Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has fitted a floyd to a les paul (non solid colour) and how they covered the stud mount holes satisfactorily?
I'm about to try this, the floyd routing etc shouldnt be too much of a problem, but filling in these holes and re-colouring them (its a tobacco burst) is going to be nigh on impossible... 'have to admit i originally though the guitar was black when i quoted it - dont know why, wishful thinking i think!!
any help gratefully received
cheers
steve

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Why a Floyd Rose and not a Bigsby? I'm going to assume this is a LP Studio with a flat top, otherwise, I don't think it would work so well. As to plugging the holes...good luck there...maybe an inlay?

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

yeah, its the floyd that the customer wants on his Standard, bigsby would be a nicer option from my point of view...

inlays are a good idea - not really my bag normally but might be a good plan.

think i'm just going to call the guy (he's about as nice a guy as you could ever hope to meet) and explain the issue before it goes any further...

if it was mine i'd just leave the holes...mind you i wouldnt put a floyd on my les paul...

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Bigsby is a choice BUT...I would chose a KAHLER over a Floyd any day.Why?
1) they are easy to install - they sell a model that attaches to the existing studs. You DON"T have to have a flat surface either...carved top is fine.
2) They are real well made. truly well chromed or coated.
3) They can lock down and act like a solid bridge with the turn of one tiny screw.
4) They retun to pitch equally as well but have more adjustments when it comes to arm tension, string width, even forward and backward movement and arch.

o.k. i sell them...but only because I really like them. I like the Floyds too but I like the Kahlers better. Especialy when retro fitting on a LP.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Eddie van halen owns a flametop les paul standard with a floyd. it was a gift from les paul himself. So it can be done. i just never have did one. i have only done strats. Floyd rose also sold a special unit for les pauls. hers a pic

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

If you can find one of the Made-For-Les-Paul floyds (like that pic, seen them on eBay a few times).
Otherwise, the MAJOR issue in fitting a floyd is neck angle; a Floyd's just nowhere near the same height as a tunomatic, so unless you're building a guitar with a floyd in mind, it's not as simple as routing for a floyd and popping it in.

You could always buy a Neil Schoen Les Paul, comes stock with a Floyd. Maybe install a Khaler stud mount unit, which is designed as a drop in for Les Paul type guitars and will do the trick:

http://www.wammiworld.com/7200.html

I've installed Floyd Rose units on several Les Pauls and have had great results each time. It's
a one way ticket mod since the routing is extensive and very difficult to cover once it's been
done....unless you choose to finish to a solid color after the return to stock status.

All the LPs that I did were carved tops with burst finishes. I've always removed the threaded
post inserts and finished over the Maple plugs that took their place in the top. I matched the
amber of the burst center where the bridge lands and feathered the clearcoat into the existing
finishes. There is much more to consider than simply routing, popping the unit on and setting
the height and intonation. It's not a mod for anyone to perform, but takes some experience and
the kind of foresight that comes with it. You can easily destroy you Les Paul trying it without
experience as a repairman and retrofitter.

I like the Kahler units, too, but sometimes, the tension, feel and tone of a Floyd Rose is enough
to keep people going after them instead of any of the alternatives. It still has the widest tremolo
travel and pitch effect and still, in my opinion, stays in tune better than any other tremolo unit
ever designed.

It's a matter of preference in any case.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

I have experimented with kahlers over the years and never felt they were as good as the floyd. I felt the kahlers tension was always a bit to soft and they didn't stay in tune as well as the locking nuts of a floyd.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

thanks everyone,
its pretty much the way forward I'm expecting Kevin, it's getting a seamless end result i'm nervous about.
Hmm, think i'll give it a go after discussing it with the customer - cant say as i'll be disappointed if he's not into it.

There's a stack of scrap les paul copies here the shop has thrown out - i'll be practising on them anyway.

The neck angle question concerns me too, any advice is gratefully received as ever,
also the string width is an issue obviously, I'm expecting to just drop in a 53mm p/up while hoping floyd make a narrower bridge that I haven't been able to find yet!

maybe i should photograph the whole process for the next guy anyway...should be good for a laugh when i end up with the lock nut on the bridge and the floyd upside down on the headstock....
cheers,
steve

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www.theguitarrepairworkshop.com