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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 8:59 am
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C'mon man, you can do it. Don't let these dudes scare you. They will have you think you're defiling a sacred effigy!! :roll:
I've done this to a few Strats, I'm no genius, I'm a guitar player like you, and if you're a practical thinker too, it's as simple as brain salad surgery!
You had enough guts to replace the block. You're right, a singing steel or brass full size block is 150% better than that fluffy zinc alloy thing... now finish it yourself.

You are not going to 'butcher' anything if you take it easy, bit by bit, you know yourself how much to take out of the front of the trem wall to raise that trem, just as any guitar tech would, you were correct in using a wood rasp, and even a fine chisel tapping lightly, just shave it off until it's there.

Then after you do that, you sit back and say 'Wow I got the balls and I did it my way, what's next!!' :D

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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:36 am
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I think the issue is that the cavity isn't cut evenly, since it clears quite comfortably on one side (the low E string side). I'm somewhat puzzled as to how that would even happen though, assuming - as I am - that these cavities are cut by machine.


Hi JPJ. It would come as no surprise to me if your trem cavity is a bit out. My '93 Plus was green over red (new from the factory) with such a huge paint build-up in the cavity that it fouled the trem block. After I gouged that lot out, I had to remove a little wood as well before the block would move as it should! Yes, I should've taken it back to the shop, but frankly it was easier to do it myself as I'm a practical bloke with decent tools.

As JM mentions, more recently I had to return a Callaham VN unit, recommended for my Special (which had stripped block thread), which wouldn't downbend as far as it should - hardly at all, in fact. Callaham was no help, and I think we (on the forum) came to the conclusion that the cavity wasn't quite machined right - and just a fraction is enough. I haven't done any carving, though - just bought another Special trem, which fits perfectly. My magnet says it already has a steel block, and I couldn't be happier with the sound of this guitar.

In my opinion, having done both 'cures', if you can't get enough down- or upbend with your new trem unit set to float (1/8" between back of bridge plate and body), it's easier to sort the trem than the body. Especially if you're not 'a practical bloke with decent tools'!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 6:29 am
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I'll ask this again.
Why are we hacking up parts and bodies?
Have you considered giving your bridge more float?

You buy a part for your guitar that is intended to be an upgrade.
The part doesn't fit as well as OEM.
Rather than admit it's the wrong part you're going to start breaking out the saws and chisels?

Replace the part with one that fits.
If you aren't prepared to spend the money and time to get the right part then adjust the guitar so it works with what you've got.
Give the bridge more float.
Don't do something irreversible.

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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 1:01 pm
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Well, I took the guitar to Noden Guitars, in Denmark Street, and they did a really nice job making a little more room for the block, and re-attached the bridge assembly.

Last night I adjusted the string height, and did the intonation. The guitar plays so nicely now, AND stays in tune (and looks even better now that it's all black...I'm going to have to update my Avatar!)

BMW-KTM: I don't think it's the wrong part. The supplier says he checked with Fender and recommended the one I've now got. That the block was clear on one side but not the other suggests the issue was with the cavity, not the block. In retrospect I should have just tried attaching strings and seeing how much they pulled the bridge out, but still, I think getting the cavity made bigger by people who've done it before and have the right (machine) tools to do it was a good thing to do.

And like I said above, it plays beautifully. :)


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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 12:23 am
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I'm pleased to hear you got it resolved without resorting to wood butchery. There is a lot of satisfaction in having a Strat which you have adapted yourself (either through your own hand or through sub-contracting).

All products are sold based on a compromise of manufacturing cost against offer price. By modding you are taking control of that compromise and saying "This is fine but it would be better if.....and I am willing to pay the extra to achieve that."

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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 1:32 am
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John Sims wrote:
I'm pleased to hear you got it resolved without resorting to wood butchery."


"...making a little more room for the block" sounds like 'wood butchery' to me, John! Not that it would've needed much, I doubt. As I noted way back with the Plus, 1/64" clearance is plenty!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 5:39 pm
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Peter S wrote:
John Sims wrote:
I'm pleased to hear you got it resolved without resorting to wood butchery."


"...making a little more room for the block" sounds like 'wood butchery' to me, John! Not that it would've needed much, I doubt. As I noted way back with the Plus, 1/64" clearance is plenty!

Cheers - Peter.


There is gentle relieving with appropriate tools and then there is wood butchery using rasps and other WMDs. ;-)

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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 11:33 pm
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John Sims wrote:
There is gentle relieving with appropriate tools and then there is wood butchery using rasps and other WMDs.


I would not regard the judicious tweaking of a trem cavity to afford proper clearance for the block as "butchery". Luthiers perform such work all the time.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 4:42 am
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John Sims wrote:
There is gentle relieving with appropriate tools and then there is wood butchery using rasps and other WMDs.


Ah right, I thought you'd missed the fact that wood had been removed! Sorry John!


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Post subject: Re: Making room for the t-block
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 4:17 pm
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John Sims wrote:
I'm pleased to hear you got it resolved without resorting to wood butchery. There is a lot of satisfaction in having a Strat which you have adapted yourself (either through your own hand or through sub-contracting).

Ah, now I feel like someone understands me!
;-)
What you've described there is exactly the feeling I have. I've always loved my Strat, even when it was the slightly naff looking bright red colour from when I originally bought it new.

Changing it to black (with the help of a body shop who actually did the respraying) about five years was highly satisfying. Then replacing the noisy pickup selector switch all by myself about 18 months ago filled me with some pride. Now that I've replaced the bridge assembly - even with sub-contracting help - plus changed the scratch plate, pickup covers, knobs, etc, so that it's essentially and all black guitar, and then done the strings height and the intonation myself...well, it's like falling in love with it all over again.

AND it's now easier to play, plus I reckon it has longer sustain too. It even stays in tune (something I never thought was actually possible without buying a top-of-the-range model).

I'll post a few pictures in a day or two.
:D


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