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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:51 pm
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I would be surprised if they used zinc in the American Deluxe series. But not at all if they used them in the standard series. Steel is the real deal. 8)

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:09 pm
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Supposedly even the American Standard 2 point bridge is copper-infused, high-mass, 100% metal bridge block improves your ability to sustain notes. So maybe not "steel" per say, but it is 100% metal.

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:14 pm
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ebaysux wrote:
Supposedly even the American Standard 2 point bridge is copper-infused, high-mass, 100% metal bridge block improves your ability to sustain notes. So maybe not "steel" per say, but it is 100% metal.


Not supposedly, they are copper infused, and cast blocks. One difference in blocks that isn't noted by many, is that CRS (cold-rolled steel) is better than the softer, cast steel. Mixing copper with the steel is merely to help fill in the voids left naturally from the casting process. Both the Am Std and Am Dlx have soft, cast blocks with some steel. The magnet test doesn't really mean much, except to tell if there is some steel, it doesn't mean that it is the best steel by any means.

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:31 pm
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Wow, I guess the Callaham block really is an upgrade on any model. I'm not sure the tonal difference between a high-mass block and a solid steel if any. Maybe a saddle and nut change would make more of a tonal difference (keeping with the same PU's) if you already had a high-mass block.

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:59 am
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I noticed a change from the cast Am Std block to a Callaham, I've changed two of my own Am Std blocks, an '08 and a '12. The Callaham block gives a bit richer sound, a bit better sustain over the cast, copper-infused block. I thought that I would have to change the pups in the '08 Am Std until I replaced the cast block, which was enough improvement to keep the stock pups.

Each bit of a guitar can have affect on the tone that the guitar produces, some are subtle, others are more noticeable. I routinely replace the blocks in most of my Strats with Callaham, and add a plate to the single coil bridge pups. Two of the best improvements to almost any SSS Strat.

The only blocks that I have not replaced in my Strats are those from the CS, such as the AVRI. The AVRI blocks are the best that Fender has, although the Callaham blocks are even superior to those. It is obvious that the CS blocks and the Callaham blocks are not of the same material.

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:31 pm
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Anyone notice a difference between steel or brass


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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:53 pm
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I replaced mine with a brass one, and not much different from a steel one, but I worry that the tremolo arm (Where is screws into the block) may at some point oblong due to the softness of the brass. If I were to do it again, I would have gone with the steel.

Here is a good high quality one at a fair price and made for the Mexican tremolo.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Solid-Steel ... c_221.html

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:08 pm
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I agree. Brass is pretty soft, unless they use a steel threaded insert for the trem arm. A friend of mine put a Leo Quan Badass Bridge on his P-Bass in the 70's and still loves it to this day.

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:01 pm
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I would go with the steel one from Guitar-fetish, refer to ink Jefferytune put up in previous post.

I have used these in my Squiers and MIMS, great and low price.

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:11 am
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I wanted to try a block from Guitar Fetish, but when I emailed them asking for specs on the block, I got a rather rude response that they "didn't have the spec sheet" in front of them "at the moment". I just wanted to know if it is CRS or the softer cast material. The price indicates that it is the latter and not the former. If they can't even tell me what the block is made of, forget it. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:11 am
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I've dealt with GFS for pickups for some of my cigar box guitars and their stuff is pretty nice. I used their P90's and Pro Humbucker. Actually, I don't think you'll get a better pickup for under forty bucks. I also have some tailpieces from them and they're nice too. I never dealt with them over the phone though. All they say about the blocks is they're solid steel or solid brass. For $21.95 I'd try one. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:31 pm
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That's why I asked. Solid Steel?.....cast like an Am Deluxe block? Cast or CRS? I don't want to replace one inferior block with another inferior block. :? The GFS blocks are likely at least an upgrade to a zinc block, but beyond that who knows. If they were interested in my business, they could have answered my question.....unless they have something to hide. :?:

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:52 pm
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I've just ordered one so ill give it a go when it arrives. Thing is with gfs I've noticed is you never get a straight answer to a question. It's always "should" drop in "should" fit or "should work


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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 10:49 am
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Always :lol:
My Super Vee Bladerunner dropped right in.

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Post subject: Re: mim trem block upgrade
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:08 pm
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I know I know before you lot say anything I should of checked first but it seems that my mim strat has Mia spacing so it doesn't line up not that i would of fitted it and left it in. It arrived rusted and dinted and scratched to hell. It resembles something bolted to the top of an engine rather than something you would fit to your guitar


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