big block for my strat...school me...

  • Thread starter Thread starter syncrodude007
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Floyd Upgrades for the brass version, or Callaham for the steel version.

Both work great, you just have to decide on the application.

I would suggest Callaham for single coils, and FU for anything involving a humbucker (but that is just what has worked for me).
 
I have 3 HPs, only 1 has a big block & it sounds awesomely fuller
I think you'll love it!
 
You will notice the upgrade immediately.
Both plugged in and not plugged in. Just "RINGS" out fuller. :thumbsup:
For the price......best upgrade you can do for your guitar without a doubt. :yes:
 
Do you have a floyd or the fender trem? If its the fender then check out the brass block from guitar fetish.
 
I just bought 12 of these big blocks from Hoockey on ebay, $18 each and there superbly crafted, FU are way overpriced.

Just got 3 in on the week end and damn big difference, even my drummer and bassist told me they heard a difference. Fuller is the word to use here, and i`ll add chunkier too. Very Les Paul like. A Les Paul is a Les Paul, it has bark and beef.

I`m using these in old Ibanez 565 guitars tuned from D to drop C to drop B, all make a big improvement.

Chris
 
Anybody ever have an instance where the brass big block didn't bring anything positive to the tone party? I have.
 
rupe":2kvdrvlg said:
Anybody ever have an instance where the brass big block didn't bring anything positive to the tone party? I have.

Please tell
 
My personal experience is....don't expect a big difference. And if it sounds better....wait a month and then see if it still sounds better once the newness in your brain wears off.
 
jtees4":uj4bf3cf said:
My personal experience is....don't expect a big difference. And if it sounds better....wait a month and then see if it still sounds better once the newness in your brain wears off.


It`s not a huge end of the world difference, but that little difference it makes, is damn worth it. It`s like when we go crazy on adjusting the bias a little hotter and then changing pre tubes and using buffers, better cables...Etc...

All these little things makes our tone that much better.

IMO

:rock:
 
Chubtone has the actual Floyd Rose upgrade brass blocks around the same price as the generic ones, just an FYI for anyone considering it. Love mine, great upgrade for little cash IMO.

One caveat I did find however. If there is something you don't like about the guitar sound already, you could end up accentuating it.
 
Floyd upgrades is cheap resold crap.

Adam at floyd is a douchebag as well.

I only buy from KGC who is a full machine shop, their stuff is far better than anything at FU. I have had really amazing custom blocks made at KGC.

Their brass was chosen by spectral analysis testing for tonal properties.


http://www.killerguitarcomponents.com
 
thanks for the feedback...anyone have KGC brass block for fender Strat. 2 1/8" spacing for sale... :thumbsup:
 
I've used bigger brass blocks and a bigger Tungsten block. The Tungsten block is a freaking brick.

Neither added any noticeable sustain IME, which seems to be a common claim. But they definitely change the inherent tone of the guitar. The Brass block lopped off some top end, making the guitar seem fatter and thicker sounding. It also took away some attack and snap. The Tungsten block did the same as the Brass, just more extreme. In both cases, the change was VERY obvious, even going from the big brass block to the Tungsten.

Whether these are good things or bad things is in the ear of the beholder. Depends on what you want and the specific guitar. If it's bright and pingy, I'd definitely go for a heavy block. If it's kinda dark and dull sounding, I'd stay away from one of these blocks and maybe look into the Titanium blocks. Since they're lighter, I assume the Titanium would have the opposite effect (adding top end and attack).

YMMV.
 
rupe":zxqglf47 said:
Anybody ever have an instance where the brass big block didn't bring anything positive to the tone party? I have.


Yep. Made both guitars I tried it in brighter/twangier, couldn't get that thing out of there fast enough. Basically did the exact opposite of what I was trying to do.
 
7 Stringer":2ehh65o5 said:
rupe":2ehh65o5 said:
Anybody ever have an instance where the brass big block didn't bring anything positive to the tone party? I have.

Please tell
My main Rand guitar. It really didn't have much of an effect other than to seemingly loosen up the low end and make the overall tone a bit muddier/boomier. I assume it has something to do with the fact that those guitars were designed with the inherent tone sucking properties of a floating Floyd in mind and by adding the brass block I messed up the "formula".
 
I used a big brass block on my Charvel SoCal for a while... i ended up going back to the original smaller OFR block and found that the original block made the string tension feel looser (in a good way) and also got rid of some of the boomy low end that the brass added.

Now with that said, my Charvel is very balanced tonally.. not overly bright but not dark either. In a brighter sounding guitar, that block would have definitely had a better impact on the tone.

I also discovered that i much prefer the regular sized blocks over the big oversized blocks.. regardless of the material it's made of. The normal size block allows for better trem movement and better string tension. The big oversized block makes the strings feel tighter and reduces the range of movement a lot.. Which i don't like.
 
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