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Post subject: 1994 Japanese Trem Block Replacement
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 7:35 am
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I've got a 1994 Japanese made 1962 reissue Strat with the six screw bridge. When I got the Guitar it came without it's original trem arm. I brought it to my local tech who had one that sort of fitted after trying about 20 other arms. It seems that the US ones and the Mexican ones are different and don't fit.

At the moment the one that I have screws in to a point and then just spins. I have to use plumber's tape to stop it swinging around. I use the arm a lot when I play and this is one of the things I love most about the Stratocaster. ideally I would to just find an arm that fits but it's looking more and more likely that I'll have to replace the whole trem block to get one that fits properly. Last year I was looking at the Callaham ones but they were really expensive. I'm happy with the block in my Strat so I don't want to go about changing so much for the arm.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Post subject: Re: 1994 Japanese Trem Block Replacement
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:19 am
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I read the screw thread in the tremolo block are broken.
This may happen when we try too many wrong arms.

The best is to fil the hole and make new threads. With what stuff ?
Hard epoxy ?
You need all the tools to do that work.


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Post subject: Re: 1994 Japanese Trem Block Replacement
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:28 am
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stratele52 wrote:
I read the screw thread in the tremolo block are broken.
This may happen when we try too many wrong arms.

The best is to fil the hole and make new threads. With what stuff ?
Hard epoxy ?
You need all the tools to do that work.


In that case it would probably be easier to get a new block. :(

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: 1994 Japanese Trem Block Replacement
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:37 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
torresfan wrote:
stratele52 wrote:
I read the screw thread in the tremolo block are broken.
This may happen when we try too many wrong arms.

The best is to fil the hole and make new threads. With what stuff ?
Hard epoxy ?
You need all the tools to do that work.


In that case it would probably be easier to get a new block. :(


It is most of the time, easier to buy than to fix, just way more expensive. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: 1994 Japanese Trem Block Replacement
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:49 am
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Sorry to barge in, guys, but it's time to start measuring :wink:

My best guess (based on another guess; that the imperial 10-32 was tried but didn't fit) for the trem arm is, it's metric, and either 5mm or 6mm.
If you haven't got a pitch gauge, take a nut and bolt of each size, check both the block and arm.
I find it a bit odd your tech didn't do this already - like st52 said, it's easy to ruin the block threads with wrong size trem arms.

If you're going to get a new block, measure "everything" on your trem plate and on the block with a (digital) caliper. String spacing, all screw positions & sizes, block thickness, length, width, depth, whatever comes to mind. Then, if you're confident you have the measures, look for a suitable replacement block.

Eventually it may just be easiest to replace the whole trem, if that teflon tape trick doesn't do the job.


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Post subject: Re: 1994 Japanese Trem Block Replacement
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 10:19 am
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Generally speaking, the MIJ/CIJ re-issue Strat bridges are made to resemble the original-spec vintage Strat bridges (2-7/32" string spacing) and a Fender-US trem block should fit the Japanese bridge plate. If you do that you'll no longer have any problems finding a trem arm to fit plus you'll enjoy the sonically-significant benefit of a steel trem block. These blocks can often be found for $40 or less so it's not something I'd consider a major capital investment requiring a congressional budgetary authorization.

Arjay

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