Strandberg’s Floyd Rose Replacement Tremolo

Until now, the main way to get a tremolo bridge for a headless guitar has been to opt for a Steinberger bridge. However, Ola Strandberg’s work on a Floyd Rose replacement tremolo designed for headless guitars stands ready to change this.

Strandberg Headless Tremolo Bridge

More Necks, More Strings

Ola’s design brings huge benefits in choice to both the guitarist and the guitar builder. By basing it on the Floyd Rose bridge, neck options are wide open compared to Steinberger based necks. In addition, the Strandberger bridge works with conventional guitar strings thus eliminating the constraints around the limited choices in double ball end strings.

Light Weight

The Strandberg bridge also wins big in the weight department. Compared to the 600 grams of the Floyd Rose and tuners used for comparison, the Strandberg weighs a mere 140 grams. And did I mention, it looks great?

Playing the Strandberger Bridge

Ola provides sound samples of the Floyd Rose and his Strandberg in his article Sound Advice and the results are more than promising. And while he identified some remaining challenges, progress has been excellent and I’m confident that Ola’s methodical and thoughtful approach will solve any remaining issues.

27 Responses to “Strandberg’s Floyd Rose Replacement Tremolo”

  1. Hello Robert,
    Thanks for the encouragement! I have a few more ideas up my sleeve and met with a metal shop yesterday to get quotes for the production of a series. I aim to be able to start taking orders in the next couple of weeks.

    Cheers,
    Ola

    1. Sounds exciting, Ola! It’s great to have a tremolo option for headless guitars but I’m especially looking forward to seeing it on your guitar. 🙂

    2. Dear Ola,
      I very much want your headless bridges for a genuinely revolutionary 6-string gutar design I’m building. It is so radical, I got a UK patent for it and your bridge would look beautiful as an integral part.

      The principle behind my patent is that the neck (ideally cast in glass with frets pre-formed in-situ) carries NO compression at all from the strings. This is accomplished in the following way:

      1) Attach brackets at each end of a girder, like this:

      [__________________]

      … where the line represents the girder centre line

      … and the [ ]

      represent the end brackets. In the pre-production model this will be inverted, so that the brackets hang off the under-side of the girder rather than on the top side. (The limits of my lap-top keys means that I had to draw it incorrectly as shown.)

      2) Now a third bracket is attached:

      [___[_______________]

      3) Now a neck is attached between the intermediate (ie. mid-) bracket and the right-hand end bracket, using a quick release mechnism. (I can’t show this here just using a laptop keyboard!)

      4) The strings run between the end brackets parallel to the neck centre-line, using your bridge mounted on the left end-bracket. The neck centre-line and the girder centre line are about 10cms apart:

      ====================
      ____________________

      … where the double lines represent srings and the solid line represents the girder.

      5) Moveable pick-ups are suspended from the girder, also in a quick-release arrangement.

      6) A ‘back-plate’ positioned behind the P.U.s is also suspended from the girder to prevent contact between clothing and strings.

      7) A small LED supplies refracted light along the length of the glass neck to each pre-formed fret. I thought it would be good to have the LED powered off a solar panel incorporated into one of the end brackets.

      WHY?!

      To provide a guitar with fantastic sustain, great tuning stability and gorgeous looks. Think of how resonant a wine glass is when you strike it with a spoon and compare this with striking a wooden cup. ‘Ting!!!!!’ compared with ‘Thudd’

      I’m thinking of calling it a MoonBridge GhostFish guitar. ‘GhostFish’ because the illuminated glass frets will look like the ribs of a see-through fish. ‘Moonbridge’ because of a design feature I have incorporated into the girder – a moon-shaped crescent.

      I want to press-form the back-plate in the shape of tide-ripples left behind in sand at low tide. This will emphasise the association with fish.

      You are an ace 3-D designer. Would you be interested in collaborating with me?

      🙂 Steffan (Steve)

      PS I am overloaded with e-mail, so you could call me on this UK number 01932 224 158 instead. I’m in most evenings except Wednesdays.

      1. Steffan — drop us an email at eLUTHERIE.org as we’d love to learn more about your neck (and patent).

    3. Hi, any way midi/ piezo capability can be added to this unit? Currently haveing the Ghost unit being intalled in my Crimson RF Hollow, and not being a whammy fan it would be a great addition.

      1. Hi Archie,
        currently, it is not possible to add piezo. I have been in touch with one supplier of such components and am working on finding a compatible solution. Keep checking this site and my development blog for updates.

        All the best,
        Ola

  2. Hi Ola,
    Great work you`ve done here. How is the overall feel in comparison to a Flyod Rose? Looking forward to the completed pictures.

    Rick

  3. Rick,
    since the strings rest at a greater vertical distance from the pivot point, I had to insert an extra spring to counteract the added tension. This and the placement of the fastening hole for the tremolo arm makes it feel a little less “radical” for lack of a better word. This suits me just fine since it doesn’t hold tuning like an FR anyway 🙂

    But I like it! Most requests that are coming in are for a fixed bridge, as well as many for 7- and 8-string as well as fanned fret deployments. I am working on a version with individual tuners that I think will be pretty neat. I am working on a new design for the FR drop-in version that will use the same base for fixed and tremolo making it more flexible but also easier to manufacture.

    Cheers,
    Ola

  4. Ola, may I have the drawings in PDF please?

  5. Hi Mickey,
    I have uploaded a PDF on my website in the downloads section (http://guitarworks.thestrandbergs.com/downloads/)

    Cheers,
    Ola

    1. Thanks for making the PDF available.

  6. […] you haven’t done so already, check out Building the Ergonomic Guitar. I’m thrilled to have been the subject of a couple of posts over there. Robert Irizarry has […]

  7. Are these for sale? I would like to purchase one. They look incredible!
    -John

    1. Hi John,
      I am in the process of creating a production batch. I am getting a good deal from the shop in return for letting them make them when they have down-time in the machines. The drawback is that I don’t know when they will be done….
      I will make it public when, for sure.

      Cheers,
      Ola

  8. I did not know that this was even possible! truly awesome. I know a lot about playing, but apparently I still have a lot to learn in regards to all of the concepts that are out there. I always learn a lot from your site, and I appreciate that article that you shared with me, Monster Meets the Orchid Bass.

    Do you know if there is a body structure similar to that bass, that’s for guitar? I ask, because that body type is perfect for seated musicians, but would be ideal for anyone making the transition from classical guitar to electric.

    1. Take a look at the Dove Electric Guitar – also by Rick Toone.

  9. Robert, All,
    I am thrilled to announce that I now have a first batch of the fixed version of this bridge available, and am now taking orders! Only in black and in a limited quantity, but more is coming in and the tremolo version is due shortly. Please check out the site http://guitarworks.thestrandbergs.com/, as always.

    Cheers,
    Ola

  10. I’m very pleased to see the work Ola is doing and hope to try out his new bridge design in the near future.

    I’ve also had numerous requests for a “Klein” like model and have been kicking around some ideas for a long time, but never really been satisfied yet, so again hopefully soon….

    Regards,
    Bill Wilkat

  11. Hi again!
    to illustrate the use of the EGS tremolo, I have completed an “upgrade” of a Squier Strat that was thrown away but kept for parts at my local music store (4Sound Uppsala). I am quite pleased with the results both aesthetically and with respect to weight.

    Please check out my site for the full details.

  12. Very cool Ola! I also like what you did to replace the old machine heads–very clever!

    Keep up the great work!
    Bill

  13. Dear Ola,

    Thanks for your reply about the fixing point dimensions for your tuners and for the effective height-range concerning the distance from base to strings. This is just what I need. I’m in discussion with a prototype making company and will keep you in mind. They are costing the making process, the tough proposition being the glass neck (for which they have a couple of fixes…) Still love your tuners!

    🙂 Steve

  14. Ola,

    I am very impressed and interested in purchasing your Floyd Rose replacement headless bridges. For good sustain I would like to try adding weight to it as they have done with this product: http://www.killerguitarcomponents.com/

    Do you think you could look at adding the original holes that are used on the Floyd so it could accept these blocks?

    also, when can we expect to be able to order one?

    Thanks

  15. Hi Gerry,
    thanks for the praise. Accommodating your request for holes should not be a problem. I made the first series based on the measurements of my early 80’s original Floyd before I knew that more modern trems had three holes.

    Please check my site in the next few weeks for announcements regarding availability since I am re-negotiation with my suppliers and it is holiday time at the moment (Sweden pretty much shuts down in July-early Aug.

    All the best,
    Ola

  16. I mostly make classical guitars, but I play bass myself. I have made several basses that I play and am keen to make a headless bass (had a tobias headless which I loved, and a steinberger, hohner too but they are things of the past).

    I’ve been toying with the idea of the fine tuners from cellos, or double basses, but can’t quite get my head around them. Finding your website was a bit of luck.

    Are your bridges available to guys like me?

    Regards,
    Maurice.

    1. Hello Maurice,
      as you will have seen on my blog, I have successfully used my tuners in conjunction with tune-o-matic tailpieces. I have also played around with a version that can replace regular guitar tuners on a headstock.

      So, definitely yes – drop me a line and let’s see what we can do.

      Best regards,
      Ola

  17. I’m trying to find some info re. headless tuners for a guitar I’m designing. Are you able to assist?

    1. Hi Murray,
      please drop me a line or post your question here and I will do what I can.

      Best regards,
      Ola