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Floyd Rose

Double-Locking Tremolo

The Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo was popularized in the early 80’s and has remained a popular

system ever since. This system locks the strings both at the string saddle and the nut (Figure 16). By

locking the string at both locations, there is minimal if any string slippage and almost no friction except

at the point of the knife-edge/pivot studs. This results in a guitar that stays in tune extremely well, and

allows the pitch of the strings to be manipulated via the tremolo arm or “whammy bar”.

On ESP guitars, this bridge is almost always installed with a recess route in the body, allowing the bridge to rest

lower than a traditional bridge. This also allows room for both pulling up in pitch and pushing down in pitch. This

system is also referred to as a ﬂoating bridge since it does not rest against the body of the instrument.

An important thing to keep in mind about this system is that since this bridge uses springs in the back

of the body to balance against the tension of the strings, any change in tuning or string gauge will

drastically affect the performance and require adjustments to be made. The tremolo arm is inserted into a

ﬁtting on the treble side of the bridge and then the threaded collar on the arm can be tightened by hand

to the desired level of tightness.

Note: There are two versions of Floyd Rose licensed bridges found on ESP instruments and the main

difference is the location of the string lock-down screws in relation to the string saddles. This alternate

version is referred to as a Low-Proﬁle design.

CHANGING STRINGS (Floyd Rose Double-Locking Tremolo)

Note: We recommend that you only change one string at a time until you are familiar with this process.

Removing all the strings at once will cause the tremolo to pull back into the recess route and will make it

harder to change the strings and retune your guitar. Changing string gauges will also drastically change

the settings and make the bridge lift up high off the body or sink back into the recess route.

Refer to Figure 16:

1. Loosen pressure pad lock-down screws on locking nut using a 3mm allen wrench. Loosen string using

tuning key and remove string completely using string cutter.

Loosen string lock-down screw on bridge using a 3mm allen wrench. Remove string from saddle.

3. Cut off ball-end of new string above the string winding and insert string in front of the string-lock block.

4. Tighten string lock-down screw so that it is snug. Note: Do not over tighten this screw as it can strip

the threading inside the saddle.

5. Feed string through locking nut, under pressure pad, under string retainer and through tuning key

post, wind a couple of turns down the tuning key post and tune to pitch. Note: There is no need to use

special winding as described in the stringing & tuning section since your string will be locked down at

the locking nut.

6. Repeat steps 1 - 5 for each string.

7. After replacing the desired string(s), tune all strings to pitch, stretch strings, and retune. You will have

to re-tune your guitar a few times until the tremolo has settled and the guitar remains in tune. Once

your guitar is holding tune, tighten all three pressure pad screws. Note: Make sure the orientation of

the pressure pads match the drawing in Figure 16. If the pressure pads are not oriented properly in the

locking nut, the strings will not lock down properly and you may experience tuning problems.

Fine Tuning

Once your strings are locked at the nut, you can ﬁne-tune your guitar using the ﬁne tuners located on the

tremolo behind the string saddles.

Note: If ﬁne tuners run out of adjustment, loosen the pressure pad lock-down screws at the locking nut,

adjust your ﬁne tuners into the middle of their adjustment and retune using your tuning machines on the

headstock. Once the tuning is stable, lock down the strings at the locking nut and you may use the ﬁne

tuners again.

Adjusting String Height

There are 2 screws also referred to as pivot studs which raise or lower the Floyd Rose bridge (see diagram).

These screws are located at the front of the bridge – one on the bass side and the other on the treble

side. Turning the screws clockwise will lower that side of the bridge while turning counter-clockwise will

raise that side of the bridge. Note: The base-plate of the bridge should be parallel to the top of the body.

If the bridge-plate is angled too high or too low, you need to ﬁrst adjust the spring tension located in the

back cavity of the guitar before you adjust the bridge height using the pivot studs.

Adjusting Intonation

Adjusting the intonation on a Floyd Rose bridge requires a few more steps and a little patience in

comparison to most bridges. After you have determined which way the string saddle needs to be moved,

loosen the pressure pad screw on the locking nut then loosen the string you will be adjusting. Next,

loosen the saddle lock-down screw and move the saddle forward or backward. Tighten the saddle lock-

down screw, tune string to pitch and check intonation. Continue repeating this process until the intonation

is set. Once you are done, lock down the string at the nut by tightening the pressure pad screws.

Adjusting The “Float” Level (Spring Tension)

The tremolo springs are located in the cavity on the back of the guitar.

You must remove the plastic backplate to access the tremolo springs

and adjustment claw. The tremolo springs are used to counter-act the

tension of the strings and adjust the angle of the bridge on

the top of the guitar. When your guitar is tuned

to pitch, the tremolo’s base plate should rest

parallel to the top of the guitar body. If you

notice your bridge angled upward or backward

into the recess route, then you need to adjust

the tremolo springs to bring the bridge back to the

correct angle. If your tremolo is angled away from

the body, then the springs need to be tightened. If the

tremolo is angled into the recess route, the springs need

to be loosened. Loosen or tighten each screw about 1⁄4 turn

if needed, then retune your instrument (Figure 17). You may

need to repeat this process a few times until ﬁnally your bridge

remains in tune and rests parallel to the top of the body.

There are different combinations of spring placement that can

be used based on your string gauge and tuning preference.

Tighten

Pressure Pad Screw

Pressure Pad

String Retainer

Loosen

String

Lock-Down Screw

Saddle

Lock-Down Screw

Fine Tuners

Tremolo Arm Fitting

String-Lock Block

Pivot Studs

Saddle

Figure 16: Floyd Rose Double-Locking Tremolo

Alternate String Lock-Down Location

Figure 17: Adjusting Tremolo Springs

Loosen

Tighten

Low-Proﬁle Version