Floyd Rose tuning stability test WITHOUT locking nu!

[Cederick]

Hey, Cagey! I know I've been against your eternal crusade against locking nuts on this forum, but now I see your point!  ccasion14:

It's easy to dismiss things you haven't even tried. Everybody does that, I'm certainly not an exception.

So, today I tried putting on an old Fender neck on a floyded Warmoth body I have.
The Fender neck was some time in the old days prepared for a Kahler behind-the-nut lock, because there's 4 screw holes for it. I actually have one, and was prepared to install it, but now I'm not gonna do it.

Tuning stability is excellent. :turtle:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSJq1RtnFA[/youtube]

However, I'm not going to dismiss locking nuts because of this. They are great. If I got myself a new Floyd Rose guitar some day, I would probably get a locking nut if possible.

But this guitar works fine without one and I may keep it this way. I will change the pickguard to a HSS one tho, I dont really need antoher guitar with only humbucker, hehe.

 

[Tipperman]

Oh man, I loved this. Your personality really made the video.  :icon_thumright: ...I'd still go for a floyd rose R3 nut though. Two reasons: One, because I want to make changing strings even worse (as well as tuning) and B: Because they look cool. I'm an idiot like that. Having just jammed on a Charvel San Dimas tonight I can confirm that floyd roses with locking nuts are indeed cool. Maybe not necessary, but definitely cool. And undoubtedly metal.  :headbang1:

 

[AirCap]

In pre-Floyd days, Van Halen got by with a good setup on a Strat whammy and a well lubed brass nut. It can be done. He did a lot of prep, of course - and had a few techniques to keep flying along for a couple songs before checking his tuning. So absolutely, locking nuts are not required on whammy systems. I prefer locking tuners myself, and Kahler locking nuts over Floyd nuts if that's called for. Rock on!

 

[Cederick]

Oh man, I loved this. Your personality really made the video.  :icon_thumright: ...I'd still go for a floyd rose R3 nut though. Two reasons: One, because I want to make changing strings even worse (as well as tuning) and B: Because they look cool. I'm an idiot like that. Having just jammed on a Charvel San Dimas tonight I can confirm that floyd roses with locking nuts are indeed cool. Maybe not necessary, but definitely cool. And undoubtedly metal.  :headbang1:

Haha yeah I agree. This guitar looks weird without the locking nut.
And I WOULD say that locking nut is superior: there's less friction/moving points on the string. Nobody can deny that.
But I use Big Bends Nut Sauce (as may be obvious by the headstock logo :icon_biggrin and good locking tuners and yeah, it stays well in tune.

In pre-Floyd days, Van Halen got by with a good setup on a Strat whammy and a well lubed brass nut. It can be done. He did a lot of prep, of course - and had a few techniques to keep flying along for a couple songs before checking his tuning. So absolutely, locking nuts are not required on whammy systems. I prefer locking tuners myself, and Kahler locking nuts over Floyd nuts if that's called for. Rock on!

Yup I've played regular vintage trem strats that keeps tuning ok too.

 

[muns53]

I like the idea of using a Floyd with the LSR roller nut - I have a Tronical on the headstock for changing keys quickly (have one on my Taylor, too - love it) - seems like that would work well, yes?

 

[Murdock]

Oh man, I loved this. Your personality really made the video.  :icon_thumright: ...I'd still go for a floyd rose R3 nut though. Two reasons: One, because I want to make changing strings even worse (as well as tuning) and B: Because they look cool. I'm an idiot like that. Having just jammed on a Charvel San Dimas tonight I can confirm that floyd roses with locking nuts are indeed cool. Maybe not necessary, but definitely cool. And undoubtedly metal.  :headbang1:

the only reason I even use a the Floyd system or the Ibanez Edge system is because they look cool !  :headbanging:
isn't that the reason anyone uses them and to be honest the guitar is not a perfect instrument an you're not in perfect tune anyway even if you are in "tune"
that's why somebody develop true temperament frets to bring you closer to perfection and/or compensated nuts the Floyd style system has its down falls but it sure as hell looks cool .!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Good headstock with straight string pull to the tuner post using locking tuners, and a well setup nut, along with the knife edges and posts of the bridge lubed and maintained well, and you may never go back to a locking nut again.  I still like the Floyd bridge, 'cause I like the fine tuner function and the tactile feel on my picking hand, but other than that, I've re-designed my headstocks for future builds around this idea.

 

[Ace Flibble]

I like the idea of using a Floyd with the LSR roller nut - I have a Tronical on the headstock for changing keys quickly (have one on my Taylor, too - love it) - seems like that would work well, yes?

It does, unless you try to dive all the way down. Then there's a good chance the strings will pop out and won't seat back in between the bearings. That's where the older Wilkinson style of roller nut (which Fender used on Jeff Beck Strats and some others before the LSR came along) is better, as the strings just sit on top of roller bars instead of having to go between/under anything.

 

[exaN]

That was thoroughly entertaining and educative. Also makes me even less worried that I went with no locking nut on my WiP build, thanks!

 

[fdesalvo]

Ha what a fun video.  Thanks, Cederick!

 

[Cagey]

Locking tuners and a well-made slippery nut are a wonderful thing.

But, Tipperman's right - all that hardware all over the place is metal  :laughing7: