I Love Floyds Thread::Show Your Appreciation

[Coprosatanica]

Most of my guitars have the OFR, which will probably always be my first choice - but I also have a few guitars with the German made Schaller's and Floyd Pros, which honestly seem just as good. What I love about floating trems in general is that they keep the guitar in tune so well. I'm more annoyed by having to tune after every song than sacrificing a bit of sustain (compared to a string thru). I also added the oversized brass blocks and a new springs on two guitars last year and I noticed a sustain improvement, not colossal but noticeable. It took me a long time to master the Floyd setup, so I understand why so many people hate dealing with them. Works for me though.

 

[Metaltastic]

Those ZR trems are pretty sweet, but the arm posts are notoriously weak on 'em (and I don't think you can get much of a flutter from them, FWIW)

 

[Jind]

Yeah, I'd honestly say the pickguard cut is the biggest indicator, since the beveling of the edges is consistent through it

And honestly, since tuning stability and smoothness of action are the most important trem criteria for me (I can live without flutter), maybe I should consider Kahler trems more seriously...they're real eyesores though IMO

I think I'm going to do some work to this guitar - I've been playing it for the past couple of hours, breaking in the new strings. I was just looking over at http://www.kahlerparts.com and it looks like you can upgrade the Flyer to 2300 Pro specs with some relatively simple upgrades. I need to order a replacement arm as well.

Did you know that you can turn your Flyer into a Pro by simply upgrading the saddle sets to the 2300 Series Saddles? All cams and saddles in our 2200 and 2300 series are interchangeable, including the 2230 Stud Mount and 2330 Flat mount Flyers. Feel free to upgrade your Flyers......go pro!

I need to do some work on the electronics however as the switch appears to have some issues - it has a noticeable crackling when changing positions and some cutout as well. Other than that it plays great - the action is perfect and after 15 years in my closet, it still has pretty much perfect intonation. Amazing what you forget about - I feel like I just got a new guitar simply by finding one that I had in the back of my closet.

 

[Notuern]

Yeah, I'd honestly say the pickguard cut is the biggest indicator, since the beveling of the edges is consistent through it

And honestly, since tuning stability and smoothness of action are the most important trem criteria for me (I can live without flutter), maybe I should consider Kahler trems more seriously...they're real eyesores though IMO

I would recommend Kahler Flyer specifically... they are far superior against the modern ones.
I dont know why TBH, but ive never got the same stability in modern Kahlers.

And as far as them being eyesores, does this really look that bad?

 

[Rex Rocker]

I've gotta say I like the ZR trems as well, maybe cause I'm not a trem conossieur like at all. I wouldn't get a guitar with a trem, personally, unless it's a ZR.

 

[Metaltastic]

I would recommend Kahler Flyer specifically... they are far superior against the modern ones.
I dont know why TBH, but ive never got the same stability in modern Kahlers.

And as far as them being eyesores, does this really look that bad?

Yeah dude, I just can't stand how gigantic it is, I much prefer the shape and look of the Floyd (specifically the Schaller, with the shorter saddle nuts) - still, in this case I'll definitely go for function over form!

 

[Metaltastic]

I need to do some work on the electronics however as the switch appears to have some issues - it has a noticeable crackling when changing positions and some cutout as well. Other than that it plays great - the action is perfect and after 15 years in my closet, it still has pretty much perfect intonation. Amazing what you forget about - I feel like I just got a new guitar simply by finding one that I had in the back of my closet.

Yeah man, that definitely looks like it could be great with a little sprucing-up!

 

[slashvanyoung]

What I especially like about the Kahlers is that they are IME less prominent to go sharp due to hands resting with to much pressure on the bridge.

Also, they're design pretty much eliminates sharp edges (at places where the strings rest), something that caused me quite some grief with cheaper Floyds.

 

[Metaltastic]

Check out this site I found, they claim they have every Kahler bridge ever made in stock!

EDIT: And do you guys (specifically Jay ) think there's any advantage to getting an NOS Flyer over a modern 7300?

 

[arvoitus]

I love floyd's ...

How do you guys maintain your floyds? I have a black Jackson floyd which i clean once a year. But my gold Schaller is cleaned every 3/4 months (including a new setup/intonation/etc).

I usually remove all the parts of it (including locking shit/string holders). I complete disassemble the whole floyd, and then i spray and soak them in some kind of oil:

You can't believe how shiny they are after this threatment ... i don't have a picture of it right now but it looks really really nice.

 

[Metaltastic]

A labor of love I suppose

 

[arvoitus]

Btw: what is a good way to mute all the unwanted noise created by a floyd?

I heard some things like rubber/cotton stuff. What is good stuff?

 

[Notuern]

Check out this site I found, they claim they have every Kahler bridge ever made in stock!

EDIT: And do you guys (specifically Jay ) think there's any advantage to getting an NOS Flyer over a modern 7300?

I cant say much about the modern Kahlers as i have never worked with them.. but from what i have heard, the Flyer model is Kahlers equivalence to OFR's, pretty much everybody thinks they are far superior.
From what ive heard by a friend that also have a passion for Kahlers, he said that they both are very similar, but the newer ones need much more maintenance and never feels as smooth as the old ones(Probably cheaper ball bearings or something.).

Oh, and another reason why i really like Kahlers: They dont steal a shitload of tone like Strat Trems or Floyds.

 

[Notuern]

Arvoitus: I pull everything apart, then i pour some benzene in to a bucket, and put the parts in it for a few hours, then i put them back together and then use gun oil, or sewing machine oil in all the moving parts.

 

[arvoitus]

A labor of love I suppose

Yeah, i seriously love doing it. Gently disassembling all the parts, spraying them, soaking them in oil.
I usually let them stay a night in the oil and in the meanwhile i'm conditioning my fretboard and waxing my body/neck.
Next day i assemble the floyd back and the i'm setting the intonation/neck/floyd height/etc.

After that i put her in bed and tell her some heavy metal fairy tales until she falls in sleep.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

put some tissue beneath the springs

 

[Glenn Fricker]

My Floyd Guitars:

1995 Jackson Rhoads "V."Stays in tune pretty well. Has an EMG "H" in the neck, stunning clean tones.

1988 29 fret Washburn. Stays in tune forever.


That being said, I'm still not using them on heavy rhythm tones!

 

[16S]

It seems to be an S seireis from my research - one of the higher models if it has the Kahler factory installed, but I can't find any particular designation that included the Kahler factory installed.

Here are some pictures:

Dude, I am loving that headstk. Looks like a kramer! Reminds me of Eddies 5150 Got any red spray paint and some tape??

Anyone showing any love for the Edge Zero trems?

We recorded a band a while ago that brought an Ibanez fitted with one a while ago and it struck me straight away that it was probably the best implementation of the locking Floyd design I had seen to date. Low-profile, with offset clamping bolts (no more slacking the strings to re-intonate!) untooled adjustable spring tension and fully ambidextrous as well.

Check out the Jem site the guy on there makes a livin out of Ibby set ups and he reviewed the ZT. He reckoned it was pretty good but i think he said no good for flutter...

I love floyd's ...

How do you guys maintain your floyds? I have a black Jackson floyd which i clean once a year. But my gold Schaller is cleaned every 3/4 months (including a new setup/intonation/etc).

I usually remove all the parts of it (including locking shit/string holders). I complete disassemble the whole floyd, and then i spray and soak them in some kind of oil:

You can't believe how shiny they are after this threatment ... i don't have a picture of it right now but it looks really really nice.

Oh man, fair play to you! I usually have the trem out one a year, clean it up and oil up the knife edges. I guess teh important thing is to give the trem and quicky wipe over after a gig or a sweaty rehearsal. The salt kills everything really quickly otherwise. Friend of mine has a Moser custom with a Kahler that has completely discoloured because he is a dirty bastard and doesnt clean his gtrs...ever...esp. after a show...
Oh, and that Schaller is better looking than the OFR IMO. The shorter allen stubs at the back are much nicer. Better clearance for pull ups too.

Btw: what is a good way to mute all the unwanted noise created by a floyd?


I heard some things like rubber/cotton stuff. What is good stuff?

Other than laying foam under the springs and (if you have the back cover on) lay foam on top of the springs I learn't a great tip a few years back: cut some foam into thin strips and with fine wire pull the foam thru. each of the springs. Cut to the length of spring as a finally tidy up and your done. It really kills all that spring noise which can occur on the newest of setups.

 

[16S]

Glenn, those are two fanastic looking gtrs. The washburn just smells of 80s....love it! What trem is on it??

 

[Glenn Fricker]

That's a Washburn 600-S, It's a licensed Floyd. Considering it was made in 1988, it's certainly stood the test of time.