can't get floyd rose to stay in tune (UPDATE)

[HTH AMPS]

ok, so this BC Rich Mockingbird I got is doing my head in, it tunes up to pitch, then seconds later drops back down a little - I can do this ad infinitum and its the same problem.

any ideas before I smash it to pieces in the back street?

[Stevepage]

Make sure strings are well stretched, maybe using some lubricant on the bridge posts and make sure every bolt and screw is tight.

Unfortunately some times all these things don't work and that means you'll have to get a tech to take a look.

[HTH AMPS]

Make sure strings are well stretched, maybe using some lubricant on the bridge posts and make sure every bolt and screw is tight.

Unfortunately some times all these things don't work and that means you'll have to get a tech to take a look.

should've said I'd tried all of the usual stuff like this - strings are WELL stretched in, I NEVER have any tuning problems with any of my hardtail guitars, oh and I play 11s.

Anyone?  Bueller?

[d1dsj]

Had a similar problem with my Wayne T type when I first had it. It turned out that one of the screws that hold the actual nut assembly was loose and it was moving ever so slightly... and I mean only a little.

[MDV]

It can be a million and one things with the floyd, really have to see it to find out whats going on with it.

But

One other thing to consider is neck relief - if you've changed gauge up a lot (I know you like heavy strings) without changing tuning that much then the neck will be bedding in again. Necks do this at wildly differing rates in my experience (from my legras, which take about a month to drift with a big guage change, to a remarkably elastic necked explorer I worked on once that did pretty much what youre describing going from 10s in E to 13s in D, but was fixed bridge).

Leave it in whatever tuning, out of tuning, even, for a few hours or a couple of days to let all the stresses and tensions in it level out, then fine tune it and see if its stable. If its not then the first things to check on the FR are nut stability/string slippage and knife edge and post wear.

Edit - and make sure you make note of any changes in relief.

[Keven]

that's what i was about to say. i had problems with a particular jackson i was setting for a customer and the neck relief was causing alot of problems with tuning. this one had a duff neck and it just warped at the slightest change in weather. the other floyd problem i had was due to the knife edges making the floyds sit sharp when you dived or sit flat when you pulled.luckily i was able to order just a base without the saddles so the customer saved a bit, also changed the posts for good measure.

i know i basically just echoed what MDV said but i've also seen these problems myself. to be honest the jackson's neck was so ''elastic'' i think the customer ordered a tremol-no for this guitar so i can't help on any solutions. take it to Jonathan?

[Matt77]

had a similar issue with a floyd once and it turned out to be the knife edges

[Copperhead]

All of the above plus... make sure bridge is staying level. Tired springs will "sag" under steady pressure, then when you move the trem they seem to go back to normal, only to sag when left alone for a few minutes.
Which is why you should block the cavity, make it dive-only and put a D-Tuna on there!!  :lol:

[Pete24v]

or get a trem-setter

[FELINEGUITARS]

How many springs you got in there Ian?
Are they still at good tension at the neutral point ?
Any pix?

[FernandoDuarte]

Ra! Welcome to the Floyd punishment :P

[HTH AMPS]

How many springs you got in there Ian?
Are they still at good tension at the neutral point ?
Any pix?

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.  I have upped the gauge to 11s, but it was doing the same thing with the 10s it had on prior to my string change to 11s a couple of days ago, so I'm ruling out the string gauge change.

I've had the entire trem off today, the posts show no sign of wear, same with the knife edges - the guitar is practically brand new, very little use.

Its got three springs - I've changed them to have a little more tension by having them set up with the outer two springs as per the picture below...

[gwEm]

i assume its a quality floyd?

[Dazza1004]

I found this really useful when I had my Jems

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/index.htm

[FELINEGUITARS]

try :
Remove middle spring and tighten spring claw up to restore balance
this will put remaining two springs under greater tension (even in neutral/rest position)

This may remove odd behaviour