SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

[joblo1978]

I've been eying the SLSMG on the web and finally found one in Guitar Center and played it for a bit. First of all, the salesman was going to knock it to 750 for me. Second of all, it's the nicest guitar I've EVER played. Even better than a USA soloist IMHO. Very fast neck, although it was kinda sticky from the newness I suppose, very sleek and lightweight and an awesome finish, (gloss black) Awesome sustain and it just sounded really fat. Some active EMG's would really help it though. The reason I want one is simple, it's a hardtail (tired of dealing with the Floyd) and is neck through with dual humbuckers. The action on this guitar wasn't that great from the factory however. My question is this, I've been playing nothing but my Rhoads for about 7 yrs. and it has a Floyd Rose. The hardtail felt really awkward, I couldn't palm mute where I usually do in relation to the pickups. Would this be easy to get used to? How do you guys feel about switching back and forth from Floyd to Hardtail and can the action be set as good and low as it is on my Rhoads? One last question, can a hardtail change from drastic tunings with minimal setup? For examble D-B or E-C?

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

It's quicker setting up fixed bridged guitars in different tunings than on a Floyd, although I can do both quite comfortably given the appropriate gauges of strings for whatever tunings I want to put a guitar into. You MAY or MAY NOT have to adjust intonation. I do that on a case-by-case basis.

Palm mute in relation to where the string contacts the saddle as a guideline, although this doesn't mean much for me since I palm mute differently on my Floyded electrics than I do on my [hardtail] acoustic.

[toejam]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

Technically, The SLSMG is not a hardtail. It's a TOM (tunomatic) bridge. This is a hardtail. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[toejam]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

BTW, a hardtail bridge would put the strings closer to the body, like a guitar with a recessed Floyd or vintage trem. TOMs are higher up off the body and have neck angles that are tilted back more (like a Les Paul, any Jackson with a TOM bridge, or guitars with non-recessed Floyds). [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I've got no problem going back and forth between any of them, but some people like having the bridge higher off the body for more aggressive playing without hitting their pick on the body (I still don't understand how people do that anyway [img]/images/graemlins/brow.gif[/img]).

[joblo1978]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

O.K., sorry, the SLSMG is a TOM. I thought they were the same thing. Would you suppose the TOM would take long for me to get accustomed to after using a Floyd for so long. I really like the SLSMG, but I don't want to revamp my right hand technique.

[toejam]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

No, shouldn't take you long to get used to. I played on Floyded guitars in the '80s, then I got my Dinky HX in the mid '90s that was TOM and I never had a problem. Then again, I only rest the side of my palm lightly on the top of the bridge the same way on a Floyd as I do on the TOM. I guess it varies from person to person, but I've never had any problem and can go back and forth between different bridges with ease.

[pro-fusion]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

Give yourself a day or so with a TOM bridge, and the Floyd will feel funny and instrusive for palm-muting purposes. I got my first TOM guitar in years recently after being a Floyd-only player for a long time. After first it felt funny, but palm-muting on a TOM is so natural and easy that you'll love it once you get used to the different feel. One thing I've found is that the lower strings have a little more 'pop' or 'presence' when palm muted on a TOM guitar than on a Floyd guitar. Think Al DiMeola's palm-muted rapid picking on Elegant Gypsy for a good example of what I mean.

[bibz]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

Funnily enough I recently got an slsmg having only floyd'd jacksons as my mains for years. The bridge issue did pop up in my head whilst waiting for it, but as soon as I grabbed him it was just fine. Ive only had two instances where I've gone for the bridge, one to help a bend and one to do some vibrato, both non 'wiggle-stick' techniques Ive used for god knows, and it was the only time for each. My palm mutes are still chunky, and its a laugh playing in E again after being C# and B for ages. But after playing some dimmu and satch I'm running out of ideas for standard concert pitch shredding!

also expect some hot hot hot slsmg porn soon!

[Inearthed]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

Changing between floyds and TOM's isn't too hard once you get used to playing the guitar. Shouldn't take more than a couple days or so and you'll be fine. I have an RR1 and and RR1T and I switch back and forth when I play live without any trouble.

As far as that price goes, I don't like it... GC's been selling the SLSMG for cheap around the country and I honestly think you could do a lot better than $750.
http://www.jcfonline.com/ubbthreads/...o=&fpart=1

[tellyc]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I too have been wondering about switching back and forth, after playing floating bridge guitars for the last 15 years. Time to think about that cheap SLSMG at GC again...

[kruneh]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

About the TOM bridge. What can I replace a JT390 bridge with, would for example a gibson TOM fit straight into the holes in the guitar? Basically I`m looking for a chrome bridge, whatever that`s cool. Any sugestions?

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

I've heard great things about people replacing the SLSMG's stock bridge with a TonePros bridge.

[kruneh]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

I`ve checked ebay for those now, but what I really want is a satin chrome one. Hard to find. Never produced or what?

[kinder_guano]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

Errr I found my satin black Tonespros at guitarpartsdepot.com. I have played on guitars with Floyds for a decade now, until I bought my first SLSMG (satin black) last year, for Floyds were a waste of space for me (all are blocked...). I got used to the TOM within a few minutes playing my SLSMG at home. Now I bought my second SLSMG (violin brown) a few months ago, put another Tonespro, graphite nut, Sperzel Trimlok and EMGs, and it rocks!
I was about to get a wine red one from Easton by the way (and I will get it when I will be able to play the guitar again / had a silly car crash).

Im addicted to my SLSMGs now, and only a SL2HT might replace them, one day!

[kruneh]

Re: SLSMG! Questions? Hardtail vs. Floyd Rose.

Thanks, I`ll check it out.