How long can a Floyd Rose be missing a string?

[garrettendi]

So I have a Floyd Rose guitar... No string breakage yet and I'm getting it setup in a week and a half. How long can it last if I break a string? I have no skills with altering the springs or anything, and it'd take a day or two for Amazon to send me some strings.

It currently uses 9 gauge, but I don't know which brand!

[zenguitar]

Missing a string from a trem of any sort will do no harm. But it will be out of tune until the string is replaced.

When you get the guitar set-up make a point of keeping the packet for the strings. It will remind you exactly what strings are fitted so you can ensure replacements are the same.

Remember, although sets might appear to have the same gauges from different makers, differences in material, type of core and ratio between core and winding means that they might require slightly different set-ups.

Andy

[garrettendi]

Missing a string from a trem of any sort will do no harm. But it will be out of tune until the string is replaced.

When you get the guitar set-up make a point of keeping the packet for the strings. It will remind you exactly what strings are fitted so you can ensure replacements are the same.

Remember, although sets might appear to have the same gauges from different makers, differences in material, type of core and ratio between core and winding means that they might require slightly different set-ups.

Andy

Thanks, that's exactly what I had in mind. I'm getting it set up for Ernie Ball Paradigm in 9 gauge and will be sticking with that. If the worst should happen and I get a string break in the next couple of weeks, I'll just go with a set of Ernie Ball Super Slinkies to tide me over until the setup. Will take two days for those strings to reach my hand should the need arise, and there's no point in "playing it safe" when I'm due a freebie guitar service from the shop.

[Kwackman]

If the worst should happen and I get a string break in the next couple of weeks.

I honestly can't remember the last time I broke a string while playing a guitar.
Unless you're really rough on the guitar, I think you're over thinking this.
Just enjoy playing your new toy!

(If you do manage to break a string, I'll claim my SOS account was hacked and I didn't write this.....)

[Martin Walker]

Just enjoy playing your new toy!

Whatever it is (official reveal at the next SOS Virtual Meet )

[Kwackman]

Just enjoy playing your new toy!

Whatever it is (official reveal at the next SOS Virtual Meet )

You'll be providing the drum roll I hope....

[Exalted Wombat]

You don’t have to wait until a string breaks to order some spares!

[Wonks]

And you need to know how to change one. So best get some cheap ones and start learning. There really is no excuse these days for not knowing how to set up your own guitar. It's not rocket science. Even Zen can do it!

[garrettendi]

You don’t have to wait until a string breaks to order some spares!

It's getting set up literally next week! Spare strings would be a waste of money unless needed!

[garrettendi]

And you need to know how to change one. So best get some cheap ones and start learning. There really is no excuse these days for not knowing how to set up your own guitar. It's not rocket science. Even Zen can do it!

I can't even drill a hole into the wall without cocking up! I do not trust my DIY skills on my guitars!

[garrettendi]

Just to clarify I fully intend to learn to change strings! It's just the shop I bought from has a free setup, and I want to change the brand of strings!

[Drew Stephenson]

the shop I bought from has a free setup,

Worth taking advantage of.

[garrettendi]

the shop I bought from has a free setup,

Worth taking advantage of.

Exactly. There's a couple of minor issues... nothing that stops it from my being my new favourite guitar... but a setup gives a chance to make sure the trem is good with my chosen strings, it generally plays better, and those minor issues get knocked. And all for just the price of the strings.

A no brainer, and 100% the reason why I'm not buying backup strings!

[merlyn]

Yikes. I get twitchy if I don't have a spare set. It's the umbrella principle, isn't it? If you have a spare set strings won't break.

I broke an A string and took the A out my spare set. Now I have a five string spare set. So I needed a spare for the spare. I'll have to use up those five strings somehow, or they'll stay in my gig bag forever a spare spare (nearly) set.

[Drew Stephenson]

I broke an A string and took the A out my spare set. Now I have a five string spare set. So I needed a spare for the spare. I'll have to use up those five strings somehow, or they'll stay in my gig bag forever a spare spare (nearly) set.

::: looks at collection of part used string sets :::

::: backs quietly out of the thread :::

[garrettendi]

I kept a part used set of strings in their paper sleeves in my case. Never needed them again for over 2 years, by which time they had rusted rather nicely.

[Guest]

Maybe I’m an outsider here but I have a draw with at least 25 sets of new strings, maybe quite a few more than that thinking about it.

[Drew Stephenson]

Maybe I’m an outsider here but I have a draw with at least 25 sets of new strings, maybe quite a few more than that thinking about it.

I tend to use expensive strings so 25 sets would be nearly £375 of stuff sitting there.

[BigRedX]

That has just reminded me that I could do with a new set of strings (and a spare set) for my Eastwood Hooky 6-string bass. Two sets for that has come to £72...

[Wonks]

Maybe I’m an outsider here but I have a draw with at least 25 sets of new strings, maybe quite a few more than that thinking about it.

I’ve got over 40.

[merlyn]

Would @[ACCOUNT DELETED] and @Wonks care to explain why they have so many packets of strings?

What I wondered was if it's twenty five plus sets of the same strings, like Ernie Ball 9s, or if it's a string smorgasbord, giving options, like "today I feel like DR pure nickel"?

[Wonks]

I set up a lot of guitars for friends, plus I have 30ish guitars myself, so I get through quite a lot. So I tend to get multipacks, and then there's all different gauges, plus acoustic and electric sets etc.

[BigRedX]

My once extensive collection of guitars and basses has now been whittled down to just six but each one requires a different set of strings to get the best out of them:

Gus G3-5 Passive 5-string bass: Warwick Black Label 45-135
Gus G3-5 Active 5-string bass: Warwick Black Label 40 -130
Eastwood Hooky Bass 6 6-string bass: GHS 6-sting set 30-105
Burns Barracuda 6-string bass: Newtone Axion Custom Works Bass VI 24-100
Gus G1 Guitar (Drop D): D'Addario XL Nickels 10-56
Fretking Esprit V Custom Guitar (standard tuning): D'Addario XL Nickels 10-52

I always like to have at least one spare set for each instrument and ideally 2.
One spare set of everything is over £100

[garrettendi]

I used to use the XLs religiously, then I discovered Ernie Ball.

I have had a brief affair with Elixirs for their long life which is great, but I'm going to try the Ernie Ball Paradigms, for the Ernie Ball 'tone' and the Elixir long life together.