Tremolo blocks

Chmason85

Joined: Dec 25, 2020
Posts: 23
Ardmore, PA
United States

Posted on Dec 27 2020 04:15 PM

I just got a new 60s vintera strat and was just wondering if changing out the trem block for solid steel or brass really makes much of a difference? I’ve had plenty of strats but never tried this mod. Would it sound significantly different through the amp? Fwiw I play fairly clean through a 68 custom Princeton reverb reissue.

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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
3 Download Pins

Posted on Dec 28 2020 02:32 PM

I don't think so.

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on Dec 28 2020 02:46 PM

I changed the block to a steel one in an alder bodied Squier Strat and it makes a lot of difference to me. I guess the difference is more obvious playing delayed melodies (think Shadows) than reverb drenched double picking, though.

—

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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Chmason85

Joined: Dec 25, 2020
Posts: 23
Ardmore, PA
United States

Posted on Dec 28 2020 06:32 PM

I saw some guitar fetish and kluson blocks that were pretty cheap, like $30 or so. I can’t see why the Callaham block is so expensive. Might be worth a shot, they say aside from the material the biggest difference is that the string doesn’t go far into the block like the stock zinc one.

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on Dec 29 2020 05:09 AM

GFS was the way to go for me.

—

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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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Dec 29 2020 07:37 AM

The existing one isn't one of those god awful pot metal ones like the old MIM's is it? In that case a switch is a must. Otherwise I don't think you'll find much tone change.

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The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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Chmason85

Joined: Dec 25, 2020
Posts: 23
Ardmore, PA
United States

Posted on Dec 29 2020 09:44 AM

I’m not sure what it is, it’s just flat gray and the strings go real far into it. It looks to be the same as my 2010 classic 60s and 2015 classic player 50s.

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andare

Joined: Jul 11, 2018
Posts: 93

Posted on Jan 06 2021 02:25 AM

My Classic Series 60s Strat has a Callaham block. The only reason I changed it is because the original block (full size) had stripped threads and the tremolo arm would fall out. The tech that installed the Callaham said it gave the guitar more sustain but frankly I can't tell the difference. It's probably heavier.

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ecv

Joined: Apr 08, 2016
Posts: 35
London
United Kingdom

Posted on Jan 06 2021 06:15 AM

Have you put a magnet on the block? That is one way to test whether it is steel or pot metal.

I personally take the view that there is a good deal of snake oil in the trade (as always with guitar stuff) but that the block makes some difference to sustain - especially between the thin blocks used on cheaper Squiers and the more bulky, heavy steel blocks. However, that could be due to heavier blocks changing the string tension, so I am not 100% convinced.

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Chmason85

Joined: Dec 25, 2020
Posts: 23
Ardmore, PA
United States

Posted on Jan 07 2021 09:42 PM

andare wrote:

My Classic Series 60s Strat has a Callaham block. The only reason I changed it is because the original block (full size) had stripped threads and the tremolo arm would fall out. The tech that installed the Callaham said it gave the guitar more sustain but frankly I can't tell the difference. It's probably heavier.

I feel like this will be the reason I end up getting a new block; the vibrato arm seems to want to thread in more and more every time I play, the block feels like really soft metal. The GFS ones seem decent and certainly cheap enough if the time comes for that.

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Chmason85

Joined: Dec 25, 2020
Posts: 23
Ardmore, PA
United States

Posted on Jan 07 2021 09:43 PM

There’s also noticeable play in the arm which is making the response a little unpredictable

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Chmason85 Joined: Dec 25, 2020 Posts: 23 Ardmore, PA	Posted on Dec 27 2020 04:15 PM I just got a new 60s vintera strat and was just wondering if changing out the trem block for solid steel or brass really makes much of a difference? I’ve had plenty of strats but never tried this mod. Would it sound significantly different through the amp? Fwiw I play fairly clean through a 68 custom Princeton reverb reissue. Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Dec 28 2020 02:32 PM I don't think so. Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1062 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Dec 28 2020 02:46 PM I changed the block to a steel one in an alder bodied Squier Strat and it makes a lot of difference to me. I guess the difference is more obvious playing delayed melodies (think Shadows) than reverb drenched double picking, though. — 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. Top
Chmason85 Joined: Dec 25, 2020 Posts: 23 Ardmore, PA	Posted on Dec 28 2020 06:32 PM I saw some guitar fetish and kluson blocks that were pretty cheap, like $30 or so. I can’t see why the Callaham block is so expensive. Might be worth a shot, they say aside from the material the biggest difference is that the string doesn’t go far into the block like the stock zinc one. Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1062 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Dec 29 2020 05:09 AM GFS was the way to go for me. — 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. Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Dec 29 2020 07:37 AM The existing one isn't one of those god awful pot metal ones like the old MIM's is it? In that case a switch is a must. Otherwise I don't think you'll find much tone change. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
Chmason85 Joined: Dec 25, 2020 Posts: 23 Ardmore, PA	Posted on Dec 29 2020 09:44 AM I’m not sure what it is, it’s just flat gray and the strings go real far into it. It looks to be the same as my 2010 classic 60s and 2015 classic player 50s. Top
andare Joined: Jul 11, 2018 Posts: 93	Posted on Jan 06 2021 02:25 AM My Classic Series 60s Strat has a Callaham block. The only reason I changed it is because the original block (full size) had stripped threads and the tremolo arm would fall out. The tech that installed the Callaham said it gave the guitar more sustain but frankly I can't tell the difference. It's probably heavier. Top
ecv Joined: Apr 08, 2016 Posts: 35 London	Posted on Jan 06 2021 06:15 AM Have you put a magnet on the block? That is one way to test whether it is steel or pot metal. I personally take the view that there is a good deal of snake oil in the trade (as always with guitar stuff) but that the block makes some difference to sustain - especially between the thin blocks used on cheaper Squiers and the more bulky, heavy steel blocks. However, that could be due to heavier blocks changing the string tension, so I am not 100% convinced. Top
Chmason85 Joined: Dec 25, 2020 Posts: 23 Ardmore, PA	Posted on Jan 07 2021 09:42 PM andare wrote: My Classic Series 60s Strat has a Callaham block. The only reason I changed it is because the original block (full size) had stripped threads and the tremolo arm would fall out. The tech that installed the Callaham said it gave the guitar more sustain but frankly I can't tell the difference. It's probably heavier. I feel like this will be the reason I end up getting a new block; the vibrato arm seems to want to thread in more and more every time I play, the block feels like really soft metal. The GFS ones seem decent and certainly cheap enough if the time comes for that. Top
Chmason85 Joined: Dec 25, 2020 Posts: 23 Ardmore, PA	Posted on Jan 07 2021 09:43 PM There’s also noticeable play in the arm which is making the response a little unpredictable Top

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Tremolo blocks