After almost a year of constant use, my Floyd Rose bridge is on the verge of being totally unusable, mainly because the steel blocks that hold the strings in place have rusted to the point they can't budge everytime I try to change strings.
Then again, can't blame the thing as I suffer from a really bad case of sweaty palms.

Any recommendations on a good bridge I can fit onto my MH-50? My main concerns are whether the replacement can fit the bridge cavity (i.e. whether the different makes of bridges like Edge-Pro, Floyd-Rose Original etc etc have different dimensions that may not fit into my guitar). Also, if possible, anyone knows of any stainless steel models or someting that's more resistant to rust?

Ibanez bridges will need routing and not really worth the trouble. Your best bet is an OFR. It is a direct drop in replacement.

An OFR will set you back around 700 to 800.

As with anything that's made of steel, there is no stopping rust. Best is to wipe is clean after you play.

do these things happen to all types of trem bridge? btw, for the SAT pro bridge, is it possible for me to get them here in malaysia? in case mine break down...

if your only concern is just the rusted steel blocks, you can buy replacements for that.
why buy a whole new trem? unless its really bad.

there are no models completely made of stainless steel.
closest is the OFR which have stainless steel base plate, trem block and arm, brass fine tuners.
but most of what will rust is usually the saddles which are chromed.

another rusty steel block treatment method.
use sandpaper to rub on it.

even up the surface oc the steel block thingy, then it can be use again.

FYI, rougher surface of steel block can hold/clamp strings better.

=)

Actually i'm planning to upgrade my LTD F-200's floyd rose also.
but i can't find any OFR in malaysia....

any idea?

I'm using a RG270 with ILT1 bridge, will that be a problem?

Any trem that has steel parts might have develop a rusting problem. If the trem is not plated well it might develop rust faster. Wipe down after playing is the least you can do, especially if you sweat a lot or have very acidic sweat.

As for ibanez parts, our only source is probably bentley, the only authorised distributor here. otherwise you'll probably have to buy them from singapore or ibanezrules.com

Do the dimensions of the replacements adhere to a common standard i.e. are they the same size? It'll be a real bummer if I buy a new bridge only to find that it doesn't fit. If it helps, I'm currently using the Floyd-Rose Licenced stock bridge that came with my guitar.

Have checked with Bentley's. Apparently, they don't sell the Edge Pro bridges separately though it's possible that they try and get an order in. What's more, the assistant I spoke to also raised the possibility that the Edge Pros may not fit my guitar, which is why I'm going to try my luck with an OFR.

No Edge Pro won't fit your guitar without routing. You can order an OFR kit online which should include the stud bolts, anchor inserts, and locking nuts. If stud's distance vary from your guitar, then u'll have to redrill new stud anchors, which is at least better than routing your guitar body.

This post has been edited by MetalZone: Oct 25 2006, 12:17 AM

Ur, no offense but just wanna be sure I understood you right. Do you mean to say I CAN install an Edge Pro bridge WITHOUT having to route my guitar?

After my paint-job escapade with my guitar, I'm really loathe towards having to inflict more damage on my guitar body!

sorry I meant to say, No, the Edge Pro won't fit your guitar without routing.

Ok, that pretty much narrows things down to the OFRs. Thanx for the prompt replies, fellas~

now about the OFR.
singapore has no stock.
and i doubt bentley has either.

AAAAAAGGGGGHHH!!!

As I said, order online.

nearest dealer around us are located at jakarta and bangkok... =)

how about gotoh FR?
any information where can get it?

This post has been edited by akeiser: Oct 25 2006, 08:28 AM

You can try below for the Gotoh FR. Very good alternative to the OFR. Some say it's even better than an OFR.

http://universaljems.com/cart/bridgelocking.htm

3 words..
go to tham

you still have to get a trem of your choice. i would personally recommend the gotoh FR. or you can ask him to get the schaller FR for your in his next stewmac order. If you're not very familiar with installing trems and stuff, then after you got ur trem, bring ur guitar to him to install and setup for u.

well gotoh is about USD130 rite?
schallers from stewmac are USD200, actually increased price

oh is it? i dont know the schallers cost that much. they're called OFR II if i'm not mistaken rite? coz it doesn't say 'licensed', but instead it says Floyd Rose II, and made in germany by Schaller.

there again the price pretty much has determined your decision.

well, some schallers dont say floyd rose II, the one on my gibson says gibson
but yea, they're all the same.
the OFR are also made by schaller.

hmm... i'm thinking of getting low profile version.
the one stated in the website said it's OEM.
but didn't mention which company is it.

any idea?

maybe whoever makes the ibanez trems.
its definitely not schaller for sure.

but whoever is gonna order from there, let me know.
i might want to order the wilkinson VSVG bridge to replace my highway one bridge.

This post has been edited by Everdying: Oct 28 2006, 08:03 PM

Then again, I can just change the bridge saddles right? Anyone has any idea how much a set of 6 of those will cost?

Gotoh makes the trems for Ibanez (the Edge, Lo-Pro Edge, and Edge Pro at least. donno about the Edge Pro II and Edge III).


You may as well change the whole trem to something better. Like the Gotoh FR for example. Besides, you'd have to find a saddle that you know for sure suits your trem. Otherwise you'll just make the issue worse.

This post has been edited by MetalZone: Oct 29 2006, 01:01 AM

Geez... 6-800 bucks...?! And there's no telling how long the new one's going to last me either, what with my sweaty palms...

Gotoh Floyd Rose Licensed Locking Tremolo System, Chrome, With Locking Nut SB 5300-010
$123.75 + $21(EMS shipping) = US$144.75 x 3.5(you can buy paypal here at that rate from trustable sellers) = MYR 506.625

well it has steel saddles not stainless steel. but you should do your part by wiping down after every session. the most basic guitar care you can do to prevent rust. if you don't wanna get into this habit, then u may as well forget about your future more expensive guitars as you'll rust them down as well.

the gotoh trem comes with locking studs it seems. something only ibanez and gotoh trems have i think. you'd have to get tham to replace your stud inserts though.

on the contrary, consider if it's worth putting on your guitar. if you like it that much and you're not gonna part with it, go ahead by all means. it'll improve ur trem stability significantly from your current trem.

double post...

This post has been edited by MetalZone: Oct 29 2006, 05:11 AM

interesting.
didnt know its now illegal in japan to use that black finish ibanez used to use on trems.
thats why they released cosmo which is a weak attempt at black.

what i mean is OFR low profile version....

not Ibanez's version...

Illegal? where did u saw that? is it coz of the new RoHS regulations?
cosmo black doesn't look like a good replacement for flat black... but I really like the cosmo black finish though.

OFR low profile version is the OFR Pro. But i'd suggest the Gotoh though. Cheaper and equally as good as the OFR.

This post has been edited by MetalZone: Oct 29 2006, 02:18 PM

Well, wiping down is a routine I do practice. All I can say is that the effects insofar are pretty limited. Even then my strings do not last me more than 2 months. Fast fret, string polish, you name it, I've tried it. Didn't work too significantly for me.

Seriously, I'll never cough up MYR500++ for a new bridge knowing that it's only going to rust up within a year or so.

It sucks to have sweaty palms.

2 months?
when i actually bothered to practice i used to change strings every 3 weeks.

Since this leads to some string discussion, i've been long awaiting to ask this particular question.

Is there any electric guitar strings that wont rust???

i don't think so, the best way for me to keep my string from rusting is to wipe it clean and dry everytime u finish playing...

I NORMALLY change my strings every 3-6 months...... but the ones on my LP-100 has been on for 6 months+ and counting...... doing a little experiment on it.....
But the ones on my ZW-LP just got changed. 3 months old.

stainless steel strings probably. daddario has them.
the most common ones are steel or nickel plated steel.

provided i play a particular guitar often, i change them around 1-2 months. Or I normally change the whole set once I break a string, unless it's only like less then 1 or 2 weeks old.

Hehehe..its not about the breakage...its about the rough surface which 'tidak menselesakan' while playing...ouch! usually 1st to 3rd string...

This post has been edited by antonio: Oct 30 2006, 04:59 PM

I change my strings every month. I don't understand how some of you can actually tahan until 6 months. The strings will be migthy disgusting by then

Agreed. It's happened to me twice so far where in the middle of a session with my buddies, the E-string just snapped on me mid-solo.

Thankfully, electric guitar strings don't pack as much tension as the acoustics. Had one snap into my forearm, leaving a 5-inch long mark for a whole week! It hurts to say the least...

As for the D'Addario stainless steel strings, a friend of mine who works at Guitar Collections tried them before and tells me that within the first week or so of playing, the strings just go "dead" i.e. there won't be any sound coming from them. So I'm not sure if they're such a good idea.

Oh oh. And if you guys want strings for cheap, do get them from Singapore. Swee Lee's sell D'Addarios @ 3 sets for SGD$15 or approx. MYR37! Saves you a good MYR20 at least!

This post has been edited by changhao: Oct 30 2006, 06:07 PM

wow, nice price...i saw bentley selling them for rm17 per set...i usually change my string once every 2-3months...depending on playing time and usage...

wah then if anybody goes down to singapore... grab me a bunch of strings. i'm serious hehe.

Another thing abt the 3-set deal, you get 9 players' points for 3 sets instead of the usual 2 points for each set!

fine lesson in how to go OT.
wonder how much i can sell off my d'addario points for

6 months
honestly yeah they're disgusting but then dont have much cash to spring on strings so often u know

but thats with slinkys
2nd week n its alr black

using elixirs now

2nd month and going strong, still as shiny as when i bought it
plus its extra bright sound really goes with the lp low-middy tone
=D

thats what the EMGs are for in the LP

Come on, less than RM20 per month is not that terrible. Just less on non-life depending stuff like PC upgrades,handphones, mp3 players, digicams, or videogames.

sean... i heard elixirs start peeling at the picking area if you are an agressive string whacker... has yours started peeling?

since it's a floyd rose thread. Well i hope i can ask it here. Anybody knows where can i get a floyd rose saddle? I lost one of them and am not sure which shop sells them. Does bentley have them?

did u lose the whole saddle or just the string lock block? what trem is that?

he said while changing strings it got lost.
so i guess its the block.
bentley are also the distributors for floyd rose, can check if they have it.

yeap it's the string lock block. Using an OFR. Guess i'll have to check from bentley. Do you guys think Guitar store or do re mi sells them too?

they might, but it wont be OFR parts.
only bentley carries OFR parts.

yeap
just alittle only
owh
on the 4th string only
the top 3 n bottom 2 din peel
the wounded strings are more likely to peel i guess

This post has been edited by sean392: Nov 3 2006, 09:20 PM

Funny... Bentley's carry OFR parts but not the OFR bridge itself...?

Oh oh..... Forgot....
How much are the Floyd Rose locks? Just the locks.......

they did.
but seeing as how many cheapskates there are around who would rather prefer a RM200 made in china floyd copy, its not feasible to carry them.
even stores in SG doesnt carry them.

i got my Floyd copy made in korea from Doremi...

cost me RM200 only...

Ooo... RM200? Are they any good?

err... as long u set it up properly. it will work fine.
=)

pass it to me, and i gurantee you i'll get it out of tune in less than 10 secs.

err... slightly out of tune if too drastic divebomb and pulling la...

but i found out that with lubbing it, performance will be better.

i'm using universal industry standard leadscrew grease.

This is weird man, you traded one cheap floyd for another cheap floyd?

The one that came with your LTD can't be any worse than this RM200 one.

The main difference with cheap floyd and the good ones is only one really.

Durability.

Cheap ones might work for a few months but beyond that, the knife edges will probably start falling apart.

With the good ones, you can expect them to probably outlast you. I have been abusing my Edge Pro for almost 4 years. The knife edges is still as fresh as when I got it back in 2003.

err... i bought those korean floyd copy for my another guitar...
not for my LTD...

LTD still waiting for my friend to get OFR in indonesia....

of course, i do agreed that floyd copy material is not as durable as OFR.

however, proper maintenance and treatment for knife edge definately will pro-long it's life time.

even OFR also the same. =)

actually, from all the OFR equipped guitars i seen from the 80s/90s.
the piece that always wears out is the bridge posts, the knife edges are still as durable as ever.

also remember, OFR are made from stronger material, ie. stainless steel.
thats another reason why cheap licensed trems dont stay in tune is cos of the very soft alloy used.
even if you regularly use the cheap trems, with proper maintenance etc.
it will still wear out.
and if you dont use it, well whats the point then? go get a fixed bridge instead

ya, agreed that posts will be worn out easily for floyd copy also.
let's see how long it can stand for me and for next bridge replacement again... hehe

if 1 floyd copy (200RM) can stand for 1 year, i still think it's worth... =)

anyway, it's ok since it's not installed in my main rig.

ohya, everydying, how much is OFR price in south east asia market now?
need to survey abit before i get it.

This post has been edited by akeiser: Nov 5 2006, 10:11 AM

OFR? too expensive.
think prices increased again.

even the schaller which is the floyd rose II, IIRC last yr/early this yr, stewmac was selling it for about USD170 or so.
now its USD210.
so that means OFR now must be USD260-290.

guess thats why SG and MY no one wants to bring in.

the schaller trem is still a good one, some actually prefer it over the OFR cos the string lock screw is shorter.

You are way off with the prices. In warmoth, the OFR is only USD170 for the chrome one and USD165 for the schallers (chrome).
Check it out here
http://www.warmoth.com/hardware/bridges/br..._floyd_original
http://www.warmoth.com/hardware/bridges/br..._floyd_schaller

perhaps those are old stock.
stewmac is not the only one who quotes USD210 for a schaller.

even the site given by metalzone has the same prices.
http://universaljems.com/cart/bridgelocking.htm

allparts.com has an even better price for the schaller, USD285.

This post has been edited by Everdying: Nov 5 2006, 09:00 PM

Hmm, this is seriously weird. I never though I see the day where the real thing costs more than an Ibanez Edge Pro. Now the Edge Pro doesn't seem that expensive anymore.

Someone better go get all those available at warmoth before the price increases.

Thats why lar... akeiser... get the gotoh trem. universal jems selling the Gotoh Floyd Rose, Chrome, With Locking Nut at sale price of $123.75. It is just as good as an OFR.

I was looking at the shipping and OMG!!!

Shipping also around RM100 di. It is probably cheaper to actually order from ishibashi. At least you will get your stuff in three days.

My experience with ordering stuff from USA is that they usually take three weeks to a month to arrive.

This post has been edited by noisetrigger: Nov 6 2006, 02:34 AM

stewmac takes 5 days
shipping USD23 for dhl express.

tham should be placing an order soon i think.
i need a new floyd arm, and still thinking of getting the wilkinson VSVG trem to replace on my highway one.


This post has been edited by Everdying: Nov 6 2006, 02:43 AM

But stewmac only carries Schaller FR right? Not even OFR me thinks.

yea, not many actually carry OFR nowadays cos too expensive i guess.
i checked the floydrose site, both MY and SG have no distributors now.
closest is thailand.

fender does still own floyd rose right?
wonder why fender and floyd rose arent under the same distributors then.

I bet Bentley can order for you since the OFR is in the Fender catalog. But getting a quote from them is a different story. Probably the next time I want to order something, I should just throw some money in their face first.

In fact, that's what a friend of mine who used to work their told me to do to get them to order something for you.

ps-Fender owns the designs and patterns for the OFR, effectively giving them the power to license and revoke the FR design to/from anyone. I actually heard a rumour a few months back about how Fender is going to stop licensing the FR and stopping production so they can introduce a new design or something along those lines.

Probably the increasing prices have something to do with this.



This post has been edited by noisetrigger: Nov 6 2006, 03:13 AM

It couldn't be as much as USD100....Unless that is super duper fast shipping the next morning. Even USPS delivers to me around 34 USD for just a mere of 1.8 pounds of weight. but the content is not anything related with guitars that is...

They can't do much now anyway. the OFR patent has run out a few years ago (2003 i think). and the OFR Pro (low profile) patent is due to run out next year. Ibanez got sued coz they didn't license their new Edge Pro and Edge Pro II thinking that they can get away coz the OFR patent has run out, but in fact the OFR Pro (the low profile version) patent was still in force and the two new bridges Ibanez introduced are in fact of low profile design. The Edge III was promptly introduced coz they needed to cut the patent costs for the Edge Pro II, saying it is based on the OFR design so that they can avoid the licensing.

I think I wrote pretty clearly RM100 there.

That's what I thought too, but who knows? Maybe they can extend the patent or something? Cause I still see a lot of OFR licensed trem around. Somehow, there are still companies paying royalties to Fender for the OFR design.

I don't think they can. A patent always has a limited lifespan and you can't hold it forever. It is meant to protect the inventor so that they can make business out of it for a certain amount of time while others cannot just rip them off without paying patent licensing fees. The time span for the original OFR invention has run out and thus they can't charge licensing fees anymore for an expired patent. If you take a look at the Edge III, you won't see any "licensed by floyd rose patents" anymore (this is actually an irony, coz the saddle design is straight lo-pro, but they just increased the height of the fine tuners to make it look like its an OFR design). Even the Edge Pro didn't have at first, until they got sued, and they just stick a sticker on the sustain block. You will still see new trems based on the OFR Pro design have the "licensed" wording until next year, but probably a lot of trems still being produced still has that coz the die cast mold has already been made with the licensing words imprinted.

I read about this before somewhere. A patent or licensed can be extended nowadays. That's why you see a lot of bands in America not owning the rights to their own works (which is very sad). Their label somehow can still keep milking their catalog long after this band has been disbanded.

Honestly, Ibanez is the only one that doesn't have the 'licensed by FR' on their trem.

All others still have the words but you are right, it could just be the mold.

i've always wondered...
but since ibanez are copying the floyd rose 'expired' patents now.
why dont they just use the floyd trem? i doubt it'll be any more expensive than what ibanez are doing.
my guess is the weight of the floyd rose trems doesnt fit in well with the softer basswood bodies.
thats why the ibanez trems are actually just a metal shell with some filling to make it lighter.

Not sure how heavy an OFR is but the Ibanez Edge, Edge Pro, Lo Pro Edge are anything but light. If i remember correctly, it is in the ballpark of around 1kg++ My RG with the Edge Pro is a heavier than my friend's RG seven string with the Lo Pro.

I thought it was just a heavy basswood body until I took the bridge off one day. The guitar is freaking light. The neck is actually heavier than the body. It was the bridge that made the guitar a lot more heavier than it should be.

Those crappy Ibanez trem arm, they are also heavier than those stainless steel OFR bar.

Which is weird, cause the Ibanez trem and trem arm are not exactly hardened steel (only the baseplate) but they sure are freaking heavy.

Simple reasons as to why Ibanez wants to use their own trems, it must be cheaper since it is by Gotoh.

If they go with the OFR, they still need to factor in shipping and tax.

That said, at the price they are selling OFR nowadays, Ibanez made the right decision to use their own design.

ps-basswood bodies ain't exactly balsawood. My alder strat has more dings, chips, and stripped screw holes than my RG.

Not just that. A lot of people still prefer Ibanez's best trems as opposed to the OFR. Ibanez have made a lot of development to their trems and this is what made their name. this is what distinguished Ibanez from the other floating trem guitar makers.

dings chips etc is how you look after your guitar.
i've played a el cheapo teisco del ray from the 60s in good condition.
i've seen very good condition 80s ibanez guitars.

all i said is basswood is very soft.
and there are ibanez mods that are available to the posts to make it more stable in the softer basswood body right?

true basswood is one of the softest woods used to make guitars. swamp ash is quite soft also but probably not as soft as basswood.

mods? the only mod i've heard of is converting the non-locking studs of the current Edge Pro trems back to the old locking studs of the Edge/Lo-Pro.

locking studs?
why would you need locking studs on a floating trem?

EDIT.
ok, just read.
the locking studs are more to help the posts stabilise in the softer basswood body, so the routed holes for the studs dont elongate/become oval.

so guess that was the mod

This post has been edited by Everdying: Nov 8 2006, 07:46 PM

haha, i was the one who posted about that. yeah, a precaution coz in a period of like 10-20 years of trem abuse the anchors might oval.

and if you didn't know, locking stud's actually make a difference in trem stability, regardless of whatever wood it is in, nothing to do about preventing basswood from ovalling. This is what the Ibanez Edge and Lo-Pro Edge trems are well known for, coz they have the locking studs stock. Ibanez switched back to the non-locking studs coz people were breaking them not knowing that there was a locking set screw in the stud.
Locking studs prevents any movement of the studs in their threads by locking the threads with another set screw inside pressing against the base of the stud anchor. Any slight movement of the trem studs will affect tuning stability, however minute it may be.

well, not according to http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/stud_mod_03.htm

Ironically the loosening of these inserts in older guitars is largely attributed to non locked studs that have wiggled back and forth enough it's caused the insert to oval the wood [although I have had a New Old Stock LNG Jem with maybe an hour of total play time that had significantly oval'd inserts just from sitting in a case for 15 years. Basswood is a soft wood and susceptible].

Yes that was where I read about that, and jemsite.

btw, heres a good alternative.
PING floyd roses.
PING also makes the tuners/hardware that are found on the fender MIM models, and they have the fender logo.
so guess PING are also owned by fender.
and check out all the brass parts, just like the first OFRs.

http://www.axcessories.com/proddetail.asp?...frpingc&cat=132

that site also sells OFR at USD169, but every single one is all out of stock.
the gold, black, chrome, low profile.
i guess everyone is buying the OFRs up at the old price

This post has been edited by Everdying: Nov 15 2006, 03:53 AM

i saw my korean floyd copy....
Floyd Rose(R) XFRT100~~Licensed Tremolo~Chrome~
Floyd Rose(R) XFRT100~~Licensed Tremolo~Chrome~Hardened steel pivot points! Includes: Tremolo arm


hmmm... seem like XFRT200 looked better....

Would my RR3 classify as Low-Pro or just the plain ol' OFR??

JT580 is lo pro.

184.95 USD Before shipping........

Hmmmmm...... If I decide to upgrade to a Floyd Rose Pro next year, anyone want to join the bulk? Or maybe place the same order so just reduce the shipping costs??

blacktrix, i dont think you read what i posted earlier rite?
but on that site, notice ALL OFR are out of stock.
all meaning black, chrome, lo pro.
well except for the ugly gold ones.
all been bought up at what i assume is the old price, new prices on some sites are all over USD200.

This post has been edited by Everdying: Nov 15 2006, 06:46 PM