Floyd Rose effect on tone

[Steve Haynie]

Most guitars with Floyd Rose temelos sound good, and one of my Floyd guitars is as lively as any. Sometimes a guitar with a Floyd can sound a bit dull. I have come across a guitar that has no "spank" or mids jumping out on the wound strings, and it is not because they are dead. Is there any reason for this and is there a cure?

[murkat]

maybe on a cheap piece of an excuse of a guitar, or cheap nock off Floyd, or a combo of both.... a real floyd with a real guitar, I've heard good for the most part, as well with Kahlers

[Brooks]

i find floyds make guitars sound "pingy" or thin & metalic.

sure theres exceptions, but i think a guitar that sounds good

w/ a floyd probably woulda sounded amazing w/o one.

think about the physics of guitar tone;

string vibrations are transmitted through wood

at the contact points (nut or fret, and bridge).

you remove the solid mass of a normal bridge

and transfer the sound through 2 small fulcrum screws.

i believe the complete oposite approach is why

wrap around bridges or duotone wood bridges sound so great;

more contact, thus more vibrations.

obviously you can use a floyd if you dial in lots of gain

because it restores a bunch of sustain.

this is why metal guys can get by w/ floyds,

but blues and jazz guys who use less gain won't go near them.

all that said, i love playing w/ floyds around the house,

they're so much fun. but i gig and record w/ hardtails.

[Kramer_nut]

Have you ever tried a brass sustain block for your Floyd? They do make a difference. Just a suggestion.

Todd

[Guest JackButler]

The change in tone is over rated...cue image of dead horse being flogged.. with a GOOD bridge..Floyd/Schaller or comparable quality.. I've only got one guit with a stop tail/hard tail..EVERYTHING else has a floating Floyd style bridge.. I use these guitars for gigs and sessions covering everything from country to funk, fusion to gospel/praise, etc.. no tone issues, sustain issues, sproingy spring related reverberation issues, etc.. don't put foam on them or in them anywhere.. no stabilizers, backstop, tremel-no, etc..no gizmos.. other than the Floyd..lol.. use a pristine clean sound as much of the time as I do a over saturated one.. alot of them guitar, cable, amp..no rack or pedals.. never had anyone tell me I had a tone issue either.. now I WILL say.. I am surrounded by really nice and exceptional instruments.. nothing I can convince myself to part with for any longer than a few minutes.. so THAT may be the difference.

[Jem]

Biggest difference in tone i ever heard was blowing my nose !...................i'll get back in my box then

Jem

[bubs_42]

One word Trembucker, Hey it changed the sound of any guitar I put it in. I have an 81 V that needed the spacing and has a lot of Maple in it and the sound is awsome...