Blocked Strat Trem & Strat Trem Blocks?

[Afghan Dave]

Out of curiosity....

If you block a strat trem, (a la Clapton) does it matter if you have a sh!tty pot metal trem block?

You've got all your springs in the cavity and it's screwed down to wood - I can't believe the block would still make a difference.

Am I wrong?

[WezV]

yes, wrong!

everything matters

unless you are actually playing live, recording or just making music for fun every sinlge last detail matters!!

...

i do actually believe there will still be the same tonal differnce between trem blocks as with a floating trem, maybe slightly less but still there.  but maybe we shouldnt worry about these things too much

[Philly Q]

i do actually believe there will still be the same tonal differnce between trem blocks as with a floating trem

+1

I think that must be the case, since it's the block the strings are anchored in.  Blocking the trem and changing the block will both affect the tone, but the effects are independent of each other.  IMO of course.

[gwEm]

theres a guy on ebay selling steel trem blocks for 30 quid - got to be worth it.

[Afghan Dave]

Thanks for the input... I see you've all gone down the bloody Eric Johnson route haven't you?

Does this wisdom apply to the ferrules in a hardtail as well  :roll:

Where can I find this ebay dude gwEm?

[Philly Q]

Does this wisdom apply to the ferrules in a hardtail as well  :roll:

They must make a tiny difference, but it's six separate little bits of metal as opposed to one big chunk weighing over half a pound!

[38thBeatle]

It also depends on the box that it comes in-don't forget that.

[martinw]

How come on a Gibson, fitting a lightweight aluminium tailpiece is a 'good thing', whereas on a Strat the 'good thing' is fitting a heavy, dense block?  :?

In both cases, it's the bit the string anchors in.

I'm interested in this, because I've just fitted an ally stop bar to my super-light swamp ash SG, and it has made a small but noticeable improvement in sustain and brightness.

I also have a Mex Strat with a Mazak trem block, which I'm contemplating upgrading to steel. My trem is flush and the springs are wound down to (mostly) disable the trem. Would I be wasting my money?

[WezV]

tbh i think aluminium trem blocks could be a great ideal - its just steel is the more available upgrade

[gingataff]

Does this wisdom apply to the ferrules in a hardtail as well  :roll:

http://www.glendaleguitars.com/String%20Ferrules.htm

tbh i think aluminium trem blocks could be a great ideal - its just steel is the more available upgrade

FWIW Allan Holdsworth used an aluminium trem block on his Charvel model in the '80s, preferring it to steel.

[gwEm]

i fitted fancy ferrules in my jazzmaster and think it was a good idea - but i won't be changing the ferrules in any of my guitars ;) but if you are building one from scratch why not?

afgan: seller is kevinh3324. its not the best quality milling i've ever seen, but its ok, and its nice steel as he says. also he says he can mill blocks any dimensions if you send your old one. i got one of his standard USA spec ones, so didn't try the custom option. i'm quite happy with it, and its 20 quid and not 30 as i said - i would be happy to pay 30 for it in fact.