The Floyd Rose II

[fett]

There seems to an issue. Are they junk? Kramers have them. Are they made in Germany? Who knows?

[Kramer James]

Are they made in Germany? Who knows?

What would make you think otherwise?

[kremark]

I believe the one from my Korean Striker was made in Germany (90% sure). I sold it on fleabay about 6 years ago and replaced it with an OFR.
It had the feature where you insert the string thru the back and the ball end is your stopper like a fender trem. That was the cool part about because, unlike the Fender, this was all done on the top-side of the guitar.
My only perceived issue was those fulcrum inserts, but the thing seemed to perform just fine, as long as the base plate was floating clear of the face of the body. The inserts showed quite a bit of wear by the time I sold it. That's about all I got to say about those tremolos.

[fett]

I have a few guitars that have a FR II. Some have a stamp "Made in Germany by Schaller". I have a Striker 600ST. The FRII. MIG. Think semi-old.

[kremark]

How do you think it compares with the OFR?

[fett]

Now, you get into blade inserts and strings through the whatevers. In other words. Non-locking on that end. My Striker 600st has a locking nut. All I know is this guitar, plywood and all, sounds great unplugged. Back to your question. I get the whole concept of double locking. I guess it's a good thing. They tell me so. So is an OFR better? I can't answer that.

[MCB67]

I wouldn't call the FR2 complete junk, but it certainly is inferior to an OFR and was designed to be a cheaper model from the get go. I believe they were made in Korea from cast (not machined) parts.

Here's a pic of one I have in my parts bin:
[IMG][/IMG]

[kremark]

I never thought that the ball-end thing was a problem. Actually it was less involved changing strings. Seems just as "locked" to me.
On a side note, are u positive about the plywood body (is that your 600ST). here is mine after sanding down. I had to do it...just to many dings in the finish.

[fett]

That's not mine. Mine sleeps with me. Like on my bed. I already know I'm space case. Like I care., There is nothing better than to be in bed with any guitar I want at 2AM and plug in a guitar with headhones on and a Digitech RP2000.

[Kramer James]

I don't think the Floyd II is a bad trem, it's just different. Isn't it cast Iron? Different metal, different sound... I haven't had any blade issues either. Are the blades any different than the schaller blades? Wasn't the Floyd II made in Germany by schaller? I believe they all were. I believe it's the Floyd III that was made in asia.

[amerturk]

It could be used as a short term fix, but the units are not that nice. Not smooth or fluid, just a hunk of iron to hold the strings.

[sixstring]

Dead tone-wise, no sustain. Trem doesn't vibrate like a OFR.