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Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | I have a friend with a Squier (Strat copy) that has a Floyd Rose tremolo. Its very softly sprung. I could not tune this guitar for the life of me. As we all know, when you tighten one string, you naturally pull slack in the rest. This Rose termolo is so sensitive I cannot get all 6 strings in tune at once. Is there a procedure or secret im missing? |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | 1-might be that it is missing a bridge spring in the back.
2- using electric [light] strings? (doh!)
3-is the bridgesaddle properly intonated/ compensated?
4-Does it have a locking nut??? |
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December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | It should not be "soft" and there is usually an adjustment for that. If you change all the strings at once, it can be a bear.
I usually tune the highest strings first, EBGDAE order. You'll have to repeat a few times if it has been loosened. Adjust the spring tension to keep the bar from hitting the body, but don't bother with any other adjustments until it's in tune. When it gets close to being in tune, you can go back to tuning normally.
Once it's in tune and the tension adjusted to where you want, it should stay that way unless you change the type or gauge of strings being used. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Note to self.... Never get a guitar with a tremelo. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I can't speak for Squires, but all my other Fenders with whammy bars stay in tune unless the whammy is used a lot, then I just simply retune as necessary, say, every third or fourth number. I play a lot of surf with a lot of whammy and I don't consider it burdensome at all. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Note to self.... Never get a guitar with a tremelo. No. Just never get a Squier. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I'd start with the D and G and make them a little sharp and work out to the A & B etc. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Do a search for "Blues" recently. It might have been Blues Strat. In that thread I discussed tuning problems I was having with the Kahler bridge on my Ultra GS. The problem turned out to be the adjustment screw for the springs. It had fallen into the guitar body. I put it back in and tightened it so the strings didn't keep pulling themselves flat. The Kahler website has some tuning tips. I bet a Floyd Rose website does, too. |
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August 2006
Posts: 122
Location: Tucson, AZ | ...tune "close" the first 10-50 times, then "right on" the next 10-50 times...should get you pretty close...if you're not REAL picky. |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Tuning a Strat/Strat copy with a tremolo is an iterative process. You tune each string to pitch, and then find that the previous five you just tuned, AREN'T. You have to do it five or six times at least, especially when you put on new strings. You gradually get closer and closer until you have it.
By "softly sprung", I presume you mean only two or three trem springs. That doesn't help, either, more springs seem to make the tuning more stable. If it has two, I'd add a third, if it has three, I'd go to five (four won't keep the tension even).
I've talked to guys in music shops who work on Floyd Rose trems and they don't swear by them, they usually swear AT them.....but I don't think it is the main source of your problem.
Roger |
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September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I have a Conemporary Strat with the bridge assembly mounted on two posts with three springs. I have no problem restringing and tuning it. Fender recommends holding each string at the first fret and pull up on the string to stretch it. You have to do this a few times and it seems to work.
If you have the six screw mounted bridge,back off each of the screws about half a turn. Again a Fender recommendation. It will play a lot better. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I always put on all the springs and really tightened down the claw and threw away the whammy handle. No tuning problem. |
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March 2002
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Location: SoCal | Simplicity is always the most elegant solution... |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'd get rid of the whammy bar too. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | note to self-- DON'T USE WHAMMY BAR!!
My Lyon Pseudo-Strat came with one, but I never use it. So mine just tunes correctly. I guess my tremelo mechanism is still tight. Good! I just bend with my fingers. (or shake the thing) |
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December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Good note on what cwk2 said about tuning sharp on the first pass or two. I forgot about that. I even did it tonight, and didn't think about it. Funny the techniques we make into habit to the point we don't even realize we do them.... well me anyway.
FYI, a well setup trem bridge stays in tune, even a Fender. A Kahler will stay in tune close enough to work with even if you break a string. If you are going to "lock" the trem, sell the guitar and get one without a trem. The phrase, "right tool for the job" comes to mind. |
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OT - How do you tune with a Tremolo?