6th Batch Custom Colors

[tonemonster]

BTW, that is one SWEET old charvel on this page!!!!! NICE!!!!

[tonemonster]

I checked out a special a few weeks back.......it looks "ok"....a tad cheap...but If I am buying, I want a real Floyd. I have owned a few licensed floyds over the years, probably about 6 different kinds, and never been happy with any of them EXCEPT a Schaller Floyd. those babies are solid. every bit as good as an OFR in my book.

[DHardmanJr]

Here's another piece of the puzzle.... That vendor lists the FR Special as follows:

Manufacturer: Floyd Rose
Manufacturer Part No: FRT-S1000

The Special isn't a 1000, but they're using "1000" in the part number. Confusing.

I hate to say it, but Ed Roman has some pretty good info on his site: http://www.edroman.com/parts/IS_bridgetrem.htm

Basically ...

FRT-100, FRT-200, FRT-300 = Floyd Rose Original German (Chrome, Black, Gold)
FRT-1000, FRT-2000, FRT-3000 = Floyd Rose Korean (Chrome, Black, Gold) (looks like the one on the new production model Charvels)
FRT Spec C = Floyd Rose Special (Chrome)

[zarl]

I don't remember who pointed it out first, but the Special's baseplate is rounded on the front around the knife edges. The Korean one is not - it is straight edged like the German one.

Here's a photo of the Charvel Floyd Rose I pulled from my SoCal:


Here's a brand new German OFR made by Schaller that I purchased from Warmoth to replace it:


Compare these photos to the FR Special:


I'm not sure I see the rounded baseplate detail difference.

Here's another piece of the puzzle.... That vendor lists the FR Special as follows:

Manufacturer: Floyd Rose
Manufacturer Part No: FRT-S1000

The Special isn't a 1000, but they're using "1000" in the part number. Confusing.

[Grandturk]

I don't remember who pointed it out first, but the Special's baseplate is rounded on the front around the knife edges. The Korean one is not - it is straight edged like the German one.

[zarl]

The top of the line ESP Lynch guitars have "Floyd Rose Original", the mid tier has "Foyd Rose 1000 Series" (which I think is the same as what's on the Charvels), and the bottom tier has the "Floyd Rose Special". It's the GL-200MT that I tried out.

That's good info on that ESP page. It sure would be nice to see a spec sheet and comparison of what looks to be 3 versions of "Floyd Rose" branded trems. I wasn't aware of the 1000 series and couldn't find any info on them online -- that may very well be the same thing on our Charvels.

[DHardmanJr]

Let's just say the picture is very flattering. In person the differences are quite obvious. Especially if you look at the baseplate from the side. The baseplate has an appearance of having been bent into shape, the size of the trem arm collar is different, the bar actually sits a bit higher and the quality of the metal appears to be of a lesser grade.

I'm not saying that the Floyd Rose Special is "bad". The one I tried stayed in tune ok under some light use. But if you have ever seen a one of the production model floyds in person then saw a Floyd Rose Special you'd be able to spot the differences easily.

Here's an example of the different levels: http://espguitars.com/guitars_george.html

The top of the line ESP Lynch guitars have "Floyd Rose Original", the mid tier has "Foyd Rose 1000 Series" (which I think is the same as what's on the Charvels), and the bottom tier has the "Floyd Rose Special". It's the GL-200MT that I tried out.

[zarl]

Here's one thread on the FR confusion: http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97251

And I think there was some mention on this long thread: http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90264

I don't know how to describe the technical differences, but I have seen a Floyd Rose Special on an ESP guitar in person and it is very different than the one on the Charvel Production models.

The one on the production models could pass for an OFR if you don't know what to look for, but the Floyd Rose Special is very obviously cosmetically different and not to the same level of quality.

You may be right on that -- I'm not really "in the know" on this topic. But, to me, they appear to be very similar cosmetically, and the specs with the use of zinc saddles and blocks seem to be consistent. Check out this one in black:



Aside from the obvious "Floyd Rose Special" stamping, I think it would be hard to spot the differences.

[DHardmanJr]

Here's one thread on the FR confusion: http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97251

And I think there was some mention on this long thread: http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90264

I don't know how to describe the technical differences, but I have seen a Floyd Rose Special on an ESP guitar in person and it is very different than the one on the Charvel Production models.

The one on the production models could pass for an OFR if you don't know what to look for, but the Floyd Rose Special is very obviously cosmetically different and not to the same level of quality.

[zarl]

FYI: The Floyd Rose Special is not the same as the Floyd Rose that's in the current Charvel Production Models. The ones with "Special" stamped on them are made more cheaply. There's information on that in other threads on this forum.

Could you point me to that thread? The Specials have the same rear beveled zinc saddles, and the specs on them show a hardened steel plate and painted block. The screw in trem bars have that same "loose" feel. Both feel cheaper than the German OFR, but are both decent trems. I would just keep it on the Charvel it were chrome.



Here's a thread on another forum about the Specials. The vendor weighs in on the discussion too:

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/f21/floyd-rose-licensed-trems-at-guitarpartsdepot-83170.html

[DHardmanJr]

Another option to shave costs would be to use a "Floyd Rose Special." It's the same Korean made bridge as the Floyd on the Charvel ProMod with the zinc blocks, etc. They're just stamped "Floyd Rose Special" on the plate, kind of like the OFRs in the early 90's stamped "Floyd Rose Original." A few online vendors are selling them for $75 or so including the R3 nut, all in chrome. I've tried them in person and they look and feel identical to the ones on our Charvels.

FYI: The Floyd Rose Special is not the same as the Floyd Rose that's in the current Charvel Production Models. The ones with "Special" stamped on them are made more cheaply. There's information on that in other threads on this forum.

[zarl]

Thank you in advance Zarl. Right now it is hard for me to justify the cost of the upgrade, of course I could offset this a bit by reselling the stock parts, but I usually like to keep hardware for future projects. So..if the pictures are sexy enough, I would find a way to justify! Curious, where did you get your double cream duncans from? For some reason I have been only able to find black or zebra. Thanks.

Here's the guitar that's inspiring me to switch it up to creme and chrome. Color isn't exactly the same, but you get the general idea of what a Sea Sick Green will look like after the change.

[zarl]

Thank you in advance Zarl. Right now it is hard for me to justify the cost of the upgrade, of course I could offset this a bit by reselling the stock parts, but I usually like to keep hardware for future projects. So..if the pictures are sexy enough, I would find a way to justify! Curious, where did you get your double cream duncans from? For some reason I have been only able to find black or zebra. Thanks.

I'm dropping in a set of creme Seymour Duncan P-Rails so I can get single coil, P-90, and humbucker tones. I'm doing a push-pull neck/bridge pickup selector on the volume pot --- I think SD calls this the "George Lynch" wiring. I'm then going to wire the toggle switch for the humbucker/single/P90 selection. That way I'll retain the factory look in case I decide to change things up again. Duncan sent me the P-Rails in a creme color --- I don't think they do creme on other pickup models though. I was going to drop the P-Rails into a Les Paul Standard, and then use the Gibson black/creme humbuckers from the Les Paul in the Charvel. Still may do that, but I'd like to have the tone options in that new Charvel. We'll see.....

Costwise, I picked up the Charvel, the OFR, grovers, creme rings, and electronics for under $1100 --- I had the pickups already, and this doesn't factor in selling off any spare parts.

Another option to shave costs would be to use a "Floyd Rose Special." It's the same Korean made bridge as the Floyd on the Charvel ProMod with the zinc blocks, etc. They're just stamped "Floyd Rose Special" on the plate, kind of like the OFRs in the early 90's stamped "Floyd Rose Original." A few online vendors are selling them for $75 or so including the R3 nut, all in chrome. I've tried them in person and they look and feel identical to the ones on our Charvels.

[jmsaxon69]

I am making my switch with a complete Candy Blue guitar and putting the black hardware on the Polar White and selling the Polar on eBay. I think I might actually make money on that deal.

And yeah, where did you find all creme SD?

[thesparkeffect]

Thank you in advance Zarl. Right now it is hard for me to justify the cost of the upgrade, of course I could offset this a bit by reselling the stock parts, but I usually like to keep hardware for future projects. So..if the pictures are sexy enough, I would find a way to justify! Curious, where did you get your double cream duncans from? For some reason I have been only able to find black or zebra. Thanks.