Ok when i get my new ibanez (couple threads down) i want to tune it c sharp, because thats the tuning my band plays in (i wanted D but it was easier for everyone else to go c sharp blah blach)

however i have my jackson tuned to C sharp right now with 12-52 gauge strings and i must say it feels like shit, buzzing all over the place any note past the 12th fret on the E string sounds fucked. I tried to set it up the floyd rose as well as i could with it, but it was still buzzy, and the action isnt really THAT low at all.

so when i get this ibanez i want to do it right, and have it feel as good as possible when in C sharp ( Low action, Minimal buzzing, etc)
firstly what do you folks recomend for a string gauge?
Secondly,is there any particular way to set up my floyd rose to better accomodate this tuning while maintaining a nice low action and minimal buzzing?


any suggestions you guys have, please holla!

__________________

.12's should be fine for that tuning I would think, maybe its just your other axe? If it has a trem on it maybe it isnt sitting flat, this can cause the strings to be lower.

Floyd roses arent too hard to figure out, it just takes a lot of tinkering. Basically you are gonna need to open up the back - then tune, adjust screws, tune, adjust screws, tune, adjust screws. Until the edge of the bridge is even with the body.
Once you have done it the first time, you can slot something which fits tight between the body and the metal bar which the springs are connected to (http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/images/DCP_3157.JPG). This means when you take off the strings and the tension changes, the bridge wont wildly fly out of balance.

This site is how i learnt - http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/floydrosetremolo.htm

Basically get in there and have a good look at how it works. Once you understand you can figure out how to configure it to be perfect.

__________________

All you need to do is loosen the springs in the back.

The general rule is when you tune down on a floyd, or nay guitar with a fixed bridge for that matter, you need to loosen the springs on the back.

That way when the spring bridge goes -------> on the back of your guitar, the bridge is raised in adjustment to you dropping the strings to C#.


Now I don't know how many springs you have in the back but I added 2 additional ones, it makes my life a lot easier. if you ahve only 3 strings in the back no problem, but i suggest you go to a guitar shop and ask them to put in two more for you.

This should definately answer your question.

And in most gutiars, you only need a philips head screwdriver to loosen the strings.

However when you losen the strings, make sure the spring bridge (the metal plate that the strings are hooked onto, moves back parallel to the cutting).

in other words

cutting
|
|
V

| |8=========|
| | |
| |8=========|
| | |
| |8=========|

^
|
|
Spring bridge (metal plate)

excuse my poor diagram. =P

__________________

Gamma - Killer explanation! But why do so many people lack common sense and initiative to do things like this?

yup, just change the spring tension, so the bridge will stay paralel to the body in whatever tuning your in

and maybe do a small trussrod adjustment since their will be less tension on the neck. this might not be nessacery though

__________________

on my jackson, the bridge is perfectly parallel to my body


trust me boise, i did the best setup i could, but it still feels bad and buzzes like a bitch, maybe its the Truss rod

__________________

I set up an Ibanez about two days ago in C# with 11's, three springs parallel, no problems.

It may be a good idea to invest in a straight-edge from Stewart McDonald. I got one and its great. Makes setting up my guitars, neck adjustments a piece of cake...assuming your buzzing is coming from your neck of course.

I have to use five springs in my floyd guitars...damn heavy-handedness....

__________________

If you are sure you set up everything(saddles,action,spring tension and that stuff) well enough and it still buzzes, I think it is definitely the truss rod. If you know how to adjust the truss rod, great, but if not just do a google search and I'm sure you'll find enough info.

Ah. You did the best setup you could. Perhaps you should have asked a guitar tech to help you. I'm not trying to sound snobby I'm just saying.

__________________

ok so i just jammed again with my jackson today and its really not THAT badly setup, it just needs to be better


you're right casketcrusher, im gonna track down a good a tech to help me

__________________

if u wanna see if its the trussrod.. pres the strings (any) down on the 1st fret, and on the last fret, there should be a little bit of space between the 12th fret and the string NOTE: realy little space, a buisness card or sumtin alike, should just fit under it, lets say 1 mm?.

if thats ok, then the trusrod is perfect setup.
if it isnt, adjust the rod slightly.

__________________

when i tuned to C# on my guitar (with an OFR), i used 11-52's. I liked this gauge a lot. Real bottom heavy, great for dying fetus.
I have a feeling your jackson was just fucked up thats why it sounded bad in C# because 12-52's is a pretty normal gauge for that tuning.

__________________

I had wicked head fucks setting my guitar up to play in C with a liscensed FR. made it so unplayable i couldn't bare playing it. took it to a good guitar tech and he done wonders with it. Adjusted truss rod, set bridge and springs way better than me, dressed fretts and lowered string height (hitting sweeps better).In my experience if you know a good guitar tech it might be worth the money like in my case.

Jesus, this is easier than cleaning a fretboard:

1) block your trem completely, on both sides of the base of the trem(where the springs hook onto).

2)Change all the strings to the desired guage, tune to desired tuning and stretch them(takes a billion times less if you do step 1).

3)If you think the tension is higher than previously on the new strings, begin to tighten the springs. If not do the opposite. If the tension is REALLY different, consider removing one spring or adding one spring so you won't need to tighten/loosen the springs all that much.

4)Push/pull down on the trem while it's still blocked to know if you need to tighten/loosen the springs more. This will still keep your guitar in tune but will help to find the appropriate string tension you need.

5)When you think the spring tension is dead on, unblock the trem. Adjust the bridge height and truss rod if necessary, do minor tuning adjusments, lock the nut, then use the fine tuners.

Fuck paying some dude to do all that.

The best string guages for tunings with guitars with Floyds that are 24 frets and 25.5" scale:

10-46 for E(Dean Markleys for example)
10.5-48 for Eb(the DAddario ones)
11-52 for D(Dean Markleys)
12-54(JZ) - For C# (Dean Markleys).
13-58 - For B and Drop A.(GHS Lo Tune, the blue package ones)

Those work perfect for locking trem guitars with 25.5 scale and 24 frets. Perfect string tension.

__________________

The easiest way IMO is to simply block the trem on the front, tighten the springs completely, tune to key, then loosen the springs until it barely moves away from the block, and then tighten the springs like ½ a turn or so.

Then again, depending on your style of playing, you might not use the ability to pull the trem sharp; in which case you could simply leave the block in, tighten the springs a bit more and end up with a more stable guitar.