THIS STRATOCASTER CHANGED EVERYTHING!

[@dennisorourke6545]

I always preferred a Floyd Rose, and NOT because they're quick and easy to set up... but because _once you do_ have it set up, it's a wonderful playing experience. The best comfort, the best flexibility.

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Hey dude! Thanks for tuning in. Miss you man

[@deweyoogwey]

i hope this convinced me in buying one. been eyeing a fender st555 (1985) floyd rose for months and idk why i’m still contemplating on getting it. the seller is selling it @ $420.

[@DekkarJr]

I literally stopped playing any guitar with a whammy bar because of the nightmare that floyd roses are to set up. I literally threw an ESP I had with a floyd rose in a dumpster because I got so angry with it.

[@thylacine1962]

Here here. Well said.

[@stevenhirsekorn3444]

@@DekkarJr bruh it is not that hard to set up, If you take it step by step it's really easy.

[@insearchoftone9602]

I actually love floyd rose systems. Have had them on and off since high school and it was one of those things where once you understand them they are easy as all get out to use. Biggest thing to keep in mind is its all about balance. You wanna run heavier strings? You might need to change the springs out. The second biggest aha moment I had was when I learned to do my setups with trem blocks. Stewmac sells trem block sets that help tremendously each time you need to adjust your setup. Simply place the appropriate sized block between the trem and the body, tune to pitch with the headstock tuners then adjust the springs till the block is loose. You may have to do a few small adjustments for drop tuning but what you end up with is a super stable setup that you rarely have to tune at all. Love the content man!

[@hulakuladajefula2818]

Best demo i’ve heard your channel. Heavy and pure fire

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@EggTamago7]

Killer guitar! I got an American Pro II HSS a few months ago. I was a bit concerned about the stock bridge pickup, since I'm pretty used to the output of the Dimarzio Crunchlab in my Ibanez... but I was really pleasantly surprised! It's definitely lower output, but I think I dig in a fair bit on my rhythm playing, because aside from a tiny extra boost on the tube screamer, it's chugging just the way I want it to! Glad you got the Floyd working. I had an LTD with a licensed Floyd years ago, and I got so fed up with it I just blocked it in the cavity with a bunch of popsicle sticks. They're so much fun, but you definitely gotta put in the work to keep them balanced and happy.

[@metal571]

No way Sam Ash in Cherry Hill right next to the Guitar Center? Such a small world, love stopping by those two spots. Love your channel and keep it up

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Hey thanks so much!

[@Ken-yg4um]

I have this guitar the only mod I plan on doing is installing a Dimarzio Super distortion in the bridge and I'm using 9's with no tuning issues...

[@bucknasty69]

Can’t go wrong with the classic Super Distortion!

[@sparky87213]

I have a Wolfgang standard and I tried running heavier strings on it and it did not like it at all. So I run 9 to 42s on it and the thing is amazing again.

[@mikeygeoff]

once you learn the floyd you love the floyd. Almost all my guitars are floyds. Great video.

[@D4NRob514]

I run 11/56 Daddario in all my Floyd. D standard tuning. Fu-tone titanium hardware, brass block and Noiseless springs. No issue at all when the set up is perfect. Big sound and a lot of sustain.

[@CorbenEdward]

I have set up floyds many times and had zero problems. What I do is really simple, Block them off with either coins wrapped in painters tape or wood. lol

[@che2335]

When i was a kid in 84 dad couldnt afford the Aria Pro2 Night Warrior so i settled for the RS Straycat w 2 point non locking trem. FFwd to 92 and my 1st real job. Within a year I had a red/black Kramer, Charvel Model4 and 6, Aria Night Warrior, and Ibanez RG 550. I couldnt get enough Floyds and loved them all. Still do lol.

[@manuele.itriagom.728]

I can totally see you in a couple years getting your actual Fender Custom Shop signature guitar.

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Phew my goodness that’s the ultimate dream. I’m gonna keep trying. Thanks for hanging with me!

[@manuele.itriagom.728]

@@xanderraymondcharles you will 100% get there sooner than later if you keep up this amazing content! Best of luck. Sick guitar build, btw! You killed it with those mods, has such a unique personality to it. You pretty much have you own custom Fender until it actually happens! ;)

[@SixString_J5]

I LOVE the floyd rose system and my favorite is by far the Ibanez edge. I really would like to see Ray with a Genesis RG 550. My best tip for living with a floating floyd is to always have your screwdriver for your spring claw and your allen keys for your locking nut. If all your strings are slightly flat, tighetn the spring claw 1/4 of a turn and check tuning again....If you are sharp on all strings, losen the spring claw 1/4 of a turn. I have a stack of trem cavity plates at home because my go first stop to for tuning is typically the spring claw.

[@kenminerva]

Thank you for this video, man! I always wanted to have FR on my guitar but I have the same fear as you. Now, because of your video, I want to have FR more than ever. You sound amazing and that guitar is stunning, man! New subscriber here..Rock n roll 🤘🏿🤘🏿

[@charlesb7831]

I run .10-.46 on all 3 of my Floyd Rose guitars, with different springs for different stiffness. Some flutter and some I have set not too. It's the tension on the spring claw when you do your setups. Floyd Rose has good tutorials on the website and so does Adam at Fu-tone. I run his Brass big blocks and Titanium hardware on all of mine. Just some ideas to play with lol. I've been playing a Floyd Rose for 25 years or so and always love them, no issues!

[@cederickforsberg5840]

8:07 lubricate the locking nut? Like... eh, what? Sorry, but that thing is supposed to hold the strings. Lubricate would make it more prone to slipping the strings. I have never heard of anybody lubricating the nut. The SADDLES, sure, I do that too. But only at the top surface, absolutely not inside the "grabby block below"

[@MercyBlastTV]

Spent alot of years myself avoiding FR's after purchasing my first Ibanez(RG 550). Didnt have anything against them, just wasnt for me. Changing strings seemed on par to changing a car's transmission. In the past year though, Ive purchased an EVH Wolfgang Stealth(non-floating Floyd) and an Ibanez 7 string Universe(floating). Its put a bit more challenge and excitement into playing again. Anyways, awesome Strat Ray. You've definitely made it your own!

[@Redpepper917]

Really bad-ass rhythm at 3:45 to 4:18! I love that!

[@mikemph7779]

I prefer hard tails too but I do have one axe with a Floyd. Mine is set up EVH style for better tuning stability. 🤘😎 Really enjoying your channel Thanks for your work on it !!

[@jjgson69]

I currently have 3 guitars with floyds and I love em. I use Dean Markley Blue Steel 9's and stretch em really good before I lock em down. Almost zero tuning issues but I'm not a huge dive bomber. As I've said before, IMO the people who complain about floyds are the same ones who complain a Les Paul is too heavy to play on stage..... :)

[@paulflemming9140]

I like the honesty of your videos.

[@bigbo1764]

If you are having tuning issues on a Floyd, you don’t have it set up properly, it’s that simple; the ultra lux comes set up with 9-42s in mind, if the previous owner changed the strings to 10-46s, it’s likely they didn’t changed the set up with it, completely ruining the tuning stability, so when you changed it back to 9-42s, it likely fixed the issue; however, you can run 10-46s, 11-50s, etc, you just need the proper set up.

[@greg6162]

Didn’t he buy it brand new… I thought he went on the Fender site and bought it brand new and I would assume they came with 10-42’s?

[@joebrooks3638]

Marco Sfogli signature Charvel is the Purpleburst with EMGs you're thinking of and he's amazing 🤘John Petrucci vibes

[@xanderraymondcharles]

That’s the one! Such a beautiful guitar

[@joebrooks3638]

@@xanderraymondcharles you should just order a Sliverburst Kiesel Delos with a fixed bridge and send in the EMGs 🤘

[@robdaslav]

Thanks for the string gauge info. I'm restoring an old 80's guitar with a floyd. I put 10's on it and have the same tuning stability issues. I swapped the 3 springs out with a set of 5 from Fender. That helped a lot. I'll try the 9's next.

[@nafis6668]

Xander, your best tone right there 😁👍

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Wow, thanks!

[@danielabilez3619]

In some ways, it comes down to what you grew up with. I learned with a floyd. Later, I didn't care for kaleer ( position of bar between strings). Stock bridges neither. To each their own. And keep playing!

[@tonesguitars]

All guitars should float! Awesome glad you like em!

[@MikeS4628]

I'm not a trem user at all really. I've got a few FR equipped guitars and they don't get used for anything but studio work. They stay in tune but I just don't like floating trems. So, a couple of weeks ago I played a Charvel and immediately fell in love with it but it has an FR but I could bend and nothing else went flat. The guy put a tremol-no on it. It's a little bar that replaces the claw in the back. There are screws that when tightened it makes the bridge fixed. So you can loosen it if you want the trem and tighten it if you don't. I leave it tightened. He was selling it and it's mine now. I'm picking up a couple more tremol-no units for my other FR guitars. I grew up in that shred era so it was just something you had on your guitar back in the day. I'll get them set up and start playing them again. Just another option for stability if you want to look into it.

[@BillyPolaris]

I have a Jeff Beck Strat which is a two point trem and an LRS roller nut, it's set to float... I use the EB Hybrid's which are 9-46... helps with a bit of meat on the lower strings for my hands, give that gauge a whirl too!

[@gavendelrio9193]

Heavier gauge strings=Spring claw adjustment. Sick ass guitar!

[@brandonharvey9201]

Stiffer springs for heavy strings? Maybe? Don’t have a problem with tuning stability once setup in a tuning it’s changing tunings and string gauges that take time. Fu tone guys have some great vids for blocking stretching and returning back to pitch. Just blabbing! Thanks for the great content!! Oh also those damn screws under saddle locks can cause stupid problems if not tight. Lol

[@liys540]

or sophia 2.92 pro with drop tuner can help your strat in tune while you doing crazy whammy stuff

[@brandonharvey9201]

@@liys540 I’ll have to check it out thanks!

[@liys540]

@@brandonharvey9201 you're welcome

[@ilovesguitarmucho]

Don’t forget the Phil Sgrosso Charvel So-Cal that I told you about. Silverburst strat 😉 w/ a Floyd and single Fishman humbucker, ebony board, and an ergonomically friendly bolt-on heel joint is about as metal of a strat as it gets imo.

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Oh yeah! Good call!

[@hsojfarren8830]

Love the SMR on the strat. Just like SRV on Stevie Ray Vaughn's

[@danielv2880]

I have three main guitars, and I’m the opposite. I’ve had 2 hard tails in my life and I personally hate how I don’t have a trem when I need it, so now I have 2 regular terms and a Floyd. I also do agree, I have my schecter C-1 sustanic in drop b with 10-48s and it holds tune much better than heavier gauges

[@thylacine1962]

Don't chill a FR trem. If you love a particular axe hanging in the shop but the FR scares the hell out of you, buy the damn thing any way. Then add FR blocking system (not expensive, do a utube search), when your experience level improves, then unblock & experiment. Still don't like the tuning issues. Just put the block back on, problem solved. Converting a FR to a hard tail or single movement trem is so easy. If your a handy person you can do it yourself with out buying hardware. Its not the monster people think it is.

[@jeffromhw75]

Nice , glad you got the floyd silverburst strat when it came out with th the stainless!

[@andrewkelly2863]

Floyd's have always been pretty simple for me but that's all I've been playing since I was 11 lol you have to adjust the back spring tension for different string gauges, it had probably been setup for 9's before

[@liys540]

fu tone and sophia tremolo . for me , i choose sophia 2.92 pro with drop tuner which is a floyd rose with dual stabilizer and macro tuner ( no need to cut ball end of the string , just put it in the tuner ) big brass block with dual stabilizer

[@joshrexben]

A painful lesson I had to learn recently is to not adjust the string action on your Floyd equipped guitar with full string tension applied. It can wear out the razor edges and lose your tuning stability. Instead, depress the bar when you’re adjusting or get the FU TONE spring pull tool to easily remove the springs, adjust your action with no contact from the bridge, then put everything back. Took me unknowingly jacking up 3 Floyd’s before I learned this is an issue

[@jaime.27.CBR.]

Nice mods, I did the same with electronics, but you miss the best mod to replace the volume switch ... I did te same in all my strats, KILLSWITCH in the volume hole... trust me, a KILLSWITCH with a floyd rose is amazing. A Chrome killswitch in that spot will be sick in that guitar!!! For me, best killswitch size is 16 or 19 mm The size of strings on floys is real, mores stability... 9-46 work very good too, of you want more power on the bottom strings

[@chauncysmind]

I was always hesitant of Floyd Rose myself. On a limb I bought the Schecter Apocalypse with sustainiac pick-up and Floyd Rose. I had it set up to drop C# as well. It played well and was fun doing dive bombs, but was abit of a pain changing string's ect. Never really bonded with it though and sold it. But I think a Schecter Apocalypse 7 string w/o Floyd Rose would be better for me, the sustainiac pick-up was really fun..

[@jean-philippemorin1176]

Put a kill swith button in the unused hole maybe? That's a killer strat man. :)

[@nikolauselsner2564]

maybe you have to put another spring to the flyod rose system to increase the tension so you can play thicker strings. That could increase the tuning stability

[@xanderraymondcharles]

I tried that in the beginning. I put as many springs as I could in the back and still no luck.

[@EricCPOP]

Love Floyd Roses. I had a really crap introduction to it. I got a Schecter C6 FR Pro with a special that wouldn't tune properly. Hated Floyd Roses since then but I fell in love with Ritchie Sambora Jersey Star which did have a Floyd. I ended up buying that and it was night and day with the Floyd Rose 1000. I will never touch a Special ever again. Nowadays, I have this problem where I can't buy a strat-style guitar without a Double locking tuner unless it's an actual Fender Stratocaster in the usual configuration.

[@gral9440]

I have a bunch of guitars with Floyd rose (made in Germany or Korea) or Gotoh floating tremolo which are set in 10-46 or 11-48 or even one in 10-52 (Ltd Alexi Ripped) and i have no tune issues. I'm tune in E standard (I use de Digitech drop for drop tunes)

[@georgeprice4212]

The only thing I have never liked about the Floyd Rose system was that I couldn’t get it restrung easy. I had to do a restring of a Dean Dimebag model - a full restring, not just one string - and only the high E string wasn’t catching.

[@HadTooMuchToDream]

I have the American Ultra Luxe, HSS, Floyd Rose in mystic black. I think I prefer the stock pickups, they are closer to the classic strat sound which I like. The hot noiseless are not as rounded as the vintage style single coil pickups, but when mutating the sound with pedals and EQ, my ear is not good enough to tell. I play for fun though and I am far from skilled. Was nice to hear the sounds you squeezed out of that lump of wood.

[@kevinkeith3530]

It didn't like heavier sttings because you didn't tighten the springs to compensate (or add a spring) just need to find the right tension then it'd be good. Looks cool and sounds great tho!!!

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Hey Kevin I did tighten the springs in the back and re set it up and added more springs in the back when I was in drop b it just didn’t work for me. Anywho, thanks for hanging and happy Friday!

[@James-vr5wh]

I think you could benefit from the EMG EXG Expander tone control. Had one in a Strat with a similar set up and it was great for the “Chugs”. The EXG kind of brings up the highs and lows while slightly scooping the mids. I think for your style you would enjoy it and you have extra hole in your pickguard for it. Also love Strats! They can do about anything, look classic and are easy to mod. Have an American Pro II HSS that is my main guitar, a Warmoth partscaster that is ever changing and a newly added Sean Long Charvel San Dimas with EMGs. All amazing guitars!

[@markbrooks8623]

Another issue. Not good that you have to replace the pickups. Older HSS Strats hat the Atomic pickup in the bridge and it was basically an HO humbucker like the Seymour Duncan JB. Still, can't argue with the choice of EMG.

[@TheSoul1man]

Ray your influence got me to trade my acoustic for an S-type guitar yesterday. It's not a Fender because of the price tag on those. I've been playing with it all day and I love it. I'm a tele guy at heart but it has made me considering selling my tele and to get another S-type for a different tuning. I've been staying away from them because of the tremolo system. I prefer hardtails. The one on this is a Wilkinson 2-point trem and I don't mind it at all I just don't use it.

[@SweatyBetties]

Killer sound on that strat

[@harshtruth9148]

I have a sunburst strat with EMG loaded pickguard and it sounds better than any other guitar I own....no floyd tho...changed out for a Gotoh bridge, blacked out, one tone one volume, block inlay pau ferro fingerboard.....its a killer axe!! MIM tho

[@brandonsmalleyorblspinc689]

I Knew you were going too change your mind about the Floyd Rose it just takes a while Too get down but when you do Man it's gratification is amazing mine is in tune more than myself half of the time!

[@deadspeak1126]

Hmm SMR might wanna check out a good olde Charvel :)

[@ww8wv1]

That’s a rock machine.

[@ashleyjackson4481]

Eddie Van Halen invented the drop tune device for Floyd rose bridge . Have you tried that ? And you can get shock absorber system . Steve vai uses this .

[@christopherhogue87]

I’m not much of a strat fan, but that one is pretty sick. Love the videos!! Happy Halloween.

[@alexeywells]

Hey, Xander! Great video! I just got the same guitar but in Mystic Black color. Do you know by chance if it is possible to load this guitar with HSH assuming I’ll order a new pick-guard?

[@666Henthorn666]

I've noticed lately that when you're doing your "noodling" you're not playing your typical "go to" riffing or soloing. not only is you channel growing but so is your playing!

[@xanderraymondcharles]

Wow thank you so much for the kind words!

[@petrik8550]

I'm curious about the original pickups that came with this guitar. I play hard rock and classic rock/blues/country. Your thoughts?

[@travisschuster4676]

Here's a twist. I have an esp ltd Jeff hanneman jh 600. Which has hybrid floating and fixed bridge. It's Kahler bridge. So I can do both worlds on one guitar. The Kahler bridges also do better with lighter gauge strings as well. And of course it has emg 81 and 85 set. Its definitely one my favorite guitars i ever bought because its sounds like it has a major attitude problem in a good way and is stupid versatile.

[@marclafferty6416]

Floyd rose systems are easy just a pain with the upkeep. I prefer the old school fender trem. Now that is an art form to keep in tune and I’ve mastered it 😂

[@ronchabot3449]

So now that you got your fear of the Floyd Rose out of the way how about trying the evertune bridge a shot there so amazing I think you would love it if you gave it a chance 🤘🎸

[@brandonsmalleyorblspinc689]

Jackson time brother!!!!

[@Lotastic_Films]

Have you ever heard of Sophia tremolos? They are supposed to be the much more user friendly locking trem from what I gather. That would be an idea for a mod

[@Wannaridebikes]

Just a question why not replace the pick guard so you just don’t have that hole? Just a simple question. I’m learning guitar with a Floyd rose. And tricky I’m a little trusted. But I did learn leaning it back makes nice sounds.

[@michaelshane5882]

Hey man, I started the KZbin channel and really am digging your music. Is there a way I could get permission to use one of your tracis 1 of your tracks in my intros? Is there anything I would need to do

[@lucwilson1]

Once you go strat you never go back 😝🤘

[@buddehaole]

Sometimes the guitar picks the strings.

[@xanderraymondcharles]

So true hahah

[@StevenBird-wf6ey]

Nice rig for sure.thats the one I been wanting 2750. Or so

[@thearmoda]

Question, where did ya hide the battery, thought about just throwing it under the pickguard, but would rather not have to take the whole thing off just to change the battery

[@xanderraymondcharles]

under the pickguard

[@MelloState]

So, I run HEAVY gauges on my floyds. trick to do is install heavy duty springs. Stock springs are really flimsy

[@D4NRob514]

Yeah i run 11/56 on my Floyd. D standard tuning. Fu-Tone titanium hardware, brass block and heavy duty noiseless spring. No issue at all and big sound with a lot of sustain.

[@FullTimeDogDad]

I have the fender ultra s/s/h configuration and I need some suggestions for a new humbucker pickup that gives the strat a more metal vibe. I already replaced the single coils with a hot rails and a JB jr. I want a humbucker with a lot of output without going to an active pickup. Any suggestions?

[@bucknasty69]

I like the tried and true Dimarzio Super Distortion. It sounds fat with good clarity and articulation, but might not be exactly what you’re looking for if you want a super modern sounding pickup. My personal favorite is the Dimarzio PAF Pro. It’s not super high output, but has amazing chunk, clarity, and articulation under high gain. It’s also fairly balanced EQ wise so it doesn’t color your tone too much.

[@NO-TALK-GuitarPlugin]

Will you review ToneX? I’m a huge fan ❤

[@TrevyTrev-andTheFunkyPets]

I really wished Fender would make more of these models with the FR , WITHOUT the pickguard. Rule should be FR? no Pickgaurd.

[@markbrooks8623]

Cheapest American-made Super Strat on the market? Appropriate perhaps. But the question is, is the Floyd really better than the Fender two-point system with the metal nut and locking tuners?

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

People love to say Floyds on a Strat is a sin, but I prefer being able to do something with a trem arm, and you can’t do much with a traditional Strat trem.

[@creepymcpeepers]

It’s sick guitar I would love to have one made just how I want it just cause I love the way it feels but am scared to change anything on it basically just want volume only and a dimarzio

[@davids2629]

I am contemplating getting this esp ltd that has amazing specs for the price but it has a Floyd 😢. Still might get it tho….

[@Rocktalk101]

all my guitars used to have floyd roses on them but now I do not own any guitars with a floyd roses on them. I prefer a hardtail/stoptail guitars these days. I have nothing against floyd rose's just lost interest in playing guitars with them and I prefer a more simple set up on my guitars and just enjoy playing guitars with out them more as they are less hassle all the way around.

[@shelbusfrechette3026]

What pickups?

[@joeblankenship377]

If money were no option for me, I'd buy a new Strat every week. Keep the ones I like and give away the rest.

[@80srocker65]

Totally cool

[@Bat_Dad_116]

I really want a charvel pro mod 2 so cal

[@dimasnugroho94_]

damn this guitar is cool I want try it

[@xanderraymondcharles]

thanks!

[@vejichan]

do you prefer alder or swamp ash strats

[@xanderraymondcharles]

mahogany

[@brianbarnett100]

FU Tone is amazing too if you want to check them out

[@nathanwilson-harmening5218]

New viewer here - is that a deftones tat?

[@martinlee6694]

Try Jackson guitar,80 ere coulars with fr.

[@rollsroystroyston6829]

Awesome

[@CFChristian]

Man idk what you're doing differently with this one, but this is some of your most inspiring playing I've seen yet. Hope you're well!

[@MrChuck12376]

Get a Charvel you will be amazed

[@4142Wilb]

4142Wilb 0 seconds ago I was Floyd crazy once when I was young but as I aged and matured I realized it isn’t that great of a gadget. Restringing sucks, tuning is a bitch, ya can’t drop tune on a whim and when I try to chug hard down picking I feel the strings resonate in an awkward sound it gets annoying but with a hard tail or string thru there is no comparison to the response

[@phenixreturns]

you changed the pickups so not stock pickups

[@danm1319]

You look super baked!

[@broncoxy]

A wise man once said _a floating trem is like a hot girlfriend: hard to maintain, but well worth it_

[@superspeederbooster]

Floyd rose tele in silver burst...

[@HKTimbo]

😎

[@rolandolimon2260]

EMG > Fluence . Fight me…