Drop Tunings on Floyd Rose bridges

does anyone here know if it's possible to tune guitars with an FR bridge to ultra-low tunings such as Drop B and Drop A? i'm just getting used to the bridge and before i mess around with the set-up to shift tuning i'd like to know if it's possible, easy and whether it requires a different gauge of strings.

But if you drop the tuning on floyd rose, you won't get a drop D. (= DADGBE)
You will drop each string by two semitones. (=DGCFAD)
And of course, this is not accurately two semitones for each string (depends on string gauge and tension)

I have tried and have failed. And i have locked both the bridges on both the guitars with wood.

But its possible from what i have read on the net. Following are few things that u need to consider
- Higher gauge will make ur ur tuning experience slightly better.
- U need to mix and match the set of strings. I mean if u r using a gauge 10 pack. U need to replace the 1st,2nd and 3rd string with the strings from gauge 11. Make sure ur guitar neck is able to handle heavy gauge
- u need to make adjustments to the springs behind for maintaining the required tension on the strings. Usually 4 springs were recommended for such tunings.
- If you have locking nut for locking the strings it will help a lot. So that u can keep the 1,2,3,4th strings locked and then fine tune the 5th and 6th strings and then lock those again. Similarly for (1,2) and (3,4)

All the best. Do let us know how it goes...

Originally Posted by alpha1

But if you drop the tuning on floyd rose, you won't get a drop D. (= DADGBE)
You will drop each string by two semitones. (=DGCFAD)
And of course, this is not accurately two semitones for each string (depends on string gauge and tension)

?? explain please? i'm not very familiar with floyd rose concepts yet :$

Originally Posted by mymusicmyguitar

I have tried and have failed. And i have locked both the bridges on both the guitars with wood.

But its possible from what i have read on the net. Following are few things that u need to consider
- Higher gauge will make ur ur tuning experience slightly better.
- U need to mix and match the set of strings. I mean if u r using a gauge 10 pack. U need to replace the 1st,2nd and 3rd string with the strings from gauge 11. Make sure ur guitar neck is able to handle heavy gauge
- u need to make adjustments to the springs behind for maintaining the required tension on the strings. Usually 4 springs were recommended for such tunings.
- If you have locking nut for locking the strings it will help a lot. So that u can keep the 1,2,3,4th strings locked and then fine tune the 5th and 6th strings and then lock those again. Similarly for (1,2) and (3,4)

All the best. Do let us know how it goes...

4 springs? shit! i just have on 2 on the back right now and 1 extra. so if i ever want to switch between such tunings i would have to add/remove these springs everytime?

and does anyone know if that device tremol-no (or something) is helpful with all this?

OOps.
I presumed that you are talking about changing your tuning to drop D midway while starting off with normal tuning..

Originally Posted by Morbid_Angel

4 springs? shit! i just have on 2 on the back right now and 1 extra. so if i ever want to switch between such tunings i would have to add/remove these springs everytime?

and does anyone know if that device tremol-no (or something) is helpful with all this?

Yes unfortunately u will have to play with the springs at the back a lot to get that flexibility in getting such tunings on a tremelo. But its not that easy..

Tremel-no is used for blocking the tremelo and makin it a fixed bridge. But it costs a bomb. A small piece of wood should be sufficient enough.
If you dont want to add wood at the back u can always add extra springs and tighten the screws untill the bridge rests on the body..

you dont need more springs. I have 3 in my ZR bridge. Can i know the exact make of the FR? (Licensed(which oem), Special or OFR). And yes heavier strings do go well with dropped tunings. Wood isnt effective with double locking ones as they can go both ways and the wood will block only one way motion.

How to DROP TUNE a Floyd Rose Trem System - YouTube this may help

Electric Guitar Repair - How to Setup an Electric Guitar for Drop Tunings these also have some info on drop tunings in general and also on a fr they also talk about string gauges and other things.

I dunno how you can but i don't understand why you can't? and changing the gauge will require intonation which i doubt you'll be able to do yourself without any experience...
and heavier gauge is recommended for drop C, B tuning ..

If you plan to change tunings between regular and drop-D tunings, forget using a Floyd Rose - its too much of a headache... Otherwise if you mostly play on a drop D, you can tune you guitar to just drop D and use it as usual.

For my band practices I do not lock the strings at the nut (but do not do any Steve Vai type acrobatics either). The tuning holds up fine on my guitar this way for mild, general purpose squealie dives. Also with a tuner, I can switch between regular and drop D tunings this way.

Either ways, set your guitar up for the most common tuning you use. This is because in a FR, tuning up or down makes the bridge rise or dip, causing changes in intonation.

Originally Posted by rickkkyrich

I dunno how you can but i don't understand why you can't? and changing the gauge will require intonation which i doubt you'll be able to do yourself without any experience...
and heavier gauge is recommended for drop C, B tuning ..

i think with lowering the tuning u have to increase the gauge

From what i understand, you want to change from standard/Drop D to Drop B/A.

If that's the case, then you will need to do the following:
-Get a higher gauge, 9s become like maggi at such tunings
-Adjust truss rod( probably loosen it)
-Reintonate your guitar

All of this can be done by yourself.
Truss rod adjustments are easy, providing you know what you're supposed to do, and make small, graduate adjustments.
Intonation is easy, just takes forever, and can be scary for the first-timer.
Lastly, you probably dont need extra springs, unless your current ones are weak. But yeah, you will need to tighten the springs big time, either way.

If, on the other hand, you want to change between drop D and Standard, it's pretty easy. The last You drop the low E string to D, then fine tune the whole guitar, because the effect in tuning is actually microtonal. I speak from experience. then again, it's probably different for each guitar.

Floyds arent difficult, if you know what you're doing. And i'm no guitar tech, I'm just a 14 year old kid.

Try all this yourself, in gradual steps, first maybe standard to drop D, then drop C, then finally Drop B/A.
If you screw up, you can always go to a tech and have him fix it in the end.

You can try both tunings on the same guitar, but it will take forever. Every time you change tuning, you will need to change gauge, truss rod pressure, intonation, and all of that. I'm pretty experienced in the matter, but it takes me an hour. And you cant just leave the job half way, once you start, you gotta go all the way, as if you remove a string, and have the truss rod adjusted, the neck will get used to the lack of string tension, and completely warp. And you end up with a seriously damaged guitar.
My point is, it's highly illogical to do both tunings on the same guitar. But if you want to change the setup of Drop D to drop B/A, it is possible.

How about using a pitch shifter ? I use a US600 for D tuning on my Guitar.

Originally Posted by shubhamAT

How about using a pitch shifter ? I use a US600 for D tuning on my Guitar.

we can try it