A Word From Floyd:

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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Sent an email to Floyd Rose technical support and asked about spring positioning. Received interesting response:

"Rob,

There's much debate on spring routing and nearly all of it wrong. The angled outer springs were done for one reason and that's to keep the outer springs from rubbing the walls of the cavity in early Fender guitars. Actual testing shows no change in pitch return no matter how you route the springs. Mathematically, the outer springs exert slightly more force, but it's not a factor in stability.

Three springs is what we recommend with bridge parallel at pitch. It's been proven to work the best.

Jack - Technical Support"
 
I do think more emphasis is placed on spring configuration than necessary.

Pitch return is having just enough spring tension to overcome string tension and the strings not binding in the nut - or not slipping in an OFR nut. That's it.

Think of Yngwie who prefers 5 springs decked and a brass nut.

EVH used 2 springs with a decked OFR on his Frankenstrat.

Same exact principle at work....
 
In pretty much every aspect of guitar discussion there is as much (or more) misinformation as actual useful, factual information. Much of it is easily debunked with some basic science or even just common sense. A lot of the credence given to some of it falls into the category of "but what if it's true?" ... people anxiously looking for any tone improvement they can get when half of the issue is usually bad strings, bad setup, and/or bad technique ...

I'd rely on Floyd Rose for good information ... those Floyd Upgrades guys on the other hand, well ...
 
So they basically confirmed what I thought through my own anecdotal experience. Personally, I like Strat bridges to float, because I find that decking them takes away some of the essential "Strattiness" (to my ears at least) and I have found over the years that its possible to set them up correctly no matter if its 5, 4, 3 or 2 springs (never tried just one). It's all about matching the spring tension to the string tension. In my expereince with decked bridges it makes zero difference how the springs are set up - the bridge always returns to the decked position - so it makes sense to just have a bit more tension than the strings and it'll work right every time.
 
I like to use matched springs (like using matched screws, washers, etc) and I use what ever number springs I need to keep the trem where I want it when it's all tuned up. I don't really think of it much beyond that. But, If I where to notice a spring that was more 'stout' than the others I'd put it at the low E end also.
 
gball said:
So they basically confirmed what I thought through my own anecdotal experience. Personally, I like Strat bridges to float, because I find that decking them takes away some of the essential "Strattiness" (to my ears at least) and I have found over the years that its possible to set them up correctly no matter if its 5, 4, 3 or 2 springs (never tried just one). It's all about matching the spring tension to the string tension. In my expereince with decked bridges it makes zero difference how the springs are set up - the bridge always returns to the decked position - so it makes sense to just have a bit more tension than the strings and it'll work right every time.
Click to expand...

Yes!!!! Listen to the little clip I posted call "Natalie's Guitar." There is a sweetness in the tone that you cannot get decked!!!!
 
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