floyd rose

[guitarfeak]

What is the difference between an original Floyd Rose and a licensed one.

[ErikH]

The original is just that, the original. A licensed Floyd is one that is made by another company but has paid a license fee to use the design and make one under their own name, such as Gotoh.

99.8% of the licensed Floyds are nowhere near as good as the original. Gotoh and Schaller are the top two licensed Floyds. Not surprising since Schaller makes them for Floyd Rose anyway.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

They are moving it to Ping....bummer

[ErikH]

Really? When? I haven't heard anything bad about the Ping made Floyds that are out there now. I'd like to get a Gotoh when I decide to put the Maiden Strat back to 100%. When I do that, I'll need a Floyd for the silver body.

Let me ask you this, Rid. Is the pivot post location on the Gotoh the same as the OFR?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Trust me...they are softer...and not quite the same as anything the older stuff...even Schaller was not quite up to the task in the end!!
The Gotoh is deadon
Took out mine and had a look, fits neatly with my Kramer...
And has an awesome build quality.

[ErikH]

Does the Gotoh have the same pivot post spacing as the OFR? Could I take a Gotoh and drop it in without needing to plug and redrill the pivot post holes?

I knew Schallers had softer pivot inserts than Floyds. Didn't realize they had much different in other areas.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Sorry did not got myself clear on that one!
Yes same spacing with the studs...plus the Gotoh has their pat. lockstuds...
And that genious trem arm arrangement!!

[ErikH]

Sweet. I really like them, played a bunch on the EBMM Axis and EVH models. Great feeling trems.

[Mr 9finger]

Sorry did not got myself clear on that one!
Yes same spacing with the studs...plus the Gotoh has their pat. lockstuds...
And that genious trem arm arrangement!!

Where is that Kramer you're putting together?

[jmh151]

Gotoh's are just as good as an Original Floyd- though the base plate is a little thinner- not much, but I have both, and I can visibly see it's thinner.

The Schallers aren't as good as the Gotoh in my opinion. The Jackson/Schaller on my old Jackson Soloist doesn't feel as sturdy, wobbles a bit, but it does stay in tune as good as an Original Floyd.

The Ping rumor isn't entirely true. Floyd's pro level trems are made by Schaller. Their budget trems are made by Ping

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

His patend is running out....and Schaller had a hard time getting them out of the door...
The OFR is also made by Ping now.....The Kramer will soon get its life
Have made arrangements for the drilling of the stud holes!!
Do not have the means to do it here, so I will get one of my mates to do it for me!!
He is a fulltime guitarrep so he is on top of things(taught me a thing or two as well)

[guitarfeak]

Is a licensed Floyd Rose better than a fender vintage 6 hole bridge. Also what makes the licensed Floyd Rose not as good as the original.

[mustaine-who?]

Gotoh's are just as good as an Original Floyd- though the base plate is a little thinner- not much, but I have both, and I can visibly see it's thinner.

The Schallers aren't as good as the Gotoh in my opinion. The Jackson/Schaller on my old Jackson Soloist doesn't feel as sturdy, wobbles a bit, but it does stay in tune as good as an Original Floyd.

The Ping rumor isn't entirely true. Floyd's pro level trems are made by Schaller. Their budget trems are made by Ping

+1

Gotoh is a killer trem...and I agree about it being superior to the Schaller. I have both trems and much prefer the Gotoh...

[ErikH]

Is a licensed Floyd Rose better than a fender vintage 6 hole bridge.

This depends on who you ask. Some prefer the Fender 6-screw bridge and will say no. For maximum tuning stability and crazy dive bomb antics, an OFR or GOOD licensed FR is better. If you're just doing light vibrato and not looking to be the next Steve Vai, then a 6-screw trem with a well cut nut will do just fine.

Also what makes the licensed Floyd Rose not as good as the original.

For many, it's inferior components and build quality. However, the Gotoh is the best of the licensed FRs. It's simply one of the top double-locking trems out there. The Pings aren't bad from what I heard. Definitely better than most out there.

[uOpt]

Is a licensed Floyd Rose better than a fender vintage 6 hole bridge. Also what makes the licensed Floyd Rose not as good as the original.

These are much different beats. Just for starters, the locking nut changes everything, both for playability and for sound.

And you need a good Fender vintage style tremolo, the cheap ones are as bad for sound as bad Floyds. You must have a very solid baseplate and a massive sustain block from the right material, and you saddles better don't suck either.

But the Floyd, even with no locking nut, will always sound more tremoloish than a simpler tremolo.

[jmh151]

Is a licensed Floyd Rose better than a fender vintage 6 hole bridge. Also what makes the licensed Floyd Rose not as good as the original.

Floyd Rose has many patents on the system, and he does not license all of the out- so no one can make an exact copy of a Floyd Rose.

Material and construction wise, the Gotoh is close, but they get around it by angling the saddles back, changing the base plate a little.

The Schaller has shorter screws, a die cast base, and hardend steel saddles.

Regardless what anyone says, Original Floyds, as of this date, are still made by Schaller. I know this because I had to order a replacement plate for a Floyd Rose Pro from Floyd Rose, and there was a 6 week wait until another shipment came in from Germany- and the baseplate was stamped Made in Germany.

Ping is making a Floyd that looks like an Original Floyd. The difference is the Floyd Rose logo is laser etched instead of stamped, and the it's stamped "licensed under floyd rose patents" by the tuners. That's where people are getting confused.

I'm not sure where the speedloaders are made. There is an economy version made by Ping, but I don't know if Schaller makes the higher end one.

[Diocletian]

So Gotoh is a good make? Nothing to do with OFRs, I was just thinking in general terms. I wanted a new bridge and tailpiece for my LP and was quoted a rather high price for Gotoh parts. Didn't know if they were a good make or not.

[ErikH]

Gotoh makes great stuff. My frankenstrat has a Gotoh 6-screw Strat trem on it and I have a Strat hardtail on the way for my Esquire project. Next will be their Floyd copy for another one of my Strats.

[Diocletian]

Ah well, I ended up buying the things from someone who never mentioned any make. Maybe it'll be Gotoh, maybe not. Now I hope it is!

[jmh151]

So Gotoh is a good make? Nothing to do with OFRs, I was just thinking in general terms. I wanted a new bridge and tailpiece for my LP and was quoted a rather high price for Gotoh parts. Didn't know if they were a good make or not.

Gotoh makes excellent stuff- though if you want gold plated hardware, I don't think their gold plating is the thickest. Chrome, nickel or black and you're set.

Though gold seems to wear off everything.