Gibson SG + floyd rose???

hey, i was wondering if anyone could tell me what are the chances of this partnership occuring?

i've never seen or heard of an SG having a floyd rose floating tremolo so if anyone could tell me otherwise thatd be cool :cool: .

Also do you think itd be an expensive job if it was possible?

Any help would be appreciated :)

If you wanted to fit a Floyd into an SG it might only be in the range of 100-200 dollars to get it done... That's the cost of the labor only. You would have to spend another 100-200 dollars on the Floyd itself... then get the locking nut installed, which might have to be custom made since the nuts on SGs are a little wider.... but it can definitly be done. I'm sure it's been done many times before. I installed one in a Les Paul before. The steps are pretty easy...

1. Get all the necessary hardware
2. Remove the studs and plug the stud holes
3. Route the body (I recommend buying a routing template from stew-mac)
4. Test fit the trem... mark the new studs
5. Drill holes for new studs and springs
6. Remove old nut
7. Route out the back end of the nut cavaty.
8. Install locking nut
9. drill holes for string retainer bar.
10. Install string retainer
11. install the Floyd and set it up

So yeah, it can be done! There may be steps and other fabrication that would need to be done as well as protection of the finish and so on... DO NOT TRY THIS!!!!!!!!! I am just showing you what a tech would do to install a Floyd in an SG. It can be done to almost any guitar. The only problem that I could think of is the fact that SGs are so thin you might have to look around for a trem that has a shorter trem block... or have one made up. Hope this puts your curiosities at bay.

I would think an SG would be too thin for a floating trem....Also, take into consideration that a floating trem robs tone and sustain from a guitar. Not enough contact with the body to keep the vibrations flowing through it. Just my opinion, but a Floyd Rose would ruin an SG.

I have an SG and tought about doing the same thing and got so many cons about it that I decided not to go thru with the mod.

JFRICK is right, SG as such a thin body that you could be loosing a lot of it's original tone and sustain. You cannot compare a SG with a Les Paul. Les Paul is a lot thicker. And locking nuts, dude don't screw around the head of an SG it is so fragile, mine was broken in transport and I know a handfull of guys that had the same thing happen to them.

Look at most mods done to SG regarding trem. They don't use floating.

Anyway, take my advice or not but for the price you will have to pay for this mod and the risk you will take, do like I did, buy another guitar with a floyd. Guitars are engineered a certain way for a reason and altho upgrading is cool and all, messing around the core of a guitar is dangerous. That's my point of view anyway.

I think that this may be the only way to have a tremolo on an SG. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=141/g=guitar/s=electric/search/detail/base_id/121138 it's no floyd rose, but it's a tremolo

Originally Posted by: Benoit
SG as such a thin body that you could be loosing a lot of it's original tone and sustain. You cannot compare a SG with a Les Paul. Les Paul is a lot thicker. And locking nuts, dude don't screw around the head of an SG it is so fragile

i thought that might be the case :rolleyes:

thanks for your advice, you guys rock.

i think i'll look for another floyd equipped guitar! :D

6strngs_2hmbkrs that's exactly what the guy suggested to me. Like a snap-on trem lol

I am in agreeance with you all... I was just answering his question about could it be done.... and Yes... it could be done. SG's are thin and they are fragile and the most common (if only) way I know of having a Trem is by a Bigsby style Tremolo. I've seen guys that have done the floyd rose mods to SGs though... so I know its possible. It would change the tonal qualities and it would weaken the structural integrity of the guitar... but it can be done. If a good luthier is doing the job it would be done just fine. The only trem job that I've seen on an SG that wasn't a Bigsby and didn't change how the guitar sounded was a guy that used a Fender '83/'84 Strat tremolo. These tremolos... if you know what I'm talking about... Mount under the pickups without having to route all the way through the body. So I've seen it being done.... I don't recommend it by any means... I was just saying that it can be done. But what do I care, I hate SGs

Originally Posted by: aschlemanBut what do I care, I hate SGs

ouch man, SGs are pretty much my favorites...

Haha. It's okay man. I know some people do like them, and some people don't. That's just the way it goes. I'm not saying they're bad guitars. There are some SG's that I like... I would take an SG Custom with 3 humbuckers in Tuxedo white with gold hardware.... but I don't have 4 grand. haha. I was just saying that I don't like them so why would I care if you could/would/should or couldn't/wouldn't/shouldn't put a Floyd on one.

I think a floyd rose would defeat the purpose of owning a gibson anyways

Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrsI think a floyd rose would defeat the purpose of owning a gibson anyways

That's the best response I've heard yet.... :D

Originally Posted by: aschleman But what do I care, I hate SGs

I'm with 6strngs_2hmbkrs. I've got an SG that's been very good to me. never thought about the floyd rose though.

Originally Posted by: PonyOne
if you like the SG body style (like i do) but want a trem, you could look at an ESP Viper; IIRC they're a bit thicker and i think they are available with a trem.

cheers for that, i'll check it out!

Made in the late 80s. I came with a 24 fret neck, one humbucker in the bridge position, a single coil in the neck and there is a switch to coil split the humbucker. Has a Floyd Rose Trem with the Gibson logo on it.
Guitar is sweet!

Originally Posted by: aschleman But what do I care, I hate SGs

Yeah that hurts Sg's are my favorite

I've seen people put Floyd Rose on an SG. but I think a Floyd Rose takes out the resonance of the guitar. I wouldm't recommend it.