How to Replace a Floyd Rose Tremolo
If your Floyd Rose guitar is an older model or has issues functioning properly, you can quickly replace it with the same type or another model, whether you want a different color or different features. Floyd Rose tremolos are held in place with two retention screws, and all of the models available have the same spacing for these two screws. Simply remove the old Floyd Rose and replace it with a new one.
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Instructions
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1
Unlock the three locking blocks on the nut to remove the strings in order to replace the Floyd Rose. These three blocks lock the strings in place so that the guitar does not go out of tune while you are using the Floyd Rose. Place the correct Allen wrench in the hole and turn counter-clockwise to loosen them.
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2
Loosen all of the strings using the tuners on the head stock of the guitar. Turn the tuners counterclockwise to loosen each of the six or seven strings on the guitar. Unscrew the clamps on the other end of each string on the Floyd Rose bridge. Strings are held in place with small locking clamps on the bridge end of the guitar. Discard the strings if they are old or set them aside if you plan on reusing them with the new Floyd Rose bridge.
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3
Flip the guitar over to access the backside spring cavity. You will have to pull the strings out of the spring block in order to remove the Floyd Rose. Pull them out of the block and leave them hanging if you plan on using them with the new Floyd Rose or unscrew them from the spring plate on the other side of the spring cavity.
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4
Flip the guitar around again to access the Floyd Rose to replace. Unscrew the two retention screws on either side of the front of the bridge, closest to the bridge pickup. Unscrew them all the way or just enough to slide the old Floyd Rose and block out of the routed cavity in the guitar body.
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5
Slide the new Floyd Rose into place in the same position as the old one. Most Floyd Rose bridges will fit in older routes and can often use the old retention screws as well. Tighten the two screws to hold the new Floyd Rose bridge in place or replace the old screw with the ones included with the new Floyd Rose tremolo.
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6
Flip the guitar over to access the spring cavity and either replace the springs in the new Floyd Rose or screw the springs that are included into the wood on the opposite end of the cavity and slide the long end of the spring into the Floyd Rose block.
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7
Restring the guitar and tune it using the tuners on the head stock first. Tighten the three lock blocks on the nut and retune the guitar using the fine tuners located on the top back of the Floyd Rose.
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References
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