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Post subject: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 10:37 pm
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Hi All,

First time poster, lonnnng time lurker, lol. I decided to scour the images to make my own trem block for my MIM strat. I have rewired the entire electronics on this Mexican beauty. Nickname is Sangria as it is a 2001 Midnight Wine Strat. I tried using 5 springs, which worked but still came out of tune here and there so I decided to carve a block out or extremely hard maple. The carving and sandpaper shaping took me 4 hours alone to make, so I am super proud. Since blocking the tremolo, I haven't had to tune since. Best mod I have ever done. I lightly ebony stained the block to get some polyurethane into the wood(a stain/poly mix), signed my name to it on the bottom, and then tru-oiled the finish to protect the wood even further. It fits perfect and I wanted to get some opinions on it. Now I can slow hand like Clapton and tune minimally. I hope to one day own an american strat, but for now, this is my main rig. Plays beautifully and sounds nice and stratty. Enjoy the pics and send opinions. Thanks!
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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 2:19 am
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Nice job.

To keep floating tremolo in tune is not a easy job, you must know what to do and how....


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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 11:03 am
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I think it was 2008 when Fender started using the larger "trem block" (referring to the metal block that screws into the tailpiece). You have the earlier smaller one which can easily be replaced. I think Fender sells them, and GFS certainly does -- they are inexpensive and a 5-second change out, too. Just a thought ...

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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 6:28 pm
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I agree it is a nice job of blocking.

I also agree that you might experience further advantages in blocking a "better" trem block. A bigger steel or brass block may well see more sustain when blocked than blocking your original block.

Like all these things they are all relative and (without test equipment and back to back trials) somewhat subjective.

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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 10:36 pm
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Thank you all for the kind words. This trem block took me 4 hours to carve and sand to perfection. I will look into the larger brass trem and then see about blocking from there. I do have a tough time keeping this strat in tune while it was floating and since blocking, I haven't had to tune up yet at all. I pick up the strat and it's nice and tuned every time. Floating isn't my style anyway as I never use the wammy bar. Maybe with the brass block and a smaller wood block, things will be better for me.

Also, a question. My next mod is eather a bone or tusq nut. Any suggestions on which you all prefer? I've read bone for tone and tusq for bending smoothness. This is a Mexican strat with upgraded pickups, a stripped and tru oiled neck, and an American standard string tree. I'm just trying to get the best bang for the buck as I save for a nice american strat,!nut in the meantime, this plays like a dream. Any suggestions on the nut is appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 7:56 am
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Just purchased a solid steel Tremolo Block from GFS (GuitarFetish) for around $27.00 with shipping included (sorry Fender, I looked all over, and you don't offer a steel block for an MIM 2 1/16th. string spacing...so you didn't get my purchase this time). I WILL be floating this bridge...will be my first and only guitar I haven't 'hard tailed'.
To insure more stable tuning, I am also installing locking tuners, roller saddles and string tree.

I decided to go with Graph Tech TUSQ XL Fender Style Slotted Nut to (hopefully) eliminate the need for an external lubrication source.

Gonna also try Fender 3150R Bullets to see if the bullet ends DO in fact aid in tuning stability as well while using a tremolo. I don't plan to get too aggressive with 'dive bombs'...just wanna add some whammy shake more like a Bigsby.

Have everything sitting here...just haven't had the time or ambition to do the mod's yet. Will be the 15' Standard Strat Candy Apple Red listed in my signature line.


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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 8:41 am
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Its a nice looking block job, but I bet the string slots are pretty tight. If you were to sandwich the trem block it would better center the string slots.


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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 5:24 pm
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Ok, at the suggestion of @sfceric64, I made another block for the other side of the Trem. Also tru oiled it as I think this will stay this way for a while(I don't know if I will ever be able to get the blocks out without removing the entire trem or drilling screws into my blocks to pry them out. I also was successful in installing my first ever nut, went with TUSQ XL. All in all, its turning out to be a nice MIM strat. Maybe a maple replacement neck next.. Thanks for the kind words and suggestions. Great community!

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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 9:30 pm
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The trem block looks about as perfect as it can be now, well done.
The nut replacement looks pretty fine as well.
Congrats on a great DIY project.


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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 4:52 am
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Unless you have after you posted that pic....looks like you need to file/sand your nut ends.
The TUSQ is 1.69 and the nut groove of the guitar is 1.65....not a huge difference, but noticeable enough.

Nice blocking job! Both times by the way.


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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 9:01 am
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White Dog wrote:
Unless you have after you posted that pic....looks like you need to file/sand your nut ends.
The TUSQ is 1.69 and the nut groove of the guitar is 1.65....not a huge difference, but noticeable enough.
...


Indeed. I think I would consider a little nudge to the left/up as well. The high E looks very close to the edge of the neck. I assume they didn't do another size with smaller string spacing?

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Post subject: Re: Any Love for this Trem Block?
Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 6:11 pm
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John Sims wrote:
I think I would consider a little nudge to the left/up as well. The high E looks very close to the edge of the neck. I assume they didn't do another size with smaller string spacing?
Could possibly be an "angle" thing on the pic....but assuming the pic is straight on, I would agree...almost looks like he can flush the high E side with the neck, and shave the extra .04 off the low E side.

And no...this 1.69 is as close to MIM spec's (1.65 on a 9.5 radius) as GraphTech get's...but to be fair, they explain why in their product description; so we know going in that there'll be some precision fitting. And the bottom of the nut has a male protrusion to fit the female notch dead center in the nut groove...but filing, forming, and fitting is tedious and next to impossible---all reviews and DYI videos I ever seen recommends to file the nub completely off, and seat it just like the stock nut (because it DOES fit snuggly 'width' wise).


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