Floyd Rose on Early Style Stratocaster:

For a while now, I been considering a non-recessed Floyd Rose on my YelloStrat. The 6 screw stays in tune well enough, bit when I play my Schecter, I realize the Floyd is more dynamic and responsive.

Routing the neck for a Floyd nut is tricky on the "traditional" style Stratocasters, as often the operation exposes the truss rod head.

I see two major hurdles I need to overcome to make this work:

1. String spacing:

My current bridge has 10.5mm spacing with a 52.5mm spread from E-to-e. With the 2-3/16" fretboard, this gives me lots of room between the high e and the beveled fret end.

I need to retain this spacing relationship if I switch to a Floyd Rose.

I have read that all Floyds are based on a spacing of .420" with the exception of the "low profile pro," which has a .400" spacing.

Are any of the Schaller or Gotoh Floyd's narrow spaced???

2. Locking Nut:

I've decided that the easiest way to do the lock nut is to go behind-the-nut, like Ibanez did on the Destroyers.

I found a lock nut from a Fender Stratocaster Elite that mounts with zero routing.





My biggest question is can I find a Narrow-Spaced Floyd Rose bridge that will fit without routing/recessing my 1982 MIJ Stratocaster???

Thoughts, Floyd Rose Gurus???

Four years later, I still can't be any help on a Floyd with import string spacing.
Just wanted to comment that an above-nut locking unit with fine tuners is a pretty cool idea.

Still have my first Floyd from back in the the 70s - original design, no fine tuners - gathering dust in a parts box.
Replaced it with the finetuner version immediately when those came out and never looked back.

In recent years some have said they prefer the old non-finetuner version, and I've been tempted to try it again.
What's held me back is the memory of what a hassle it was to get the guitar in perfect tune with it.

Now I'm thinking about a partscaster using the old Floyd with the fine tuner string lock.
Best of both worlds... If I ever get around to it.