Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

[Chistopher]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

Never zinc, I find the threads for the trem arm never last any considerable length of time, but I have replaced a large brass block for a small steel one because the 59 in the neck was too boomy. This was before I learned about swapping magnets.

 

[Returned]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

And improvement doesn't always have an effect. Out of curiosity I have to ask: Have you ever found out any positive effect by those zinc blocks?

This might come off he wrong way, I'm not trying to be a smarty, so I am prefacing it in the context of what money and effort level I would put into a $300 Asian guitar:

Whether blocked or floating there are more things to worry about on an inexpensive guitar with a vintage tremolo than the trem block. I worry about getting as much resonance into the body as possible so bridge and neck fitment are much more important. If the body is fighting you on this because it has more glue than wood there isn't a trem block made that can rescue the tone or sustain.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

A lot of what a quality block imparts on the guitar is the feel as well. A poorly cut zinc block leads to quite a bit of bar wobble and a good deal of screwing the arm in. Whereas a nice steel Callaham block you have to push the arm in, rotate it once or twice, and the bar is firmly in place with absolutely no wobble.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

And improvement doesn't always have an effect.

Wait What?

That's the definition of improvement

If it has no effect it's not an improvement
If it has a detrimental effect, it's not an improvement

No waffling allowed. Another technical and you have to stop posting for 15 minutes

 

[Mincer]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

Well, all improvements might not affect sound or playability. A nicer pickguard might be an example.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

Well, all improvements might not affect sound or playability. A nicer pickguard might be an example.

It has an effect of making it cooler , more desirable

Can't see it on a recording, but you can hear the artist interaction

Naw I guess not.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

Wait What?

That's the definition of improvement

If it has no effect it's not an improvement
If it has a detrimental effect, it's not an improvement

No waffling allowed. Another technical and you have to stop posting for 15 minutes

You can make improvement that doesn't have effect at the moment: Like if that cheap trem block doesn't have detrimental effect on your tone, then you switch to different strings it may become a problem. Upgrading is still improvement even if it doesn't improve anything in your current setup.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

This might come off he wrong way, I'm not trying to be a smarty, so I am prefacing it in the context of what money and effort level I would put into a $300 Asian guitar:

Whether blocked or floating there are more things to worry about on an inexpensive guitar with a vintage tremolo than the trem block. I worry about getting as much resonance into the body as possible so bridge and neck fitment are much more important. If the body is fighting you on this because it has more glue than wood there isn't a trem block made that can rescue the tone or sustain.

Very true. In the context I expected the guitar itself to be worth of the upgrade. If it's waffle body, I'm not going invest my time or money to improve it.

Though there is a plenty of 300$ asian guitars these days that definitely are worth the effort.

A lot of what a quality block imparts on the guitar is the feel as well. A poorly cut zinc block leads to quite a bit of bar wobble and a good deal of screwing the arm in. Whereas a nice steel Callaham block you have to push the arm in, rotate it once or twice, and the bar is firmly in place with absolutely no wobble.

It's about material as much as built quality. I really like the GFS steel block tone wise, but it has that import 5mm arm that feels like it's going to bend, and wobbles annoyingly.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

^^My GFS arm snapped off the moment I fully rotated it into my GFS steel block.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

You can make improvement that doesn't have effect at the moment: Like if that cheap trem block doesn't have detrimental effect on your tone, then you switch to different strings it may become a problem. Upgrading is still improvement even if it doesn't improve anything in your current setup.

that my friend is a change
not an improvement

improvement by definition improves or makes better

 

[Jacew]

Re: Squire Strat 70s vintage modified mods ?

that my friend is a change
not an improvement

improvement by definition improves or makes better

?

I don't think you understood my point...