How to Change Strings on a Floyd Rose Style Guitar Bridge

If you have been a guitar player for any amount of time you have no doubt change more than a few strings in that time. Changing guitar strings is not rocket science and is often self-explantory. However if you have a guitar with the advanced Floyd Rose bridge and tremelo system with a lock-down nut, then you will notice that the procedure is somewhat different and may seem like a daughting task. While it will not be a breeze and can go smoothly. I want to guide you through the process of changing your strings on a guitar with a Floyd Rose bridge and give you some tips on how to become as quick and efficient with it as you are with a traditional bridge.

This task will go much smoother if you have the right tools. You will need a pair of needle-nose pliers, some wire cutters (if your needle-nose do not have that capability), and a set of Allen wrenches (also called hex wrenches) for loosening the Floyd Rose hardware. An optional tool that will come in handy is a guitar string winder, though this tool is not essential to the process. Now let's get started!

Removing the String from the Floyd Rose Bridge

Start with the sixth (i.e. top) string. First because the Floyd Rose locks down the string at the bridge, we need to loosen the string at the bridge. Start buy loosening the screw that locks the string down which is located on the back side of the bridge and runs parallel with the strings. You will need an Allen wrench to accomplish this. Using your Allen wrench turn the screw counter-clockwise a few turns until you notice that the string is loosened from the bridge. You should be able to tell when it has happened.

Loosening the Lock Down Nut

Next you will need to free the string from the lock-down nut which is located at the top end of the neck just before the heastock. You can see that the locking nut is made up of three retainers that each hold down two of the strings. The first retainer holds down the top two strings. This is the one you will need to loosed in order to remove the top string. Take your Allen wrench again (note: it may not be the same size as the one you used for the bridge screw) and stick it into the top of the top retainer and loosen it by turning it counter-clockwise a few times. It is not nessecary to completely remove the retainer. After a few turns the string will become loose and you will be able to remove it once you have loosened the tuning key on the headstock.

Loosen the tuning key. Once you have done so then you should be able to grab the "ball" at the bridge end of the string and pull it out through the bridge. At this point you may have to snip the curled end of the string which had been wrapped around the tuner peg. Once it has been extracted, it is time to insert the new string. Remove the appropriate string from the package and unwind it (they are usually wrapped up in some manner). Take the plain, non-ball end of the string and insert it into the back of the bridge and pull it through from the other side (just like the previous string had been). Pull it all the way through until the ball at the other end catches and it will not go any further.

Some Floyd Rose bridges actually clamp down on the string eliminating the need for the ball. If this is the case then simply clip, with your pliers, the ball off of the new string. Then insert that end of the string down into the top of the Floyd Rose bridge. You may have to loosen the locking screw even more. Insert it as far as it will go into the saddle of the bridge and then tighten the lock screw down with your Allen wrench.

Tightening the Locking Nut and Winding the New String

Run the string up the neck and through the retainer. You will not tighten down this first retainer on the locking nut until after you have replaced the next string because it is also held down by this first retainer. But situation this first new string into the appropriate saddle of the first retainer and then stick the end through the hole in the tuning peg. You will need to leave some slack at this point so as to have plenty to wrap around the peg. However only about 1/2 inch to 1 inch of slack is necessary since you only will want to have the string go around the peg about twice. Too much excess wound around the peg can cause slippage and de-tuning of the strings.

After you have put the string through the tuning peg hole, bend the string, close to the peg, at a ninety-degree angle. This will keep the string from slipping out of the peg as you wind it. If you have a string winder, take it (or use your fingers) and turn the tuning key counterclockwise for the tops strings or clockwise for the bottom strings. This your strings go up the center of the headstock. If your guitar headstock is such that all of the keys are on the top, then turn them all counterclockwise. After the string has been tightened so that all of the slack is gone, you can the cut any excess string that is left hanging with the needle-nose pliers.

Finshing up

After you have replaced the next string down then you can use your Allen wrench to tighten down the top retainer of the lock down nut. The procedure is the same for every single string. Just follow the same steps for each and after about half an hour or so you will have a set of brand new strings and you will find that replacing strings on a Floyd Rose is difficult at first, it will get easier and quicker each time you do it. I hope this helps you understand your guitar and how to care for it and good luck!