My StoneTone block review has begun

Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Sustain from the graph seems equal to the zinc one. Nice to have your review, granted, but I was expecting more graphs across chords, single notes, on various spots on the fretboard and also on certain nodes (e.g. G string 12th fret) known to have sustain problems on certain designs, or on last frets (22-24).
But surely from the graph, it definitely seems that it makes a difference for the better.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

greekdude said:
Sustain from the graph seems equal to the zinc one. Nice to have your review, granted, but I was expecting more graphs across chords, single notes, on various spots on the fretboard and also on certain nodes (e.g. G string 12th fret) known to have sustain problems on certain designs, or on last frets (22-24).
But surely from the graph, it definitely seems that it makes a difference for the better.
Click to expand...

I noticed that on the graphs myself but if you look at the signals it is definitlly more powerful with the other blocks. There was a point where the DAW would still register a signal but it was no longer audible. The big thing for me more than anything is the feel the block gives and control it adds.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Hmm...I thought the review would be a little more in-depth/detailed than what you previously posted here. Oh well.

Glad you like the StoneTone.

A couple questions:

1) Did you perceive a "30% increase" in signal strength at the amp like the owner of StoneTone claimed?

2) If you owned another Floyd Rose equipped guitar, would you spend full price ($110+) to upgrade it with a StoneTone block, also?
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Securb said:
And the review is done. The bottom line is I really like the product. The guitar sounds full and there is a favorable shift in the tone of the guitar and the fell.

http://www.tmrzoo.com/2016/69816/guitar-gear-stone-tone-tremolo-block-hands-on-review
Click to expand...

Why are the tracks compressed so hard? The stone block is nearly a perfect brick-wall. If the purpose was for consistent levels between the tracks - normalize the tracks instead of compressing them. Normalizing will just make the highest peak of a track the assigned level, without any unwanted distortion (assuming you normalize below a clipping dB level). Normalizing the three tracks would keep them at comparable sound levels, but also every little nuance from each track will be left intact, and it will be easier to tell how different blocks affect overall changes in volume and dynamic responses to playing in addition to sustain (which is very much affected by compression).

I like that you're testing this, but I think you can do a better test to really highlight any differences/benefits.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

masta' c said:
Hmm...I thought the review would be a little more in-depth/detailed than what you previously posted here. Oh well.

Glad you like the StoneTone.

A couple questions:

1) Did you perceive a "30% increase" in signal strength at the amp like the owner of StoneTone claimed?

2) If you owned another Floyd Rose equipped guitar, would you spend full price ($110+) to upgrade it with a StoneTone block, also?
Click to expand...

I didnt have a db meter but the guitar feels louder and there is more conrol over the notes. I like the product, a lot. I would definitlly buy it again. My guitar teacher played up the guitar and asked where he could buy one after playing the guitar for 5 minutes. He has played the B. C. Rich multiple times over the past year and noticed the difference right off the bat.

Myaccount876 said:
I like that you're testing this, but I think you can do a better test to really highlight any differences/benefits.
Click to expand...

I am not doing a thesis on stone blocks. I have piles or product I have to review here I do what I can when I can. Tell you what start a blog, by a block and test it to your heart's content.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

masta' c said:
Hmm...I thought the review would be a little more in-depth/detailed than what you previously posted here. Oh well.

Glad you like the StoneTone.

A couple questions:

1) Did you perceive a "30% increase" in signal strength at the amp like the owner of StoneTone claimed?

2) If you owned another Floyd Rose equipped guitar, would you spend full price ($110+) to upgrade it with a StoneTone block, also?
Click to expand...


Here is the press release Floyd Rose posted for accuracy.

Date: 11.22.2013

Floyd Rose is proud to announce exclusive distribution of Stone Tone Rock Block sustain blocks. These patented blocks are made of granite, and are designed to enhance and strengthen the sound of your tremolo-equipped instrument across the entire audio spectrum. After installing a Stone Tone block, the guitar’s clarity, sustain, and overall tone will be improved equally in all ranges of the fret board… the extraordinary results of this upgrade are indisputable.

Granite, when quarried in its natural state, is not only of an ideal density for the purpose of sustain, but also has a crystalline atomic structure which is ideal for sonic transference— it requires no factory processing or dilution, and the natural change in sound, upon installation, is so drastic that the signal loss from the guitar to the amplifier will be decreased by at least 30%. The Stone Tone Rock Block is compatible with the Floyd Rose Original Tremolo System and its derivatives, as well as many licensed models. Comes with stainless steel sustain block mounting screws, and available in an L-shape block configuration…




---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a perspective from an amp builder Steve Henning that shares similar tests like Bruce's but without the Signal graphs explaining the 30% louder volume as a result of decreasing Signal Loss

OK, so I got the block into this Ti Floyd, put the guitar back together and set it up...

I'm gonna be honest here and say that as a scientific kinda guy (electrical engineer), I was pretty skeptical about the science behind this block and I really wanted to prove that it was just bull**** to get people's money. Obviously, I have no relationship with the company whatsoever...

Well... regardless of the actual science, the bottom line is that my subjective opinion after playing with and without plugging in for awhile is that this block has made the MOST significant change to my guitar than a block of any other kind, and I've had the big brass ones and the Ti ones. Without plugging in, the whole guitar vibrates in your hands so strongly when you strike a chord, it is almost disturbing. The body does the same thing under your right arm. It feels like it's ALIVE or something... Based on my testing, both chords and single notes sustain MUCH longer than with the previous Ti block. And remember, I'm testing a 42mm Ti block against a 32mm Stone block. The Ti one is way longer and heavier. When I plugged in, the guitar sustained much longer as well and it sounds "throatier" for lack of a better word.

I have no idea how this is going to translate to a recording. Truthfully, I expect the difference will not seem like much, but I'm going to play the same exact things as the previous clip and record them the same exact way to see. One thing that is undeniable is that the guitar FEELS much different - the vibrations of the strings through the body and neck are unbelievably stronger. I dig that feeling a lot, but it's weird at first. I compared it to my white relic strat guitar that has a big brass block and it is night and day - the feel of the vibrations with Stone block are way stronger and the guitar felt exactly like the white relic strat with the Ti block.

The guitar is louder in two ways:

1.) Acoustcally. Sitting in the room, the guitar is way louder with this block than the Ti block when it is not plugged in. It is louder than my guitar that has the big brass block as well.
2.) Electrically. When the guitar is plugged in, with the amp settings the same, the output of the amp is louder. When I mic'd the tracks into my DAW, you could see the waveforms were larger and the tracks hit higher on the meter with the Stone block and NO changes to the amp settings or anything else at all. When I was mixing, in order to match the output volume of the previous clip, I had to bring the faders down a significant amount on the newly recorded tracks with the Stone block.

So, because the guitar is louder acoustically with the Stone block, the pickups are generating more output, driving the amp harder (more input to the amp), resulting in more volume output from the amp for the same settings. More input to the mic, mic pre and tracks with no changes to the settings on the amp. So, yeah, more guitar volume output to the amp...

BTW - When I was mixing this on both the heavy and the clean I had to bring the faders down a couple dbs on the tracks to match the volume on the original titanium block clips. So the guitar definitely gets louder with the Stone block... The clean sounds "chimey-er" to me as well.

Based on my testing, I'd say that for sure it makes the guitar louder acoustically and louder through the amp and it makes the guitar body and neck vibrate like crazy compared to a Ti or Big Brass block. The enhanced vibration makes the guitar feel really alive and is really cool once you get used to it. It also sustains better for sure in my guitar. It sounds throatier and chimier than a Ti block - For me it is definitely worth $35-40 more than a Ti block...

- Steve Henning
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Yeah, I saw all that in your original spam thread.

A 30% reduction in signal loss = a 30% stronger signal at the amp, correct?

Or is there some special type of math I need to use that only applies to Granite products? ;)

Sorry, too many years in sales, I guess. I hate being pitched to, especially by the person who refuses to back up his own claims over and over...again, I get that the block makes a difference. I'm just having trouble grasping this 30% vs signal concept.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Hows the stone block do on the treble frequencies is my main concern. I like a big brass block cause it rings out nicely with less of a strident character than the stock block, although mid-low midrang range girth is a big plus.
 
Last edited:
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Securb has reported on this :
What I notice most was my highs would not choke out or rapidly fade away. Running down to the bottom of the neck runs were clean and articulate with an incredible amount of sustain.
Click to expand...
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Securb said:
I am not doing a thesis on stone blocks. I have piles or product I have to review here I do what I can when I can. Tell you what start a blog, by a block and test it to your heart's content.
Click to expand...

i still liked your review/thought you did a good job - just thought I'd share constructive criticism and taking it is completely optional.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

MetalManiac said:
Hows the stone block do on the treble frequencies is my main concern. I like a big brass block cause it rings out nicely with less of a strident character than the stock block, although mid-low midrang range girth is a big plus.
Click to expand...

You can SKype me and I will take the B. C. Rich through some high runs for you. I would be more than happy to do that for you.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

The problem with the thirty per cent less signal loss claim is that this figure is meaningless without a quantifiable base line measurement for the "standard" zinc block against which to compare.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

I am all for a healthy amount of scepticism regarding advertising claims. In the end, all that matters is: Do you like the sound improvement that a particular item makes given what you pay for it?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Demanic said:
I am all for a healthy amount of scepticism regarding advertising claims. In the end, all that matters is: Do you like the sound improvement that a particular item makes given what you pay for it?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Exactly.
Chris Poland said it best:

"I am positive now that your granite blocks work on any guitar and seem to have almost the exact same results.

As I said before one of my guitars just wasn't quite working for me so that was the guitar I put the first Stone Tone on. Said guitar became my main guitar that day.

So I took my main guitar and put one of the blocks you sent recently on it last night. I heard the difference right away but the crazy thing is that both guitars respond almost identically. No two guitars sound and or feel the same...until now.

I think that is amazing. What I am trying to say is you could make a guitar out of a toilet seat and this granite block would bring it to life.

I am so glad we met at the NAMM show this year. I may never have known or even believed if some one told granite blocks work this substantially."

"You won't know what it's like unless you A/B a Stone Tone Tremelo Block with what your using now".

"Then you'll believe".

And for those that need a scientific quantified schematic clarification on how and why the claim on decreasing signal loss by 30%..
This will only happen 1 of 2 ways.
1) Call Floyd Rose and ask them yourself 732-919-6200 Ask for Jame McCafferty Sales or Andy Papiccio President
2) Purchase one and experience the awesome attributes this Block offers exactly how Bruce and hundreds of other satisfied artists have done.

Or just keep using what you're used to and that's fine too. There have been so many opinions on this topic until many unsure guitarists actually tried one, then they get it.
There is a 14 day money back guarantee so rather than expecting a full detailed quantified explanation you could be more productive with your time and just check one out, then you'll know. :usa:
It's a small cost for what it does compared to a new set of pick-ups, pedal, amp or guitar..
This block by far is the best choice of all the sustain block upgrades out there.
This natural material performs better than any man made factory processed metal block ever will.
 
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Funkfingers said:
The problem with the thirty per cent less signal loss claim is that this figure is meaningless without a quantifiable base line measurement for the "standard" zinc block against which to compare.
Click to expand...

And we had been bombarded with propaganda about how much brass block improves sustain I don't know for how many years. So? What happened? is this "30% less signal loss" the only unproven claim in the angelic world of business?
 
Last edited:
Re: My StoneTone block review has begun

Rand-O-Monium said:
Shout outs to Darth
Click to expand...

Werd!


I've been watching the thread.

Sustain blocks can be a bit of point of opinionated discussion.

Personally, I have over 30 guitars, all with Floyds (or a derivative, such as Edge or Gotoh) and they all have brass...outside of about a 1/2-dozen that have titanium. I've discussed both, even approaching a full titanium rig a piece at a time to evaluate the impact of each component. I've even checked out a full titanium TOM bridge and tailpiece using a shop guitar.

StoneTone and Securb contacted me today so that I'll be evaluating a rock block with relevance to my experience with other block materials as well as having played Floyds for over 31 years.

From my additional approach to the product, Maybe we can see if there is a consensus of opinions/thoughts from actual usage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top