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Post subject: Strat Trem Block opinions...
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:20 pm
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Fender Zinc (full size) - 8.5oz
Fender Steel - 10oz
GFS Steel - 7.5oz
Callaham Steel - ???oz

Tone-wise, please provide your personal observations regarding the differences between these blocks.
_____ _____ _____ ______ _____ ______ _______ ______

My findings were that I have replaced zinc blocks in two guitars with steel ones. I put a GFS in one and Fender in the other.

Surprisingly, there didn't seem to be much of a difference between the two steel blocks. But, both steel blocks made a noticable difference over zinc alloy. I've always been a skeptic of those saying it made a huge difference, since that mod is often made while doind a set-up and perhaps other mods. So I intentionally only changed blocks leaving everything else the same.

Steel resulted in an open, "airy-er", more bell like tone. Sustain is also improved.

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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:58 pm
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I used a callaham in my frankenstrat. Found it improved the tone more than changing pickups did. Not a drastic difference but more a enhancement of what was already there. As the trem for that particular guitar is blocked im currently considering filling the cavity with pieces of steel rather than using the timber block.

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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:05 am
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nikininja wrote:
I used a callaham in my frankenstrat. Found it improved the tone more than changing pickups did.

Wow. That is quite an endorsement.

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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:41 am
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I "block" mine so it doesn't move, but I don't use any physical block. I just tighted the springs so it's flush and doesn't move when i bend strings. Been doing that for like 15 yrs.


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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:42 am
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yeah its a wierd one, the tone was very similar to its straight out the factory tone but with more character added, mainly across the midrange. I then decided to go with a midboost option aswell to see if i could further enhance/refine that effect. It did but the stock mexican pickups didnt deal well with my boss eq20 boosting the mids up. So i thought 'old claptons a clever fella, try his setup'. A set of vintage noiseless and a 25db midboost kit later and im satisfied. You could say the callaham led me to further exploit the difference it made.

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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:14 am
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I guess the steel has it over the zinc (not talkin' bout pickups).

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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:18 am
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I just put 5 springs in the back and did my saddle adjustments and called it a day. That way if I really want to I can use the trem bar.


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