With and EZII and ZPS can you change tuning easily or do you have to setup the bridge every time?

ANY floating bridge HAS to be blocked to change tuning.

The floating works by keeping the same tension between the strings and the springs. If you lower the tension of the strings (Drop tuning), the spring will have more tension, so every string will go sharp to compensate.

Think of it as a "tug of war" between the string and the springs.


I don't have a ZPS, but from what I understand, its primary use is exactly for that, blocking the floating bridge. So, it theory, it should work as well as any tremolo blocker system (from a tremol-no to a block of wood)

1 - No it doesn't, but most people do block it because it makes the process of adjusting tuning and then changing the spring tension accordingly, much faster.

2 - Fair enough.

3 - Fair enough.

4 - Hell no. The ZPS applies extra spring pressure in such a way as it stops the bridge diving forward. If your new tuning has LESS tension than the old, the bridge will want to lean backwards, so the ZPS will do precisely nothing. If your new tuning has MORE tension than the old, then the bridge will still lean forward slightly, just not by as much as if you'd taken the ZPS out.


In any situation where you're changing tunings or string guages on a ZR, you're going to have to treat it like you would any other edge or floyd rose style bridge. This means no quick flips between tunings unless you've blocked the bridge and removed the problem that way.

That's what I figured. I prefer hard tail, but there are very limited options in the higher end for Ibanez. I have all but one of by trems blocked now.

GuitarBizarre said it best.

I've got 2 models with the ZPS bar in it. Personally I found it was easy to tune a half step or a full step down with the ZPS bar in but...

The ZPS bar seems to add a bit of extra un-wanted noise to the trem. After taking it out it was a whole new beast.

The trem feels so much better, personally I feel more sustain. Not sure why. Both of my guitars with it stayed in tune better with it out than with it in.