Best string gauge for Floyd Rose

[cephus]

How about experience?

 

Don't you think that the action of the trem is lighter and more fluid with lighter strings? I use 10s, too, but I think the floyd itself responds better when the guitar is strung with 9s.

 

It's just a matter of the change in tension. With 9s, I used 2 springs. It only makes sense that it would be easier to wiggle. No bullshit.

[tedguitar88]

I was also using 9's, but found they were easier to break. So I switched to 10's. I had to re-calibrate my guitar a bit, but now I feel that the strings sound more full, and they're harder to break.

[Snowcow]

I'm through with this, you just keep repeating yourself, and wasting my time.

 

Good, back to school with you then

[samal50]

Whats the best string gauge for a floyd rose. Im guessing 9-42 is probably the best?

What about 10-46 tuned half step down?

I just installed a 9-42 on my fretless electric guitar with a floyd rose trem. The strings is by John Pearse marketed as "super EZ bendz" strings. Although I bought some 10-46 as well since that's what's used on my other guitar (Steinberger Spirit), I'm assuming it's also OK to use that gauge for guitars with a floyd rose trem. I'm waiting for the double end strings to become in stock though (for the Steinberger).The people at Guitar Center have mentioned to me to use steel wound guitar strings and have suggested heavier gauge like the D'addario NYXL 11-56, which is marketed as "optimized for d-tuning". I'm assuming the floyd rose trem have a tendency to make tunings go out of tune from too much bending of the strings?

[Phil O'Keefe]

If you're going to tune down, then heavier strings are usually considered to be a good idea due to the string tension issues that come along with that. If not, you can stick with whatever gauges you usually use on a non-Floyd equipped guitar.

 

[mikesr1963]

I keep Ernie Ball 8's on mine.

[humbuckerstrat]

I like the easy bends on the higher strings, but the chunk of a .46 on the low strings. So does anyone make these sets ? I looked on D'Addario and they don't.

 

Are you kidding me:confused: I think just about every string manufacturer makes a set of 9-46 gauge strings, including D'Addario.

 

BTW, I use Snake Oil Brand 9-42's on my one Floyded guitar.

 

Wow, a Post I made 11 years ago here. I now have 3 Floyded guitars and I like 10-38 gauge GHS strings on them, I like them better than regular 9s. All of my teem

regular 9s. All of them are floating and I find that bending strings with 9 s make the others strings go out of tune, which is bad when you bend one string and play a non-bent string @ the same time. Putting on 10s helped with that, but I really didn't like those gauges. I like 10-38s, they're both stable and bendable.

[humbuckerstrat]

<BLOCKQUOTE><TABLE border="1"><TBODY><TR><TD>I like the easy bends on the higher strings, but the chunk of a .46 on the low strings.

 

So does anyone make these sets ?

 

I looked on D'Addario and they don't.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Are you kidding me:confused: I think just about every string manufacturer makes a set of 9-46 gauge strings, including D'Addario.

 

BTW, I use Snake Oil Brand 9-42's on my one Floyded guitar.

 

<IMG src="http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/2/3/0/367230.jpg" />

Wow, a Post I made 11 years ago here. I now have 3 Floyded guitars and I like 10-38 gauge GHS strings on them, I like them better than regular 9s. All of my trem

regular 9s. All of them are floating and I find that bending strings with 9 s make the others strings go out of tune, which is bad when you bend one string and play a non-bent string @ the same time. Putting on 10s helped with that, but I really didn't like those gauges. I like 10-38s, they're both stable and bendable.

[timtheshredder]

I don't really thing there is a "best" gauge for a Floyd. I've used 10s and 9s on my Floyds and have never had a problem. You just need to adjust the spring tension on the bottom of the bridge to switch between the two. If you want to go any heavier than 10s, you might want to add another spring or a heavier one to make sure the bridge stays parallel with the body.

 

If you use uneven string gauges like Ernie Ball skinny top / heavy bottom strings, you will want to adjust the spring tension to compensate for the uneven unique string gauge. There is no wrong set. You just need to set it up right.

[CamaroKid2SS]

I don't really thing there is a "best" gauge for a Floyd. I've used 10s and 9s on my Floyds and have never had a problem. You just need to adjust the spring tension on the bottom of the bridge to switch between the two. If you want to go any heavier than 10s, you might want to add another spring or a heavier one to make sure the bridge stays parallel with the body.

 

If you use uneven string gauges like Ernie Ball skinny top / heavy bottom strings, you will want to adjust the spring tension to compensate for the uneven unique string gauge. There is no wrong set. You just need to set it up right.

 

Correct information rules!

[Chordite]

9-42 and it behaves remarkably well. Then again I don't use the bar extensively, just palm it for a gentle vibrato.

[RebeccaUTB]

I find that lighter gauges work best to prolong the life of the trem.

 

I bought a Roadstar recently with an Edge Trem on it that the knife edges were worn more than usual. The guitar was set up with 11-48 Power Slinkies.

 

I always use GHS Boomers 9-42 for my E tuned guitars and 9-46 for E Flat.

[jtr654]

The strings you put on that you like.

[AJ6stringsting]

I use 46-10 on my Floyd Rose trems with three springs.

Lately, that guage of strings are feeling like speggetti under my fingers, I'M thinking of loading up my Floyd Rose guitars with 11, 14, 18, 28, 38, 48 or 52 on my low E

I do 2 whole step bends and I need more resistance.

[horor]

Ernie Ball Power Slinkys.

End of discussion.

[daddymack]

On 1/15/2022 at 3:48 AM, horor said:

Ernie Ball Power Slinkys.

End of discussion.

actually...it ended several years ago...but thanks for sharing....

[badpenguin]

Sorry, I wouldn't use EB on an enemy's guitar.

[gardo]

22 minutes ago, badpenguin said:

Sorry, I wouldn't use EB on an enemy's guitar.

I tried a set of EB strings once

once

[horor]

6 hours ago, daddymack said:

actually...it ended several years ago...but thanks for sharing....

And I created an account just for that post:D

Not sure if I’m replying correctly, we’ll know in a moment 

[1001gear]

13 hours ago, badpenguin said:

Sorry, I wouldn't use EB on an enemy's guitar.

I just noticed there's a badpenguin on the AzBilliards pool forum. Is that youm?

[1001gear]

oh and in the 60s Super Slinkies were the only way for my teeny tweeny fingers to bend notes. Actually I was 13 or 14 but that doesn't rhyme.

[badpenguin]

4 hours ago, 1001gear said:

I just noticed there's a badpenguin on the AzBilliards pool forum. Is that youm?

Nope, not me. But proof that penguins are bad in general!

[daddymack]

3 hours ago, badpenguin said:

Nope, not me. But proof that penguins are bad in general!

Someone here has a .gif of a penguin slapping another penguin as their avatar...you should negotiate for that one...

[daddymack]

16 hours ago, horor said:

And I created an account just for that post:D

Not sure if I’m replying correctly, we’ll know in a moment 

Apparently you did. Welcome to Harmony Central...have a look around!

[brucebennett]

 I've had conversations with both Floyd Rose and J.T. Riboloff ( ex-Gibson engineer who collaborated on designs for the FR guitars with Speed loaders, and worked with FR himself)    and I have been installing FRs on guitars since 1979 and I spent the last 6 years making Franky Reproductions for Judah Guitars.  I earned the nickname Dr Floyd back in the early 80s. because I could make any FR equipped guitars sit up and bark... still can and do it nearly everyday in my shop.

 The FR Vibrato Bridge was NOT "designed" for any 1 gauge of string period. and that should be plainly obvious regardless of what lie some 14 year old posted on the internet.

 they were designed to be used with just about any string out there,  which is why they have SO MANY adjustments on them and also why so many people get them all screwed up.

 I will say that they have "refined" the design over the last 40 years, and how they started out, is not how they are today. and that certain models 

(Specials) are made from too soft and inexpensive metals with equally too soft coatings and should never be allowed on a decent guitar. buying one is only buying a future headache.  Not all Floyds are created equal. and don't get me started on the "licensed by" versions.. most of them are pure garbage!

 that said.. I will state that IF your using an EVH  D-tuna, the Low "E" seems to work best if its a 46. which is not to say that a 42 doesn't work.. it just tends to be a bit outside the sweet spot of the D-tuna's tuning range. also a lot of folks don't seem  to know that a D-tuna CAN'T be used in a full floating mode.