Well, to start things off, let's look at the easiest way to tune a guitar with a standard double locking, fully floating trem in the style of Floyd Rose, explained in the most simplistic way possible (i.e. little detail).
First Step:
Block your trem at it's proper "zero angle". You need to make sure that the trem will not move at all. I also can't stress how important it is to block the trem at it's proper angle.
Second Step:
Unlock the locking nut. You don't have to fully remove the bolts and pads, but only make it so the string can travel easily over the nut.
Third Step:
Tune the guitar using the tuners on the headstock. If you block the trem right, it should be as easy as tuning a guitar with a fixed style bridge.
Fourth Step:
Lock the nut on the guitar. Careful not to over torque the locking bolts.
Fifth Step:
Often when locking the nut, you'll throw the strings slightly out of tune. In order to correct these small tuning issues, use the small fine tuners on the bridge itself. That's what they're there for.
Sixth Step:
Remove what ever you used to block the trem. The trem should now jump out of tune, and out of it's proper "zero angle". Don't panic, this was expected.
Seventh Step:
In order to bring the guitar back into tune after unblocking, you must adjust the spring tension. If the strings are too sharp, loosen the springs. If too flat, tighten the springs. If you tighten the springs properly the trem will move back to the "zero angle" and be in perfect tune.
While on it's face, this may seem a lot of work, with practice this can take as little as a few minutes.
I hope this helps some folks out there. Tomorrow I'll explain the steps more in depth. Until then, WANK AWAY!
-Max
