How does a Spyder compare to a Floyd?

[caine]

Anyone own both a guitar with an original Floyd as well as a Spyder? If so, which trem do you like better and why?

[spacerocker]

Nobody knows....or so it seems!

[nickwellings]

IN my experience, Floyds are a "lighter" unit in every way. They take a little less effort to divebomb, for instance.

Whereas the Kahler Spyder is a little stiffer.

I find I cannot do some tricks on the Spyder, like trills, warbles and so on. I think this is because it needs to be set up very precisely to achieve the balance of string/spring tension. I recall one time when I had my HM set up, I could do them, but after changing stuff around inside it, restringing so many times, I have lost the "place" where that happened.

In my opinion though, the Spyder is the most stable double locking unit in terms of tuning stability, I have ever used. I have used a lot.

[caine]

Aug 24, 2010 12:50:31 GMT -5 nickwellings said:

I find I cannot do some tricks on the Spyder, like trills, warbles and so on. I think this is because it needs to be set up very precisely to achieve the balance of string/spring tension.

I think Floyds can also be set up to be so stiff that you can't do the warble type of tricks. I think you then remove a spring and then you have to tighten up the remaining springs to get the arm/trem back into a desirable position, but then it's less stiff. I have never owned a Spyder, but I have had a couple of guitars with Floyds and one with the Kahler Steeler. I currently have two HRR Stratocasters, one w/ a Floyd and one w/ Steeler and they came factory w/ five springs but I have them both set up with just four springs. Doesn't a Spyder use a similar spring set-up?

[nickwellings]

I am pretty sure that the Spyder can only use max 4 springs. I tried it once with three and it rode very high up on the body. Maybe I should try again.

Of coruse, springs can come in different tensions too. Modern Feeder ones are very stiff. Most Floyd ones are too. I think the springs in vintage strats were softer, which some people say is part of their magic.

I have a Schaller single locking bridge on my Vigier which only needs two springs. Oddly, they are quite lightweight and "soft" (by soft, I mean you can bend them pretty easily).

[spacerocker]

I find you can adjust the trem position by screwing in (or out) the wood screws holding the springs to the body, and re-tuning for the new string tension. I set mine up so that you get maybe 2 tones of lift, and as much drop as you like!

The only time I needed 4 springs was when I had the brilliant idea of stringing with a hybrid 10 set of strings (i.e. top of a 10 set with bottom of an 11 set). I also had to re-adjust the truss rod (!)

This set up lasted exactly one week before I went back to my usual set up of hybrid 9's !!!

[89hm]

The Floyd Rose is far superior to the Spyder in every way.

Here are some of the Low points on the Spyder as compared to a Real Floyd.

"Allen wrench screws were made too small"
These strip out very easily due to the small wrench holes.

"Trem Bar attatchment"
Trem simply screws in until tight, leaving the bar either too loose or too tight when it is in all the way. (An extra turn = too tight, one less turn = too loose)

"Trem action"
The biggest difference is the over all feel in movement of the bar.
Using a Floyd is like driving a ferrari. Smooth, fluid motion.
They Spyder is stiff, and not very responsive to input.
In addition, even from day one, my Sypder never has stayed in tune as well as the floyd.

"Parts"
As we all know, good luck in finding parts if you loose or wear out anything.

Every year I say I am just going to "Floyd" mine, and maybe this year will be the year.

[mrfist9]

In my experiences I am more fond of Spyders. Spyder's tuning stability is the main selling point for me. I tune my HM and don't unlock it until it needs some strings or I decided it needs to be in some extra low Drop tuning.
One of the main problems with the Spyder was it's small allen pieces. On my Peavey the Spyder is a later model with updated parts. And it is truely wonderful. I ponder every day if I should put it on my HM.

The Steeler on the Ultra, however is a complete beast. It moves so smoothly and easily. Yet it has similar tuning capabilities as the Spyder. Only thing that makes me mad with the Steeler is the Fine Tuners cannot be adjusted from E to D. So switching from Drop D to Standard is impossible without unlocking.

Aug 7, 2011 17:00:02 GMT -5 89hm said:

The Floyd Rose is far superior to the Spyder in every way.


In addition, even from day one, my Sypder never has stayed in tune as well as the floyd.

"Parts"
As we all know, good luck in finding parts if you loose or wear out anything.

Both of my Spyders are the best in terms of tuning stability I have ever seen. I've seen a lot. I have Floyds, Spyders, a Steeler. The Spyder is by far the best in stability.

Parts can easily be found on Wammiworld.com and is a very reliable source of parts.
www.wammiworld.com/x2720.php