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Its time to retire my Ibanez S-series. I'm looking for a dual-humbucker, floyd-equipped guitar (doesn't have to be original floyd rose) for my whammy bar work. What do you guys think will have the best tone?

Some options I'm considering:

a) Ibanez Jem (yeah, but which one?)

b) Peavey Wolfgang Special (US made)

c) Carvin (something-400)

d) take a fender strat, hotrod it with humbuckers amp; rout it for a floyd

Any other suggestions? I usually find floating floyds to have uninspriing, thin tone, so I am eager to find a toneful floyd-equipped guitar... suggestions tone description would be much appreciated, so fire away!!!

I'd get Satch's Jem and maybe the Peavy 2nd.

Check out ESP too. They're putting out some great stuff right now thats not too expensive. My KH602 is a great guitar already loaded with EMG 81's and an orig floyd rose.

try and find an old 80's usa hamer. killer guitars with floyds and you can get them without caughing up too much green

Jackson USA, any Model. Want a Strat or Superstrat Shape: Try a DK-1 if Bolt on and EMGs don´t turn you off, or an SL-1 for Neckthru H-S-S Duncanage. Of course there´s the SL-2H with duall Duncan Hums to choose from as well. Plus a plethora of other models like the Warrior, Kelly and Rhoads.

Quality /Workmanship: easily above Ibanez Prestige level (having owned one, I seriously ask quot;Eaxctly what is supposed to be Prestigious about these things?quot;), I´d go so far as to say that the Carvin can ALMOST match up, IMHO the USA Wolfgangs can´t.But quot;BEST TONEquot; is like asking quot;What´s the best colorquot;. Ask 300 people, and you´ll have 301 answers, because this is a VERY Subjective question. What kind of tone are YOU looking for??? Jazz? Thrash Metal? Blink 182? Classical?. And that´s why this probably looks like I´m not really answering, because I can´t answer effectively with this amount of knowledge. Unless you´re trying to cop MY tone, then I can get you there real fast

I would have to agree with Zerb. You just cant go wrong with Jackson's. The USA's are really sweet. They are about as good as it can get in my mind. If you want to spend a little less jack and still get a very high quality axe, the Japanese Jacksons are a GREAT bang for the buck!!! If you are looking for 2 buckers and a Floyd, go with the Sl-4. They can be had used for around $500 and they are neck through also.

I used to have a USA wolfgang, it was a really nice guitar and fairly well made but, I think my Jackson is better made. BTW, you can get a used USA Jackson for a $100 or at the most $200 more than a wolfgang. If you happen to decide on a Japense Jackson, I would replace the factory liscensed trem with an original floyd. I am glad I did so on mine.

Carvin makes some great things. Their woodworking, fret work, and hardware selection are spot on. Their pickup selection is a bit weak, but it's nothing a set of Duncans can't fix.

BTW, with Carvin you can get any body style with a Floyd, you just have to ask nicely.

The only one i can vouch for is the Peavey Wolfgang. That guitar rocks my world. The neck is superb, not too thin, the stock pickups are clear, defined and cut through well, but retain a thickness to the sound.

The only issues i've has is the EVH signature traits, like the non floating trem and the upside-down toggle switch, but these are all things that can be sorted without a tech.

Anyway, i think you get the idea. I love my Peavey Wolfgang, and i dont love EVH at all. So its far from a one trick pony.

or you could go with an EBMM axis....instead of the wolfgang...more or less the same guitar...better build quality (so I hear anyway) and the pup toggle's in the 'right' place..

1 for the EBMM Axis (better than peavey)
I also like the Strat routed for Floyd idea (How VH of you!)
and Satriani is the master of the tremelo bar so I would also have to vote for the Ibanez JS model (With seymour duncan's)

Rock On

another 1 for the MM axis, amazing guitars.

Wayne Rock Legend, but it aint' gonna be cheap, good mate, Laz, can custom make you something which will be about the same price, but totally made to your spec's, from : localhost/www.gajicguitars.com/

Thanks guys, I will be looking at a couple of options...I've just finished university, so I don't have a lot of cash to cough up, but dang, I wish I had enough money to get one of every model mentioned in this thread!!! EBMM Axis, Wolfies, Jacksons, JS1000, I'll have to check them all out at some point. Thanks for the comments guys.

Some clarification : When I said 'best guitar for tone', I was actually referring to a guitar's tone that sounded 'not thin'. Floyd guitars to me sound thin, so I was hoping to come across a floyd guitar with some soul...My ideal tone is probably a PAF sounding Les Paul on 'roids!!


Originally Posted by VincentSome clarification : When I said 'best guitar for tone', I was actually referring to a guitar's tone that sounded 'not thin'. Floyd guitars to me sound thin, so I was hoping to come across a floyd guitar with some soul...My ideal tone is probably a PAF sounding Les Paul on 'roids!!

If that's what you want, get a mahogany strat body from Warmoth, and maple/rosewood neck, and slap in a Blues Saraceno trembucker.

The best floyd equipped guitar out there in my opinion is the Ernie Ball Axis/EVH.

US built kramers from the 80s are great, too. Stock with duncans.

The best sounding floyd-equipped ibanez I've played was a Reb beach model, the one with the arse cut out of it. It had a mahogany body and a fatter than usual neck.

the fattest sounding floyd rose gutar i have ever played is a hamer US chapparal from the 80's. It must have been an elite model.....set neck,EMG's, mahogany body, it sustained for ages.........if i could find one i would buy it immediately.

One guitar you shouldn't overlook is a Gamp;L Invader, used. New, they're around $1400, but if you score a used one for around $800, you'll have a killer fast playing axe that has more modern appeal than most hockeystick or birdhead guitars.

Other than that, I'd go for Anderson or certain models of US Jackson or Charvel.
Or consider some of the better 'parts guitars', where somebody sunk a boatload of money into something they now have to sacrifice for $400.

1 for jackson. there are some nice emg equiped esp's that have floyds

I suggest Carvin as well.
As mentioned many bodies styles to choose from.
Dc127/200/400, Dc135, SC90, TL60, Dc150, DC145(H/S/H config), Dc727, CT, Contour, and Bolt.
As well as many options to make the guitar more to your own liking.My '94 DC400

A nice CT3 from the Carvin instock section on their website.Carvin does offer a locking nut . It's option LN. Otherwise, some feel the
Sperzel locking tuners and a proper cut graphite nut work just fine.

Kent