FWIW, the new MIMs have a much thicker block - it is not thinned out as in the pic above, or tapered as in the other; and supposedly it has the 'high-mass' construction.

I wouldn't expect as much of an improvement with a block upgrade on the newer models.

No. Callaham makes many different blocks for the many different variations of strats. If you purchase one, make sure you purchase the right one for your guitar. [/quote]

Yeah the new block is high mass but it still is made out of zinc and not steel. I have found that upgrading the block is not always night and day, but really depends on the guitar in question too

Cheers - thanks for that added info!

Great post. I need an trem upgrade to my 2003 MIM Strat, and this seems to be what I am looking for. Thanks for the info.

I guess I won't change the block out on the '09 MIM I'm modding. That really is good to know.

+1 -- They went to the larger blocks as as part of the infamous "2006 upgrades". You can find cheap '06+ blocks on eBay that go right on a pre-06 bridge. I did that to my '04. However, I made alot of changes simultaneously (also pups and MIA block saddles), so don't ask me how much it changed it (overall the change was huge with all those changes).

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I'm sorry to get a little off topic, but where did you get MIA block saddles to fit a MIM bridge? I was considering oredering the block saddles direct from Graphtech.

I did notice an improvement in sustain and tone with the new block.Just be prepared to not be able to use your trem.As you can notice in the pic the trem hole does not line up exactly where it should.I have mine blocked and don`t use the trem but it pretty much sucks that this one hole is not where it should be.?