Okay, OFR experts...

[diablo175]

Was discussing Floyd set ups and performance aspects with heavier gauge strings and I was exposed to a heretofore unheard of technique for setting it up.

My co-guitarist claimed that his guitar teacher stated that by angling the spring claw in the spring cavity (screwing in the claw more on the high E string side thus, putting greater tension on the E and A strings.), you could make a Floyd with 10's, every bit as responsive as one with 09's.

Anyone ever hear of this?

Paging Dr. Murkat, paging Dr. BCRGreg.

[murkat]

nada

hogwash

even tension

='s

even responce

[diablo175]

Glad to hear my instincts weren't off on this, Jay. It sounded like bunk to me as well.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Nope...

[atquinn]

Some famous, kick-ass strat guitarist (can't recall the name) angles his trem claw for the same reason, but the fact is it doesn't matter what the claw is doing, the tension is evenly distributed through the block. So you can't put greater tension on the strings. Which is obvious if you think about it since, if you changed the tension on the strings, their pitch would change and it doesn't, so...

-

Austin

[rj2858]

I think this is what you're remembering;

What I don't think has occurred to Carl, is that his theory of spring tension doesn't come into play, because he's describing pulling up on the bar, thereby compressing the springs. Since the strings can't be pulled sharp or flat individually, his explanation of how many steps each string is 'set up' to move is invalid.

If the strings varied in how much they went sharp or flat, he couldn't be bending his chords evenly.

Does it have an effect on staying in tune? Perhaps, but I'd have to try it and see. But the boy sure can play.

[RobB]

nada

hogwash

even tension

='s

even responce

True dat. A balancing act performed with a Phillips. Once you get it intonated, base-plate level and the strings stretched out, whoa... what a great invention. Amazing how such a simple device revolutionized guitar pyrotechnics, no? Also, it helps to write down measurements for reference down the road (plate height, saddle compensation, claw distance, etc.) incase you tear apart your guitar for any reason.

FWIW, I "deck" the Callaham trem on my YJM. With locking tuners it rarely goes out of tune. Additionally, if I snap a string I can still get through the song relatively in-tune.