Replaced Floyd Rose with Gotoh GE 1996T in my San Dimas Pro Mod

[ZeroFiveFour]

After a year or so of using the Floyd Rose that came stock on my 2016 Pro Mod San Dimas It was time to replace the Floyd.
Having used Gotoh's for over 20 years, this particular floyd never really worked to my satisfaction, and only got worse as time went on unfortunately.

The stock Floyd Rose arm was always wobbly, never returned to pitch to my liking, always a tad sharp when pulled up, requiring me to push down to get to normal. It was to the point that I stopped using it, it was just not workable, causing me to always wonder if I was in proper tune.
Also, The finish on 3 of the saddles where my hand would contact, started wearing out, I believe it's called "Smoked Chrome" finish. I could live with a faded finish, but it was just another negative aspect of this bridge.

Prior to giving up on the Floyd, I had regularly checked that the Nut and neck were both tightened as well as checking the springs for any potential snagging. While it got better, as the neck and nut were in serious need of tightening when I recieved the guitar, the bridge was never solid re: retuning to accurate pitch.

When I took the floyd off, I noticed the plating had worn off on both Knife edges. On one side a noticable groove could be felt with my finger nail. Not sure if this is normal or not, but Perhaps it led to my tuning going sharp when pulling up and back to normal when pushing down.

I considered going with a German OFR, but they were over 200 bucks. I have Gotoh's on 4 other guitars and at around 120 bucks, It was a no brainer. I just got it yeserday, and installed it and set it up today. I chose the similar finish to Smoked Chrome, called, "Cosmo Black", looks identical to the "smoked Chrome finish". I'm hoping the finish holds up better than the OFR.

IMHO, The Gotoh is definitley a better system vs the stock FR that came with my 2016 San Dimas Pro Mod. I've never tried a German Floyd, so take that into account. FWIW, I believe the one on the Stock MIM Pro Mod is Korean made.

My findings.

1: Sustain seems to be improved
2: Trem arm sleeve is superior, with tight/loose adjustment option.
3: Trem Arm does not wobble at all.
4: Less input is needed resulting in more subtle trem work with more accuracy.
5: Just works properly through and through.





















Retired Floyd, notice the finish on the saddles.

[xenophobe]

The Gotoh is the best licensed Floyd on the market, imo. I prefer it over the OFR which is functionally identical to the Korean. I've replaced OFRs with Gotohs on at least 4 or 5 guitars? It straight up corrected perceived dead spots on my 89 Strathead with the JT590. I love the screw in bars with the nylon tensioner, the contoured saddles, the lockable posts, trem block screws to hold the springs in, etc.... The angled fine tuner rest is an issue with intonation tools, but that's my only real gripe.

[ZeroFiveFour]

The Gotoh is the best licensed Floyd on the market, imo. I prefer it over the OFR which is functionally identical to the Korean. I've replaced OFRs with Gotohs on at least 4 or 5 guitars? It straight up corrected perceived dead spots on my 89 Strathead with the JT590. I love the screw in bars with the nylon tensioner, the contoured saddles, the lockable posts, trem block screws to hold the springs in, etc.... The angled fine tuner rest is an issue with intonation tools, but that's my only real gripe.

I completely agree regarding it being the best on the market, and for all the reasons you listed.

I have had EBMM branded Gotoh's, as well as several Ibanez edge Trems. This was my first experience with an actual floyd rose. While not bad, and it is the original, it just didn't compare to the Gotoh. Had I not had the tuning issues, I would have been happy to keep it in. However after switching it out, It became glaringly obviouils just how much better the Gotoh feels, performs, and operates.

I am seriously considering replacing the Korean Floyd in my other Pro Mod, as it just makes playing the Charvel much more enjoyable and inspiring.

Cheers,

Tom

[Number Of The Priest]

Looks great!

I am probably in the minority when I have no reason to doubt the Floyd Rose official website's product description of their 1000 Series tremolos (the Korean OFRs) where they say the 1000 Series product is functionally and structurally identical in every way to the German/Schaller-made Original Floyd Rose, right down to the exact metals and dimensions used, except the 1000 Series is simply made in a different geographical factory (Korea as opposed to Germany), and the underside of the German OFR baseplate actually indicates its country of origin (whereas the Korean baseplate is blank).

I read several gripes here on the JCF from owners of 1000 Series bridges and how they can tell, either by playing/feel or tone, that they are different from German OFRs. Everything from their fine tuners being sticky to the units not staying in tune. Maybe I can't tell the difference and am baffled because I have two guitars equipped with 1000 Series products and they behave identically to my guitar that has an OFR. I've even owned a Floyd Rose Special that did me no wrong, even when the Special is acknowledged by the Floyd Rose website as having lesser quality materials (zinc alloy saddles in place of steel, and a zinc alloy sustain block in place of brass). Maybe I just got lucky with good units...

No problems with any Takeuchi JT580LP bridge either.

But I do own one guitar that has a Gotoh GE1996T and I've gone on record to acknowledge that I greatly like and respect it. Gotoh makes high quality stuff. All my Ibanez guitars have Edge tremolos, which are made by Gotoh. My personal gripe with Gotoh bridges is that I wish they had a finger-tightening threaded collar like an OFR.

I can't think of any double-locking tremolo system that has given me grief if properly set up and has no structural faults, but I can't think of any system that is perfect for my personal tastes either.

[xenophobe]

My personal gripe with Gotoh bridges is that I wish they had a finger-tightening threaded collar like an OFR.

That's one of it's best features, imo... not only is it a screw in, it has a nylon tensioner. There is no slop at all. I think it's amazing. And I like the bar angle better too. lmao

[Number Of The Priest]

Don't get me wrong, there is virtually no "wiggle" once the Gotoh arm is inserted fully into the trem, giving it a really responsive feel... but holy crap does it take forever and a day to insert the arm and spin it five dozen times until it gets most/all of the way down. First world problems... victim, me.

[ZeroFiveFour]

Don't get me wrong, there is virtually no "wiggle" once the Gotoh arm is inserted fully into the trem, giving it a really responsive feel... but holy crap does it take forever and a day to insert the arm and spin it five dozen times until it gets most/all of the way down. First world problems... victim, me.

NOTP,

Love your sense of humor!

Believe it or not, I actually counted this yesterday. I wanted to memorize it as part of my super-fast-set-up-routine. It's 7 times around for a free swinger, and 8 times around for a fully tight lock. I'm a free swinger kind of guy =)

Cheers,

Tom

[xenophobe]

Don't get me wrong, there is virtually no "wiggle" once the Gotoh arm is inserted fully into the trem, giving it a really responsive feel... but holy crap does it take forever and a day to insert the arm and spin it five dozen times until it gets most/all of the way down. First world problems... victim, me.

I dunno, I always get that zero tension wiggle that bothers the fuck out of me. I just hate the collar, it never stays put for me unless it's brand new. Yeah, it is pretty much a useless 1st world problem.

[bombtek]

Not to derail this thread, but the heavy duty Floyd unit I just got from GFS seems to be of extremely high quality. Screw in arm and everything lol

[VitaminG]

I dunno, I always get that zero tension wiggle that bothers the fuck out of me. I just hate the collar, it never stays put for me unless it's brand new. Yeah, it is pretty much a useless 1st world problem.

I'm the same. It feels like the collar constantly needs tightening

[kamanda]

Yeah, the Gotoh Floyds are awesome. Just put one on my Kramer. Definitely the best licensed one out there and for the price can't be beat.

[ZeroFiveFour]

Yeah, the Gotoh Floyds are awesome. Just put one on my Kramer. Definitely the best licensed one out there and for the price can't be beat.

Agreed!

I just bought another one for my San Dimas Pro Mod outfitted with Black hardware.
I've been playing my Gotoh equipped Charvel all week long. I picked up the Floyd equipped one today for contrast... and a minute later decided it needed a Gotoh too.

Cheers,

Tom

[1337storm]

I have never liked the threaded collar on the newer OFR:s, I much prefer the Early Floyd which is identical to the Gotoh screw in arm.
On my OFR:s I have put a spring in the hole to give the trem arm some resistens and it puts the collar under tension preventing it from
coming loose every two seconds. I think I used pickup springs for single coils that I cut and deformed and press fitted into the hole,
anyway..it works for me.
Having said that, I have replaced the OFR:s with Gotohs on three of my six US Jacksons because I like the softer feel of them.

[toejam]

Don't get me wrong, there is virtually no "wiggle" once the Gotoh arm is inserted fully into the trem, giving it a really responsive feel... but holy crap does it take forever and a day to insert the arm and spin it five dozen times until it gets most/all of the way down. First world problems... victim, me.

Hmm, never realized you have to screw the Gotoh arm in. The trem on my G&L has the allen screw with a nylon bushing behind it, but the bar just slides/pops in.

legtrem.jpg

[ZeroFiveFour]

I have never liked the threaded collar on the newer OFR:s, I much prefer the Early Floyd which is identical to the Gotoh screw in arm.
On my OFR:s I have put a spring in the hole to give the trem arm some resistens and it puts the collar under tension preventing it from
coming loose every two seconds. I think I used pickup springs for single coils that I cut and deformed and press fitted into the hole,
anyway..it works for me.
Having said that, I have replaced the OFR:s with Gotohs on three of my six US Jacksons because I like the softer feel of them.

I've heard about the spring method. That is a great idea, I also tried using the dental floss method, and the plumbers tape method. For me it was just too much of a hassle to do this every time I took the guitar out of the case and placed the bar back on.

Having owned Gotoh-Floyd'd Ibanez guitars since 87, and Gotoh Floyd'd EBMM guitars since 98, I always took for granted not having to screw in the bar. The EBMM's never required the bar to be removed, as the EBMM cases are designed to accomodate the bar on the guitar. With the Ibanez it has the push in, nylon bushing bar.

After using an actual floyd for the first time over this last year, I got a first hand taste of the "wiggly" arm scenario. It really stifled my use of the bar. As is with all music gear, what is right for me is not always right for someone else. So to each his own.

Re: Softer Feel,

I also like the softer feel and what I consider a more responsive feel of the Gotoh. After replacing the OFR's with Gotohs, it I have come to the conclusion that I just prefer the Gotoh.