Floyd Rose String Changing, need a jackson video Options

[Rowan]

Hi,

Ok ive not been playing my Jackson for a while now because when I changed the strings something screwed up...

So ive bought two new sets of ERNIE BALL COATED HYBRID SLINKYS and I want to try starting from scratch

Now what I need if its possible is a video showing me in detail how to change the strings on the Jackson RR24 Floyd Rose and also how I should have it looking on default with the springs and level-ness etc...

Its really killing me not being able to play that guitar

Do if someone could help me get all this detail and info so I can get the strings tomorrow in the mail, sit down, put them on right and play away without having the 1/2cm gap between the fret and strings.

Thanks,

Rowan

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[skennington]

Hi Rowan,

This link that Andrew and MickM provided help me a ton getting use to string changes on a floater. Good luck man.

https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...?showtopic=7476

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[Rowan]

Thanks alot m8, hopefully this will be fixed tomorrow..

if not I think ill cry lmao

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[jer]

Whats the condition of the bridge now?

Is it level?
Is the action too high? Too low?

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[Rowan]

Well ive cut the strings off now to be all ready to start tomorow, but the bridge in my opinion looked ok, bt the strings where too high from fret...

Ive watched two videos now on this and kinda understand but same time I get the feeling im gonna do the same mistakes...

Another thing is the videos say do 1 string at a time, I never do that, I know its stupid but it shouldnt cause a major issue should it?

Also, right now the strings are off, and the bridge is really loose, should it be like that?

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[jer]

yes, loose right now is normal.

You dont have any tension on it.

Go ahead and put them on.

(are you cool doing that? cutting the ends off, loosening the little blocks that hold them in, etc)

Bring up tension on all of them until they are all in the neighborhood of normal tuning. Do you have a tuner or another guitar handy to use as a ballpark as you tighten them?

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This post has been edited by jer: Mar 17 2009, 04:55 PM

[Rowan]

I dont get the strings till tomorrow morning,

Right now my guitar is loose, the springs would probably fall out of the back its that loose. The bridge is point into the gap.

So I would cut the ball of the end of the strings, place them in, lock it up, and tune it.

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[ZakkWylde]

Well there is a reason for the *1 string at a time rule*...

Don't worry it won't cause any damage, it just makes it A LOT harder to restring the guitar because you'll now have to set up and balance of the floyd rose bridge from scratch which is a real pain in the ass work to do and might be impossible for someone who has no experience with floyd rose guitars...

You see, the springs in the back of your guitar are set up at a tension level that is the same that your six strings when they are tuned right - which keeps the bridge in balance and floating. If you remove only one string at a time, replace it and tune your guitar with the new string on, this balance is not altered. You can do that until all strings are changed and youre done, because the set up is the same as it was, just with new strings.

Unfortunaltey if you use a diffrent string gauge/or remove all strings at a time you will have to set up the guitar to the point where spring and string tension are in balance again which is a frustrating and time consuming task as it requires a lot of fine adjustments and patience...You might save youself this task and bring your guitar to a tech, he'll set it right for you and the next time you'll do it string by string!

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This post has been edited by ZakkWylde: Mar 17 2009, 05:03 PM

[Rowan]

I was going to get a tech, but I asked the shops around my area:

2 of them want £45 and it will take about a week :|
And the other wants £75 **CLAIMING TO BE THE CHEAPEST** and will take same day


My friend was also gonna come round but hes busy just now

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[jer]

yep, its very loose. Thats all normal.

How many springs are on it right now?

Are you doing 9's or 10's and tuning to E?

Was it tuned to E before? What strings were on it before?

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[Rowan]

I jump between 9-10 and my tuning goes from Drop C to Standard... yeh im bad lol

Im keeping my schecter on standard/drop d and my jackson drop c (or DGCFAD) now

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[jer]

so what strings were just on it?

and how was it tuned?

And what strings are going on next?

and how are you tuning it?

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[Rowan]

Emmmm, If remember right....

Elixir Super Thin 9s and tuning CGCFAD/DADGBE
now going to be
ErnieBall Coated 9s and tuning CGCFAD/DGCFAD

Btw appreciate all your help

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This post has been edited by Rowan: Mar 17 2009, 05:11 PM

[jer]

was the bridge flat with the body before? Or did it tilt forward or back?

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[Rowan]

Im not 100% sorry

I just remember thinking my floydrose doesnt move as easy or pitch as easy as it should... So I followed a guide about putting a spoon under it to level then just put the springs on, so I done that but then strings where highish off fret board and I followed another forum topic here on how to fix with the springs etc but nothing worked

Best thing I can do is if someone can tell me the way it should look just now where everything should be and how tight the springs should be etc so ive got a starting point, then ill follow that video for putting strings on one by one.

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[jer]

well, its all variable. Changing one part of it affects the others.

I would start with 3 springs.

And the goal is for the bridge to float level with the body. So you need to tighten the strings up to your desired tuning and balance that with backwards spring tension and in a perfect world it will be even and the bridge will be level.

Do you follow me here so far? (I'm not assuming you are stupid, sometimes message posts arent the best for explaining this)

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[Rowan]

Yes man I think so lol, again though I wont know till tomorrow, I sent you a PM btw to make things easier.

Also I will post up some pics etc... but so far I think its:

1) Cut ball and put strings on, tune to CGCFAD
2) Now look at the bridge, if its going up then tighten the springs, if its dipping in, loosen them
3) Play around till you get it level and in tune

That sound right?

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[jer]

Exactly.

You can watch the bridge moving as you get the string closer and closer to correct pitch. You'll know if you need to turn those spring tension screws before you even get to your tuning.


Also,

If the strings have always been high, you'll want to lower the action. If you can do it without the strings on then thats great. Its easier on the bridge pivot posts. Do you know which ones lower the bridge? They are the 2 bolts that the bridge sits against and pivots. Since you dont have strings on you cant be sure how far down you need to go. If the strings were high enough before that there was no danger of buzzing I'd lower each one a full turn. Then when you have the strings on and in tune you can go a bit further or back it out a bit.

Yes man I think so lol, again though I wont know till tomorrow, I sent you a PM btw to make things easier.

Also I will post up some pics etc... but so far I think its:

1) Cut ball and put strings on, tune to CGCFAD
2) Now look at the bridge, if its going up then tighten the springs, if its dipping in, loosen them
3) Play around till you get it level and in tune

That sound right?

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[Rowan]

Good,

As far as the bridge pivots go, Im sure ive got them turned as far as they can go down, now when I turn it basically makes a grinding crunching noise.

I will get some pictures up in the next hour or two to let you see how it looks just now you can tell me if I need anything adjusted before I even start.

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[jer]

Hmm.... all the way down doesnt seem right.

That probably means the bridge was pulling forward (up) otherwise your strings would have been VERY low. Probably buzzing like crazy.

Pics right now wont really help. Without strings on we wont be able to see anything yet.

You have 3 springs on in the back yes?

We'll have to see what happens when you get the strings on and start adding tension. I would do each one a little at a time. So its coming up to proper tension fairly evenly. Not one string all the way up, then the next, etc.... If you do that its a tuning nightmare. Since bringing one up that far will lower the rest.

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