Putting an OFR in a DK2L/Real Duncans?

[Deathrider29]

Hi.
Just joined up today, and wanted to say hi to all the Jackson/Charvel shredders before I get down to business.

Anyway, I have a Jackson DK2L tuned to drop D (I'm left handed). First and foremost, I want to know if an Original Floyd Rose (left handed) will retro-fit into my guitar. I called a music store by my house today and the guy there claimed that since my guitar has the JT580LP low pro bridge, that an original floyd would require some routing, and that only a low profile floyd would fit. However, based on what I could find on this site, it seems that the standard, regular, Original Floyd Rose will replace the JT580LP with no guitar modifications. Is this true?

Also, will the new locking nut that comes with the OFR replace the factory Jackson nut with no problems (assuming I get the correct size, which I believe is the L3)?

Also, do the OFR's come with their own tremolo block, and if not, will the one that's currently in my guitar from the factory work fine?

So basically, will an OFR replace the JT580LP with no complications or mods?

Finally, I got the guitar from guitarcenter.com in the summer of 2008. Since I got it online, I'm not sure what year it was actually produced. The serial number is: 9817380. I'm curious because I'm wondering if my guitar has the real duncan pups or if it has the cheaper duncan designed ones.

[Chief_CrazyTalk]

Welcome.

I wish I knew about the trem swap myself. I bought a DK2 recently and I'm fine with the stock trem. That question has been debated but I still don't know for sure whether the OFR will drop in. Like I said, I have no plans on changing mine, but would like to know what'll work and what won't if I ever do.

I believe the real SDs have "seymour Duncan" on them, while the duncan designed set has just that.

[Acesofbelkan]

Here's everything you need to know along with some
pics.http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/TremoloInfoProject.htm
According to the site, the swap is do-able. But only if you plan on playing standard tuning. The low E saddle is as far back as it will possibly go in order to have it intonated properly. Any lower tuning will require for the saddle to be farther back which wont be possible.
If you play standard tuning then yeah go for it. It wont be cosmetically perfect though.

[toejam]

An Original Floyd should fit fine. The Lo-Pro Floyd will not.

[Deathrider29]

^^^^Thanks very much for that. My guitar is in drop D so based on that article it looks like the OFR swap won't work. Has anyone successfully done the OFR swap with a drop tuning?

[storm_rider_71]

OFR's DO come with their own tremolo block. The block on OFR's is machined from bell brass.

[jackson1]

^^^^Thanks very much for that. My guitar is in drop D so based on that article it looks like the OFR swap won't work. Has anyone successfully done the OFR swap with a drop tuning?

It might work. All I'm saying is that I can't guarantee that it will work. Drop-D isn't extreme, so you might get away with it. You could ask rjohnstone here if he tried drop-D on his PC3 and had any problems afterwards intonating it.

Photo of an OFR in a JT580LP route: http://www.audiozone.dk/tremolo/pc3_ofr.jpg

Riiiiick!

[rjohnstone]

It might work. All I'm saying is that I can't guarantee that it will work. Drop-D isn't extreme, so you might get away with it. You could ask rjohnstone here if he tried drop-D on his PC3 and had any problems afterwards intonating it.

Photo of an OFR in a JT580LP route: http://www.audiozone.dk/tremolo/pc3_ofr.jpg

Riiiiick!

My PC3 had room in the route to do drop D tuning.
As you can see in the pic of the low E saddle, I had done it before. (The finish is rubbed off of the saddle where the lock screw was for the drop D position)
It was close, but never rubbed once.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I did it on my '96 SL2 and I had no problem with intonation or issues with the tremolo route, plenty of room.

My Fusion HH, it didn't work.

I'm guessing that newer 580-equipped guitars have a slightly deeper route though, nearly everyone says it works fine.

For the nut, you WILL need to either:

a) Grind the nut down, fill the existing holes, and drill new ones
b) Have the nut shelf routed lower, fill the existing holes, and drill new ones
c) Use the existing nut

I recommend you get the neck's nut shelf routed, filled, and re-drille. You probably need to have a pro do it, but it shouldn't cost much at all, it's maybe a half-hour job at worst not counting time for the glue to dry.

[rjohnstone]

Just use the existing nut.
If it ain't slipping or worn out, it makes no sense to go through the hassle of modding it for an OFR nut.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Yeah, the only reason I say to mod it is, I don't know how long the import nuts hold up, but it's tough finding an exact replacement. Floyd R3 has been the same for 20+ years, except maybe for the countersink on the top side of the mounting screws.

Plus you get a new nut with the tremolo anyway... For what, $30 worth of luthiery, why not use it?

Wait, that's two reasons.

Well anyway, it will work either way.

[jackson1]

My PC3 had room in the route to do drop D tuning.

Room in the route is only one of the problems. Range is another...when moving the saddle towards the bridge, the saddle could hit the sloping piece of the baseplate and stop before you have achieved perfect intonation.

[john.w.lawson]

I just tried to put a floyd sp on a model 6 and it slipping on the bass side(need new post from frets on the net) would be my guess. So lucky I also bought a jt-6 off flea bay for 29. shipprd : ) and put it on until I get a set from dave : ))

[rjohnstone]

Room in the route is only one of the problems. Range is another...when moving the saddle towards the bridge, the saddle could hit the sloping piece of the baseplate and stop before you have achieved perfect intonation.

A Floyd has always had a limited tuning range. The only cure for that is moving the posts/studs.
The issue at hand is drop D tuning an OFR in a JT-580LP route.
It is possible to do this without the lock bolts hitting the back of the route.

[Confuse-a-Cat]

Finally, I got the guitar from guitarcenter.com in the summer of 2008. Since I got it online, I'm not sure what year it was actually produced. The serial number is: 9817380. I'm curious because I'm wondering if my guitar has the real duncan pups or if it has the cheaper duncan designed ones.

I'm confused by this bit! If the pickups say Seymour Duncan on them, they're the real ones, and if they say Duncan Designed, well that's what they are.

The swicthover from Duncan Designed to real Duncans was in 2006, I believe.