Converting Floyd Rose Bridge To A "Fixed Bridge"

By Paul Marossy

Last Updated 7/17/04



I have been to many a guitar related forum where people are whining about their Floyd Rose floating bridges not staying in tune, etc. I have been playing Floyd Rose equipped guitars for more than ten years, and have never experienced these sorts of troubles that people describe. Anyways, there is a method and procedure that these floating bridges require to work at their optimum.

If you have a guitar that you like and it has a Floyd Rose style bridge on it, you can convert it to a "fixed bridge" very easily.


Heres how:

1. Detune guitar so that all tension from the strings is relieved.
2. Remove the cover plate from the spring cavity in the guitar body.
3. Carefully remove all of the springs from the block on the bridge.
4. Using wood shims, fill void spaces on both sides of block.
5. Wedge shims in pretty snug, but don't force it too much.
6. Replace springs, increase tension if necesary & reinstall cover plate.
7. Retension strings to normal pitch and adjust bridge height as required.
8. Check the neck relief. You may find that you will need to adjust it.



By placing the wood shims in the spring block cavity, you create a virtual fixed bridge. The springs helps to maintain a tension on the shims and also to help increase sustain slightly by transfering more of the string vibration to the guitar body. The shims will also usually make the bridge parallel with the body, like a fixed bridge would be. Granted, it's not exactly the same thing as a real fixed bridge, but it allows you to keep a guitar that you otherwise like. It is very easily completely reversible and does not damage your guitar in any way.



Here is an example of a guitar that I did this operation on for an acquaintance. In this case, I used three 1/8" wide pieces of wood on each side of the spring block. It was just about a perfect fit.

 





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