jhale667":2krfqdc3 said:
Upward play is something I'm into, but not really that interested in having anything custom-made - I like the fact that I've had zero movement issues with my standard FloydUpgrade blocks....YMMV. I for one don't dig the spring retainer bar (or need for one)...
moltenmetalburn":2krfqdc3 said:
KGC has also done spectrum analysis to choose the metal supplier they use. they checked for strong second order harmonic content.
Interesting but - Based on what exactly? And what role does second order harmonics play in the overall sound? How does this all make for a "superior" product? Wouldn't a better "rating" be the PSI tolerances, as with the Titanium string block ratings? Makes one curious.
Probably best to quote Adam's site on this one, though:
“Tone is selective – what is right for you may not be right for the next guy. If someone says that they have “the magic bullet” and best tone product – RUN! FloydUpgrades.com tries to educate our clients and offer different options to help you find “YOUR” tone… Nothing is right for everyone. I take great pride in the design and manufacturing of my products as well as my customer service. I offer you options and tools so that you can chase your own tone. Only you know what you like… I hope that I can help you find it!”
Oh and remember this brass block idea is not new at all. EVH had a brass block and in the 80's there were some manufacturers using brass blocks. this has been done for over 20 years.
Actually, it's more like making them old-school - IIRC the original non-production Floyds ALL had larger Brass Blocks, pretty sure the small crappy one was substituted as a cost-cutting measure on the production ones in the 80s (a reeeeeeeally BAD idea). Cost-cutting and tone killing!
I'm all for tone being subjective, to each their own is my motto.
we all already agree that brass makes a better sounding guitar than the stock pot metal. I also have no experience with the titanium blocks as I don't find them worth the cost. I also like the tone of the brass better from the comparison clips Ive heard. KGC does in fact offer titanium products as well so if that's your choice for tone they can make you one.
For the Floyds KGC offers the block in varying thicknesses so you wouldn't NEED to have it custom made.
Why one would be against custom made is beyond me, there can be no better fit than the one designed around the end result, but to each their own. Also the opportunity to have a block made for a guitar than none existed was amazing, If it were not for KGC my rare Japanese made tremolo would have no upgrade block at all. there is no other on the market, especially none also threaded for the bar to attach to.
The spring retainer bar is indeed unnecessary as the spring don't pop out without it, I just adds that security that that can't happen, EVER. even if i hang my guitar from my whammy bar around the back of my head.
I also like the added mass, mass = sustain. The KGC blocks dwarf all others in comparison. If you wanted a thicker block without losing the up functionality you could have one custom made.
the second order harmonic content of the block is important because even-order harmonics sound as musical chords (notably octaves), which subjectively makes the sound "richer".
what that means is that when you hear a fundamental note, E for example you are actually hearing the fundamental and all of its harmonics an octave higher each time. fundamental, then second order harmonic which is one octave higher ,then third order which is two octaves higher than the fundamental and so on...
Odd-order harmonics sound less pleasant. Inharmonic distortion is discordant and is often implicated in designs that sound "brash", "harsh", "brittle", etc.
It is a natural phenomenon with sound and the most musical energy comes form the second order harmonic. Second order harmonics also contain less "information" and take less work for the ear brain connection to "decode". the sound takes less work to hear literally.
Guitar amps do make even AND odd order harmonics but the most ear pleasing are the second order and what the designs strive to enhance. the tone all starts from the guitar so enhancing them that early in the chain is beneficial. If not for any other reason this would make the KGC a superior product to its brass counterparts. as you stated earlier.
I do believe that the density of the metal is of utmost importance for maximum sustain, the titanium may indeed win in this department, tungsten I think may even fare better, but I personally like the bell like warm qualities of brass in my guitar, again to each their own.
In the end YMMV as with any product form any company. This was all in my experience.
I have found the KGC products suit me personally and as an all custom shop can service ANYONE with ANY instrument with a tremolo that would like an upgraded sustain block.
