Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

[Rockstar216]

Did any of you notice a difference in feel of your trem when pulling up and diving when you installed the bigger block? I currently have a 37mm Big Brass block from Floyd Upgrades but never got the chance to use my trem with the stock 32mm block. So I'm not sure how much of a difference in feel it was between the two blocks. I'm thinking about going down to a 32mm Brass block to see if that makes my trem feel a bit looser and easier feel and response. The 37mm brass block I have now makes my trem feel a bit heavy and sluggish but still very usable but I'm looking for a more softer quicker feel.

Will a smaller block give me what I want?

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I thought the big blocks were to compensate for all the tone the Floyds suck out of the guitar. Could be wrong though

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

The big blocks give a bigger tone and more sustain. A 32mm big block is a bit bigger then the stock 32mm block on a floyd also I can get Brass, titanium, and now stone blocks if I want.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I never really got to find out. On the two Floyds that I've installed, they came with 37mm blocks that were too tall for the recessed setup, so I had to get new 32mm blocks just to get them fully functional. I haven't tried a stock 32mm block against a big brass block in the same guitar. I can't even remember why I bought it instead of a 32mm Floyd block. Maybe it was cheaper or something.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I thought the big blocks were to compensate for all the tone the Floyds suck out of the guitar. Could be wrong though

Personally, I think the locking nut sucks more tone than the bridge does -- at least, on an OFR. I leave the nut open sometimes on my Floyded Soloist, because I think it sounds so much better that way. On a copy made of softer metal and possibly additional compromises, it might be a different balance between the nut and the bridge.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

the large block is a must on a Floyd. Yeah, they tone suck..in particular they are bright as hell- probably because they are bright to begin with , and then mainly are paired with neck thrus -which are insanely bright guitars, needing the right pickups...and one of the reasons why I am looking into a top tier bolt on , like a Jem.
I cringe whenever i see someone make a sweet tonewood guitar, like, say, Koa and then ruin it with a Floyd Rose. Yes, they suck the hell out of tone, and are mainly for Metal "sound", and not pure tone.
PS-leaving the nut unlocked on a Floyd is a terrible idea. The string will move all over the place in the nut and isn't stable..BACON!!***#@**!
But anyway, the large Block adds a lot of girth and body, alleviates some of the icepick, and ,again, is a must.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

Jerry, I've had the Floyd on that guitar for about eight years, so I'm not really worried about it. But thanks for caring.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I cringe whenever i see someone make a sweet tonewood guitar, like, say, Koa and then ruin it with a Floyd Rose. Yes, they suck the hell out of tone, and are mainly for Metal "sound", and not pure tone.

Remind me again why you decided on the name MetalManiac? Floyds kick it you just have to know how to handle them.

Something maybe be lost but something extra special is gained. The ability to turn your string to spaghetti is not to be forgotten.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

Edit: Post was not funny, on to serious advice.

I have a kramer with one of those big brass blocks. I would do it again without any hesitation. I noticed a big difference but maybe it's just me. Went from "good sound, woody, fast decay" to "wow wow wow, sustain forever, less woody".

YMMV. I just really really liked the effect of the big block on mine.

 

[Tallwood13]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I didn't feel any weight difference honestly

I get asked this all the time as I had a metal company make me some in Budapest (Hungary) , the blocks I had where 1.5cm thick , so thick the spring barely fit on. The whammy bar didn't have any extra weight or anything it felt , than again I'm not a big whammy bar user. All in all I can't see myself without it I have a couple of floating tremolo guitars and I don't play them half as much as my BC Rich beast with it in it.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

The effect of shortening the block is that the springs are stretched less when the bridge is tilted a given angle. Therefore, the springs will pull with less force. Moreover, they will exert that force over a shorter arm so their torque on the bridge is decreased as well. I hope that answers your question, Rockstar.

As for the tone suck hype - a floyd isn't really that much different from any other 2-point fulcrum tremolo in the way they work and transfer vibration between the strings and the body.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

The effect of shortening the block is that the springs are stretched less when the bridge is tilted a given angle. Therefore, the springs will pull with less force. Moreover, they will exert that force over a shorter arm so their torque on the bridge is decreased as well. I hope that answers your question, Rockstar.

As for the tone suck hype - a floyd isn't really that much different from any other 2-point fulcrum tremolo in the way they work and transfer vibration between the strings and the body.

Yea I think I understand it. Less torque gives a softer feel but I need to see if I still have my stock block laying around somewhere so I can test the feel difference between the two.

 

[DTrane]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I tried a KGC Megabrass block on my 2pt trem strat. The change in tone was subtle. Didn't really like it. Gonna try a steel block.

I think the tone weakness is more from 2pt vs vintage 6pt trems rather than the blocks. Trem blocks definitely affect the tone but its vary subtle

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I'm fully aware of how different materials change the tone. I'm more interested in difference of feel between bigger and smaller blocks.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I replaced my gotoh 36mmone with this fat 32mm. Its nice.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I am a firm believer in the big blocks. And yes the string tension will change some as the distance the spring is stretched and the angle be diff with a bigger or different block. I recently started also using the Raw Vintage springs when I go with a big block. They have a softer feel so I can usually run an extra spring and have about the same resistance as stock.

 

[J E C]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

I put an FU big block on my OFR a year or so ago. The one I got is the same height as the original one. If any of the geometry changed at all, it was very slight and I don't recall any difference in feel, and I was hard pressed to tell if the tone and sustain had changed much. Now that I have been playing it for a wile, I should swop it back in and see if I notice a difference. As mentioned above, if the geometry changes due to using a different height block and/or one that moves the spring attachment point (the holes the springs hook into) to a different location relative to the bridge pivot point, the geometry will change. This will change the rate at which the springs are stretched and relaxed for the same amount of arm movement, changing the over all feel. How much? I don't know. Some may be able to perceive it, and some not, depending on the person and how much it changed.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

Will any of the aftermarket blocks alleviate any of the "reverb" sound that is inherent in stock locking tremelos?

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

Quite possibly maybe. Spring dampers will, that's for sure.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Question for guys who use Big Blocks on their Floyds

Quite possibly maybe. Spring dampers will, that's for sure.

I wasn't already familiar with what string dampener are but after googling them, I'd have to disagree. That reverb/ringing continues for a second or two even after I muffle the strings with both hands. The reverb is coming from the springs and block, not the strings.