So I went to visit Floyd Rose (long) (now with pictures!)

hippietim · December 18th, 2003, 11:12 PM

This is definitely off topic but I figured a few folks here have an interest in Floyd plus it's just a nice story of a stand up company in this business.

As it turns out Floyd Rose is a local guy. A little while back buddy of mine had gotten one of the new Speedloader bridges from Floyd and his having Don Grosh build him a guitar.

I've been wanting a guitar with a Speedloader for a while so when the HippieCaster came last week I had the perfect guitar to put it on.

I called Floyd up on Monday to ask him about retrofitting it and he said to just come on down and he'd take a look at it.

Wednesday I dropped by and had him take a look at it. I gotta tell you it was really cool to have Floyd Rose himself pop the bridge off my guitar and see how the Speedloader would fit. Well, it doesn't. The recessed route needs to go back further to accomodate the new bridge. Bummer. :( The only way to do it would be to route it. He didn't think it'd be a good idea with that finish. I wasn't hip to the idea either. Even if I would have considered it, it would have cost a ton of money to have it routed and have the finish repaired - it just wouldn't be worth it.

So Floyd says "why don't you try one of my guitars ?"

Sure!

So we walk over to the building where they manufacture the guitars. He also tells me to bring my guitar because JT (one of his luthiers) is a big Jackson fan.

This was VERY cool. Floyd hands me a guitar that JT had just finished setting up. This guitar was amazing. He plugged it into a very sweet Marshall combo - JT had modded it, it screamed! This first guitar had really hot pair of humbuckers in it. The guitar had sustain forever. It was very light and resonant. The Speedloader felt really good.

Then he hands me another guitar with their classic humbuckers in it. I liked this even better. The pickups were a bit more mellow but still had enough bite. They cleaned real nice too when you back off the volume control.

Some interesting things worth mentioning:<ul>[*]The action was sooooo low. I couldn't believe how low JT gets the action with no buzzing.[*]Everything about Floyds guitars are unique in some way. The pickups are custom made (designed by JT), the neck has a unique feel and shape, unique pickguard design, and the Speedloader![*]These guitars are made in the USA right there in the room I was in![*]The Speedloader bridges are being made by Schaller.[*]They are making a set neck model - looks sort of like a cross between a Les Paul, Tele, and a PRS. Very nice - I saw the Korina bodies :)[*]They have a fixed bridge Speedloader in the works - I saw a Gibson SG they had modded for this.[/list]Floyd hung around and chatted for a while. I thought he was very cool and particularly gracious with his time for some unknown guitar player! He got called away but that's when JT and I started talking - he is a super cool guy. He's a big Jackson/Charvel fan, used to work for Gibson, knows a ton about guitars, amps, etc.

As we were talking he mentioned that he had put a Speedloader on one of Steve Vai's guitars.

So I asked him if he could put a Speedloader on my JEM7VWH. No problem. So today I brought my JEM to him. I should have it the day after Christmas. While I was there today I got a new bar for the HippieCaster since it was well worn and wasn't secure. Once again, everyone was super cool.

So I think I will seriously be looking into a Floyd Rose guitar for my next purchase...

thrasher · December 19th, 2003, 08:08 AM

That's super cool man.

Hey, what's with the headstocks on those things?

hippietim · December 19th, 2003, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrasher

That's super cool man.

Hey, what's with the headstocks on those things?

I think they just opted to make 'em light since there is no reason for tuning keys. You do need some sort of headstock otherwise standard stands and cases won't work plus a guitar without a headstock looks funny (and I've owned several Steinbergers so I get the guitars).

Paul in Colorado · December 19th, 2003, 10:22 AM

Is there a web site? Do you have a link?

hippietim · January 2nd, 2004, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

Is there a web site? Do you have a link?

http://www.floydrose.com

I got my Ibanez JEM7VWH back yesterday. JT did a fantastic job! It looks really good. The Speedloader bridge is lighter than the stock Ibanez trem. Combine that with the fact that the guitar no longer has any tuners and I think the guitar lost a pound - nice side effect. Anyway, JT set the guitar up very nicely, it plays like a dream. He threw in a few more sets of strings and showed me a bit of how to work with the Speedloader.

While I was there, JT showed me and a buddy that came with me some of the other inner workings. We saw pickguards and necks being made, the new V body shape (it is very cool), a few Korina set neck's nearing completion - fun stuff!

I will post pics of the JEM when I get off my arse and take some.

Happy New Year!

Peds... · January 3rd, 2004, 02:45 AM

WOW that's cool...

I have associated Floyd Rose (at least the name) with 80's metal, big hair bands, Van Halen Divebombs and routed pre CBS Strats.

It's cool to see that he's gracious and a real person.

hippietim · January 9th, 2004, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippietim

I will post pics of the JEM when I get off my arse and take some.

Ok, I got off my arse. Here are some pics. JT did a fabulous job.

December 18th, 2003, 11:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
hippietim Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Raleigh Posts: 2,092	So I went to visit Floyd Rose (long) (now with pictures!) This is definitely off topic but I figured a few folks here have an interest in Floyd plus it's just a nice story of a stand up company in this business. As it turns out Floyd Rose is a local guy. A little while back buddy of mine had gotten one of the new Speedloader bridges from Floyd and his having Don Grosh build him a guitar. I've been wanting a guitar with a Speedloader for a while so when the HippieCaster came last week I had the perfect guitar to put it on. I called Floyd up on Monday to ask him about retrofitting it and he said to just come on down and he'd take a look at it. Wednesday I dropped by and had him take a look at it. I gotta tell you it was really cool to have Floyd Rose himself pop the bridge off my guitar and see how the Speedloader would fit. Well, it doesn't. The recessed route needs to go back further to accomodate the new bridge. Bummer. :( The only way to do it would be to route it. He didn't think it'd be a good idea with that finish. I wasn't hip to the idea either. Even if I would have considered it, it would have cost a ton of money to have it routed and have the finish repaired - it just wouldn't be worth it. So Floyd says "why don't you try one of my guitars ?" Sure! So we walk over to the building where they manufacture the guitars. He also tells me to bring my guitar because JT (one of his luthiers) is a big Jackson fan. This was VERY cool. Floyd hands me a guitar that JT had just finished setting up. This guitar was amazing. He plugged it into a very sweet Marshall combo - JT had modded it, it screamed! This first guitar had really hot pair of humbuckers in it. The guitar had sustain forever. It was very light and resonant. The Speedloader felt really good. Then he hands me another guitar with their classic humbuckers in it. I liked this even better. The pickups were a bit more mellow but still had enough bite. They cleaned real nice too when you back off the volume control. Some interesting things worth mentioning:<ul>[]The action was sooooo low. I couldn't believe how low JT gets the action with no buzzing.[]Everything about Floyds guitars are unique in some way. The pickups are custom made (designed by JT), the neck has a unique feel and shape, unique pickguard design, and the Speedloader![]These guitars are made in the USA right there in the room I was in![]The Speedloader bridges are being made by Schaller.[]They are making a set neck model - looks sort of like a cross between a Les Paul, Tele, and a PRS. Very nice - I saw the Korina bodies :)[]They have a fixed bridge Speedloader in the works - I saw a Gibson SG they had modded for this.[/list]Floyd hung around and chatted for a while. I thought he was very cool and particularly gracious with his time for some unknown guitar player! He got called away but that's when JT and I started talking - he is a super cool guy. He's a big Jackson/Charvel fan, used to work for Gibson, knows a ton about guitars, amps, etc. As we were talking he mentioned that he had put a Speedloader on one of Steve Vai's guitars. So I asked him if he could put a Speedloader on my JEM7VWH. No problem. So today I brought my JEM to him. I should have it the day after Christmas. While I was there today I got a new bar for the HippieCaster since it was well worn and wasn't secure. Once again, everyone was super cool. So I think I will seriously be looking into a Floyd Rose guitar for my next purchase...

December 19th, 2003, 08:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
thrasher Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 587	That's super cool man. Hey, what's with the headstocks on those things?

December 19th, 2003, 10:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,122 3 Photos	Is there a web site? Do you have a link?

January 3rd, 2004, 02:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
Peds... Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 300	WOW that's cool... I have associated Floyd Rose (at least the name) with 80's metal, big hair bands, Van Halen Divebombs and routed pre CBS Strats. It's cool to see that he's gracious and a real person.