 |
1991, I started developing
what eventually evolved into SpeedLoader bridges and SpeedLoader strings.
My goal was to eliminate the need for the use of Allen-wrenches and wire-cutters
to change strings on my Original and Pro Tremolo bridges and design a
fixed bridge with similar advantages. The SpeedLoader bridges and strings
have accomplished this goal.
The first thing I'd like to show you are the SpeedLoader strings, because
the magic of this tuning system is in the strings.
SpeedLoader strings
are made with one bullet applied to each end. SpeedLoader strings are
made to within .002 of one inch in length, and every string has its own
precision length. This precision allows you to change a string and return
to perfect tune in seconds.
Some of you might ask. "What about the string stretching?" so
I'd like to take a moment and clear up some things about string stretching.
There are two reasons string stretching is necessary on guitars. First,
the strings must be deformed or bent around the tuning key to follow the
curvature of the tuning key post. The second reason for string stretching
is to deform the string to bend over the bridge and nut. The more string
you wind around the tuning key post the more "stretching" the
string requires to make the string wrap tightly around its post. The amount
of deformation at the bridge depends on the type of bridge you have on
your guitar.
Guitars with SpeedLoader bridges don't need tuning keys, so the aggressive
pulling or stretching is unnecessary. In fact, if you pull too hard on
the strings you may actually damage them. I'll try to explain why.
A steel string has an elastic range like a rubber band. This means that
it can be stretched like a rubber band, and, like a rubber band, it becomes
thinner as it is stretched. When released the string, or rubber band,
returns to its original width, unless it has been stretched too far. If
a rubber band is stretched too far, it breaks. However, if a steel string
is over- stretched, it becomes permanently thinner somewhere along its
length, and thus the string is a little bit longer, and therefore lower
in pitch, than it was before it was over-stretched. Having thinner places
along the string length can cause the string to vibrate erratically and
sound out of tune.
The point I'm trying to make is, when you change strings, don't stretch
them aggressively. I recommend that you press down on the strings just
in front of the bridge saddles and just in front of the nut. Then give
each string one or two medium hard pulls and just play the guitar from
there. That's all the seating the strings need.
Back
To Top
|
 |
Removing
Strings
Please note: SpeedLoader strings are offered in two scale lengths, 25.5
in. and 24.75 in. If you're not sure what scale length your guitar is,
consult the guitar manufacturer or the store where you purchased the guitar.
Make sure you have purchased the correct scale length strings for your
guitar. The string scale length appears in the lower left corner of the
string package.
To purchase strings go http://www.floydrose.com/order.htm
1
To replace a string, push down on the back of the saddle of one of the
strings.
2
Then, pull back on the sliding latch by placing the first finger of your
free hand on the black knob protruding out the back of the saddle. Then
place your thumb on the fin sticking up just behind the fine tuner screw
and pull the latch back with a pinching action between the thumb and first
finger.
3
Once you have pulled back on the sliding latch, release the saddle and
allow it to rotate forward.
4
Now remove the bullet from the saddle.
5
I should point out here that if you're replacing a broken string, when
you unlatch the pivoting saddle there will be no tension on the string
to pull the pivoting saddle forward. You'll have to pivot the saddle forward
with your finger.
You can now remove the bullet on the other end of the string from the
nut by simply sliding it out the back of the nut.
6
If you try to release a saddle and pull back on the sliding latch and
it doesn't budge, release everything and start over making certain that
you don't turn the sliding latch sideways. If the sliding latch turns
on its shaft, the safety catch portion of the sliding latch will not line
up properly with the safety catch portion of the pivoting saddle and will
cause binding.
The safety catch is there to prevent the string from accidentally releasing
while playing or changing strings. This is what the safety catch looks
like up close. This all sounds tricky, but it's not. You'll have it down
after replacing a couple of strings.
Now, let's put on a replacement string.
Back
To Top
|
 |
Loading
Strings
1
To put on the new string, simply slide one of the bullets into the nut,
then place the other bullet into the appropriate saddle and push down
on the back of the saddle until you hear, or feel, a snap.
2
This sound is the spring-loaded sliding latch snapping into place. If
you don't hear or feel the snap, push the sliding latch toward the saddle
until it catches. Making sure the sliding latch is all the way forward
to its locked position is important because if it isn't, two things will
happen:
1) The replaced string will be held sharp, and
2) The safety catch will not be engaged, so the string could suddenly
and unexpectedly be released and fly across the room.
3
Now that the new string has been properly installed you should seat it.
To seat the new string, press down firmly on the string just in front
of the saddle and just in front of the nut.
4
Then do a couple of stretching pulls on the string.
5
The string is now seated and no more stretching is necessary; just play.
In fact, if you stretch the string too vigorously, you will damage the
string. Just play the string in for a bit and re-adjust your tuning with
the fine-tuning screw as needed.
If the string you're replacing was tuned to your desired pitch, the new
string you install should be able to be tuned to that pitch with the fine
tuner screw. If the fine tuners do not have enough range to tune the new
string to the previous pitch you will need to adjust the range tuner setscrew
as described below. See: "Setting the fine tuner range on the SpeedLoader
Tremolo."
Back
To Top
|
 |
Setting
up the SpeedLoader Tremolo bridge base plate
The proper set-up
of the SpeedLoader Tremolo Bridge looks exactly like a properly set-up
Original Floyd Rose Tremolo Bridge. By the way, the SpeedLoader Tremolo
will retrofit an Original Floyd quite easily.
The first thing you'll want to do is check to see if the top surface of
the base plate of the bridge is sitting parallel to the top surface of
the guitar.
If the base plate appears to be tilted forward away from the top surface
of the guitar or tilted back closer to the top of the guitar, then an
adjustment should be made.
1
To level the base plate, first take the spring cover plate off the back
of the guitar.
2
Inside the spring cavity you should find a tremolo stop.
3
If this part is missing, stop right here and get one installed by a qualified
guitar repairman. Call us for this part. Depending on the guitar you purchased,
the tremolo stop may or may not be engaged with the spring block. We will
assume it is not engaged and show you how to engage it. Take the 3mm Allen
wrench and turn the set screw until the set screw touches the spring block.
4
Now, tighten the springs with the spring claw screws so the spring block
is pulled tightly against the set screw.
5
Another way to pull the spring block against the tremolo stop set screw
is to add another spring to the spring block and claw. Using this method
is preferred because it will be easier to re-float the tremolo after setting
up the bridge.
6
Now check the base plate position. If it is not parallel to the face of
the guitar body, turn the set screw until the base plate is parallel.
7
After you get the base plate parallel, check your string action. If your
strings are too high or to low for you, adjust the action with the two
rocker screws, using a 3mm Allen wrench until the action is where you
like it.
When you get the base plate parallel with the face of the guitar, the
action properly adjusted, and the tremolo stop firmly engaged with the
spring block, you are ready to set the fine tuner range or intonate the
guitar.
These procedures follow.
Back
To Top
|
|
Setting
the fine tuner range
Like the Original
Floyd Rose, there are several situations that will cause the SpeedLoader
fine tuners to run out of range. If this happens don't panic, the fine
tuner range can be reset.
To reset the fine-tuner range, first engage the tremolo stop and set the
bridge position as described in the "Setting up the SpeedLoader Tremolo
Bridge base plate" section above.
With the base plate set properly and the tremolo stop properly engaged,
you're ready to set your fine tuner range. If only one or two of the fine
tuners are out of range you may want to try adjusting them without engaging
the tremolo stop.
1
The first thing you do to reset the range of all the fine tuners is to
position all the fine tuner screws to the middle of their possible movement.
2
One way to do this is to turn the low "low E" string fine tuner
screw all the way up, then turn the "D" string fine tuner screw
all the way down. Now, position the "A" string fine tuner screw
half-way between the "E" and the "D" fine tuner screw
positions.
3
Now, leaving the "A" string fine tuner where you set it, reposition
all the other fine tuner screws to match the height of the "A"
string fine-tuner screw.
You should now have all of the fine-tuner screws set to the middle of
their range. Ignore the fact that your guitar is now completely out of
tune; we're going to fix that next.
At this point you're ready to tune your guitar using what I call the range
tuner set screw. You can set your guitar up for standard pitch, any open
tuning, or any drop tuning using the range-tuner set screw. Remember:
do not use the fine tuner screws to tune the guitar at this point.
4
A range tuner set screw is located in the nose of each pivoting saddle.
5
Using a 1.5mm Allen wrench and the range tuner set screw, tune your guitar
to any tuning you desire. You can increase the pitch of a given string
by turning the set screw clockwise, and decrease the pitch of the string
by turning the set screw counter-clockwise. (Remember not to use the fine
tuner screws for this tuning.)
Now that you have tuned your guitar to the tuning you want, the bridge
should be properly set-up, and the fine tuners should be set to the middle
of their range.
The way your guitar is set up now is what is called a "blocked"
setup. This means that the tremolo can be used for dive effects but you
can't pull up on the arm for up-bends. You can leave your guitar the way
it is, or you can disengage the tremolo stop to return the tremolo to
what is called a "floating" setup. However, before you return
the bridge to a floating condition, you might want to check your intonation.
If your intonation needs adjusting, go to the "Setting your intonation"
section below.
6
If you're ready to float the tremolo, check your tuning one last time
and make any needed adjustments using the range-tuner set screw. Then,
back the tremolo stop set screw away from the spring block. This will
cause the bridge to tilt back toward the body of the guitar and all the
strings will go sharp. This is normal.
7
You must now retune the guitar, this time using a Phillips screwdriver
to turn the spring-claw screws counter-clockwise to loosen the spring
tension. (If you added an extra spring to pull the spring block against
the tremolo stop screw, you should remove it first.)
8
The good news is that you only have to retune one string. Pluck the string
you want to tune (I usually tune the "A" string for this procedure)
and then, while watching the tuner, loosen first one claw screw then the
other claw screw the same amount.
Check the tuning and repeat until the string is in tune. When you get
the string you chose in tune, the other strings will be in tune. This
assumes that all the strings were in tune before you released the tremolo
stop.
Back
To Top
|
 |
Speedloader
Intonation
When your intonation
needs adjusting, first engage the tremolo stop by following the instruction
above, under: "Setting the fine-tuner range on the SpeedLoader Tremolo."
1
Once the tremolo stop is engaged, tune your guitar to an electronic tuner.
Now, check the intonation of one of the strings to see if the intonation
is sharp or flat by chiming the string over the 12th fret.
2
Now fret the string on the 12th fret to see if the pitch of the chimed
note matches the pitch of the fretted note.
If the fretted note pitch is lower than the tuned pitch of the chimed
note, this means the intonation is flat. If the fretted note pitch is
higher than the tuned pitch of the chimed note, this means the intonation
is sharp.
3
To adjust the intonation, first remove the string tension by unlatching
its quick release saddle as if you were going to remove the string.
4
Then, using a 2.5mm Allen-wrench loosen the saddle hold-down screw while
holding the saddle in place.
Be careful not to let the saddle move when you release the hold-down screw.
Now carefully move the saddle in the desired direction. Move the saddle
toward the pickups if your intonation was flat or away from the pickups
if the intonation was sharp.
5
Carefully re-tighten the saddle hold down screw. Re-latch the string and
tune the string back to the previous pitch using the range-tuner set screw,
not the fine tuners (see: "Setting the fine tuner range on the SpeedLoader
tremolo"), then check the intonation and repeat the above procedure
on all the strings as needed.
After you have set the intonation, you can re-float the bridge following
the instructions, under: "Setting the fine tuner range on the SpeedLoader
Tremolo."
Back
To Top
|
| |
Original
Floyd-Rose:
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL TREMOLO - STRING CHANGING INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1:
Unlock the three clamps at the nut with the 3mm allen wrench provided
with the guitar or bridge.
Step 2:
Set the fine-tuners on the bridge to the middle of there tuning range.
Step 3:
Change one string at a time (starting at either E string) by first loosening
the string and unclamping it at the saddle with the 3mm allen wrench.
Step 4:
Cut the ball end off the replacement string with a pair of wire cutters.
Step 5:
Place the freshly cut string end into the center of the saddle and tighten
the clamping screw until it is difficult to turn.
Step 6:
Thread the other end of the string under its nut clamp and under the string
hold down bar, then to the tuning key and tune the string. [Pull on the
string until it is tight around the tuning key and retune.]
Step 7:
Repeat 2 through 5 until all strings are replaced.
Step 8:
Check your tuning on all strings once again.
Step 9:
Re-clamp the three nut clamps.
Step 10:
Check your tuning once again making any adjustments this time with your
fine-tuners only.
Back
To Top
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL
TREMOLO - STRING TUNING INSTRUCTIONS
Tuning your Floyd Rose bridge is certainly a tricky business when the
bridge is floating. This is because the total tension of the strings must
balance the total tension of the tremolo springs with the base plate of
the bridge parallel to the face of the guitar and with the strings tuned
to the desired pitch. So, follow these steps and and it will start to
make sense.
Step 1:
Loosen the three string clamps at the nut
Step 2:
Set your fine tuner screws on the bridge to the middle of their adjustment
range.
Step 3:
Tune the strings to your desired pitch (this can be drop tuning, open
tuning, or standard pitch, the procedure is the same for any tuning) with
an electronic tuner starting with the low ‘E’.
Step 4:
When you have finished tuning all of the strings, check the tuning on
the low ‘E’ again. If the low ‘E’ is now flat,
re-tune the strings starting again with the low ‘E’ but this
time tune the E, A, D, G, and B strings a little bit sharp, then the high
‘E’ to pitch. If the low ‘E’ is sharp, re-tune
as just described only tuning the first five strings a little flat. You
must tune the strings a little sharp or flat to get to your tuning because
every time you change the tension (or pitch) of one string, the other
strings change pitch in the opposite direction.
Step 5:
Repeat step 4 until all the strings are at the desired pitch.
Step 6:
When the strings are at the desired pitch, check to see if the bridge
base plate is sitting parallel with the top surface of the guitar. If
the base plate is tilted forward away from the body, you must tighten
the tremolo springs tension by turning the spring claw screws clockwise
and repeat step 4. If the base plate is tilted back toward the body, you
must loosen the tremolo springs tension by turning the spring claw screws
counterclockwise and repeat step 4. [Step 6 only needs to be done on initial
setup of the bridge or if you change to another gauge of strings or change
to a different tuning.]
Step 7:
When the bridge is sitting parallel to the face of the guitar and the
strings are tuned to the desired pitch, re-clamp the three nut clamps
and re-tune (if necessary) once again using only the fine tuners.
Step 8:
When tuning is complete, check the action of the strings off the neck.
If your action is to high or to low, adjust the action with the two rocker
screws (bridge pivot screws) using the 3mm Allen wrench. This adjustment
will slightly change your tuning. If your fine tuners run out of range
you must repeat steps 1 through 7.
Back
To Top
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL
TREMOLO - INTONATING YOUR BRIDGE
[note - before intonating your bridge you must tune your guitar
using the tuning instructions above]
Check the intonation:
Step 1:
Tune all the strings on your guitar to an electronic tuner with all the
nut clamps released.
Step 2:
Determine if the intonation of the string you wish to change is sharp
or flat by chiming the string directly over the 12th and checking the
tuning. Then, carefully press the string down to the 12th fret and check
the tuning again with the string fretted. If the fretted note is flat
when compared to the chimed note, then the saddle must be moved toward
the nut until the chimed note and the fretted note match. If the fretted
note is sharp when compared to the chimed note the saddle must be moved
away from the nut until the chimed and fretted notes match.
To move the saddle:
Step 1:
Once you have determined which direction (toward or away from the nut)
to move the saddle, loosen the string until it is limp.
Step 2:
Loosen the attachment screw holding the saddle to the bridge plate while
holding the saddle in place. Move the saddle in the desired direction
a small amount (about 1/16in on the first adjustment and your best guess
on subsequent adjustments) and re-tighten the screw. [Note: If the saddle
will not move forward because it is resting against the attachment screw,
you can move the screw to the next hole forward on the bridge plate. This
will give you more adjustment range. Also, if you need to move the saddle
away from the nut to a position where the attachment screw can no longer
clamp the saddle firmly, you can move the screw to the next hole back
on the bridge plate.]
Step 3:
Re-tune the string and check the intonation again using the procedure
outlined above (check the intonation).
Step 4:
Repeat this cycle until each string is properly intonated.
When you’re finished with the intonation procedure re-tighten the
nut clamps. This will not change your intonation setting.
Back
To Top
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL
TREMOLO - CHANGING TO A DIFFERENT GAUGE STRING SET
To change to a heavier gauge of strings you need to tighten the springs,
reset the intonation, and possibly adjust the truss rod tension. If your
not accustomed to working on guitars you may want to take your guitar
to a qualified guitar repairman who is familiar with Floyd Rose systems.
But if you want to try it, here’s what you do...
To change to a heavier gauge of strings:
Step 1:
Replace all your strings with the heavier gauge strings and tune the guitar
to an electronic tuner
(leave the nut clamps un-clamped).
Step 2:
Check to see if the base plate is parallel with the body.
Step 3:
If the base plate seems to be tilting up away from the body, increase
the spring tension and re-tune.
If the base plate seems to be tilting down closer to the body, decrease
the spring tension and retune.
Step 4:
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the base plate is sitting parallel to the body.
To intonate a Floyd Rose Bridge:
Check the intonation:
Step 1:
Tune all the strings on your guitar to an electronic tuner with all the
nut clamps released.
Step 2:
Determine if the intonation of the string you wish to change is sharp
or flat by chiming the string directly over the 12th and checking the
tuning. Then, carefully press the string down to the 12th fret and check
the tuning again with the string fretted. If the fretted note is flat
when compared to the chimed note, then the saddle must be moved toward
the nut until the chimed note and the fretted note match. If the fretted
note is sharp when compared to the chimed note the saddle must be moved
away from the nut until the chimed and fretted notes match.
To move the saddle:
Step 1:
Once you have determined which direction (toward or away from the nut)
to move the saddle, loosen the
string until it is limp.
Step 2:
Loosen the attachment screw holding the saddle to the bridge plate while
holding the saddle in place. Move the saddle in the desired direction
a small amount (about 1/16in on the first adjustment and your best guess
on subsequent adjustments) and re-tighten the screw.
[Note: If the saddle will not move forward because it is resting against
the attachment screw, you can move the screw to the next hole forward
on the bridge plate. This will give you more adjustment range. Also, if
you need to move the saddle away from the nut to a position where the
attachment screw can no longer clamp the saddle firmly, you can move the
screw to the next hole back on the bridge plate.]
Step 3:
Re-tune the string and check the intonation again using the procedure
outlined above (check the intonation).
Step 4:
Repeat this cycle until each string is properly intonated.
When you’re finished with the intonation procedure re-tighten the
nut clamps and re-tune the guitar with the fine tuner screws. This will
not change your intonation setting.
Since you are changing to a heavier gauge set of strings you should check
the curve of the neck. A perfectly set up guitar will have a slight forward
bow in the neck. If your neck has more than a slight forward bow you should
tighten the truss rod until the bow is slightly forward. If your neck
is perfectly straight or back bowed, you should loosen the truss rod until
you get a slight forward bow.
If you make a neck adjustment you may have to re-tune the guitar
Back
To Top
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL
TREMOLO - TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
Trouble Shooting the Floyd Rose Tremolo
If your bridge is an Original Floyd Rose, it should function perfectly
if properly installed and properly setup. Here are some things you can
check that may be adjusted incorrectly or might be damaged.
Step 1:
Check to see if the base plate is sitting parallel with the top surface
of the guitar. If it seems to be tilted forward, toward the pickups, then
you need to tighten the springs and retune the guitar and check the tilt
again. If it is tilted back toward the body of the guitar loosen the springs
and retune the guitar. Repeat this procedure until the bridge sits level.
Step 2:
Make sure the nut is attached securely by tightening the nut attachment
screws. This is critical for tuning stability.
Step 3:
Make sure the string clamps at the nut and bridge are very tight.
Step 4:
Make sure the saddle intonation screws are tight.
If these things have been done correctly and your bridge still does not
come back to the proper pitch when using the tremolo, the knife-edges
may be damaged. To check this you must remove the bridge. You can easily
remove the bridge with the strings still clamped in the bridge by removing
the tremolo springs. [Be sure to hold on to the bridge when removing the
springs.] If you don't feel comfortable doing this, take the guitar to
a good guitar repairman. Check the knife-edges. They should not be dull
or rounded or chipped. If they don't seem sharp you can order a replacement
base plate at www.apintl.com.
The dull knife edge is a rare problem on Floyd Rose Original bridges,
but is more common on
licensed bridges. If your bridge says, "Licensed under Floyd Rose
Patents" or similar anywhere on it, this is a
licensed bridge, and "not under our quality control." If your
bridge is a licensed bridge, you should contact the manufacturer of your
guitar for replacement parts.
If your tremolo is "floating" (i.e. you can pull up or push
down on the tremolo arm) and you bend a string, the other strings will
go slightly flat. This is normal operation. If you don't want this to
happen you must block the tremolo so that you can't pull up on it (Edward
Van Halen uses his Floyd blocked this way). When the bridge is mounted
in this manner it is as stable as a fixed bridge for string bending but
the trade off is the loss of subtle vibrato effects. This blocking should
be done by a qualified guitar repairman.
Back
To Top
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL TREMOLO - PARTS AVAILABILITY
Parts for your Floyd Rose Bridge are available from our distributor, AP
International. Please visit them online at: www.apintl.com they will be
able to assist you with the parts you need.
If your bridge says "Licensed under Floyd Rose Patents" or similar
on it, it is a licensed version of our product and not under our quality
control. We do not stock parts for licensed bridges. If you need parts
for a licensed bridge, you may want to contact the original manufacturer
of the guitar. You may also find parts at: www.stewmac.com or www.wdmusicproducts.com
Back
To Top
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL
TREMOLO - RETROFITTING THE FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL
The Original Floyd Rose tremolo should retrofit on any licensed
Floyd. The Floyd Rose Pro tremolo will also work, but some guitars may
require a slight modification.
For pricing information or to purchase these bridges go to www.apintl.com.
The SpeedLoader bridges will also retrofit licensed Floyd's and will be
available January 2003 in stores and on line at www.floydrose.com. Prices
to be announced.
Back
To Top
FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL
TREMOLO - SEVEN STRING VERSION
Yes, we do have a seven-string version of the Floyd Rose Original
bridge available. For information and pricing on Floyd Rose Original,
Seven String Floyd Rose and Floyd Rose Pro bridges, please visit, www.apintl.com.
Currently we do not have a 7-string version of our new SpeedLoader bridge,
however we are planning on releasing by the end of 2004. Please check
our website periodically for updates.
The new (six string) Floyd Rose SpeedLoader bridges and strings will be
available in January 2003 in stores and on line at www.floydrose.com.
Prices to be announced.
Back
To Top
|
FRANCAIS
