Original Floyd Rose verses GOTOH Floyd Rose

[hwaller]

I bought a circa 2008 RR3 Green Swirl off of Craigslist a little while ago, and I am really digging it. It is my first Jackson and my second locking nut-guitar. (I used to own a 1998 Ibanez RG 570 with an original Edge tremolo that always stayed in tune.)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a4lviz98x0mcymk/IMG_6551.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/psmaoul8lzcs58z/IMG_6555.jpg?dl=0

I have not been too happy with the Jackson-licensed Floyd Rose in my RR3. It's having a hard time staying in tune, even after the strings have been broken in, and it just doesn't feel "snappy" the way the Edge on my old Ibanez did. The posts wiggled when I first got it, and the fulcrum edges are pretty chewed-up. I took it apart, cleaned everything, set it up correctly, but it's not doing the job the way my Edge used to do on my Ibanez.

So I want to replace the Floyd, but I'm not sure what to get. Do I get an Original Floyd Rose made in Germany? Suhr seems to like the GOTOH licensed Floyds for their guitars, and they are a bit cheaper. Should I do that?

Is there another way to go?

I am looking forward to the collective wisdom of this site. Thanks in advance.

[diablomozart]

i always liked the schaller floyd rose style bridges myself...but i prefer the edge to all of them...d.m.

[MountainDog]

I just purchased two Vola Luna guitars and they use the Gotoh 1996T floyd and I like it a lot, very well made, great feel to the fine tuners, stays in tune, cones back to pitch. Looks like the same Gotoh that Suhr used on their shred models.
Vola website for those that have never heard of these guitars: https://www.volaguitar.com/product-c.../guitars/luna/

i found this old JCF thread on the subject:

https://www.jcfonline.com/forum/equipment/tech-q-a/136873-battle-of-the-floyds-gotoh-vs-schaller

[metalhobo]

maybe slightly tangential but I was reading this article about the various iterations of evh's guitar, and it was interesting to me how NONE of them used a german OFR. the music man used a gotoh, the peavey a ping with a brass block, and the evh/fender a korean floyd (even on the usa model). https://reverb.com/news/the-story-of...ang-evh-guitar

all three of these are guitars that went through major iterations of design, with eddie taking the prototypes on tour, so durability and reliability were certainly prime concerns. and yet, with sound and function as the prime factors, not cost (these are expensive instruments to begin with), it's fascinating how none of them ended up with the german OFR. is the supremacy of schaller then a myth?

[hwaller]

This is perhaps a dumb question, but are the OFR (Original Floyd Rose) units made in Germany by Schaller?

[diablomozart]

This is perhaps a dumb question, but are the OFR (Original Floyd Rose) units made in Germany by Schaller?

yes...d.m.

[ed]

A fun fact the Edge is made by Gotoh.

[pianoguyy]

This is perhaps a dumb question, but are the OFR (Original Floyd Rose) units made in Germany by Schaller?

A fun fact the Edge is made by Gotoh.

you both should be more specific.
the original Floyd Rose is different than the Original Floyd Rose. And the Edge has so many variations...

[diablomozart]

the original edge and lo pro edge trems were made by gotoh, no clue on who made those other ones...as for floyd rose, you are correct, with so many different models now it's hard to tell but in my experience (and i'm really old lol) the only floyd rose models that matter will have made in germany stamped on the bottom of the plate...d.m.

[ed]

you both should be more specific.
the original Floyd Rose is different than the Original Floyd Rose. And the Edge has so many variations...

Yes the "original Edge" and the lo pro. I am not sure who makes the newer stuff like the edge pro or edge III or whatever iterations there are.

[Number Of The Priest]

The Edge Pro is also made by Gotoh.

If you're an Ibanez guy, you basically want any of the Gotoh-made Edge-named bridges: Original Edge, Lo-Pro Edge, and Edge Pro. I tend to favor the Original Edge simply because that's the most common one I've come across when I buy inexpensive used Ibanez guitars, and under my palm it "feels" the most like an Original Floyd, but I would not turn down any of those three bridges.

[CaptNasty]

If you are thinking of doing a tremolo swap, several things you need to be aware of: mounting inserts/studs and tremolo route. You need to positively Id your current tremolo then verify that the posts and route on your guitar will support whatever tremolo you want to go to.

When you say the posts wiggled, what do you mean? Did the studs wiggle in the insert or did the insert wiggle in the wood? Important distinction there. You might need to fill and redrill the holes in the guitar body if the insert holes have deformed.

OFR studs are smaller in diameter than GOTOH studs. You can use OFR studs for a GOTOH, but not vice versa.

On recessed installs you need to look at the length of the string retainer bolts. OFRs use longer bolts and will not fit into GOTOH and some Jackson trem routes.

Bottom line: research the compatibility of the bridge you have and the bridge you want so you know what you are getting in to.