The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

[Karmadog777]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

Originally Posted by Karmadog777
you know dense like paying good money for someone to engrave your name on a trem block dense.

Karmadog you sound like a particularly unlikeable and arogant chap and it's lucky for you that you live on the other side of the pond. Insulting me by calling me dense, simply because i decided to have my name engraved on the block would lead to you losing a few teeth.. if in fact you still have any !

This is a public forum so do not make any further personal insults.
Opinions are valid, stupid insults are not.

If you have nothing constructive to say.. then say nothing. :thumbsdow

wow, touchy little guy aren't you !
If you read the entire post and had the intellectual fortitude to absorb and comprehend it contents,
you would have realized that the entire post was pretty much for entertainment purposes, admittedly, mostly my own.
Im sorry if my using the word dense has triggered your self defense mechanism to the point of threatening physical violence, on a (as you pointed out) public forum. Your kind of making it hard for me to say ok, your not dense, but I will try. ok , here goes....sir you are not dense, you are a complete frickin' moron.

The post wasnt even about you, But I will offer some CONSTRUCTIVE advise since you think thats the only purpose of this forum.
Seek out an anger management program
Try a daily suplament of Ginko bolaba ,it may help you focus


**edit** I wont interject in this thread anymore out of respect for Jet-Jaguar who posted wanting info on trem blocks,Wolf5150 feel free to PM me,if you feel the need to continue this conversation.I welcome all comments and questions about my dental upkeepand my overall questionable likeability...Permitting my arrogance allows me to respond.









Peace!

 

[wolf5150]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

You obviously have no idea when to keep your mouth shut.

I will ask the moderator to address my issue with you as I'm unable to do it personally..

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

:baby:

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

Hey, watch it.... no debunking the voodoo!

Heh ... I don't really see this as a debunking post myself. It definitely provides context and real science/engineering info though, which is great.

 

[BigJoe77]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

I don't have the blocks side by side, obviously, so I can't tell what the Fender vintage reissue block looks like, but I do know the Callaham, maybe GFS too?, has a very shallow countersink for the ball ends, whereas others, like my Am. Std, PRS, MIJs, MIMs, MIKs, Squiers and every other guitar with an inertia block has one size hole all the way up to the back of the baseplate.

I don't know if it matters, but it's different and does make for less metal.

I feel like I'm getting into a discussion about cast vs. forged frames....

Luke

I've got both callaham and gfs blocks. They both have the shallow countersink (although the gfs goes a wee bit deeper towards the baseplate than the callaham). They're in different guitars with different body and fretboard woods different saddles and different pickup setups, so an A/B isn't really practical. The callaham passes the "ping" test a little better to my ears, but I probably couldn't tell the difference in a blind test with others thrown in.

 

[ErikH]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

I've got both callaham and gfs blocks. They both have the shallow countersink (although the gfs goes a wee bit deeper towards the baseplate than the callaham). They're in different guitars with different body and fretboard woods different saddles and different pickup setups, so an A/B isn't really practical. The callaham passes the "ping" test a little better to my ears, but I probably couldn't tell the difference in a blind test with others thrown in.

So, in your opinion, based on the guitar you put the GFS in, is it worth it?

 

[BigJoe77]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

So, in your opinion, based on the guitar you put the GFS in, is it worth it?

Considering the block alone was only $20-$30 (can't remember exactly as I ordered several small things at the same time from GFS), it was worth every penny and then some. The improvement in "depth" of the tone and overall quality of the sound was well worth it.

(My disclaimer, this was done on an import. Would I do this on, for example, an American Standard Fender? Maybe, maybe not...depends on the specifics of the case. On another import/MIM/mutt-ola...I'd do it again in a white hot minute.)

 

[tc]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

having a self procliamed doctorate in metallurgy and vibrationology , I for one can confirm and simultaniously deny many of the issues regarding said subject matter as if applies to this thread.
That being said, a large amound of poppycock and brouhaha must be taken into consideration and dispelled immediately within context of tonal resonance regarding the structural anchoring of ambient or ortherwise inaudible frequiency recognition.

In laymans terms., cast or pot metal will sound like poo.

Cold rolled steel will be the densest...I mean really dense
and as contradicting as that may seem the dense material will not suck your tone like a sponge,or a cast zink piece of pot metal.

This post was brought to you by Karma's Institute of Misinformation and School of Misguided Speculation

Peace!

I felt the thread had gotten slightly out of hand into a "He said, she said" big ego whinefest...but that is golden! You are officially my new favorite forum member hahah!

As for the thread posters, I'll just say, if you like it good. If you don't, well that's ok too. If you disagree with someone else, do it politely. If you don't, then you can leave. That's Seymour's rule and even if I don't abide by it always it is his crib and just like you wouldn't put your feet in your grandma's kitchen table you shouldn't do what you are doing right now, which is fight over something dumb.

I do like evidence backing things, like saying brass is warmer due to the fact that it is a softer metal, but you guys have to remember...PLAYING THE GUITAR IS ALL ABOUT THE MOJO!!!

If you don't believe in the magic of playing the right note with the right feel then I don't know why you're posting here. I don't need science to tell me that a nice, 20-something watt vintage flavored tube amp like a Marshall Bluesbreaker or a Deluxe Reverb RI sounds like glory, because no oscilloscope or any experiment will deliver the glorious experience that playing an amp like that delivers. You can tell me that science has proved that a slightly overdriven Fender Deluxe Reverb sounds like turd and I could care less.

Ok, see ya,
tc

 

[ErikH]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

Considering the block alone was only $20-$30 (can't remember exactly as I ordered several small things at the same time from GFS), it was worth every penny and then some. The improvement in "depth" of the tone and overall quality of the sound was well worth it.

(My disclaimer, this was done on an import. Would I do this on, for example, an American Standard Fender? Maybe, maybe not...depends on the specifics of the case. On another import/MIM/mutt-ola...I'd do it again in a white hot minute.)

Cool. That answers my question. I have an import Strat with a small pot metal block that would just kill with a really good solid bridge upgrade. For a cheap guitar, it plays and sounds really good. Now I just need to check measurements.

 

[jhale667]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

I felt the thread had gotten slightly out of hand into a "He said, she said" big ego whinefest...but that is golden! You are officially my new favorite forum member hahah!

Yeah, Karma - that was comedy (assuming one has a sense of humor). :lol: But this:

I will ask the moderator to address my issue with you as I'm unable to do it personally..

So...you've gone from threatening him to calling Mommy in the course of an afternoon? Stellar.
Certainly can't (nor would presume to) speak for management here, but Wolf, if you PM'd me whining about getting owned for being hypersensitive at the guitar forums I mod?

Welcome to the Internet. Please to be growing up now. :thanks:


OK, back on topic :lol:

I'd like to hear an A/B test with a Callaham and a GFS block (or even a KGC one, if someone besides Wolf would speak to their quality).
I have two very similar Warmoth-Mutt Strats -exact same pickups and hardware, one has a mahogany body, one an ash - though they're not quite exact, obviously...

My question: Is the GFS an improvement over the Fender American Vintage block? I mean, pretty sure the Callaham would be; not so sure about the GFS.
Not quite volunteering to be guinea-pig just yet, but had considered a Callaham for the Ash one...

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

^ I would definitely love to do an A/B/C comparison (C being the stock block), however GFS doesn't sell a lefty block for MIM Strats, and Callaham would have me pay $180 for a custom made block.

I'd love to have a Callaham block in both my Strats someday, but right now a trem block is so far down the gear purchase list it will be years before I get one.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

Heh ... I don't really see this as a debunking post myself. It definitely provides context and real science/engineering info though, which is great.

How about 'demystification' rather than 'debunking'?

Or perhaps merely debunking the idea that there is something magical about terms like "cold rolled steel". People tout the superiority while having no idea what it really means.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

How about 'demystification' rather than 'debunking'?

Or perhaps merely debunking the idea that there is something magical about terms like "cold rolled steel". People tout the superiority while having no idea what it really means.

Oh yeah, I agree with that. I hate buzzwords.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

Yeah but can I have true bypass springs??

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

Yeah but can I have true bypass springs??

I'll email you a wiring diagram for $50.

$90 if you need left-handed sprockets.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

Cool....

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

How about 'demystification' rather than 'debunking'?

Or perhaps merely debunking the idea that there is something magical about terms like "cold rolled steel". People tout the superiority while having no idea what it really means.

But cold rolled carbon steel might do a slightly better job of getting the traditional vintage strat sound than hot rolled carbon steel? I don't know, but in that case both sides of the debate might have valid points.

 

[jhale667]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

But cold rolled carbon steel might do a slightly better job of getting the traditional vintage strat sound than hot rolled carbon steel? I don't know, but in that case both sides of the debate might have valid points.

Stands to reason if that's what the vintage ones have, using the same material would put you closer into the ballpark of that tone...:scratchch

Anyone know what's up with the Fender Eric Johnson model trem blocks? I seem to recall hearing he demanded the exact vintage materials and specs...hmm...Google here I come...:lol:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

But cold rolled carbon steel might do a slightly better job of getting the traditional vintage strat sound than hot rolled carbon steel? I don't know, but in that case both sides of the debate might have valid points.

My issue isn't with the idea that the block may improve performance. It's people yelling about the wonders of cold-rolled steel, and having no idea what that means.

"Cold rolled steel is the best!"
"How is it different, and what makes it better?"
"I have no idea, but it is!"

or...

"Cold rolled steel is the best!"
"How is it different, and what makes it better?"
"It is not heated prior to rolling, and it ends up being denser than hot rolled steel."

 

[jhale667]

Re: The Guitar Fetish Tremolo Block

OK, found this review of the EJ Strat..seems its a regular American Vintage block with no finish on the baseplate contact point...

http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/guitars/2006/0506_Fender_EricJohnson_Stratocaster.php

"the tremolo system is an American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with the “ash tray” bridge cover. The tremolo block is painted silver with ’57 style string recesses, and there is no paint between the base plate and the block."

So one imagines the Callaham would be an upgrade?