Floyd Rose Redmond One

*Guitar Only

* No Additional Accessories

Equipped with Rose’s Speedloader strings (the only strings that work on Floyd Rose guitars), they form a system that allows for quick changes by eliminating the tuning keys, tools, and the need for a re-tune. The system also incorporates Rose’s TremStopper, which lets you block the trem with a simple turn of a screw.

Floyd Rose guitars have a headstock, but no tuners – just a nut that accepts the Speedloader string. Each has a bullet end (like Fender Super Bullets) that fits into the nut and the pivoting saddles. The strings are made with a tolerance of .002″ and cut to precise lengths. The company included an extra set of strings, so we experimented. They’re right; one person can change the whole set in less than one minute. In fact, we did it in 45 seconds.

After installation, one strum revealed the guitar needed only a slight fine-tuning. Still, we were impressed. Rose also offers a hardtail version of the Speedloader bridge for those who don’t use a tremolo but want the convenience of the quick change and tuning stability.

The Model One guitar we tested featured a double-cutaway poplar body with a nice transparent finish, maple bolt-on neck with a 12″ radius rosewood fretboard, and a trio of balanced Gold Floyd Rose alnico single-coil pickups controlled via five-way switch and a master volume control. The guitar does not have a tone control.

Hardware includes a machined chrome Floyd Rose Speedloader tremolo bridge, black Dunlop straplocks, and recessed metal neckplate and tremolo spring cover.

The neck has a very comfortable, slim C shape, medium jumbo frets, a satin polyurethane finish, and a nut width of 1.65″. The headstock has a unique-but-elegant shape with a teardrop cutout in the middle, and a black paint job with a gold Floyd Rose Logo. We were enthused to see a headstock, even though the guitar doesn’t need it or use it. Still, it adds a visual symmetry and helps as a reference when playing. “Headless” guitars sometimes require a mental adjustment to play, because you have no stopping point at the end of the neck, which makes for a tendency for the hand to “fall off” the end of the neck.

The three single-coil pickups have black pole pieces and are configured much like a Strat, though the bridge unit is not angled. Controls and pickups are mounted on a three-ply white/black/white pick guard with black mounting screws and a funky V groove running through it. The overall look is classic, but with modern look.