The string retainer sits between the locking nut and the tuning machines, pressing the strings down to maintain the break angle over the nut. Without enough downward angle, strings lift out of the nut during a heavy dive. This is the Floyd Rose Special series replacement, finished in black nickel, and it ships with its mounting screws.

Fit is decided by two things: the mounting hole spacing and the retainer height. Hole spacing is series-specific — this retainer is cut for the Floyd Rose Special system. If the guitar is running an Original, 1000 series, or non-Floyd unit, the holes will not line up. Height matters too: the retainer controls how steeply the strings angle across the nut face, and shimming it up or swapping to a taller or shorter bar changes that angle directly. If the strings are popping out of the nut blocks under a dive, a worn or incorrectly seated retainer is often the cause. Measure the spacing on the existing retainer before ordering.

The bar is steel with a black nickel finish. Black nickel is a thinner, darker plate than chrome; on cosmetic grounds it matches the black hardware that ships on many Special-equipped guitars from the factory. The finish does not affect function but will not match chrome or gold hardware.

Not certain this fits your guitar? Send us the make, model and year and we will check it against what we have on the bench.