why not floyd spring block made from iron?

Snoogles

Cranky-dologist
there's steel (calaham fender type), titanium ($$$), brass (obviously) and FU has a copper block.
why not iron?
there's an iron-worker down the road from me. if its not too expensive, i would be tempted
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

Depends on the grade, I guess, and the level to which you convince yourself there is a difference.
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

Wrought ironworks are usually sealed under a layer of paint or a coating. Annealing ought to be possible but the increased corrosion resistance will come at the expense of new disadvantages.

Guitar vibrato sustain blocks require the accurate drilling and, in some instances, threading of numerous holes. In a material as unforgiving as wrought iron, these will be a complete and utter **** to machine.
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

There was a thread on HarmonyCentral.com once about lubing your guitar with bacon grease.

You can cure a cast iron pan with bacon grease (and heat).

Maybe this was a missing part of that story.

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Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

If hard and/or heavy blocks are preferrable, how about one made out of Depleted Uranium? *depending on how you feel about having a chunk of radioactive metal right by your crotch, that is... But hey, how \m/etal would THAT be, "My guitar is made of URANIUM!" Chugga chugga chugga weeeedly weeeeedely, etc
I can say my guitar sounded better (to me anyway) once I took out the thin Zinc block and put in a heavy Brass one.
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

Interesting idea, I'm thinking the cost is the reason we haven't heard of it before.
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

If hard and/or heavy blocks are preferrable, how about one made out of Depleted Uranium? *depending on how you feel about having a chunk of radioactive metal right by your crotch, that is... But hey, how \m/etal would THAT be, "My guitar is made of URANIUM!" Chugga chugga chugga weeeedly weeeeedely, etc
I can say my guitar sounded better (to me anyway) once I took out the thin Zinc block and put in a heavy Brass one.

A chunk of neutron star
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

I wonder if depleted uranium would cause any weird issues with your magnetic pickups. . .
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

The proposal is for 115.

Because you can actually do something with these theoretical elements. ;)

I still need to get a heavy steel block for my Strat.
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

If hard and/or heavy blocks are preferrable, how about one made out of Depleted Uranium? *depending on how you feel about having a chunk of radioactive metal right by your crotch, that is... But hey, how \m/etal would THAT be, "My guitar is made of URANIUM!" Chugga chugga chugga weeeedly weeeeedely, etc
I can say my guitar sounded better (to me anyway) once I took out the thin Zinc block and put in a heavy Brass one.

50 cal bmg or anti aircraft bullets mostly are tungsten tipped- and there are tungsten Floyd blocks out there
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

This is one of those things where I suspect a material already in (fairly common) use is good enough for me.

But it does beg the question, "What would Madison Montgomery use?"
 
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Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

NOT sure about iron other than whether or not its difficult to work with/machine.. Im a believer in the benefits of big blocks for sure. I thought there was more to it than just weight, but Im not sure I buy into the "musical brass" being diff than brass and some of the claims. Just like I dont see how stone can be musical other than just weight. But... there is only a certain type of stone being used, so I wont dismiss this totally. I havent had extra time to really research all that. However, it would cool to use stone so you can say I rock with rock...hardy har har
 
Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

The tonal differences come down to how the crystalline structure of the material is arranged. That's why you don't see glass or lead being used. They both are amorphous materials which would deaden the tone.

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Re: why not floyd spring block made from iron?

You've basically got an Iron block in steel (iron/carbon alloy). Steel, I would presume then, would be better over it's pure iron father.
 
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