How to Restring a Floyd Rose Guitar

Floyd Rose-equipped guitars are an icon of shred and heavy metal style playing techniques. Locking tremolos like the Floyd Rose allow for complex whammy techniques without detuning the strings. The components that make this possible can be difficult to maintain, however, and restringing can be a painstaking process for the new guitarist. Once learned, however, stringing a Floyd Rose can be done quickly and efficiently.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Allen wrenches
• Electronic tuner

1. Cut off the ball end of each string using wire cutters. Insert the clipped end of the low E string into the low E saddle clamp.

2. Tighten the saddle clamp using the screw at the rear of the saddle until it feels snug. Do not over-tighten, or you could strip the screw.

3. Pull the string across the fretboard and slip it under the string clamp at the guitar's nut. If your guitar has a string retainer on the headstock, thread the string under it, as well.

4. Thread the string through the string hole on the low E tuning peg and pull through the slack. Leave about 2 1/2 inches of play in the string at the 12th fret. Tune the string to pitch.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the remaining five strings.

6. Lock the string clamp at the nut. Again, do not over-tighten.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternate strings from one side of the neck to the other to avoid twisting the neck during the stringing process. For example, after you've strung the low E, string the high E next.

Resources

• Floyd Rose official site.