Viewing entries tagged
floyd rose

Two whole steps down :: 1994 Jackson SL1 Soloist [8.9 lbs]

May 25, 2016

A super low-tuned Jackson SL1 Soloist in for some hopeful improved tuning stability. The low tuning is C standard (CFA#D#GC) and strung with GHS Boomers 12-52.

Another shop custom fabricated saddle stops in order to hold the 3rd and 6th saddles that needed to be pushed back to compensate for the low tuning. This iteration of the Floyd Rose bridge was not designed to have those saddles so far back, hence the custom stops.

I was really impressed with machining of these stops, they blend in with the bridge perfectly. The only things I did was some minor tweaks to the saddle intonation positions and re-tightened all of the hardware. And there is a ton of hardware on these Floyd Rose / locking nut setups. Tightening the hardware seemed to improve the tuning stability for me, but ultimately the player was still having issues (most likely to an aggressive attack and the low tension of the strings) . He later brought the guitar back and we set it up for Eb.

Comment

2 Comments

Bridge from Hell :: 1994 Fender Strat Plus Deluxe [7.8 lbs]

February 23, 2015

Bridge from Hell :: 1994 Fender Strat Plus Deluxe [7.8 lbs]

Here is an interesting Strat that was in last week for a setup. It has a set of the Lace Sensor blue, silver and red pickups along with a LSR roller nut, locking tuners and Fender's Deluxe Floyd Rose-style locking bridge. The fret ends on the maple fingeboard needed to be dressed as they were extremely sharp. I also removed a couple shims from the roller nut to lower the action over the first fret.

Oh boy, the bridge though. This design is a pain in the ass to set up. The string ball ends need to be clipped off and then locked into the saddles - no problems there. But in order to adjust the intonation, you need to make your adjustments through the rear cavity in the back. There are two adjustments for each saddle, one to lock it down and one to act as a stop for the intonation. I found that making these adjustments was much easier with the bridge removed from the body, so I would string it up to check the intonation and then have to remove the bridge to make my adjustments. Then reinstall and string up to check. Further complicating things were the too-short intonation stop screws on the low E and A. They were so short that I had to fabricate shims to keep the saddles from creeping forward under string tension. These shims had to be precisely fitted as they dictate the intonation for those strings.

I've worked on quite a few Strats and Fender threw me an unexpected curve ball on this one.