Thinking of swapping the stock trem block in my 2008 mim standard and am considering the GFS steel block. Just wondering if this will make a noticeable improvement or should I leave her alone with the stock block. Obviously there is quite a price difference between the GFS block and the Callaham block. Also, any thoughts on swapping out the saddles while I'm at it ??

Thanks in advance

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

I installed this

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Made-in-Mex ... _1145.html

and this

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Upgrade-Sta ... p_773.html

in my 09 MIM Standard Strat. Well worth the money in my opinion.

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Bill

That's exactly what I was looking at. Thanks for the reply. Anyone else have any opinions
??

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

I went with the brass one from GFS on my '08 mim standard. It made a HUGE difference in sustain. The guitar fairly VIBRATES when you strum a chord, and single notes ring with clarity and warmth. (Sorry, Callaham, but why does yours COST so much more...? )
I also put new saddles on (Gotoh)--those "vintage" stamped saddles are god-awful uncomfortable--and it's like a new guitar.
Short answer: DO IT. You'll thank yourself.

I put a brass one in my 2010 MIM, I love it.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

I have used both the brass and steel ones form GFS in my squiers.

In my experience nothing you can do will improve sound better than putting a big fat steel or brass block on your instrument, if, that is ,you currently have one of those thin zinc alloy ones that have been used on an off.

Additionally, I have used the GFS steel bridges and stainless steel saddles on my Squiers. For me this has a lesser effect of improvement than the block change, but I do not know the quality level of the one on your guitar. It might be a huge gain.

I like GFS and they have been very resonably priced and very prompt and honest in their dealings. I have only good to say of them

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I remember when we were free!

My 2007 MIM standard has a big fat steel block from the factory. If that is what you have you will gain nothing from the GFS block.

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I remember when we were free!

See if a magnet sticks to it.

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Bill

The trem block in your guitar has a lot to do with the sound, just like the body, and neck material. IMO almost anything that resonates would be better than the die cast blocks that some of our guitars have. Bluesky is correct if it is steel a magnet will stick to it, and if this is the case the one GFS has won't resonate any better. Unless you want the brass one. I've never saw a brass trem block in a guitar or heard one that I knew was brass but, there's a lot I haven't seen. Brass obviously resonates well, evidenced by the quality of bells made from brass. But I digress, I've only heard good things about GFS's products and service.

Thanks everyone. Looks like my project for tomorrow will be to grab a screwdriver, take off the trem cover, and grab a magnet. If it don't stick, I'm off to the GFS site. A bit of a newbie question here, will swapping the saddles also improve the overall tone and if so, please explain how.
Thanks again everyone.

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"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

I put a GFS trem block in a few days ago to a new Strat and it dramatically made a difference for the better. It inhanced my tone and gave me a lot more sustain. The steel block mod seems to be one of the best mods you can do to a guitar.

I can almost guarantee that the magnet will nnt stick. My 2009 MIM Standard had a full size block. It was not steel. They are made out of a zinc compound that is almost as heavy as a full size steel block, but they are definitely not steel.

Yes, saddles will affect the sound to some extent. Just like a heavy block, a heavier saddle will increase sustain ... slightly. I went with the GFS stainless steel saddles, because I found the bent steel saddles hurt my hand. They also support the string better. Plus they look cool.

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Bill

Bill, do you like the GFS stainless saddles? Have you tried the new Gotoh Staggered Locking Tuners from GFS yet?

TJ

I wouldn't keep them on my guitar if I didn't like them

I have Schaller locking tuners.

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Bill

Any steel trem block -- whether from Callaham, GFS, or even Fender -- will be a definite sonic improvement over the stock pot-petal block. As for saddles, I've always found the vintage bent steel types to be adequate for the task.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY