GFS Tremolo Block Upgrade

[johntrem]

Hello- Anyone have experience with GFS's tremolo block replacements? These are the full size blocks to replace the trimmed down "pot metal" blocks in Asian or Mexican strats. Am considering replacements but would like to hear from anyone who has real experience as to whether they really make a difference. Thanks.
John

 

[spanker63]

I upgraded the entire trem assemblies in both an SE and a CV. I can honestly say there was a considerable increase in sustain on both guitars.

 

[turbokev]

+1

Great upgrade to do at a reasonable cost.
(I upgraded my CV this way)

 

[Vott]

Yeah It's a good upgrade, totally worth it.

 

[stratphobic]

Hello- Anyone have experience with GFS's tremolo block replacements? These are the full size blocks to replace the trimmed down "pot metal" blocks in Asian or Mexican strats. Am considering replacements but would like to hear from anyone who has real experience as to whether they really make a difference. Thanks.
John

they sell trem assemblies with both, but they are pictured and they make damn sure you know that the trem with the steel block is steel.

 

[alfunkz]

done the same thing to my CV with a wilkinson trem assembly "sustainamucho" a great little upgrade, personally i think its something that should be done as standard to the higher end squiers, but hey i dont work in the R&D department do i

 

[Mexmax]

Hi guys, new here to Squier Talk. I just ordered the brass trem assembly for my 60's cv. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[stratphobic]

Hi guys, new here to Squier Talk. I just ordered the brass trem assembly for my 60's cv. Will let you know how it goes.

sorry to hear that because i'd rather have a zinc trem block than brass since brass dampens the vibrations of the strings.

 

[Stratatattat]

sorry to hear that because i'd rather have a zinc trem block than brass since brass dampens the vibrations of the strings.

I haven't heard that. In fact i would think that the increased mass would be an improvement over zinc. The saddles would have more of an effect on the dampening of the strings. Besides as with any mod, if it works for the player, awesome!

 

[5thumbs]

Changed all the blocks on my Bullets with Brass & St it's a good place to start. The Stanless saddles are a good investment also. Change it out you won't be sorry.

 

[softwarejanitor]

sorry to hear that because i'd rather have a zinc trem block than brass since brass dampens the vibrations of the strings.

Are you kidding?

You've got it backwards. Pot metal (which is what those blocks are made of, they've got lead, tin and usually some aluminum in them as well as zinc) is an acoustically dead metal that really does tend to dampen vibrations. Brass on the other hand... they make friggin BELLS out of it. a piece of brass will ring out when struck. When was the last time you saw a bell made of pot metal? It would go "thunk" instead of ringing.

Brass has been used to make bridges and bridge saddles for years on high quality guitars. Probably the reason that Leo used steel instead of brass on the original Strats was brass is more expensive than steel...

 

[stratphobic]

brass is soft, so it takes away from the high end, so i don't like it.

 

[Papa Joe]

brass is soft, so it takes away from the high end, so i don't like it.

That's exactly what I've experienced..I do have one Strat with a brass block which works just fine for what I intended..It has a much softer tone..It did have a steel block before I changed it out..

I've heard of players using a brass saddle on only the 1st and sometimes 2nd strings to soften the tone...YMMV...

 

[nomadh]

What block do I use for the 2 point trem squier standard. Id actually like to get the whole assembly so I can do the saddles and the block.
Is it the d03? Is that block even an upgrade?
Will the d45 work if I just put the block and saddles on my trem plate?
Or will one of the wilinsons work?

 

[stratphobic]

if you get the full assembly, it'll work with your base plate. i've done that before, and happen to have a pic.

 

[tabdog]

What it's made of can be of no
consequence if it is not shaped
right. The way it's made may
have more to do with the sound
than the material.

Here is an interesting thread
where a guy experiments with
machining his own blocks out
of steel, brass and zinc alloy,

http://forums.peavey.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=20018

Read down a ways and it gets
interesting,

Tabdog

 

[spanker63]

brass is soft, so it takes away from the high end, so i don't like it.

Thats kinda the point. Brass is supposed to produce a warmer sound when in comparison to a steel block.

 

[nomadh]

if you get the full assembly, it'll work with your base plate. i've done that before, and happen to have a pic.

Which full assembly? The d03 or the d45 or anther one? I think someone once said the amercan fit also.

 

[stratphobic]

Which full assembly? The d03 or the d45 or anther one? I think someone once said the amercan fit also.

i don't know GFS's part numbers, but it was the import upgrade trem.

 

[Cherokee]

Brass is the way to go. It might not be everyone's preference here but to say that zinc is superior to brass is absurd.