Howdy!

I though it was about time I updated this thread as there has been a few interesting developments.
We'll start things off with this interesting quote from page 2...


Well, I now know why and as it turns out, today's the day!

A little while ago I broke my wang bar...



Ouch! Yeah, It almost brings a tear to ya eye, don't it!



As you can see the best part of the threaded section of the arm is well and truly wedged in the block. Despite my best efforts that's where its going to stay. I have know idea how it happened as I can assure you at the time of the indecent I was absolutely not on my third Pete Townshend style windmill... honest.

But all is not lost! Help comes in the form of a Welsh Chap called Kevin who's made me a new block and arm!



And very nice it is too! Its made from 1018 cold rolled steel and comes with a new arm with a matching aged tip. The arm is the best fit on a screw in type trem I've ever felt. The annoying wobble usually found is minuscule but not quite as good as some of my push in style trems.

The block and a new arm cost me £37.74 GBP (including delivery) Bargain!

If any one else fancies a replacement block here's a link to his Ebay Page

Now, there are a few differences when compared to the original CP60's block that we should probably have a look at.



All the holes line up but they're clearly not the same dimensions.



So out with the callipers for a quick measure up!

The CP60's block is 14.5mm thick, 41.5mm high and 73mm wide
The New block is 12.5mm thick, 43mm high and 72 mm wide

Best bung 'um on the scales while we're being proper geeky about it!



Crikey! The new block is heavier by 28 grams. Too be honest the most important factor out all the above is which is shinist (Shiny blocks make you play faster). New block wins!

Quick detour from trem blocks as there are a couple of things I'd like to do before the new bridge block goes in. First, I'm going to give the fret board a clean and a little Lemon Oil.



While the neck is having a bit of a soak I'm going to address another issue I have. The Custom 69 Bridge pickup.

I don't like it. Quite frankly its lacking some balls! The Neck and Middle I like a lot. They work nicely together and to my ears sound quintessentially Straty or "Spanky as F**k" as forum user Uncle Thang aptly described them! The Custom 69 bridge pup however, has got to go.

Once again help is on the way! This time in the form of a Seymour Duncan SSL-5



Should be hotter but not so much as to make for an poor match with the Middle 69. After getting the thumbs up from the good chaps down in the Pickup & Accessors Forum I've decided to give it a go.

So off with the pickguard for some minor Big Hairy Transplant Surgery!



I'd loosened the Bridge 69 pup before flipping the guard and a few minutes later...



...We have our new SSL-5 Bridge pickup all wired in and ready to Rock!



With the aged pup cover and its staggered pole pieces it looks the part. Sweet! Now we can wipe off the neck and install our new trem block. It fits the base plate perfectly. Here's a few pic's front and back.





Yep, that's all good! While we're back here its worth noting how cool the Classic Player's Neck Plates are.



"Custom Shop Designed" Cool indeed!

There's one more task to carry out before I can test out the new Trem and Bridge pup. Martian kindly reminded me earlier to "resynchronize the magnetic flux for best results". Now then, how does one go about synchronize their magnetic flux? Well you push down on the strings so that their in contact with all the pole pieces of all three pickups.

Technique is key.

So why would one want to do that you may ask. To be honest, I'm not sure, but I believe its to help remedy "Stratitus" or the weird warbling that Strats occasionally suffer and to ensure a kind of sonic harmony. At some point I'll have to tap Martians gargantuan alien brain for a more comprehensive explanation.

With the magnetic flux resynchronized we can plug in, crank the Blackstar, get this bad boy up to 88mph and see if we can't blow a hole in space time!

[...Some time later...]

I'll keep this bit short... mainly because I'd rather be playing it than typing about it.

The New Trem Arm & Block - Its Awesome! The trem arm works far better than the original and although I can't hear any notable changes in tone I can feel it (all 28 grams of it!).

Seymour Duncan SSL-5 - Also awesome! Its exactly what this Strat needed, some balls in the bridge! Just the right amount of mids without taking any of the harmonics away and a nice output too. It works very well with the other two Cutsom 69 pups. Love it!

Overall its... Awesome!



Well, That's a long post with plenty of geekery and pic's. Now after all that fun stuff I think a nice cold beverage is in order!



[..Slurp..] Ahhh! Now that is tasty. Oranjeboom is one of those lagars that tastes better out of a can than the pump IMO. Coincidently the last time I had a pint of Oranjeboom was in the favourable company of Ceri and The Nutter. T'was a good day!

Cheers and Enjoy!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

A wonderfully informative and enjoyable post there Andy. It also had lots of pictures!! Something that's been lacking in the ole forums lately!! I'm glad that the bridge pickup has worked out well for you mate. Thanks for sharing with the forum!!

Andy,

Truly outstanding all around! And yes, your interpretation of why the magnetic flux should be (re)synchronized is exactly correct.

Thank you for a timely and welcome relief from, well you know.

Enjoy your Strat for many years to come!

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You dig?

Great stuff Andybighair!

The difference with the new block will be more noticeable in the increased sustain and harmonic overtones (if you can tell, some can't). Have you considered a base-plate for the 69 bridge pup? The plate will give you more lows and mids, while preserving the highs, and will make the bridge pup less harsh and trebly sounding, more balanced tone.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

great job andy.
no change in noticable tone with new block, what about sustain?

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Hey Andy, welcome back.

Good to have a old style post, getting a bit bored of "Please identify this strat (no pics)".

Also, when was the last time you saw the drink of choice on the end of a thread... long time... long long time.

Awesome news on the guitar too

Dan

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My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

Thanks Hop! Yeah, there's been a distinct lack of the juicy, fun, pic heavy threads that used to be plentiful round these parts. I'm bring 'um back!


Well, I put that down to hanging out here with all you professionals! Cheers!


My pleasure mate! And I will as this ones a keeper!


Howdy Dan! how ya do'in buddy! You can't beat a tasty beverage at athe end of a hard days geekery! Cheers!

Thanks Chaps!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Hi Shimmilou,

I had considered a base plate for the bridge but the rather attractive price of the SSL-5 put that one to rest. That said I'm now very tempted to try one out on the middle pickup. I'd prefer to try and make one and I reckon some suitable material can be found at work.

I'll keep you posted on that!


Now this is a tough one, as this particular Strat had a pretty good sustain with the original block. I think there "may" be a slight increase in sustain but its not noticeable enough for me to come right out and say "Yes, this block has increased the sustain"!

The trem arm action though is a real winner! Its so much nicer to use than the original. Its "Wammy-tastic"!

Thanks chaps!

Andy

BTW: "Wammy-tastic is my entry for Forum Word of the Week! If someone finds better I want to know about it!

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Pending Greatness

Howdy!

I forgot to add a few things to my Update Post!

Forum Chums!

I just wanted to mention that at the time of the incident in which I broke my trem arm, I had offers of a replacement from both Ceri and The Nutter. Ceri even went as far as to call a few shops to see about procuring me a new one should I free the bit stuck in the block!

He also recommended the Welsh Chap as a source for a potential block replacement after seeing a thread in which forum user Alanssaab had bought one. Once again I have been subject to the kindness and support of some top chaps on and off the forum. Reminds me what a nice place this is (most of the time anyway!)

Thanks again!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Ha! Nice update to the thread, Andy.

Intelligent, well thought out adjustments to a basically good instrument: an excellent example of how this stuff is done.

Couple of questions. Did you ever manage to get that broken off bit of whammy bar out of the block? What techniques did you try? And if not, can I have a go, please? Just for the interest of the methodology: I have no use for a spare block of this kind, but I'd like to see if my gadget works on a tip sunk that deep in the hole.

Also, remind me, please: what metal is used for plates on the bottom of pickups, when people do that mod?

Anyhow. Good work: way to go.

Cheers - C

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Howdy Mr C!


Cheers mate!


Bar a few tentative attempts with a small flat head screw driver to gauge how wedged the threaded section was, I've done nothing. At one point I had the old block in a vice ready to drill a pilot hole to use a friends screw extractor, but with my previous track record of screwing wonky holes I bottled it!

The block is all yours mate!


I reckon I can go one better than that! Here's what our esteemed buddy Martian has to say on base plates....


A piece of forum gold right there!

Enjoy!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Boy, that was quick. Are you the only one here who is somehow still getting thread update emails...?

Anyhow. That is a fascinating post by Martian, and I'm not remotely surprised that you of all people should be able to put your finger on it at a moment's notice!

So happens I have thinnish (about 2 mm, give or take) pieces of both copper and steel sheet, if you feel like chopping 'em up and doing a bit of experimenting? Or am I way off the target - do you have a handful of aftermarket plates sold specifically for the purpose already?

Whatever: yours if you want them. ...Though you'd have a bit of cutting and shaping to do.

Cheers - C

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Nope just browsing when I spotted your post.


Hehehe! To be honest, most of what that guy posts is probably well worth bookmarking! I've certainly benefited countless times from his Jedi-like advice.


Sweet! The cutting and the shaping is the fun part. I'll more than happily take a bit of your steel. I'll make you one too should they be any good.

Cheers!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

You got beautiful guitars, that Classic Player 60's Strat is just awesome!

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As far as my solo record, I don't want a gold record or anything, I'm happy to be small and to have the people appreciate the music who really like me for being me.
John Frusciante

Thanks man.

And Welcome to the forum!

Andy

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Pending Greatness