Schecter Synyster Gates set up

In this video I'm doing a set up on Ryan's Schecter Synyster Gates guitar... it had some finish damage which I've mostly fixed. I also investigated what seems to have led to that damage - and I'd conclude that the guitar was either stabbed down into a gravelly driveway (on purpose) or dropped on its bottom edge in a similar outdoor environment.
The set up itself was trouble-free (for once!) and the end result is a very nice low action over a straight neck. Niiiice.
I love Floyd Rose tremolo systems but two things have always puzzled me:
1) Why can't they invent something better to hold strings than brute force and a little metal block??
2) Why do you need that string retainer bar?

[@johnwelch557]

Good to meet you Mr. Sam Deeks. Sir Sam Deeks you are known as in Phoenix, Az 😂 Just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoy each and every video. As a tiny side income, I have repaired, etc nearly anything electric guitar related since 1964. Yep, I'm a little more seasoned, in not a good way Ha! Thanks for all tbe tech info and I love the philosophical ramblings we all have about humankind. Thanks very much for your efforts Sir Sam!

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

Thank you! If you've been fixing guitars since just about when I was born you must be a venerable fellow indeed! John The Elder shall be your name :)

[@ergohogg]

The string retainer bar makes sure all strings sit flush across the full amount of the nut. If there is a gap between the string and back of the nut (headstock side) it raises the pitch when the lock nuts push down.

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

Got it - thanks!

[@FreakKitchen63]

In a perfect world the string retainer bar isn't necessary. FruduaTv has an excellent video regarding problems with a Floyd Rose equipped guitar. The problem is when you lock the strings with the locking nuts tuning often goes sharp. Frudua's video show why and how to fix that problem with the string retainer set higher or lower. Regarding radius of the fretboard versus the Floyd bridge, there are shims especially designed for Floyd Rose systems to correct that problem.

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

Some good info on the string retainer bar & its purpose - thank you! Also I didn't know they made shims for those saddles. Should I search for "Floyd Rose saddle shims"?

[@FreakKitchen63]

Hello Sam! Even better you can search for Floyd Rose saddle shims UK ;) - cheers!

[@julialacey1604]

The string retainer bar is an original part of the double locking Floyd Rose system. It is NOT serving the same purpose as a string tree. If you have a locking nut, the string retainer's purpose is to provide enough angle so that the string contacts the entire nut (from front to back) as it crosses over. Without that tension, the string might only touch the front part of the nut and raise up off of the back portion of the nut as it crosses. When this happens, you can tune the string fine, but when you tighten the locking nut caps it will go sharp from the added tension. If your guitar has enough of an angle after the nut that this isn't a problem you don't need the string retainer - but Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat had one so they MUST be cool :)

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

Thanks Julia and Mr. Man, so the purpose is to ensure that no pitch rise occurs when locking down the nut 'caps'. I think that makes sense.

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

@mrman846 I hate to hard-tail a Floyd Rose; they're awesome pieces of technology and once you get the strings properly stretched and get it floating on the horizontal they're fantastic.

[@18robsmith]

String retainer bar? I see it as a sort of very wide string tree covering all strings - only really useful if the head is very flat to the neck, but otherwise either "decorative" or "a pain", probably erring on the "pain" side when fitting strings. I don't see the string locking bar as doing anything really useful as any half decent set of tuners (or even nearly dead?) set of tuners will hold the head end of the strings in place during playing.

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

And in this case not only is there an angled headstock but there are also locking caps on the nut. Even if - and that's a big 'IF' considering you've paid for a Floyd Rose - you wanted to use it 'hard-tailed' and dump the locking nut caps it's STILL not required. Yet I've had people in KZbin comments tell me forcefully that I don't know what I'm talking about (on this and probably all other issues!) :D

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

Fantastic Sam

[@jasujokelainen5073]

Some superhero?

[@SamDeeksRelovedGuitars]

Hahaha One of those comments that I read several times without understanding what you meant.... until now. "Fantastic Sam" - a rambling old bloke saving the world from guitar evil :D