Guitarists: Friend needs help

[myjaja]

Hi,

My friend purchased a Jackson DXMG Dinky, with EMG-HZ humbuckers and a Floyd Rose licensed tremolo system. He said this is his first guitar with a Floyd rose tremolo. He said he was able to do dive bombing and such without the guitar going out of tune for a while. Now, he says that it constantly goes out of tune when using the tremolo. He tunes it, uses the tremolo once, and it immediatly goes out of tune. It does this every single time the tremolo is used. He is not familiar with the Floyd rose system.

Any one here familiar with the Floyd Rose Tremolo system? How can he solve this issue?
Pic of guitar.

Thanks.

 

[Platypus]

Welcome to Floyd Rose

 

[Saint Nick]

You need to take that guitar to a shop to have it tuned. You will spend hours figuring out how to properly tune it. Even guitar shops will spend about 20 to 30 minutes tuning it. Take it to a shop, save yourself some broken strings and agony, please.

I've been there and done that with Floyd Roses. And if at all possible, suggest him to get that thing locked out.

 

[myjaja]

Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Yes, get rid of it, Floyd Roses are the most worthless crap anyone could ever use. Get a guitar without a tremolo, he'll find it useless in the future anyway.

 

[myjaja]

Originally posted by: jndietz

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Yes, get rid of it, Floyd Roses are the most worthless crap anyone could ever use. Get a guitar without a tremolo, he'll find it useless in the future anyway.

There are other jacksons that are the same price. I guess i will suggest him to get the similar priced jackson. Its a nice one too.

 

[agnitrate]

bring that sh!t back immediately. floyd rose is nobody's anti-drug.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Eh... if he wants a tremelo you might look into something else, but it depends on the kind of music he wants to play.

What kind of stuff does he like? I prefer the tone/stability of a ABR style bridge but you also cannot get away with dive bombing and all that guitar pyrotechnics bit.

 

[myjaja]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Eh... if he wants a tremelo you might look into something else, but it depends on the kind of music he wants to play.

What kind of stuff does he like? I prefer the tone/stability of a ABR style bridge but you also cannot get away with dive bombing and all that guitar pyrotechnics bit.

He does different kinds. He likes playing classic rock type music, heavy metal and blues.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Eh... if he wants a tremelo you might look into something else, but it depends on the kind of music he wants to play.

What kind of stuff does he like? I prefer the tone/stability of a ABR style bridge but you also cannot get away with dive bombing and all that guitar pyrotechnics bit.

He does different kinds. He likes playing classic rock type music, heavy metal and blues.

Well, personally I prefer a nice ABR style bridge for that kind of music, you lose the ability to use the trem but when I had one I found myself rarely ever using it and not being able to do multi-string bends.. so I bagged it.

 

[myjaja]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Eh... if he wants a tremelo you might look into something else, but it depends on the kind of music he wants to play.

What kind of stuff does he like? I prefer the tone/stability of a ABR style bridge but you also cannot get away with dive bombing and all that guitar pyrotechnics bit.

He does different kinds. He likes playing classic rock type music, heavy metal and blues.

Well, personally I prefer a nice ABR style bridge for that kind of music, you lose the ability to use the trem but when I had one I found myself rarely ever using it and not being able to do multi-string bends.. so I bagged it.

I will tell him to exchange it then. He doesn't seem happy at all with the guitar.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Eh... if he wants a tremelo you might look into something else, but it depends on the kind of music he wants to play.

What kind of stuff does he like? I prefer the tone/stability of a ABR style bridge but you also cannot get away with dive bombing and all that guitar pyrotechnics bit.

He does different kinds. He likes playing classic rock type music, heavy metal and blues.

Well, personally I prefer a nice ABR style bridge for that kind of music, you lose the ability to use the trem but when I had one I found myself rarely ever using it and not being able to do multi-string bends.. so I bagged it.

I will tell him to exchange it then. He doesn't seem happy at all with the guitar.

What is his budget? What kind of amp is he going through?

 

[thomsbrain]

A) Make sure he is locking the nut (place where the strings end at the headstock, before they go to the tuners). There should be three little screw-type things that you need to clamp over the strings to keep them from moving around. After you have clamped them down, make tuning adjustments from the microtuners on the bridge.

B) Make sure he is not using old strings, and if he is using new strings, that he has properly stretched them (you need to go along the length, yanking upwards every few inches, then tune them back up afterwards). Otherwise, one yank and everything will go flat on you.

C) Floyd Roses are just hard to tune. Change one string and the whole bridge moves, meaning you have to re-tune all the other strings... which changes the first string, which means you have to change the other strings, which means you have to change the first string, etc, etc, etc. For this reason, when I had a guitar with a Floyd Rose, I just blocked it up inside with a piece of wood and never used it. Definetely not something for beginners to mess around with.

 

[ktehmok]

Fixed bridge for the win.

Did he put on new strings? If so, they need to be streched like a goatse fanny or they'll go out of tune everytime.

Or the locking bridge screws are loose.

I don't know, I haven't used one in 17 years, their design may have changed (one would hope). But if it's under warranty take it back.

 

[myjaja]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Eh... if he wants a tremelo you might look into something else, but it depends on the kind of music he wants to play.

What kind of stuff does he like? I prefer the tone/stability of a ABR style bridge but you also cannot get away with dive bombing and all that guitar pyrotechnics bit.

He does different kinds. He likes playing classic rock type music, heavy metal and blues.

Well, personally I prefer a nice ABR style bridge for that kind of music, you lose the ability to use the trem but when I had one I found myself rarely ever using it and not being able to do multi-string bends.. so I bagged it.

I will tell him to exchange it then. He doesn't seem happy at all with the guitar.

What is his budget? What kind of amp is he going through?

He bought the guitar for $479. he is using a small(15w?) Fender amp and an Ibanez distortion pedal. He says he is getting a Line 6 pod by the end of this month though. I'd say his budget is around 480-500 bucks.

 

[Saint Nick]

he should play some epiphones or maybe even cough up a little extra cash for a gibson SG

 

[myjaja]

I don't think the strings are new. But after reading what thomsbrain and ktehmok posted, I don't think he will be messing with this floyd rose crap. Seems like a big big hassle.

Do Fender's use Floyd rose tremolo's?

 

[myjaja]

Originally posted by: jndietz
he should play some epiphones or maybe even cough up a little extra cash for a gibson SG

The place he got the guitar from doesn't carry epiphone, or Gibson, I believe.

Lots of Fender's, Jackson's, Ibanez, Gretch, etc.

 

[Platypus]

If he could drop 600, this is a damn nice guitar for the price.. and will kick those wimpy EMGHZ's ass with the active version, the EMG-81 (great for metal, lots of high end harmonic power)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/516660/

This is also good for the money:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/518187/

but that looks like more of an alnico magnet sound, good for vintage/classic rock.. if you want metal you are either looking at some exposed humbuckers, active ceramic like the EMG81, or a sh!t ton of gain from a stomp box to make weaker voiced pickups more powerful.

 

[myjaja]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
If he could drop 600, this is a damn nice guitar for the price.. and will kick those wimpy EMGHZ's ass with the active version, the EMG-81 (great for metal, lots of high end harmonic power)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/516660/

This is also good for the money:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/518187/

but that looks like more of an alnico magnet sound, good for vintage/classic rock.. if you want metal you are either looking at some exposed humbuckers, active ceramic like the EMG81, or a sh!t ton of gain from a stomp box to make weaker voiced pickups more powerful.

Nice.

Problem: Place offers a full refund only 15 days after purchase. I went with him when he got the guitar, on September 19. Its been passed 15 days. So he's got to exchange it for another guitar at the Sam Ash store, which is where he got it from.

EDIT: Its not passed 15 days. Meaning he should be able to get a refund! Tomorrow makes it 15 days since his purchase.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
If he could drop 600, this is a damn nice guitar for the price.. and will kick those wimpy EMGHZ's ass with the active version, the EMG-81 (great for metal, lots of high end harmonic power)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/516660/

This is also good for the money:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/518187/

but that looks like more of an alnico magnet sound, good for vintage/classic rock.. if you want metal you are either looking at some exposed humbuckers, active ceramic like the EMG81, or a sh!t ton of gain from a stomp box to make weaker voiced pickups more powerful.

Nice.

Problem: Place offers a full refund only 15 days after purchase. I went with him when he got the guitar, on September 19. Its been passed 15 days. So he's got to exchange it for another guitar at the Sam Ash store, which is where he got it from.

Those can most likely be found locally. I'm not sure if your Sam Ash stocks them but they can prob get them if not. It's surprising your Sam Ash does not carry Gibson or Epiphone..


edit for your edit: i'd take the money and run... sam ash is shady.

 

[upsciLLion]

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow
Well, the place offers a 30 day exchange policy. He didn't have the guitar longer than 30 days. Should he just switch it out?

Eh... if he wants a tremelo you might look into something else, but it depends on the kind of music he wants to play.

What kind of stuff does he like? I prefer the tone/stability of a ABR style bridge but you also cannot get away with dive bombing and all that guitar pyrotechnics bit.

He does different kinds. He likes playing classic rock type music, heavy metal and blues.

Well, personally I prefer a nice ABR style bridge for that kind of music, you lose the ability to use the trem but when I had one I found myself rarely ever using it and not being able to do multi-string bends.. so I bagged it.

I will tell him to exchange it then. He doesn't seem happy at all with the guitar.

What is his budget? What kind of amp is he going through?

He bought the guitar for $479. he is using a small(15w?) Fender amp and an Ibanez distortion pedal. He says he is getting a Line 6 pod by the end of this month though. I'd say his budget is around 480-500 bucks.

Have him buy something MIJ in the '80s.

 

[myjaja]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: teh meow

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
If he could drop 600, this is a damn nice guitar for the price.. and will kick those wimpy EMGHZ's ass with the active version, the EMG-81 (great for metal, lots of high end harmonic power)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/516660/

This is also good for the money:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/518187/

but that looks like more of an alnico magnet sound, good for vintage/classic rock.. if you want metal you are either looking at some exposed humbuckers, active ceramic like the EMG81, or a sh!t ton of gain from a stomp box to make weaker voiced pickups more powerful.

Nice.

Problem: Place offers a full refund only 15 days after purchase. I went with him when he got the guitar, on September 19. Its been passed 15 days. So he's got to exchange it for another guitar at the Sam Ash store, which is where he got it from.

Those can most likely be found locally. I'm not sure if your Sam Ash stocks them but they can prob get them if not. It's surprising your Sam Ash does not carry Gibson or Epiphone..

Yeah, the only places around here that carry epiphone and gibson are H&H music and Hermes I believe. Supposably, Sam Ash stopped carrying gibson and epiphone not too long ago.

I'm going to call him up right now, to see if we can get a refund or exchange the guitar.

btw, if you have ANYMORE input, please post!! You have been sooo helpful!

 

[myjaja]

Just called him up. We will be going shortly.

Thanks for everyone's help in this thread, especially CorporateRecreation. I appreciate it. My friend says thanks too!

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: teh meow
Just called him up. We will be going shortly.

Thanks for everyone's help in this thread, especially CorporateRecreation. I appreciate it. My friend says thanks too!

riiiiight