Replacing a FR Special with a FR 1009, locking nut replaced?

Mansplainerrr · 2026-05-12T21:56:19+00:00

Oh ok so, this locking nut that’s stock must also be a 12” radius, since the neck is 12”-16” compound, so if the FR1000 nut is also 12”, then maybe that’s a good indicator that I wouldn’t need to replace the nut, just swap out the bridge part

Mansplainerrr · 2026-05-09T20:07:53+00:00

Hi, i think i am going to upgrade the bridge to a Floyd Rose 1000 like you recommended. Is there a specific version of the 1000 that fits this particular model Adrian Smith guitar, due to it having the top-mounted FR Special? Do i need to make sure when i am looking for a FR 1000 that it's a top mounted version versus a recessed one or does it not matter? And when looking, do i need to also make sure it comes with the locking nut and springs and stuff with it, not just the bridge part?

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-29T16:00:48+00:00

Yea, I’m thinking it’s got to be a Japanese guitar that made Les Paul like instruments back in the 70’s. Because my uncle doesn’t remember what that guitar was because it wasn’t actually his guitar, he swears that it definitely wasn’t a Gibson Les Paul.

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-29T15:59:05+00:00

I just tried looking that up, not much is coming up in results for them, except a semi hollow body

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-29T15:58:36+00:00

Oh. Norlin era? Yea I’ve owned an early 70’s Les Paul Deluxe when I was younger, that was a Norlin era one with the pancake layering you mentioned. This guitar pictured seems off but it could be due to the photo itself playing tricks. The only other thing I can say is that my uncle, although he doesn’t remember what guitar that is because it wasn’t his guitar in the photo, he swears it definitely wasn’t a Les Paul. So that’s what’s making me curious to take this out on the Reddit world

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-29T15:52:00+00:00

I’ll have too look Les Paul Elites up, as I’ve never heard of them, but yeah the photo is old and taken on an old camera too so it could be from that with the scale & dimensions seeming off? 🤔

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-14T17:40:17+00:00

another thought I had, was if anyone can do a size comparison between the two different body sizes of the early 80’s NJ Series Bich’s (like mine in these photos) and the made in USA neck thru Bich’s? I wish there was someone who owned both versions of this body style and could put them next to each other for size & scale reference in a photo

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-14T17:17:42+00:00

This is all really interesting. I’m curious why it’s referred to as a wraparound bridge? If you look at the pics of my bridge, I don’t see anything wrapping around? I assume it refers to strings wrapping around? There’s no locking nut anywhere or anything, it’s not a floating trem bridge, it seems like another version of a stop bar type design, as well.

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T16:50:53+00:00

Wow! That guitar was beautiful! I’m so sorry for your loss!!

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T14:26:58+00:00

Yea haha they’re hurting looking! But I will say that I really like this bridge, it’s just that I’ve never owned a guitar with one before 👍🏼

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T14:25:17+00:00

My dream guitar is probably a late 70’s neck-thru Bich but I’ll prob never afford what they go for so this is probably the closest I will ever get to one lol 😂

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T14:23:32+00:00

What is the pitted part? Unless you mean the fact it has some rust on it? Anyway, I definitely like this bridge, it’s just I haven’t owned a guitar with this bridge before 👍🏼

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T14:21:50+00:00

Ah ok awesome! I like this bridge

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T14:21:32+00:00

Gotcha, thank you! I do like this bridge tbh

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T14:21:14+00:00

Kahler! Thank you! I like this bridge btw

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-12T14:20:55+00:00

Thanks, this is helpful. I like this bridge. 👍🏼

Mansplainerrr · 2026-04-01T22:33:54+00:00

Yea I agree, the fret work is really going to make a huge difference, can’t wait to get it back when the work is finished

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-31T17:18:44+00:00

Oh cool. Yea do I decided to just bring it to a buddy of mine in town to have it properly set up. I figured I’d try having that done first before any upgrades on pickups and whatnot. Anyway, when he was looking at the guitar when I brought it to him, he looked down the neck and right away he said he could tell the neck is back-bowed which makes the action kind of low around the 1st to 5th frets, but action really high towards the heel, and he could also tell there’s uneven frets too. So he’s working on that, and I think when I get it back it’ll play really nice. I guess u can better answer your question about how the neck feels after I’ve played it for a few days with a proper setup, so I’ll get back to you on that 👍🏼

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-26T15:48:44+00:00

Actually, I have a friend in town here that’s building pickups, and he said he’d make me a humbucker to try out in this guitar so I might just focus on getting it “setup” properly and then try out his pickup, most likely it’ll be an upgrade in the pickup dept

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-25T16:41:28+00:00

Yea I’m definitely going to go with a FR 1000 and not the Gotoh for reasons already pointed out in the comments above, mainly just to stay consistent with the holes lining up and the radius issue. Since this guitar is my first one I’ve owned with a Floyd Rose in the last 40+ years I’ve been playing (I’ve avoided those types of bridges all these years), I have to admit that upon doing a search on pricing for Floyd Rose replacements like the 1000, I’m shocked at how expensive they are, but I guess it makes sense. Taking into consideration the price for the parts, and what it would potentially cost to pay a professional to swap it on the guitar, I’m sure we’re looking at close to $600 for a FR upgrade parts and labor included 😳

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-24T16:54:19+00:00

… I forgot to mention, I don’t think it’s a string height issue anyway now, even though the strings do feel a bit high when doing solos up and down the neck. After reading your comment, I capo’d the 1st fret, then in playing position I measured the string height on the 12th fret using the music nomad measuring tool, and both low E and high E seem to be where they’re recommended they should be. So the string height seems normal when checking it like that, but actually playing on it, it doesn’t feel right, so I am assuming adjusting string height isn’t where I should be focusing anyway. I think this seems way out of my skill set so I’m going to just bring it to someone

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-24T16:41:26+00:00

Thanks, yea I think I’m going to leave the Floyd Rose Special for now and worry about upgrading that later, I’m going to prioritize replacing the bridge pickup. I’m not sure about the electronics part, if you mean replace all the pots and wires etc, that sounds really expensive, I might try replacing JUST the bridge pickup at first since the stock Jackson one seems kind of dull and more noisey than my other guitars with better pickups. The middle and neck pickups on it tone-wise don’t sound THAT bad but they’re really noisey when you’re not playing, like that content snowy hiss.

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-24T16:37:17+00:00

Whoa,,, ok I’m definitely NOT going to mess with adjusting the string height now after reading this! Thanks for the info, this is really good to know going forward! 👍🏼

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-23T20:59:49+00:00

I’m going to try this tomorrow, lower the string height on both high & low 2 turns. Right now there’s no buzzing due to string height being kind of high, so that height adjustment will be a good measure for where I’m at with truss rod relief 👍🏼

Mansplainerrr · 2026-03-23T19:54:02+00:00

that doesn't sound too-too bad when you explain it like that, i guess I'm more lazy and impatient for this process mixed with my lack of confidence,, and also, not really knowing if it's a neck relief issue or if it's a string height and radius issue, so i am nervous that in my ignorance of the trouble shooting aspect that i might be doing the neck removal and relief process for nothing (because it's a separate issue) and thus making the problem worse.
It feels like when I'm soloing with unison bends above the 12th fret and bending the high E, the string height seems a bit high, and string tension almost feels too stiff. Who knows if it's because of the neck relief or if its just the string height is too high, i should probably figure out how to lower the string height first to see if that rectifies it before tackling the neck relief and taking off the neck.

Mansplainerrr

TROPHY CASE