Can I use a Floyd Rose string retainer with just a graphite nut & locking tnrs?

[stringtheorymusic]

Can I use a Floyd Rose string retainer with just a graphite nut & locking tnrs? Its for a modern strat-style neck

 

[swarfrat]

You might not have any problems, but if you're going the graphite nut / locking tuner route - I wouldn't want my strings dragging over anything that didn't roll or wasn't some lubricitous surface (graphite or teflon).

 

[stringtheorymusic]

I was thinking titanium... isn't that little resistance? Could I set it higher than most to lesson the negative effect? I just hate the look and tuning problems of the string trees. Maybe I'll buy an angled strat neck next time.

 

[drewfx]

With locking tuners and a proper nut, string retainers are not necessary.

 

[Cagey]

With locking tuners and a proper nut, string retainers are not necessary.

That's absolutely true. Leo came up with string trees to compensate for hastily-made production nuts. They didn't have the time to spend doing a proper setup at build. But, if the nut is properly fabbed/installed and the slots properly cut, you don't need string trees. I haven't used them in years and haven't had any problem. Prior to getting rid of the silly things, they were a good way to get string hang-ups that caused inconsistent tuning.

 

[Bruno]

But, if the nut is properly fabbed/installed and the slots properly cut, you don't need string trees.

Ipse dixit.

So if you haven't a *perfect* nut you can use all string trees that you desire but it's not a good solution. The best is an absolutely perfect calibrated nut

 

[Cagey]

I doubt that any nut is perfect, but there are plenty that could use some attention. And adding increasingly more trees will not improve a bad situation.