Charvels. Help me understand.

[Rockinloud]

Got some gold hardware for my blue burst for Christmas. Finally found some time to swap it out. Also installed an FU-Tone brass block & trem stop. Just need to dial it in a little & set the intonation. I like it!

 

[MrDowntown]

Not a huge fan of gold typically, but it belongs with the blue burst.

Yiur BB looks much "bluer" than mine....which is is very teal in feel.

Please let me know whaT the brass block does for you. I'm considering making that switch as well.

 

[Rockinloud]

I've been using those brass blocks for a few years now and one by one been installing on all my Floyd guitars. To me they give the guitar a little more even balance and ring out a little more. Not night and day difference but enough that I notice. Those blue bursts are hard to photograph. Mine looks more teal under some lights, more blue under others.

 

[MrDowntown]

I've been using those brass blocks for a few years now and one by one been installing on all my Floyd guitars. To me they give the guitar a little more even balance and ring out a little more. Not night and day difference but enough that I notice. Those blue bursts are hard to photograph. Mine looks more teal under some lights, more blue under others.

So I think I'm going to replace the stock block with a brass'n. Since you've recently swapped yours out, or to anyone who has, is there anything special that I need to plan on? Size of replacement block, etc?

Still enjoying this axe very much. Replaced the bridge pup with an evh WG....

Thanks for any help and feedback!

 

[sytharnia1560]

now the blue burst has gold I reckon it need zebras as well

 

[///MK]

83 charvel blueburst strathead..
Just sayin nothing quite like the older ones.

 

[kmanick]

the old 80's Custom shop builds were IMO easily "the magic ones"
I've owned a couple over the years, they are just shred machines. The early Jacksons were the same as well I currently own a low 1200's SD Jackson dinky
and that one has the "mojo" too. The Ealry "Model" series was also vey good particularly the model 6 /650Xl's.
I recently bought 2 MIJ Charvels, a White San Dimas and a black SoCal that I'm turning into a H/S/S and I was really surprised at how well
they both play and sound. the only thing I've noticed about either one is the trem arm assembly becomes loose really easily, so I will either throw
OFR trems on there or just swap out the arm assemblies for Schaller replacements.
Great bang for the buck as I see the MIJ models regularly go for between $6-750.00.
this will be H/S/S soon, total shred machine I got from the Music Zoo

this one has become one of my main players (got a full set up on it and changed the JB out for a Timmons AT-1 and added a push pull 250K pot)
bought it right here too

necks are definitely oiled no lacquer of any kind on these

 

[charvelstrat81]

83 charvel blueburst strathead..
Just sayin nothing quite like the older ones.

A '83 with a 21 fret neck?
I thought all the post '82 necks were 22 fret?

 

[MrDowntown]

I've been using those brass blocks for a few years now and one by one been installing on all my Floyd guitars. To me they give the guitar a little more even balance and ring out a little more. Not night and day difference but enough that I notice. Those blue bursts are hard to photograph. Mine looks more teal under some lights, more blue under others.

So I think I'm going to replace the stock block with a brass'n. Since you've recently swapped yours out, or to anyone who has, is there anything special that I need to plan on? Size of replacement block, etc?

Still enjoying this axe very much. Replaced the bridge pup with an evh WG....

Thanks for any help and feedback!

So to my question....a block, is a block, is a block..? Probably a stoopid question, but I want to get something that will fit properly and not cause any issues.

That MIJ blue burst is awesome btw.

 

[cardinal]

At least with their recent bridges, the stock OFR block is brass. Different weight/materials of blocks do make a difference in tone. I've experienced it, and it's seems generally accepted as true.

But "different" does not mean better. The larger brass blocks seem to cut some treble, which may or may not be a good thing.

I have not noticed any general increases in sustain with going with larger blocks, though it can impact sustain at the margins (e.g., changing blocks can move a structural dead spot around).

 

[Rockinloud]

The gold German OFR that I just put on that blue burst had a steel block on it although I have seen some ads showing OFRs with the smaller brass blocks straight from Floyd. The MIM Pro Mods that I've seen with the recessed trems use the 32mm block. I've only used the Floyd Upgrades (FU-Tone) brass big blocks & have been very happy with them. Like cardinal said I haven't noticed big increases in sustain but the sound seems to be fuller, more even if that makes sense. Didn't think about zebras for the blue burst but that may be a good idea. By the way really dig that vintage blue burst ///MK posted. Nice!

 

[cardinal]

OFR blocks are nickel-plated brass. I've seen aftermarket steel blocks, though.

 

[Anonymous]

Just sayin nothing quite like the older ones.

I'll put my personal current Custom Shops up against anything from the early 80s. Same guys building them on the same machines...

Steve

 

[Rockinloud]

My bad, thought they were steel. Doh!

 

[rcm78]

Hmmm, Aside from the really early examples (That were brass) I thought Floyd Rose blocks were made of Zinc...

 

[cardinal]

Hmmm, Aside from the really early examples (That were brass) I thought Floyd Rose blocks were made of Zinc...

Dunno historically. But OFR blocks now are nickel plated brass.

 

[Shask]

This thread is making me want one of the recessed Floyd versions!!

I keep thinking about routing mine some to get some pull-up on the bar!