. I don't care if it takes an hour.

[@gibsonguitar]

😂

[@JohnnyBeane]

Awesome Jim! Talk to you soon!

[@Haetni]

I have a GIBSON M-III Standard AND Stealth! I like the Schaller FL very much. Never had a problem with it.

[@samiam9059]

Wish they would bring back out the M-III some day. Have an custom Epiphone version one but not a set neck.

[@DRChevalier]

A fine video, thank you. Would have preferred more close up shots of the guitar, perhaps fewer headshots of Mr Decola. The tip about tuning adjustment while the guitar is in playing position was very helpful. Makes sense but had not thought of it. Will improve my setups on my ales Paul Axcess. I like the use of the rifle rest to hold the neck.

[@gibsonguitar]

Thanks for watching Ross!

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Exactly my complaint. No close ups to show exactly what he’s talking about.

[@nalukeko]

FASTEST FLOYD FINE TUNE: In this string sequence g - D - b - A - e - E; tune each string, but OVERCORRECT by the amount it is out of tune. If it is sharp, overtune by the same (or sometimes almost same) amount to flat. If flat, overtune to sharp. after about 2 rounds they all come out tuned when you finish with E to pitch.

[@SB-kw6oo]

Step one: list it on Reverb and pray

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

Lolz nooo. Jokes aside. It is a pain in the ass to learn how it all works. I still haven't figured it out totally myself. But they are bad ass when they work lol.

[@Daniel-co7cx]

thank you Jim!! Another fantastic lesson.

[@irf888]

Hi. Didn't you miss a crucial element on how to setup the string action height with a Floyd Rose? Without damaging the knife edges? Regards.

[@nolanqian6050]

So far the most detailed setup guide with the least fancy tools seen.

[@graemero5532]

Cheers Jim, and Gibson

[@GuitarMigi73]

Again, as on other Gibson videos, too many close-ups on Mr. DeCola's face instead of on what he's doing.

[@rubenminguezmusic79]

Great video, my FR on my Ibanez is a mess. I've always changed the strings and did the "setup" very intuitief and finally is the FR unplayble. Even is not my maine guitar (i play most with my lovely Les Paul :-D) thanks to this video i'll do a proper setup, thanks!

[@rudevalve]

Certified Gold!!!!!

[@jimwguitar3002]

Great tips! Once setup correctly they work great. Love the reverse string thing.

[@ChadEtchison]

Excellent demo.

[@vig237]

If you use fine tuning on pair of strings: e and E, b and A ect. Rather then usial way e, b, G ect. It will get in tune quicker.

[@carlosroubert8646]

Excellent lesson!

[@nickofzo]

I remember back in the day gigging a lot when suddenly a guitarplayer from another band showed up backstage and asked me and the other guitar player from my band to maintain/fix one of the guitars while they were soundchecking. We responded with, "it depends on what guitar it is" .. it was a Floyd Rose thing.. we both responded simoultanious with "I don't touch that thing" (There wasn't much time to do so either) Most of the guitarplayers I met over the years that used a Floyd Rose system moved to hardtail guitars. I am not against Floyds but the cheapo's are definitly a hell to set up correctly.

[@michaelking42]

Great instructional video, thank you.

[@1spaceman604]

more guitars with a floyd please

[@kevincraig2538]

This may be a dumb question. When inserting the sting into the saddle. Should the string be on the front side of the block or the back side of the block (i.e. the back side with the hole in the block or the front side that is the flat face of the block) ? I assume front - but the string pops out so I find myself questioning...

[@krzekil]

After playing for nearly 30 years i just got my first guitar with a Floyd

[@johngonzalez7967]

Me to. It came in D tune. So I got to set up sooner then I wanted to.

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

Wow. Gunna be 20 years for me lolz

[@t.sewell1513]

Excellent information. Ty.

[@christopherclarke3022]

How many of you do the backward restring and also leave the blends on the strings would the overlay wraps to holding the ball ends on cause an issue for turning the winding gear? Sorry for my ignorance I have never had a Floyd Rose tremolo/vibrato unit.

[@alexcorona]

I leave the strings long when restringing, In case one breaks. When that happens I just unravel more string from the peg and retune. It can save you doing an entire string change during a show, when you sometimes don’t have the time.

[@dlewtweentorla1210]

My question is why hasn't Gibson come up with some sort of retaining bar for the Les Paul Axcess? Even here it is discussed how the retaining bar should be lowered enough that the string lay flat across the locking nut. However on the LP's (Gibson or Epi's) there is no retaining bar and the strings are quite a bit raised off the back half of the nut. Worse is some of them have quite the buzz from this and it is very difficult to properly tune the guitar as the second the nut is locked it throws the tuning off. Therefore relying on the fine tuning right away.

[@divebomb99]

Did you guys figure out yet how to radius your saddles on these for your production guitars? A Luthier in my area was shimming brand new Gibsons (not Kramers, not Epi's) with Floyd's for a while because you were not.

[@kohosalmon3637]

great video ,

[@Jopeymessmusic]

Although I understand what he's saying and doing, having a Floyd bridge the last 12 years. The camera work is woeful. He's great at describing what he's doing but a quick look at everything he's talking about would do wonders for players learning how to deal with the bridge.

[@bobvines00]

Yes. Maybe the cameraman/woman is staying way back due to Covid separation. They missed a lot of useful closeups though.

[@Jopeymessmusic]

@@bobvines00 Ah that is a very likely possibility!

[@biggo6684]

Bought my first guitar with a FR a year ago and found an annoying problem: When you bend a note and hold it, the tension increase causes the saddle to raise, putting the remaining strings out of tune. So when you bend a note and hold it, then hit another note, the other note will be flat. Anyone know how to solve that, or is this just the nature of the beast?

[@lowalkoroc]

If its top mount/non-recessed like the one shown in this video just tighten up the springs in the back. If it's a recessed FR you can block it in such a way that makes it "dive only" like the non-recessed version, or sometimes you can add more springs and rebalance it. Rebalanced with more springs will help with the bending stability but also will make the unit feel stiffer and require more force to engage the springs. Hope this helps

[@perudolux]

Make Kramer great again

[@rdpurdom]

Did he clip the ball end on the string before winding?

[@TheSoulsandRevive]

Thanks very informative! Cheers

[@iajmedia7984]

That Flying V 🔥🔥

[@srh361]

Hey Gibson, I just bought a $4000 Gibson Les Paul custom brand new from the custom shop and when it arrived the bridge pickup wasn't even soldered to the pot yet on the check list included with the guitar there was a check in the electronics box. WOW.

[@divebomb99]

Wish I could say I'm surprised. Hopefully you got it straightened out.

[@srh361]

@@divebomb99 I'm working on it, it really blows my mind that made it out of the factory. Plus it's been made since JC took over so I was expecting a hell of a lot more than that.

[@divebomb99]

@@srh361 I hear you 100%. I tried a brand new Traditional at GC last year. Dead neck pickup out of the box. I walked out disgusted.

[@rexnavarro2918]

What would Eddie do?

[@bigdaddycool4242]

Well, Eddies Floyd rested flat on the body, non floating.

[@hek8ay]

more close ups of the guitar bridge itself would help!

[@mantas68]

It's much easier if you block the bridge inside of the spring cavity with a nice block of wood instead of buying the top-side bridge blocker which StewMac charges $14.00 USD last I checked. So much guesswork is eliminated when you block the bridge from inside of the spring claw route instead of guessing the proper spring position to body clearance of the bridge this way.

[@ianhumm531]

I use a zippo lighter with the cover off to lock the trem block when changing strings and it works fine

[@bluedot6933]

if you have locking tuners do you need the locking nut?

[@dlewtweentorla1210]

YES!! The strings will still slack when using the Floyd and when releasing (going back to full tension) the strings slip where wrapped around the tuner (even with minimum wind(s)) but more important strings tend to grab while passing through the nut, no matter how well it is filed. Must remember with a Floyd your stings can basically go very slack. The locking nut is just as important as the locking trem itself. Hence having the strings locked at either end.

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

I have a double locking floyd on a guitar and I store it in it's case which is form fit. However, every single time I take it out of the case to play it, the tuning is sharp. I have to use the fine tuners to de-tune the strings back to pitch. This happens to the point that the fine tuners are all the way out and no room left to un sharp the sharp. Any tips other than don't store it in the case?

[@FineArtbyAldo]

I tighten the claw screws depending if the guitar is flat or sharp when I get the guitar out of its case. Then I tune whichever string is out of tune.

[@jozie_ramone4160]

WHERE CAN I GET THIS GUITAR IN THIS EXACT COLOR IM GOING NUTS FINDING IT!!!!

[@vig237]

I have three guitars with fl those with original fl keep tuning great. The one with licenced fl has it's fl locked).

[@tylerbarkshire6340]

I followed this step by step as well as other videos and I ended with the same result. Tune one string, the others go flat. Tune another, the bridge starts to move up to far and the others go flat. Repeat never ending cycle of anger. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong..

[@134SASAKI]

Easiest way to get the fine tuner exactly in the middle: 1. Raise the 6th string fine tuner to the limit. 2. Lower the 4th string fine tuner to the limit. 3. Then you can set the 5th string fine tuner in the middle of the position of the adjacent fine tuner. After that, align all the fine tuners at the same height.

[@MVH5150]

Thanks man I was wondering where the middle for the fine tuners I'll try this with my evh wolfgang standard

[@134SASAKI]

@@MVH5150 You are welcome, have fun!

[@MVH5150]

I just did it and and really work and it stayed in tune really well

[@MrTPF1]

Well done video, but it only reminded me of my disdain for FR tremolos! All the tuning, the tools, the tuning, the adjustments, more tuning, and the small parts made me give up. Then, if you break a string during a gig, that guitar is out of commission until you have a half hour or more to do it all over again. If you're a pro and have a guitar tech so that all you do is play -- great! That's not the majority of guitarists by any stretch of the imagination. I'll take a conventional bridge and tailpiece any day of the week.

[@davidbassplanc]

What kind of Kramer is that? Looks sick!

[@rhyswalsh4483]

Bro anyone know if I can get a Floyd rose for an sg but I can change tunings steps down

[@LONEINLIBERTY]

thank you

[@howardc9882]

can a FloydRose tremolo system be added to a 2019 Les Paul?

[@dangolguitartech]

For a traditional style Floyd, it would involve major routing of the body. The new FRX seems as though it fixes that issue by using the stock studs with no routing... pretty sure that it can be used with no permanent modifications to the guitar. Good luck!

[@caracol1s]

And the truss Rod adjustment?

[@dannyortega6454]

No joke i have a epiphone with a floyd ive been thinking of selling it since i got it three years ago i dont even use it because it gives me a head ache just thinking about dealing with the tunning and the frets buzz everywhere i probably need a fret level but i dont even know if i want to spend money on this chunk of fire wood

[@JG_4D]

Why would you not zoom the camera in for closeups on the parts you're pointing out? Strange.

[@kidwacoandthekawih2396]

When adjusting saddle screws its better not to eyeball middle setting. First made sure guitar is in tune Then loosen nut lock machine screws to free up strings Then At bridge end 1) Un screw micro adjustment machine screws all the way. 2) then count rotations until the screw is threaded in all the way, 3) then unscrew to half way position counting rotations 4) then retune guitar at head stock tuner end before locking down the nut lock. Do this to all and you will avoid having one screw higher or lower than the other and have correct screw position when tightening nut lock.

[@stratplayr6997]

I have a Strat with a Floyd. Definite love/hate relationship with that guitar, but I've had it for almost 30 years. When it's in tune it's awesome, but when you have to unlock the nut to re-tune/re-set the guitar in the middle of a gig? Not so good. Neat tip on installing the strings backward like that - but on my Strat I have the vintage slotted tuners, so I have to clip the ball ends off anyway. I guess I can go backwards and install the non-ball end in the bridge, then clip once at the string post. I wonder if those ball ends get in the way when winding the strings? Anyone out there do this?

[@johnfoskey7855]

I've almost always put the ball end in the pegs..works fine for me..maybe a wrap around the post

[@Mr.CoolWizard]

Can’t see anything because the camera is sooo far away. Only close ups are of the dude’s face lol

[@tacob69]

Figures, probably the first time I'm ever first on a video because its probably the 10th KZbin video I've watched on setting up a Floyd Rose and I still can't get it right.

[@ziggylayneable]

You're not alone man Floyd Roses drive me insane. I have a Schecter "Synyster Gates"signature model(it was a gift). I'm really not a fan of the band but I like the guitar but the damn Floyd Rose is such a pain in the ass I wish that it was a hardtail so much cuz it plays great I just can't stand changing strings,and if I break a string it just makes me even more pissed off & freaking out.🤣🤣🤣

[@colintraveller]

@@ziggylayneable Invest in a Kahler or Sophia Term .. or even the model which Pete Thorn has Wilkinson Locking

[@ferstig235]

Ugh same, when I need to change my strings on my LTD with floyd I feel physically ill because it’s going to be a battle vs that bridge

[@dpchiropratica5409]

was expecting much more from Gibson. Very approximate procedure.

[@bleedingfly]

I use a 9v battery as a block under the bridge. Something all guitar players have! \m/

[@christianzelaya6361]

Didn't even know there's a tool to use instead of the 9V battery LOL.

[@bleedingfly]

@@christianzelaya6361 That's just the tip of what i don't know! lol

[@enthnd03]

Floyd rose bridges are cool, but are also a headache, I eventually just hard tailed mine

[@sprintcarsandguitars959]

might as well buy a tele,boots and a cowboy hat.

[@enthnd03]

@@sprintcarsandguitars959 ha, not getting a tele....but definitely getting a gretsch

[@sirusbraganza9570]

Hello Wade Wilson 🙂

[@Ken-yg4um]

It's a Love 💘 hate 💔 kind of thing with floyd rose systems..when my guitars are set up properly they are excellent...

[@aartmark]

What's with the stupid camera angles? It's very distracting. One second he's looking at the veiwer then he's looking somewhere else. It seems to be the newest thing to do that in videos.

[@Captain-Nostromo]

Yes it is very annoying

[@grtxyz4358]

Amateur video... now everybody has multiple camera’s and feel the need to use them... totally unnecessary, just a couple of shot changes, some close ups on the guitar, would have been enough

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

There are some companies out there who make tools to make this whole process much easier! 😉

[@divebomb99]

Pick Pocket for the win!! Got mine last weekend. Aces. :-)

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

@@divebomb99 🧡🙏🧡

[@andy_182]

Gotta get the hole of the block facing the back end so the screw can go in the hole from the back Got it 😉😉😉

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

when you talked about winding out that E screw, the camera zoomed in on your face, not the screw. Who was operating the camera? Coco the clown?

[@matthewguarna2975]

Am I the only one who realized all of it's own after 1 year of playing how to set up a floyd (right as soon as I got my floyd rose guitar) and doesn't find it so difficult? Easier to do then to explain it really

[@yanisreinisrockmusicway]

*I've got a Gibson too :)*

[@mburtondavis]

Pro tip: loosen the nut before tuning. Don’t lose the little graphite blocks.

[@przemyslaw1235]

Ibanez edge 👌👌👌👌👌😊I really like floyd but when you play always move fine tuners😊.ibanez edge is just perfect floyd😊👌that problem don’t exist

[@Tony-Jabroni]

16:56 what kind of witch craft is this? From way to much string to the perfect amount in 1 camera cut away.

[@MarkAnthony5150]

Watch Tom Webers video he is the master!!! He was eddies tech.

[@jumbowolfe84]

People that are scared of Floyds shouldn't own a guitar with one, because chances are you aren't going to use it anyway if you don't know how to set it up. Just get a hard tail if you're skeered. Also, for those that still want to crank on the whammy bar, start with a Floyd based guitar with it resting on the body, just like Eddie did it. Then 1/2 of these problems you'll never face. Floyds aren't that complicated and 9 times out of 10, a Floyd will remain in tune at a gig way more often than hard tails with incorrectly notched nuts.

[@phenixreturns]

don't be scared lol

[@maxmustardman298]

see the scarf joint at the headstock folks ? thats not a good idea, a couple of headstocks were broken at exactly that point, the more strain resistant position for the joint would be at the neck...

[@theaxe5150]

If your going to change all strings at once take the opportunity to condition the fretboard!

[@koonsickgreen6272]

Flying v with floyd rose. Pleaelse. NOW!!!

[@Ron_Padgett]

Easy.

[@MarioHernandez-zc7dv]

If you don't want a lifetime of suffering, don't tune 6 to 1 like a normal hardtail. Doing this will make tuning a nightmare and you will most definitely complain on the Internet on why you hate the floyd rose. Tune 6 to 1 to 5 to 2 to 4 to 3. This will save you a headache and a complaint on the internet. I hope this helps

[@sophielam]

Never seen a single pro repairman use a brand named neck rest.

[@AlexJ5A13X99]

Still have no clue how to retune it. You tune one string it makes all the other ones go flat, you fix all the other ones, then that one goes flat. Then you keep going and going until pretty soon the whole tremolo is perpendicular with the guitar... And it's still not in tune.

[@Mcsteveberry]

get this man some water!

[@phenixreturns]

the best thing to do is to have a tc electronic polytune

[@bigdaddycool4242]

Peterson Strobe is better.

[@tommynoble3428]

shoulda had a Boogie amp back there rather than the Marshall!

[@costas0]

Great vid, but it reminds me to put all my floyd roses guitar on marketplace. Not worth the trouble.

[@randydandy1871]

Never cut your balls off, its the best part of the string...type in Type in "the Cone Head Mod" and never cut your balls off (the string) again. New discovery. see the video...evolution my friend ! its here. NO MORE STRING SLIP.

[@MattOttewill]

Frustrating video without closeups. A shame because the explanation is good.

[@glenkepic3208]

You lost me with "The Floating System" Never needed a trem but one guy who SLAYED this, Eddie Van Halen, always had his sit flat. Two things, better contact to the body and won't go 'sharp' when palm muting. prob mentioned.

[@134SASAKI]

The phenomenon of sharpening the pitch with palm muting also occurs with fixed bridges. That's not a bad thing. Metallica and others intentionally sharpen the pitch with palm muting to create a unique force. Also, it's not always good bridge contact to the body. If the string vibration is transmitted too much to the body, sustain will decrease.

[@glenkepic3208]

@@134SASAKI Right here but after over 40 years of playing, 4 guitars with flat trems and never problems with going sharp on my other guitars, i hate floating trems,. Sure an art to play one but would pass.

[@134SASAKI]

@@glenkepic3208 I 've also been playing the guitar for over 40 years. I have to play different styles of guitar at work. Therefore, I use various guitars according to the playing style that suits the song. When I want to use Floyd Rose, I often need to swing the pitch up and down. If I don't need ups and downs whammy bar playing, I grab a Les Paul, Telecaster, or 335 style guitar instead.

[@glenkepic3208]

@@134SASAKI Bakers dozen for fun,,,gig days gone. All of the above save a Floyd. UFO, Yesterday and Today, early Santana.some sab or IM on the side... no use for a floyd. rock on.

[@srh361]

You left out the part where you have to adjust the bridge to make it parallel to the body. That's the biggest thing to setting up a Floyd Rose properly yet just about everyone leaves that part out when making a video such as this. Great information otherwise though.

[@garya1728]

This was discussed around the 6:00 min mark

[@srh361]

​@@garya1728 Yes it was "discussed" but not shown, it was left out. There's a couple issues I've encountered while adjusting the screws and I've been watching Floyd Rose videos to see what they do to solve the issue yet it's always left out.

[@dlewtweentorla1210]

@@srh361 That and how to raise and lower the action without causing damage to the posts or unit itself. Can't tell ya how many base plates and posts I've needed to repair for folks who've done it wrong!!

[@cigdamagelungs]

Buy a 179 baretta,that's it,to much trouble