The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

I'd love to know what the Ti sounds like. I figure it'll accentuate the highs a bit more, but I also think that its hardness will definitely add some sustain / note clarity. Give it a shot, and post clips of its sound

Jason

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

Well, Titanium as an element has a very high strength to weight ratio and it is not very dense. So in some ways it's like an uber-Aluminium, meaning that you wouldn't get as much inherent tonal colouration. Remember the preference of aluminium tailpieces and the lightweight ABR-1s people profess on their Gibsons. This is which yield more of the woody sound because the aluminium isn't creating as much inertia between string vibration and the returned body vibration. The steels and zinc based alloys used in much modern hardware results in a greater inertia barrier between string energy and the body vibration. I guess Floyds benefit from the mass of a larger block because it strives to recreate to an extent the effect of a bridge fixed directly to a hunk of wood.

Having said all that, I wonder if the brightness one is hearing with a Titanium block is the timbre of the other steel parts, like the saddles and baseplate...

Interesting thread on the whole, though it would've been nice to hear some clean or mildly distorted clips too, which would've made the differences between the blocks more palpable. But I suppose when you record, you invariably lose the subtleties that can be heard in person.

 

[jhale667]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

I'd love to know what the Ti sounds like. I figure it'll accentuate the highs a bit more, but I also think that its hardness will definitely add some sustain / note clarity. Give it a shot, and post clips of its sound

Jason

There's a clip of the Ti block in my Koa Strat you can check out in the 1st post of this thread that will give you the idea; but yes - sustain and note clarity is dramatically improved. It does tend to accentuate the highs a bit more than the Brass block, but not in a manner that is harsh at all IMO. :cool2:

 

[jhale667]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

Pending parts arrival BUMP

Alright, according to UPS the new body is showing up today, hopefully can get it assembled over the next week, may post comparison clips of Ti and Brass in the Ash body for fun shortly thereafter...

 

[benniej]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

Thought I'd post some photos of the added Brass Block and floyd upgrades. I'm know gassing for a TI block and I m blaming it on you JHALE the difference between the stock block and big brass block is night and day, which now has me thinking about the Titanium block and maybe what it could add. The noiseless springs work really well to, can't hear them ring out like they used to.

My guitar is now complete for now, OFR, EVH d-tuner, Big Brass Block, Noiseless Springs and Tremol-No :bling:

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

Hey, isn't this a full floating guitar?
How did you put the D-Tuna?
Where's the Deep C on the Tremol-No?

Also, my Tremol No is the pin type as well but Adam at FloydUpgrades says he prefers the claw because of the increased contact area...

 

[benniej]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

Hey, isn't this a full floating guitar?
How did you put the D-Tuna?
Where's the Deep C on the Tremol-No?

Also, my Tremol No is the pin type as well but Adam at FloydUpgrades says he prefers the claw because of the increased contact area...

Hey, if you look closely the pin of the Tremol-No is slightly off to the side but after some tweaks and some 3in1lubricant it works perfectly.

I've got the Deep C on my Tremol-No locked down with the tiny black gromit looking screw rather than the fine tuner screw (if that makes sense?), so its dive only but I can easily switch between floating, hardtail or dive only if needed.

I ve had the tremol-no in that guitar for nearly two years and it has fitted perfectly into both the LFR trem block aswel as the OFR and the new L-Shaped Big Brass Block. I love the thing, what a brilliant invention; also a big shoutout to Adam at floydupgrades.com, damn good products :friday:

EDIT- in relation to the EVH D-Tuner, theres still room to pull up on the trem with it added, however, the D-Tuner doesn't work well/is not supposed to work with a floating bridge hence me setting it for dive only

 

[jhale667]

That happens sometimes, sorry...

That happens sometimes, sorry...

I'm know gassing for a TI block and I m blaming it on you JHALE

Oopsie. Yeah, that'll happen...:lol:

the difference between the stock block and big brass block is night and day, which now has me thinking about the Titanium block and maybe what it could add.

That's what I started wondering; had to find out. To be honest, I knew I was hosed the first time I tried the Brass one - suddenly I had one Floyd'ed guitar out of (then)4 that sounded SO much better than the others I was like "Sh*t, now I have to do this to the rest of them..." :34: Then after much consideration I just had to know if the Ti was all that. Turns out (IMHO, in the right guitar) it IS.

Here's the one the 2nd Ti I just got is going in, body showed up today:

Direct-mounting the pickups...an STK-S1N and a CC (that may later morph into a C8) :cool2:

 

[Chad]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

What's the verdict on the "L" versus the regular brass big block? I'm wanting to try a big block in one of my OFR equipped ESP Horizons.

Also, what about the different sizes of blocks? I guess the bigger, the better? I have one guitar that currently has a 32mm, but it looks like I could easily fit a 37mm in there.

With all that said, I am conscious of the total playing weight of my guitars because I play while standing up a lot. How much more does the L weigh than the regular?

 

[jhale667]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

What's the verdict on the "L" versus the regular brass big block? I'm wanting to try a big block in one of my OFR equipped ESP Horizons.

Also, what about the different sizes of blocks? I guess the bigger, the better? I have one guitar that currently has a 32mm, but it looks like I could easily fit a 37mm in there.

With all that said, I am conscious of the total playing weight of my guitars because I play while standing up a lot. How much more does the L weigh than the regular?

You should measure your trem cavity to see if a 37mm would fit. 32s are more for shallow bodies and ones with recessed trems AND backplates, IIRC.

As for the L type blocks, that's the one type I haven't tried, mostly because I'm always adjusting the tension of my tremolo bar. I know people like Warren Demartini swear by them, but have yet to try one myself - maybe someone else can chime in...

Can't imagine them weighing THAT much more than the standard Brass one though...and I put a Brass block in an Ash SuperStrat that's LP heavy and it still wasn't enough of a weight-gain to be an issue.

Good luck - hope it works out for ya! :beerchug:

 

[jhale667]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

OK, I felt bad because I couldn't answer a question posed in the thread I started..:2: (oopsie) so I emailed Adam at FloydUpgrades, and he got back to me rather quickly....here's his response...

"Cool –
Answers –

If you can see the back of the arm housing through the back of the guitar, the L block will fit! More mass = more tone!

The difference is the heights of the block – In mm’s (how far they hang down from the base plate of the bridge – get the biggest size your guitar can take without the block sticking outside of the body.


Slight weight difference – big tone difference!


Thank you,

Adam Reiver"

Hope that helps...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

So, Is the TI REALLY worth the price diff?

I dont understand how that works.. I would think that weight is the key and is'nt the appeal of TI that its lighter? If that is the case, Id think the brass would be better..


One last question.. Does this hinder the use of the trem too much?

Im in the process right now, of narrowing down my harum.. Once I get down to my most choice ladies, Ill then adorn them with these jewels.

 

[jmh151]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

So, Is the TI REALLY worth the price diff?

I dont understand how that works.. I would think that weight is the key and is'nt the appeal of TI that its lighter? If that is the case, Id think the brass would be better..


One last question.. Does this hinder the use of the trem too much?

Im in the process right now, of narrowing down my harum.. Once I get down to my most choice ladies, Ill then adorn them with these jewels.

There's the Tungsten block as well from another manufacturer which I plan on getting. It has the weight, resonance and tone of a bras big block, but in the size of a standard block, making it easier to fit in some guitars that a big block won't

 

[jhale667]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

So, Is the TI REALLY worth the price diff?

I dont understand how that works.. I would think that weight is the key and is'nt the appeal of TI that its lighter? If that is the case, Id think the brass would be better..


One last question.. Does this hinder the use of the trem too much?

Im in the process right now, of narrowing down my harum.. Once I get down to my most choice ladies, Ill then adorn them with these jewels.

I'm currently (slowly) increasing my harem....hahaha

Is the Ti worth it? Sure, I think so, but tone is personal, y'know? Some may not dig one or the other. I recall one forum member mentioning in a different Floyd-related thread here he didn't dig the Ti over the brass when he tried them. Me, I like both... And from what I can tell, while the mass thing is a huge contributing factor, the two materials impart different tonal qualities of their own in addition to the sustain and low-end omph they both add.

I'm not sure the brass is fatter, or that you just notice the enhanced top-end more. I can get some pretty serious low-end "chunk" with either..but to me the Ti's lead tone is more desirable, so I'm putting them on my two dedicated "shred sticks"(as one of my friends dubbed them) and the ones I find myself tuning down, or playing more rhythm-oriented parts on, digging the Brass. Appparently Warren Demartini's main guitar has a Brass L block and Titanium saddles...once you start talking saddle/block combos, there's another new neighborhood of tone, one imagines...in that spirit, thought I'd try Graph Tech Floyd saddles, but now most everyone's telling me I'm going to hate them regardless of what block I use...awesome - where were these people when I was thinking of buying them?!? :lol: Hoping they're wrong about that bit...

As for the range-of-motion question, I've had zero cavity/travel issues with the ones I've tried in my Charvel and Warmoth bodies, doesn't seem like it's going to be an issue in the pending project KnE, Musikraft and Kramer bodies I have, either...hear it happens occasionally....YMMV. I'd be interested to hear what bodies these don't fit in w/o modification...:scratchch

I'd also like to hear a Tungsten (or Aluminum) one, though I must admit I can't help but already wonder then what one the same size as the FloydUpgrades non-L shaped one (since I know I've got no cavity-travel issues with those) would sound like...:naughty:

Anyone tried the standard sized Tungsten one?

 

[jmh151]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

I'm ordering a Tungsten one for my Charvel. On some guitars, like my Charvel Pro Mod, installing a Big Block restricts trem usage to dive bomb only, you can't pull up, and it restricts some dive bomb movement as well.

The Tungsten block, being the same size as the stock block, but having the weight of a Brass Big Block, gives you the tonal advantage and sustain of a big block while still maintaining your full range of tremolo use (on guitars such as my Charvel where trem use would be retricted by a big block).

To my knowledge, so far there isn't a Tungsten block the same size as a Big Block- it hasn't been made yet-

 

[jhale667]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

I'm ordering a Tungsten one for my Charvel. On some guitars, like my Charvel Pro Mod, installing a Big Block restricts trem usage to dive bomb only, you can't pull up, and it restricts some dive bomb movement as well.

Interesting, though I've heard a few people complain about the Production model Floyd set up/rout in general, so that makes sense.
I'd be interested to hear what you think of the Tungsten once you've installed it... :friday:

To my knowledge, so far there isn't a Tungsten block the same size as a Big Block- it hasn't been made yet-

So I guess I get to wonder for a while longer... Not really all that interested in trying a standard sized Tungsten one, since I have no cavity issues - I don't want the "same" benefits as one of the other two types I want a completely different 3rd animal, y'know? I'm no metallurgist..lol but thinking perhaps a standard sized one Tungsten might sound similar, but not have as distinct a personality as perceivable with the Brass and Ti Big Blocks? Dunno...but does make me curious..so post your findings, please. :thanks:

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

I'll be installing a brass block on the lo-pro Edge 7 on my RG7620 this weekend, we'll see how that goes.

Honestly, I plan on selling the axe for a hardtail 7, for one reason, unless the new block fixes this (which I doubt it will):

I absolutely HATE the way double-locking tremolos make strings feel. They're instantly a bit more dead and rubbery than non-locking trems or hardtails, regardless of trem use or if they're blocked/tremol-no'd or not. I got the block mainly for ****s and giggles, since I'll be selling the axe anyway, but I figured I'd give it a shot and see if it helped.

I'll post my thoughts when I get some time in with it.

 

[jmh151]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

Interesting, though I've heard a few people complain about the Production model Floyd set up/rout in general, so that makes sense.
I'd be interested to hear what you think of the Tungsten once you've installed it... :friday:



So I guess I get to wonder for a while longer... Not really all that interested in trying a standard sized Tungsten one, since I have no cavity issues - I don't want the "same" benefits as one of the other two types I want a completely different 3rd animal, y'know? I'm no metallurgist..lol but thinking perhaps a standard sized one Tungsten might sound similar, but not have as distinct a personality as perceivable with the Brass and Ti Big Blocks? Dunno...but does make me curious..so post your findings, please. :thanks:

Actually, I couldn't wait. I have an extra German made OFR floating around that I already shimmed for a Jackson/Charvel compound radius. I had the L shaped brass block, so I installed it and the MIG Floyd on the Charvel Pro Mod.

The Big Block, on a Pro Mod Charvel, makes the bridge non-floating- you can only dive bomb. Dive bombing is unaffected, so it functions much better than I thougt- now I don't have to buy a trem stop or tremol-no to make the bridge non floating. You just have to tighten the claw screws a little bit, and once you do, the bridge sits correctly flush with the body.

Tone wise, gone is the brittle tone of the Floyd- the guitar's alot more resonant, bigger, fuller, more low end and stays in tune better (since it's non floating). Harmonics are improved as well.

 

[jhale667]

No more thin sound, that's for sure.

No more thin sound, that's for sure.

Actually, I couldn't wait. I have an extra German made OFR floating around that I already shimmed for a Jackson/Charvel compound radius. I had the L shaped brass block, so I installed it and the MIG Floyd on the Charvel Pro Mod.

The Big Block, on a Pro Mod Charvel, makes the bridge non-floating- you can only dive bomb. Dive bombing is unaffected, so it functions much better than I thougt- now I don't have to buy a trem stop or tremol-no to make the bridge non floating. You just have to tighten the claw screws a little bit, and once you do, the bridge sits correctly flush with the body.

Tone wise, gone is the brittle tone of the Floyd- the guitar's alot more resonant, bigger, fuller, more low end and stays in tune better (since it's non floating). Harmonics are improved as well.

Glad you like! :friday:

I have a couple of flush mount (essentially dive-only) set-ups, guess if I was looking for another a Charvel Production model might be a starting point, for a body anyway...:scratchch

I always find it interesting so many people mentioning tuning issues with floating trems...I don't have a big issue with it, like I said prefer it for lead work...maybe there's a lot of heavy-handed (or non-string-stretching) mofos out there...? :lol:

But the way you describe the fit, I can see where it would also act like an anchor in a tight-rout flush-mounted setup.

 

[jmh151]

Re: The great Floyd Rose Big-Block Shootout.

My tuning problems with a floating trem is if I want to occaisonally tune down a half step. Once my Floyds are set up for standard tuning, they never go out of tune- but once you downtune a little, the Floyd loses its parallel angle, it tilts back and has trouble staying in tune. That's why I like the Big Block with the non recessed Floyd on the Charvel