I did the Callaham swap on my '08 and found that the stock block weighed in close to 7 oz and the Callaham was just shy of 10 oz. So a 40-50% increase in mass.
Too early to figure the exact percentage...
-T

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

Anyone know offhand if the block on the HW1 is pot metal or steel?

If I had to guess, all of Fender's models except the very latest models are pot metal. They advertise I think it is the new Deluxe Strat as having a big old block.

The magnet test will tell you easy enough.

-T

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

ERRRRRRHHH!!!

Well who's the fool. I tried the magnet test and low and behold what I thought all this time was a steel block is an imposter.

I guess I will be making an order to GFS.

Thanks for the "heads up" guys, and I just put new strings on it. Dang it!

What I do not understand is why Fender does these kinds of things.

Where is the logic? Let's see...I build products whose reputation and client satisfaction depends on the quality of sound my product produces, therefore I will include components and design elements that compromise the quality and performance of my product.

Well, on the bright side my MIM will sound better in the near future.

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I remember when we were free!

That's the primary reason why I now build my own Strats.

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

It's all due to the almighty dollar...

Steel is more expensive than pot metal.

A couple of buck here and there and before you know it, you saved a few bucks in manufacturing costs per guitar. Now why is it that the prices keep going up? supply and demand...

-T

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

Corporations exist only to make profit and companies are expected to grow and make more profit each and every year. Personally I think the Fender price hike was too high, because they are starting to slash prices. It should have been a gradual price hike. I do believe everything went up over 30% last year.

20%

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Bill

Did the magnet test on my '08 HW1 and it is indeed steel. nice! I'm thinking of trying the GFS brass block on one of my MIMs and the GFS steel block in the other.

Okay, I placed my order with GFS this morning. I went with the steel block, new saddles, and trem arm. Not sure when the items will arrive but, hopefully it won't take too long. Any suggestions on installations. Is this something that someone like me with some level of experience can handle ? I've swapped pick guards and changed pickups so, maybe with won't be too bad a project. To be honest, having to reset the intonation from scratch is what I think is scaring me the most. Again, any advice or a link to a video lesson will be muchly appreciated.

Mike

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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

Congrats on your new order. You will love it.

Piece of cake. If you have swapped pickguards and pups you can do this.

As far a setting intonation, do what I did: Measure from the back of the bridge plate where the intonation adjustment screws mount to where the string rests on each saddle. Remove the old saddles and install the new ones. Adjust the intonation screws so that the measurment from the back of the bridge plate to where the string rests on the new saddles is the same distance measured earlier. String up, tune, and fine tune intonation from there if necessary. Works every time.

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Bill

Replacing the block isn't tough at all. I used a piece of wood to hold the block in place while adjusting the height of the trem plate and putting the springs back on.

I was worried about doing intonation myself but it was a lot of worry over nothing. Yup it takes time but it's not that bad. I used the instructions located on this web site for setting up my strat. From relief to string height and intonation. I felt good after doing it and it did make a difference.

Didn't replace the saddles this time. Soon as I figure out which I want I will do it and redo the setup again.

-T

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

I went home and pulled the imposter block off a spare MIM trem set I had in my parts box. It felt good to throw it in the garbage. I will order two new steel blocks from GFS and replace the one on my MIM guitar the next time its time to change strings.

I hate being fooled and mighty disappointed with Fender over this.

I read above in this tread that the 08 MIA block is actully steel. It's good to know because that was my next question.

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I remember when we were free!