Tremelo Question?

LazyLightning

LazyLightning

New member
Hi Folks,

I really have no use for the tremolo system on my 60's CV Strat and wanted to know if it was a good idea to put in a trem block ( I know they only block movement in one direction, at least that what it seems from what I have read )? If so which is the best kind to put in and is it something a beginner can do without major problems?

Appreciate any input!

LazyLightning
 
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Re: Tremelo Question?

Hi! I don't know. But a quick fix while you're waiting for an answer is to simply tighten the tremolo's spring screws in back. It's not as solid as a block, but it will make the bridge a lot stiffer than what you have now.

Charlie
www.thefullertons.net
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

The easiest method I know of is to simply stuff the space between the tremolo block and the back of the route with some kind of material, be it a bunch of stacked used picks or a block of wood.

The easiest of the instantly reversible methods that I know of is the Tremol-No which I have in one of my guitars. The way I use it is to limit its' movement to dive-only but it also works as a total block that you can undo in a few seconds with the turn of two thumb screws. It can be installed very easily and it is completely reversible (although there's hardly a reason to remove it once installed as it has absolutely no negative effect on the guitar).
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

I am a fan of the Tremol-No but, for a guitar in the Classic Vibe price bracket, the expense seems difficult to justify. The traditional method of increasing spring tension will suffice.

Either tighten up the claw screws or add additional springs or, possibly, both. It may be necessary to raise the bridge saddles to compensate.
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

KeeperOS said:
The easiest method I know of is to simply stuff the space between the tremolo block and the back of the route with some kind of material, be it a bunch of stacked used picks or a block of wood.

The easiest of the instantly reversible methods that I know of is the Tremol-No which I have in one of my guitars. The way I use it is to limit its' movement to dive-only but it also works as a total block that you can undo in a few seconds with the turn of two thumb screws. It can be installed very easily and it is completely reversible (although there's hardly a reason to remove it once installed as it has absolutely no negative effect on the guitar).
Click to expand...

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Trem stabilizers kill bridge flutter. Full tilt is how I like my bikes and my floyds.
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

Long long ago in the beforetime when you could buy wire clothes hangers, I just cut some hanger to length and hooked the bridge solid.
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

IMO, decking the trem by clamping the claw to the body and using five springs works just as good as blocking the trem off. If you strum and hold a chord, then lift up on the trem bar, you can hear sustain and volume improve as you apply upward more pressure. After clamping and adding five springs, lifting the trem arm stops make much if any difference since it's already pinned down so tight, and of course, it's rather difficult to use the tremolo at that point, but not completely impossible.
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

What i recently did to block my floyd rose, (this was because this guitar is fit with 11-54 intended for practice at the moment) was to fit this thingy :
adapter_9914.jpg


I wrapped it with insulating tape, mod duration was under 2 minutes. Cost : 0.
Great sustain BTW :)
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

So a trem block does nothing to help tone as I have seen advertized in a few places? Is it just a gimmick to try and get new players to buy needless items?
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

Hi,
I recently blocked a friend of mines' strat with a piece of maple. It was a large rectangle and I sanded the paint and wood rough spots that the maple came in contact with on the wood side. It sounded louder and the vibration and sustain were phenomenal! Proud of that one.
I also left all the springs on (4 in this case) and cranked the springs tight anyway as he like the "fake" reverb the springs gave him that the pickup would "hear" just slightly if one of the springs was in tune with a note from one of the springs or even a 5th of the tonic. Very slight, but you could hear for sure unplugged and very slightly when amped up.
SJB
p.s. ......... I think I read Clapton likes his springs in for the same reason, but I don't think his block is as resonant as a big maple rectangle. Not sure how he blocks.
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

LazyLightning said:
So a trem block does nothing to help tone as I have seen advertized in a few places? Is it just a gimmick to try and get new players to buy needless items?
Click to expand...

Correct. If a guitar sustains, it will sustain no matter the block. If it does not sustain nothing in the world will make it do so. The neck is more important than the body as far as tone is concerned.
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

To be fair, concerning the afore mentioned guitar of mine with the Tremol-No, I DID notice some increase in both volume and sustain when I had it locked as opposed to having it free-floating, it wasn't a night and day difference but it was there.
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

Greekdude,
Depends on how you block. It is true the block will pick up vibrations, whether it is enough to make a sound difference, you would know that better than me. However, the smallest vibration of the block will get transferred to the strat's lower body with it jammed against a hard maple wood block that is now pushing hard on the body wood.
I am very much in agreement with you on the neck. My J Beck neck is a heavy, heavy birdseye type maple with a very hard rosewood fretboard. When I swapped them once for a cheap, less dense maple neck (for weight relief) the difference in sound was instantly noticeable. My J Beck neck was 50% louder and deeper all the way around; 50% is a layman's guess, but yeah, the neck is a huge part of the sound. I must stick to my guns that the brass block or upgraded deluxe fender block does sound noticeably better than that pos block thing that came with my Squire. As far as deluxe Fender block vs. Brass block, the brass seems a little deeper sounding to me. As far as sustain, that is a different animal and I must defer to your much more experienced knowledge than myself. That is not me kissing your a**, that is me giving you respect for your experience.
SJB
 
Re: Tremelo Question?

Maybe I just don't understand the inner workings of the electronic ( in respect to the pickups )

Every time I saw someone be it a vendor or owner of a block mentioning how it improved the sustain, etc.. I couldn't help but wonder how, I mean pickups are magnets?

I mean I understand how types of wood, etc... would affect the sound from an acoustic/hollow body, or even an electric ( if not plugged in ) but once an amp gets thrown into the mix I don't see how any of that influences the sound output. Maybe I am looking at it wrong.:dunno:
 
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