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Post subject: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reissue
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:04 am
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Considering replacing the steel block on my AVRI ( American vintage reissue) Strat with the new series Fender Pure Vintage Block.
They are without question different, because I now have both blocks in my possession to compare.
Question is, which one would be the better block; or if not 'better', would the AVRI or would the new Pure Vintage block be more vintage accurate ?
Fender does market the Pure Vintage Steel block for general sale , whereas the only way to get the AVRI block is from parts I think.
I do not think the Pure Vintage are entirely accurate to vintage pre-CBS Strats, as I believe those were milled form Cold Rolled Steel, and I doubt the Pure vintage are especially at their price point.
The saddles on the other hand are purported to be exact vintage replicas in every sense..I would love to see Fender offer the bridge plate as well.


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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:48 am
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I've never been able to discern any sonic differences between those blocks or their associated bridge parts. Visually, the Pure Vintage saddle set is historically correct for a pre-1971 Strat with their stamped "PAT. PEND." markings and I've routinely used these (and aftermarket repro's) for a number of years when building accurate clones of vintage instruments. I think the salient point regarding trem blocks is that they be fabricated from steel, just as Leo intended.

JMO, YMMV

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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 3:15 pm
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As far as "vintage accurate", the original AVRI blocks were not quite made the same as the originals, evidenced in part by the fact that the holes for the strings were drilled deeper on the RI than those on the originals. Despite the BS of ME on the CS forum, the AVRI blocks were not only inaccurate, but of questionable metal. I believe that the AVRI blocks were made of much softer steel (leaded steel) than we were told. :wink:

The newer AVRI blocks, at least have the proper string hole depth as compared to the originals, but I still doubt the type of metal is really CRS, which is very apparent when compared to a Callaham block.

If the AVRI blocks were really true to the originals, then what is the "Pure Vintage" block all about? The "new" block is probably the same as the older RI block, except maybe the string hole depth. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 8:44 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
As far as "vintage accurate", the original AVRI blocks were not quite made the same as the originals, evidenced in part by the fact that the holes for the strings were drilled deeper on the RI than those on the originals. Despite the BS of ME on the CS forum, the AVRI blocks were not only inaccurate, but of questionable metal. I believe that the AVRI blocks were made of much softer steel (leaded steel) than we were told. :wink:

The newer AVRI blocks, at least have the proper string hole depth as compared to the originals, but I still doubt the type of metal is really CRS, which is very apparent when compared to a Callaham block.

If the AVRI blocks were really true to the originals, then what is the "Pure Vintage" block all about? The "new" block is probably the same as the older RI block, except maybe the string hole depth. :wink:
shimmilou wrote:
As far as "vintage accurate", the original AVRI blocks were not quite made the same as the originals, evidenced in part by the fact that the holes for the strings were drilled deeper on the RI than those on the originals. Despite the BS of ME on the CS forum, the AVRI blocks were not only inaccurate, but of questionable metal. I believe that the AVRI blocks were made of much softer steel (leaded steel) than we were told. :wink:

The newer AVRI blocks, at least have the proper string hole depth as compared to the originals, but I still doubt the type of metal is really CRS, which is very apparent when compared to a Callaham block.

If the AVRI blocks were really true to the originals, then what is the "Pure Vintage" block all about? The "new" block is probably the same as the older RI block, except maybe the string hole depth. :wink:




They are quite noticeably different . I agree that the AVRI is probably softer leaded steel , although I'm certainly no metallurgist.

As far as sonic difference, yes, there will be a tonal difference in a premium guitars- you just need a good ear and top quality gear.
Here is a pic of my 'AVRI ' steel blcok vs. my new 'Pure Vintage' steel; block[In my pic, the AVRI is on the left].

The Pure Vintage looks more like a good quality steel to me. The dimensions of the two blocks are slightly different- the Pure Vintage block is more rounded and the AVRI has slightly squared shoulders.

I also like how there is more steel between the string insert holes and the edge of the block on the new Pure Vintage...I have a 'Gotoh' block that aside from being good Japanese Steel ostensibly, has the string holes dangerously close the the edge of the block.


Image


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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:53 am
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Yes, the differences are easy to see, if one looks. :wink: Seems that you also have a discerning eye, and ear. I prefer the Callaham blocks myself.

On the original Fender blocks (and the Callaham), the ball ends of the strings just barely went into the hole. On the first AVRI blocks, the ball ends went quite deep into the block. IIRC, the hole depth was corrected later. Thus, the claims of using "original tooling" and making them "just like they used to" were deceptive, and apparently fooled many people into believing that the blocks were the same as always. :roll: As I tried to point out on the "Ask ME" section of the forum, you can put anything into the "original tooling" (which are just guides anyway), the tooling doesn't care whether its leaded steel or peanut butter, nor does it matter as to the depth of the holes. There were even several people that couldn't believe that their Am Std and Am Dlx had cast blocks, even though it was blatantly obvious that they did. :lol:

This is what I meant by the depth of the string holes, anyway. Have you compared your blocks as far as how deep the string holes are, for the ball ends?

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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:02 am
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Here you can see a Callaham block, and the depth of the ball ends.
Image

This '07 model of a '62 RI, with the stock Fender block, shows the ball ends quite far down in the holes.
Image

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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:10 am
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shimmilou wrote:

This is what I meant by the depth of the string holes, anyway. Have you compared your blocks as far as how deep the string holes are, for the ball ends?



I do remember that 'Ask ME' thread about the blocks.

The the string holes on both the blocks ( AVRI and Pure Vintage) look just about the same depth. The Pure vintage my be just a very slight bit more shallow, nothing real apparent. The Callaham is much more shallow than either the Pure Vintage or the AVRI block.

Whats the difference about string ball end depth besides vintage correctness anyhow?- is there a legitimate concern tone or physics related?


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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:18 am
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I'm not sure about any big tone difference, other than more steel in the block, but yes, vintage correct anyway. There is a definite tone difference between CRS and leaded steel though.

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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:25 am
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Based on the posted photos, I'd say that the Callaham block is visually the closest to a true vintage Strat block. The chamfered holes of FMIC's Pure Vintage part do not look like anything I've ever seen in an actual pre-71 guitar. As for the composition of the alloys used for these blocks, that's the purview of a metallurgist with access to a mass spectrometer.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: AVRI Strat Steel Block vs. Pure Vintage Steel Block Reis
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 12:39 am
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[img][img][/img][/img]
shimmilou wrote:
Here you can see a Callaham block, and the depth of the ball ends.
Image

This '07 model of a '62 RI, with the stock Fender block, shows the ball ends quite far down in the holes.
Image

This is what you want in a trem block. There is less contact of the string to the trem which leads to less string breakage and it gives it much better tone. Now I have owned a few fender custom shop trems that obviously had zinc and lead in them. I only use Callaham now. It’s sorth the money and you will have a true vintage trem. The best thing you can do for a guitar is uprgrade your hardware tremolo and tuners before going all out on pickups. You will hear a huge difference with the right tremolo I E Callaham. As far as brass goes it sounds nice different but nice on some strats. Good luck


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