The Floyd Rose-Fernandes Connection
- Gaskell Guitars Australia
- Jul 30, 2025
- 15 min read
Updated: Jan 1
In the very beginning, Fernandes Electric Sound Research Group Co. Ltd. of Japan (not Schaller) was the first company to mass-produce the Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo.
1981 - 1983 Genuine Floyd Rose Production
June 1981: Floyd Rose meets Fernandes representatives at the 1981 NAMM show. A contract is signed almost immediately for Fernandes to mass produce Floyd Rose's hand-made double locking guitar vibrato system.
Fernandes (a Japanese marketing/distribution company) outsources the actual metalwork to one or more Japanese factories, Gotoh possibly being one of them if not the main one.
Late 1981: Fernandes begins supplying complete units and parts, manufactured in Japan and shipped to Floyd Rose in the United States. When the FRT-1 becomes the FRT-3 Rose sends wax molds to Fernandes to use.
January 1982. Floyd Rose meets Kramer executives at the 1982 NAMM show.
Early 1982: Eddie Van Halen uses the FRT-3 but is not happy with having to unlock the nut to retune mid-performance. He suggests to Rose to put fine tuners on the bridge end, like a violin or cello.
Mid 1982: Rose and Fernandes develop the fine tuner FRT-4. Several prototypes are given to prominent guitarists as well as Eddie Van Halen.
July/August 1982: Eddie Van Halen tests the FRT-4 tremolo during the Van Halen "Hide Your Sheep" tour but doesn't how the tuners get in the way of his playing. Eddie suggest putting the tail at an angle. Fernandes and Rose make the changes and the new prototypes are given to Eddie to road test.
October 1982: Eddie Van Halen signs with Kramer during the Van Halen "Hide Your Sheep" tour.
End of 1982: Eddie Van Halen tests the final Floyd Rose design during the last few months of the tour, a design he has made two key contributions to but gets no credit for.
1983 - 1985: Floyd Rose partners with Kramer, Kramer pushes Fernandes out
Early 1983: Floyd Rose formalizes his partnership with Kramer Guitars. Discussions have been ongoing since the meeting at the 1982 NAMM show.
The final double-locking tremolo with fine tuners is production-ready. Floyd Rose tremolos are to be exclusively fitted to Kramer guitars.
Kramer has a long history with Schaller and doesn't want to use Fernandes. They bring in Schaller and sideline Fernandes despite Fernandes having an active contract.
March 1983: While Schaller is preparing for production, Kramer gets local company Hansen Metalworks to do an interim run of 800 units for Kramer's new 1983 guitar lineup.
July 1983: The Japanese FRT-5 prototype is advertised in Young Guitar magazine as the ESP Magician and is used on ESP Custom guitars, as well as sold as a boxed kit.
~September 1983: Six months after the deal is struck with Schaller, Schaller begins manufacturing Floyd Rose tremolos for Kramer.
End of 1983: Fernandes finds out about the Schaller double-locking tremolo with angled tail and fine tuners. According to a former Fernandes employee: 「シュラーが先に動いていることを知ったのは後のことだった。完全に準備不足だった。」 Translated: "We only learned later that Schaller had already started production. We were completely unprepared.”
Kramer relegates Fernandes production to Japan only, thus cutting them out of the U.S. market.
Floyd Rose sees the business advantage of having a European manufacturer and is all-in with the guitar company that has Eddie Van Halen as its public figure and is rapidly becoming the number one guitar brand in the world.
January 1984: Fernandes hastily publishes its 1984 catalog. It advertises the new Schaller unit but says little about it. The product page is really the FRT-4 page from the year before with new photos.
For the U.S./international market: only German-made Schaller units are used, including the Focus Series, which are fully built in Japan by ESP.
1984: Fernandes goes a whole catalog year without a counterpart to the Schaller FRT-5.
Late 1984: Fernandes takes the Japanese FRT-5 prototype/ESP Magician that Fernandes had done all the preliminary work on for Rose and releases it in 1985 as the "Floyd Rose FRT-7." It has bent-steel construction, metric screws, a swept-back tail, and oval arches between where the forks meet the top of the tail.
1985: The FRT-7 makes its debut in the 1985 Fernandes catalog.
1985: Fernandes sells the German and Japanese versions as boxed kits and uses the Japanese version on Fernandes guitars.
1985–1994: Post-Contract Proprietary Developments
1985: Fernandes rebrands their entire Floyd Rose range to "Head Crasher Tremolo System" and presents an expanded product range in the 1986 Fernandes-Burny catalog.
1986: Fernandes has gone from genuine to licensed Floyd Rose systems. The '461 patent number is displayed on the baseplate under "Head Crasher"
1986: Appearing for the first time in the 1986 catalog is the Fernandes "Body Crasher" FRT-8. Fernandes claims it as their own, but it was first used by Fresher Guitars in 1985, in their last year of production. Yamaha and Aria Pro II also feature it in their 1986 lineups as "RMX" (Yamaha) and "ART-2" (Aria Pro II). It has no licensing statement.
1986 - 1987: In-house redesigns add unique elements (e.g., straight knife edges, saddle height adjustment, bridge-locking device, push-in tremolo arm) and they are used on Fernandes guitars.
1987: Fernandes rebrands the entire range again to "FRT Tremolo System".
1988 - 1990: Entry-level guitar production begins to shift to Korean manufacturing (Cort, WMIC).
1988: Fernandes designs and produces the ultimate Floyd Rose tremolo, superior to anything before it: the new FRT-4. (Third use of the FRT-4 name.) It has horizontal fine tuners. Fernandes also releases a version with saddle height adjustment as the new FRT-5. (Third use of the FRT-5 name.) Both are made in Korea.
1988: The new FRT-4 and FRT-5 debut in the March 1988 Fernandes catalog (Vol. 2.)
1990: Ironically, in the United States, Floyd Rose sues Kramer for unpaid royalties, wins the case, and Kramer declares bankruptcy.
1990: The Body Crasher FRT-8 gets a redesign. It's now truly a "proprietary" product.
1992: Fernandes opens an office in the United States, which eventually becomes a custom shop.
1993: Entry-level guitar production is close to being fully transitioned to Korean manufacturing (by Cort, WMIC).
1994–1997: Proprietary tremolos discontinued
1994: Fernandes starts fitting its refreshed FR superstrat series with the licensed Takeuchi TRS-PRO.
1996: Despite being the greatest Floyd Rose tremolo ever made, the Fernandes FRT-4 is discontinued. (So is the FRT-5.)
1997: The FRT-8 is discontinued.
1997–2024: Licensed Tremolos Only
1997: Higher-end Japanese-made models are now fitted with the Gotoh GE1996T supplied as an OEM product, branded as "Fernandes."
2000: Takeuchi TRS-PRO is discontinued and replaced with an OEM-supplied GE1996T clone by Ping Well in Taiwan, branded as "Fernandes" and designated FRT-11.
2000: Entry-level production shifts to China (Yako factory).
2000: Fernandes introduces Custom Order System, broadly applied. Although not explicitly stated, non-listed left-handed guitars are made through this system, based on numerous surviving examples.
2002: Most Fernandes guitars are fully made in China except for limited domestic runs.
2003: Fernandes offers a token left-handed signature model of a well-known Japanese artist who happens to be a lefty. It is a very bizarre guitar with zero appeal to anyone other than a fan, but it is fitted with a Schaller Licensed Tremolo. (Catalogs haven't expressly mentioned or shown left-handed models since 1983.) It is never mentioned again as a left-handed model.
~2005/2007: Fernandes appears to have abandoned left-handed guitar production. The usual list of left-handed guitars noted on the last page of each year's catalogs has gone. As of 2025, no known examples of Fernandes guitars exist beyond 2004/2005.
2014: Fernandes U.S. custom shop quietly fizzles out.
2023: Osaka Fernandes Co. Ltd, the wholesale and distribution company for Fernandes Co. Ltd. files for bankruptcy.
2024: Fernandes Co. Ltd, files for bankruptcy.
Gotoh GE1996T remains on the last Japanese-built FRT-equipped models until Fernandes closes its doors in July 2024.
Fernandes Floyd Rose Production Chronology
First catalog appearance | Tremolo Model | Features and Traits | Left-Handed Guitar Models (Limited production or Special Order) | Type |
1982 | FRT-1 |
| Catalog says lefty available but no models listed as eligible for production with it | ✅ Genuine Floyd Rose |
1982 | FRT-2 |
| Not listed for any guitars RH or LH | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1983-1985 | FRT-2 (Head Banker) |
| EX-85L (1984) FST-65L (1984) BSV-60L (1985) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1983-1985 | FRT-3 |
| EX-145L (1983) FV-135L (1984) FST-85L (1984) FST-80L (1984) FST-75L (1985 by special order only) | ✅ Genuine Floyd Rose |
1983 | FRT-4 |
| None (RH models only) | ✅ Genuine Floyd Rose |
1984 | FRT-5 |
| None (RH models only) | 🏢 Genuine Floyd Rose (Schaller) |
1985 | FRT-7 |
| FST-90L (by special order only, 1985) FST-85L (by special order only, 1985) BSV-90L (by special order only, 1985) | ✅ Genuine Floyd Rose |
1985-1989 | FRT-6 (Head Crasher) |
| FST-65L (1985-1986) BSV-70L (by special order only, 1985) FST-65L (1986) None (1987) FST-65L (1988) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1986 - 1988 | New FRT-7 |
| None (RH models only) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1986 - 1988 | FRT-9 |
| None (RH models only) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1986-1989 | FRT-8 (Body Crasher) |
| FR-55L (1986-1989) BSV-60L (1986) BX-60L (1986) FST-55L (1988-1989) FR-55XL (1989) FR-55TL (1988-1989) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1987-1988 | New FRT-4 |
| FR-65L (1987-1988) FST-65L (1987-1988) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1987-1988 | New FRT-5 |
| None (RH models only) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1988-1996 | New FRT-4 |
| FST-65L (1988-1989) FR-65L (1988-1993) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1988 | New FRT-7 |
| None (RH models only) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1988 | New FRT-5 |
| None (RH models only) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1990-1993 | FRT-8 |
| FR-50L (1990) FR-50XL (1990) FR-65L (1991-1993) FR-55L (1991-1993) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1994-2004 | FRT5-PRO |
| FR-65L (1994-1996) FR-55L (1994-2000) None (2001-2004) | 🏢 OEM (Takeuchi) |
1994-1996 | FRT-8PRO |
| FR-55L (1994 - 1996) | 🛠️ Proprietary |
1997-2024 | FRT-10 |
| None | 🏢 OEM (Gotoh) |
2000-2018 | FRT-11 |
| FR-55 (2000), FR-48 (2001) via Custom Order System, FGZ-550S (2001-2002) via Custom Order System, Revolver Pro (2005) U.S. market only. None thereafter. | 🏢 OEM (Ping Well) |
2003 | SFRT-2 |
| Hisashi Imai Stablilizer Signature model (2003) | 🏢 OEM (Schaller) |
2024 | — |
| — | — |
Fernandes Policy on Left-Handed Guitar Ordering
Years | Japanese (original) | English translation |
1980 and 1981 (before Floyd Rose contract) | ●サウスポーギター 左用ギターは、常時生産していませんので機種に よっては、在庫のない場合があります。オーダー の場合は、約3ヶ月の納期が必要で、価格は定価 の20%アップとなっています。なお、FPB-40、BO-50、BO-60、FMT-50、およびこのカタログ にない機種の左用オーダーは受付けていません。あらかじめご了承お願いします | ● Left-handed guitars Left-handed guitars are not regularly produced, so depending on the model, they may not be in stock. If ordered, a delivery time of approximately three months is required, and the price will be 20% higher than the regular price. Please note that orders for left-handed versions of the FPB-40, BO-50, BO-60, FMT-50, and any models not listed in this catalog are not accepted. Thank you for your understanding. |
1982 (Page 19 of catalog) | ③サウスポーギター
左利きモデルについては、常時生産しておりませんので、在庫のない場合がございます。新たにオーダーされる場合は、納期は約3〜4ヶ月の納期が基本となっています。価格は本体価格の20％アップとなります。
（注）左用の場合、パーツの供給上、標準のパーツとは異なる場合もありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。 | ③ Left‑hand Guitars
Left‑hand models are not produced continuously, so some models may be out of stock. If you place a new order, the standard lead time is about 3 to 4 months. Price is 20% higher than the base model price.
(Note): Due to parts supply constraints, some components for left-handed models may vary from standard specifications. We appreciate your understanding. |
1983 (Page 38 of catalog) 1984 (Page 46 of catalog) | ③サウスポーギター
左用は常時生産していませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合があります。新たにオーダーする場合は、約3ヶ月～4ヶ月の納期が基本となっています。価格は本体価格の20%アップとなっています。
<注> 左用の場合は、パーツの関係上、標準仕様のパーツと異なる場合がありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。
※印のものは生産していますが、常時生産しておりませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合があります。その場合、約3ヶ月～4ヶ月の納期が基本となっています。定価の20%アップになります。
―印のものはオーダーできません。
無印のもの はオーダーできますが、特注となり、納期は4ヶ月～5ヶ月が基本となります。定価の20%アップになります。 | ③ Left-Handed Guitars
Left-handed models are not produced continuously, so depending on the model, they may sometimes be out of stock. If you place a new order, the standard lead time is approximately 3–4 months. The price is 20% higher than the base price.
Note: For left-handed models, due to parts constraints, components may vary from standard specifications. We appreciate your understanding.
Items marked with ※ are produced but not on a continuous basis, so availability may vary depending on the model. In such cases, the standard lead time is approximately 3–4 months, and the price is 20% higher than the regular price.
Items marked with ― are not accepted for ordering.
Unmarked items are accepted for ordering, but they are considered special orders. The standard lead time is 4–5 months, and the price is 20% above the regular price. |
1985 | ③サウスポーギターについて
●印のもの は、ロット生産していますが、常時生産しておりませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合があります。その場合は、約3ヶ月-4ヶ月の納期が必要となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップになります。
▲印のもの は、ロット生産していませんが、特注で受付できます。その場合納期は、約3ヶ月-4ヶ月以上の納期が必要となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップになります。
×印のもの は、オーダーを受付けていません。
無印のものもオーダーを受付けておりますが、新たな治具が必要となる場合がありますので納期及び料金は、機種によって異なりますのでご注文以前にご確認ください。 | ③ Regarding Left-Handed Guitars
Items marked with ● are produced in batches, but they are not in continuous production, so depending on the model, stock may be unavailable. In that case, a delivery time of approximately 3 to 4 months is required. Please note that the price will be 20% higher than the standard list price. Items marked with ▲ are not produced in batches but are accepted as custom orders. Lead times are approximately 3 to 4 months, but could be longer. A 20% surcharge will also be added to the base price. Items marked with × are not accepted for ordering. Items with no mark [left blank] are also accepted for ordering, but since new jigs/tools may be required, lead times and costs may vary depending on the model, so please confirm these details before placing your order. |
1986 (Vol. 1) (Page 71 of catalog) | ① サウスポーギターについて
● 印のもの／ロット生産していますが、常時在庫しておりませんので、機種によっては品切れの場合があります。その場合は、約3ヶ月〜4ヶ月の納期となります。定価は本体定価の20%アップになります。
▲印のもの／ロット生産していませんが、特注で受付できます。また、新たな治具が必要な場合がありますので、納期は製品の種類や形態によって異なります。ご注文以前にご確認ください。
（注）空白の欄のものは受け付けておりません。
●左利きMODELについて／メーカー仕様と若干異なる場合がありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。 | ① Regarding Left-Handed Guitars
Models marked with ● are produced in scheduled batches, but not continuously, therefore some models may be sold out. In such cases, the lead time will become approximately 3 to 4 months. Please note that the price will be 20% higher than the standard list price.
Models marked with ▲ are not batch produced but can be accepted as special orders. Additionally, since new jigs/tooling may be required, lead times and costs may vary depending on the model and its features. Please confirm these details before placing your order.
(Note) Unmarked items are not accepted for ordering.
● Please note in advance that for left‑hand models, parts specifications may differ slightly depending on the MODEL. |
1987 -1990 (usually Page 71 of catalog) | ② サウスポーギターについて
●印のもの／ロット生産していますが、常時生産して おりませんので。機種によっては在庫のない場合が あります。その場合は、約3ヶ月-4ヶ月の納期が必要 となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップになります。
＜注＞空白の欄のものは受付けておりません。
●左用はMODELによってパーツ仕様が若干異なる場合がありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。 | ② Regarding Left-Handed Guitars
Items marked with a ● are produced in batches and are not manufactured continuously. Depending on the model, there may be no stock available. In such cases, a delivery time of approximately 3 to 4 months is required. The price will be 20% higher than the standard list price.
Note: Unmarked items are not accepted for ordering.
Please note that for left-handed models, parts specifications may vary slightly depending on the MODEL. |
1991 - 2005 possible 2007 (list always on last page of catalog) | ● サウスポーギターについて
下記の機種については、左用の生産をしております。ただし、常時生産はしておりませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合があります。その場合、目安として約3ヶ月〜4ヶ月の納期が必要となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップです。 | ■ Regarding Left-Handed Guitars
The models listed below are available left-handed. However, as they are not produced on a continuous basis, certain models may not be available at the time of order. In such cases, the estimated lead time is approximately 3 to 6 months. Pricing is 20% higher than the standard model. |
2000- 2005 | Custom Order System
御見積り
まず、オーダー内容を詳しく伺って仕様を決定していくことから始まります。使用するパーツや加工内容によって価格が変わってきますので、オーダー・シートに仕様を書き込んで下さい。オーダー・シートは最寄りの楽器店で受け取ることができます。主な項目は以下の通りです。（楽器店を通しての御連絡となります）
ボディー・ヘッドシェイプ
本カタログに掲載されている商品で、ミュージシャン・モデルを除く全てのものが対象です。
＊なお、オリジナル・シェイプ、スケール（弦長）、ネックジョイント方法等の変更は承っておりません。
--- some information omitted ---
セットアップ
サスティナー取り付け、特殊配線、パーツ・セッティング等について、ご希望の内容を記入してください。
全てのスペックが決定された後、楽器店を通して具体的な価格を御連絡いたします。御見積りは何度でも無料です。また、ご不明な点や特にこだわりたいポイント等ございましたら、弊社スタッフまでお気軽にお問い合わせ下さい。
② 発注・製作
●御見積り内容がまとまり、御確認いただいたのちに楽器店を通しての発注となります。
●納期は発注後4ヶ月から6ヶ月程度で、内容によっては多少の遅れが生じる場合がございますが、ご了承下さい。
●製作途中のスペック変更は、進行状況によっては不可能な場合があります。
＊発注後のキャンセルについては、お受け致しかねます。 | Custom Order System
Estimate
First, we begin by discussing the details of your order and determining the specifications. Since the price will vary depending on the parts used and the extent of the processing, please fill in your specifications on the Order Sheet. You can obtain an Order Sheet at your nearest musical instrument store. The main items are listed below. (All communication will be conducted through the instrument store):
Body & Headstock
All items listed in this catalog are eligible, with the exception of Artist/Musician models.
* Please note that we do not accept changes to original shapes, scale length, or neck joint methods.
--- some information omitted --- Setup
Please fill in your desired details regarding Sustainer installation, special wiring, parts settings, etc.
Once all specifications are finalized, we will inform you of the exact price through the musical instrument store. Estimates are free of charge, no matter how many times you request one. Also, if you have any questions or specific preferences, please feel free to contact our staff.
② Ordering & Production
● Once the estimate details are finalized and confirmed by you, the order will be placed through the musical instrument store.
● Delivery time is approximately 4 to 6 months after ordering. Please understand that slight delays may occur depending on the content of the order.
● Changes to specifications during production may not be possible depending on the progress of the work.
* We cannot accept cancellations after an order has been placed. |
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