What is the trick to adding strings to a Floyd Rose locking tremolo-equipped guitar? It drives me crazy.?

Question

I have a realy nice 80's Shadow brand guitar that plays excellent. I've had it for a year and had no problems tuning it or replacing a single string. I run a kinda heavy set of strings, 1/2 step down. A store set it up originally. Now I want to change all the strings to a .053 to .011 set and it will not stay in tune at all. I've been to a website and I feel like I'm following the directions and common sense, I'm a mechanic. I try to keep the bridge laid back a little towards the butt of the guitar because it seems like after going beyond flat the strings are trying to pull the bridge up towards the headstock and it goes way out of tune. I've tried for 2 hours to get it right and failed. I really like the guitar and I got a good deal but I almost wish it did not have this tremolo, I'm not really into divebombing the strings or making it whinny and all that. Just blues/rock. Thanks

Answer 1

I have encountered this predicament myself and it can be a real pain. This happens because all the strings were removed from the guitar at once. Easier to clean, harder to set up. Try this. Tune the D and G strings first. Then the A string. Then the B string. Now go back and re-tune the D and G strings. Now the A and B strings. Finally tune the E strings. Then go back and do the D G A B strings and again the E strings. Your tunings don't need to be exact just close until your finished. That'll teach ya to change string gauges. Good Luck.