When I change the strings on my 2010 Am Standard. It's really hard to get the strings to push back through the block. The little round thing gets stuck and i'm having trouble getting it out. Is there a solution to this. I use D'Addario strings. I figured after I changed them a few times it would get better but it hasn't. It seems to be getting worse. My B and high E are stuck pretty good and I have yet to get them out this time.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

I have the same problem with my Aria hen i string it with D'Addario or Dean Markley's when i switched to Ernie Ball i never had a problem again. The round end of the string may be small enough to get stuck in the trem block. All i know is changing brands fixed it for me.

Just try a toothpick to push through from the top. The wood will prevent damage. If your block is the same as the stock block in my 08, it is cast and soft and the balls will stick more often. I changed to a Callaham block, which is more like the vintage blocks. I don't have a problem with the balls sticking any more.

_________________
---> "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.

I have a Gigmate tool kit and it comes with a little tool to poke out ball ends. Works great

http://www.amazon.com/GIGmate-Guitar-To ... 244&sr=8-1

_________________
Am Deluxe Stratocaster HSS
Am Standard Stratocaster
Am Standard Telecaster
Blacktop Telecaster
Gretsch 6120

Pignose
Super Champ XD
60'sTwin Reverb

Yes I manage to get them out but it does seem to be getting worse with each set. I suppose I need to order a Callaham as suggested by shimmilou.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

maybe switch to fender bullets for the means time, they may not get stuck since they are not your typical round loop end

I just keep wiggling and pushing and wiggling and pushing until they break loose. The B and High E are the hardest because they are so small and when trying to push them out they just bend. I take a pair of pliers and grab as close as I can to the saddle and just keep wiggling until they come out. It seems though they get more stuck with each string change and I fear there will come a time when they may not come out. I fooled with that E string for about 30 minutes today before it finally came out.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Advice taken. I will look down in there. The block on mine is a little different. The strings go on down into the block a bit. I will look next time I change'em.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Is yours like the one on the right or left?



If they go down deeper into the block I'd recommend getting the Bullet or Super Bullet strings, they work great in my Am. Dlx! I've been using D'Addarios for years, the Bullets work great IMO, but do NOT use them in "vintage" style blocks, they sounded horrible in the one on the left!

Mine looks like the one on the right. The one on the left looks like the block in my AVRI'57.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Try a set of the Bullets or Super Bullets, much easier to change strings with those.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/fender-guitars-music-gear-apparel?N=100001+200984&Ntt=BULLET+STRINGS&Nty=1

I keep a thin metal skewer that you use for trussing up a chicken or turkey in my tool kit,it's thin enough to fit through the holes yet strong enough not to crack off.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Do the music shops carry the Callaham Block? Like Guitar Center? Or do I have to order it online?

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Hey,

I read in a guitar book a while ago, a tech (forget the name) recommended using a cake tester to get the strings unstuck. I did a quick search on google and they seem to be pretty inexpensive and readily available, so might be worth a look.

Not sure if it woud damage the trem block or anything, I just thought I would give my 2 pence worth

Hope this helps,
Drew

I googled it, it seems to be a metal skewer for testing cakes or something? I read it in the Hayne's Fender manual

Drew