string gauge and Floyd Rose question

[npminard]

Last guitar I had with a Floyd Rose type tremolo, the store told me that lighter gauges of strings work better with these units. I prefer heavier strings, either 11s or 12s. Would this make stringing the guitar and/or use of the Floyd not as good if I were to use 9s instead? Thanks,

Nathaniel

[straycat]

You can use heavier strings if you wish.Then use however many springs it takes to get the feel you like.Should work fine.I've used 11s before.

[thetroy]

I think they officially say it works better with 10's or less, but as long as you can intonate it the bridge should function fine

[jtr]

If you are tuning down they should be alright what are the gauges for all 6 strings. The lower E string might be to thick ? Also do you have bushing and pivot screw or just wood screw for the Floyd if you tune to standard tuning the preasure on them might be to much & push them forward. Use all 5 springs.

[PallarAndersVisa]

im using 11-50 right now and it works perfect.

[npminard]

If you are tuning down they should be alright what are the gauges for all 6 strings. The lower E string might be to thick ? Also do you have bushing and pivot screw or just wood screw for the Floyd if you tune to standard tuning the preasure on them might be to much & push them forward. Use all 5 springs.

I use GHS Guitar Boomers 11, 15, 18 (Unwound), 26, 36, 50. After reading this info, I think 12s might be a stretch. I normally don't tune down. I sold my last guitar with a Floyd, it has 9s on it, I never bothered to change them, but in the future, I'm just curious if it would even work w/my string preference. Thanks for everyone's responses.

That's good to know PallarAndersVisa, that's exactly what I use.

[jtr]

Thats heavy top light bottoms so they should be OK you'll probably need more then 3 springs to conter balance the pull on the high strings.

[Bengal65]

Any string combo is going to work IMO. It's a fulcrum and the counter is provided by the spring tension. Cranking down on the claw screws and/or adding springs will take care of the balance. I've run as high as .011-.060 in standard tuning.

[cerealkiller]

Cool info!

[wicked_lester]

The only problem with heavier strings on a floyd is the amount of spring tension required to balance the bridge. You have greater opposing-tension pulling on both sides of the bridge which gives it a rigid feel...too clunky for me. I like my floyds to have a silky smooth throw. IMO, I think 009-042 works best.

[straycat]

Just like wicked said I think 9s or 10s would be best.