Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 05:53 AM
So far, people claim that a heavier block improves the strat's sound and/or sustain. Mainly referring to the Squier thin blocks.
The claim is that a bigger mass reflects the vibration back to the strings, giving LP's fixed bridges or Tele's strung through bodies as an example.
Now, as apposed to tonewood theory, in which I personally don't believe, I don't know where my opinion is on that one, but here is what makes me wonder:
JM and Jags - the strings are still floating in the tremolo cavity, but the plate to which they are being held is not that heavy, and yet I never heard that people needed to change the tremolo to a heavier one in order to improve tone.
Any ideas on the matter?
Cheers,
Mark.
Last edited: Nov 19, 2015 05:54:16
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psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1304
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 07:27 AM
It's not a myth. The material and density of the inertia block absolutely makes a difference.
The tonewood argument is best avoided though. There was a lot of vicious fighting over tonewood on Youtube for awhile. The arguments got very ridiculous, nasty and personal, so yes, let's not get into that. As for the inertia block however, all I can really say is that when I changed out the shitty zinc block for a proper steel block, the tone drastically improved in a very noticable way. I can't give you any of the science or physics of the matter, but in my experience the zinc block gave my strat a very nasally narrow midrangey tone that I found very annoying and unpleasant. The steel block really makes it sing though and was the best upgrade I could have made.
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http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com
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Clarry
Joined: Oct 01, 2014
Posts: 519
Streatham, London
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 07:45 AM
But what about...
Jewel tone
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ebrobston
Joined: Feb 14, 2010
Posts: 122
birmingham alabama
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 08:21 AM
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 08:32 AM
My Squier JV export came with a zinc block of exact size and measurements of a 1960s Fender Stratocaster. I replaced it with a 1960s spec Callaham block which fitted the JV plate precisely. Initially I thought I could hear improvement, after shelling a fair amount of wedge for this I really wanted to hear improvement. But after the new strings calmed down it sounded much like it did before.
It is tough to change a block without changing strings so comparison by ear alone could be a unreliable factor. To bust the myth you'd really need to record the before and after with new strings and/or use some sort of spectrum analyser thingy (graphical proof).
I'm still a bit sceptical I'm afraid.
Photo: Zink left - Steel right.
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 11:04 AM
The Squier Strat I had came with a much smaller block. I replaced it with a $35 Callaham from Guitar Fetish that had much more mass and it made a huge difference, an improvement to my ears.
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 11:49 AM
Stormtiger wrote:
The Squier Strat I had came with a much smaller block. I replaced it with a $35 Callaham from Guitar Fetish that had much more mass and it made a huge difference, an improvement to my ears.
Some of those later Squiers came with really skinny almost non existent blocks so I can imagine it did make a huge difference for you. Mine was only 54 grams or 1.9 ounces short of the original weight so the difference wasn't night and day for me. I'm happier knowing I have a patent part fitted though.
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ArabSpringReverb
Joined: Jul 13, 2012
Posts: 490
San Diego CA
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 01:41 PM
Not a myth...it made a difference I could easily hear on my MIM strat.And its not jusy more mass...lead has a lot of mass yet you wouldnt want a tone block made from it.
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 01:51 PM
By mass, I refer to the size. Lead has more density so it is heavier than steel with the same mass.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19334
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 04:27 PM
I think you meant "lead is denser than steel so it is heavier than steel with the same size (dimensions)".
If two objects have the same mass they are going to weigh the same in the same frame of reference (Earth).
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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casey
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 521
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 10:25 PM
My #1 strat came with an aftermarket brass bridge and block - I didn't care for the tone. Replaced it with a Fender "vintage" style assembly and got a tone I was happier with. At one point went to a Callaham bridge and tried to compare it with the Fender. Both sounded good but, to me, the Fender had more "bite" vs the Callaham which seemed more bell-like or piano-like. Went back to the Fender. Does the type of material in the block make a difference? - no doubt in my mind.
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Nov 19 2015 11:32 PM
OK is it safe to talk about tonewoods now that the block issue is settled? I really wanna talk about tonewoods.
— Squink Out!
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psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1304
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Posted on Nov 20 2015 12:40 AM
JObeast wrote:
OK is it safe to talk about tonewoods now that the block issue is settled? I really wanna talk about tonewoods.
Talk like that could easily turn SG101 into The Gear Page! There was a real bloodbath on Youtube about tonewood. It got so contentious that some people were even threatening physical violence. Nothing but Troll bait in that well. Here's a sample of the whole fracas:
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http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com
Last edited: Nov 20, 2015 00:54:25
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Nov 20 2015 06:08 AM
I think it is better to leave tonewood out of Surf 101. For that there are lots of gear blogs, as psychonaut said.
Moving back to Surf, so most of you hear difference in the block mass, good, I got my answer. But now - Why Offset guitars don't suffer from the same issue?
I never had an offset but the string there are still connected to a plate which is suspended from the rest of the guitar body, just like Strats.
Cheers,
Mark.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19334
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 20 2015 08:24 AM
All that extra string length behind the bridge is what makes Jags & JM's a completely different animal from the Strat. That already changes the response so much its apples and oranges.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Kawentzmann
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Nov 21 2015 10:56 AM
Offsets have more traditional bridges that connect to the wood of the body, in a similar way to an arch top bridge. There’s that vertical pressure going. The bridge of a strat is attached to this block of metal, the screws are not in the vertical path under the strings.
— The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann
You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.
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slopoke
Joined: Dec 24, 2013
Posts: 145
Maribor
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Posted on Nov 21 2015 11:31 AM
Clarry wrote:
But what about...
Jewel tone
I read through that whole thread but never found out if hand-wired jewel lights sound better than pcb-mounted ones.
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Nov 21 2015 11:17 PM
Thanks everyone for the info. Helped me a lot!
Cheers,
Mark.
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