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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:	GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:	Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:	KDX200::COOPER

Created:	Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3280
Total number of notes:	61432

3067.0. "Blocking your guitar" by DPDMAI::COXC (Oooh Noooo- Mr. Bill!) Fri Apr 07 1995 18:19

    I have a Fender Strat with a Schaeler knife edge trem.  I haven't 
    been as pleased with how the Fender stays in tune as my other fixed
    tail-piece guitar.

    I called a guitar tech. at a local music store about blocking the
    trem.  He told me that the blocking would be permanent with a glue
    in piece- no extra routing in the trem. cavity required.  The cost
    $85.  He also offered a piece of gear that would lock the trem.
    and also allow you to switch it to free-floating.  He said
    that it was $200. to install- jeeez!

    Since my home grown block (piece of wood between the fulcrum and the
    guitar stock) has not really helped maintain the guitar tuning,
    I'm ready to turn it a professional.  Anyone have experience with
    blocking a strat, sucess after the fact and pricing?
    
    -Bill

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
3067.1		RICKS::CALCAGNI	more zip stupid juice	`Mon Apr 10 1995 11:31`	11
	I don't know what you've already done here (sounds like you've tried a homegrown block) but I can't imagine it's that hard to get this right yourself. Have you seen Dan Erlewine's Guitar Repair book? I'm pretty sure he goes into this, and I find his explanations clear and easy to follow. Instead of the exhorbitant $$$ you were quoted by the repair tech, your money may be better spent here. I'll check my copy tonight and see what he says about trem blocking. /rick
3067.2	oops, never mind	RICKS::CALCAGNI	more zip stupid juice	`Mon Apr 10 1995 14:44`	5
	Checked the Erlewine book, no mention of blocking a Strat trem. I know I saw an article on this somewhere, probably an old GP. /rick
3067.3	one that worked	ASABET::DCLARK	highway to heck	`Tue Apr 02 1996 18:31`	17
	I got tired of how the trem on my G&L Legacy was killing the sustain, so I tried blocking it the other night. I just used a scrap of wood that I sanded until it fit between the bottom part of the trem where the string ends go (there must be a word for that) and the back of the cavity. I kept the springs attached; it seems like they provide a 'natural reverb' to the sound of the guitar. So far I'm floored with the difference in sustain and overall tone. THe thin strings don't wimp out like they used to, and I can get a lot better tone with lower action. I never used the trem anyway, so it was a very successful mod. - Dave
3067.4		POLAR::KFICZERE		`Tue Apr 02 1996 19:41`	11
	Are you sure your tuning problems are related to your bridge? My first guess ( after your unsuccessful blocking experiment ) would be the machine heads. Try heading in that direction. A set of locking pegs may be a little cheaper or equal to a mod in the bridge. Have you seen fenders new locking pegs? My Strat plus has them and I think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. A friend of mine bought an artefmarket set for his Les and they work great too. You could also try winding you tuning pegs as little as possible. Less wrapping mat help. -kev