Floyd Rose FRX ?

[BubbaVO]

Has anyone actually tried one of these?  Thoughts on their utility? 
 

https://www.floydrose.com/products/frtx?variant=29837643090

[velorush]

That's about as non-invasive as I can imagine.

Seems like a lot of tension being held by three tiny truss rod cover screws (not to mention I don't think I'd go for three truss rod cover screws rather than two). 

Whether it works or not is anyone's guess, but I admire the effort.

[alantig]

13 minutes ago, velorush said:

That's about as non-invasive as I can imagine.

Seems like a lot of tension being held by three tiny truss rod cover screws (not to mention I don't think I'd go for three truss rod cover screws rather than two). 

Whether it works or not is anyone's guess, but I admire the effort.

I don't think the truss rod screws are really holding much of anything.  Seems like the two screws that you have to drill for would do the bulk of the work.

Is there really any tension being held by the locking nut?  Once you get the guitar in tune and lock it down, the only tension on the nut would be from raising the pitch using either the bar or the fine tuners, right?  Doesn't seem like that would be too much of an issue, except maybe if you raised the bar to its limits.  Even then, the pull would be parallel to the neck, so it doesn't seem like it would be torquing the nut against the screws.  (Disclaimer - not an engineer, just watched the one on Petticoat Junction.)

[velorush]

At pitch, I think you're right: only the mild tension force of the strings pushing down on the nut. 

I would think the only tension on the screws would come with lowering pitch. At that point, the strings on the tuner side of the nut would remain the same (tension along the strings tuned to pitch) while the tension on the guitar side of the nut would move toward zero, creating a headstock-ward tension vector along the clamped string. Seems to me that would be pretty significant.

[Jeff R]

I've put two on clients' guitars. If you use the system subtly, the way you would use traditional S or JM or Jag trems, or a Bigsby, it's an effective device.

For stereotypical acrobatic double-locking trem stuff? I threw it out of tune EVERY attempt.

For what you'd spend on a FRX, I recommend you spend a little more on a used EVH, LTD or Schecter to get a MUCH better performing (and looking) trem system with a solid axe already attached to it.

[diablo175]

Haven't played one myself but have heard numerous sentiments that concur with Jeff R's assessment:  Not for anything beyond basic Strat or Bigsby stuff. It definitely won't flutter. 

[HoboMan]

I put on on my Les Paul Special.

I put scratches on the top of my guitar and didn't work very well. Immediately removed it and returned it.