Guy Incognito
Senior Stratmaster
Probably. At the very least you have the best sounding pickguard.
Where does the metal for the Trem Block come from?
- Thread starter Rufustelestrat
- Start date
Yes. Yes, I do.
Jimbo99
Senior Stratmaster
I always wondered why they just don't run with making a trem block from cast iron steel. Density is roughly the same.
sciencing.com
Difference in Weight of Steel Versus Cast-Iron
Our ancestors began working with iron about 3,000 years ago, and the effect on civilization cannot be overstated. Iron ores contain iron in compounds with other elements. The two most common ores are hematite, Fe2O3, and magnetite, Fe3O4. Iron is extracted from ore during smelting. The initial...
somebodyelesuk
Strat-Talker
Stone and graphite are not metals.
@Rufustelestrat
Less Expensive:
1. Zinc/Aluminum pot metal.
More Expensive:
1. Cast Steel. I've never seen one that was spec'd with the steel type. Modern ones are near-net castings that are in their final shape and get little to no machining. The steel has a grain from the way the steel flowed in casting, but it's usually randomish and not linear.
2. Machined steel. Usually this is 1018 or 1020 steel and cold rolled stock with linear grain.
3. Machined brass. Made from rolled stock. I've never seen one spec'd with the brass type.
4. Exotica. Some manufacturers in search of something to market to us will make blocks of IIRC "titanium" or stainless steel. Any "titanium" block is likely titanium-steel alloy, as straight titanium is difficult to machine.
A guitar's tone is the sum of its parts and changing the block may or may not produce a discernable, sonic difference. Beware of confirmation bias when testing.
Less Expensive:
1. Zinc/Aluminum pot metal.
More Expensive:
1. Cast Steel. I've never seen one that was spec'd with the steel type. Modern ones are near-net castings that are in their final shape and get little to no machining. The steel has a grain from the way the steel flowed in casting, but it's usually randomish and not linear.
2. Machined steel. Usually this is 1018 or 1020 steel and cold rolled stock with linear grain.
3. Machined brass. Made from rolled stock. I've never seen one spec'd with the brass type.
4. Exotica. Some manufacturers in search of something to market to us will make blocks of IIRC "titanium" or stainless steel. Any "titanium" block is likely titanium-steel alloy, as straight titanium is difficult to machine.
A guitar's tone is the sum of its parts and changing the block may or may not produce a discernable, sonic difference. Beware of confirmation bias when testing.
.
When you change the trem block in your Strat, please make sure you put new strings on the guitar.
That's the way everyone pronounces "I definitely hear a difference when I changed my trem block!"
Otherwise the tone only seems to matter if you are selling trem blocks.
Myself, I either deck or block trems -- otherwise they are distracting by trying to see how far I can dive bomb before having tuning issues and then modding trying to fix tuning issues to try dive bombing further. And I should be playing my guitar, so I deck or block. Eric Clapton approves blocking trems, so the solution is official.
.
When you change the trem block in your Strat, please make sure you put new strings on the guitar.
That's the way everyone pronounces "I definitely hear a difference when I changed my trem block!"
Otherwise the tone only seems to matter if you are selling trem blocks.
Myself, I either deck or block trems -- otherwise they are distracting by trying to see how far I can dive bomb before having tuning issues and then modding trying to fix tuning issues to try dive bombing further. And I should be playing my guitar, so I deck or block. Eric Clapton approves blocking trems, so the solution is official.
.
Wrighty
Dr. Stratster
Brilliant!
Wrighty
Dr. Stratster
Yeah, from the right pig to give just enough of a fat tone.
Wrighty
Dr. Stratster
Does the wood used affect the tone? I’ve used a pice of sapele and it seems to have increased the treble. If I used it with a stainless steel block would they work against each other or enhance the treble?.
When you change the trem block in your Strat, please make sure you put new strings on the guitar.
That's the way everyone pronounces "I definitely hear a difference when I changed my trem block!"
Otherwise the tone only seems to matter if you are selling trem blocks.
Myself, I either deck or block trems -- otherwise they are distracting by trying to see how far I can dive bomb before having tuning issues and then modding trying to fix tuning issues to try dive bombing further. And I should be playing my guitar, so I deck or block. Eric Clapton approves blocking trems, so the solution is official.
.
trapdoor2
Senior Stratmaster
I blocked mine with popsicle sticks. Now I get feedback whenever the damn ice cream truck runs thru the neighborhood.
TepidPilot
Strat-O-Master
Trem blocks are made from unobtanium ore, which is mined at a secret location. The raw ore is then sent to the impossibilium smelter where it is refined into the material from which trem blocks are cast. A recent development is impossibilium wire, which is formed into trem blocks by 3D printing. HTH.
TP
TP
Rufustelestrat
Senior Stratmaster
Oh I am a troll, but not that troll. I live under a bridge, and play guitar.
Stone
Most Honored Senior Member
The Metal comes from @sam_in_cali Nuf said !!
RL21980
Senior Stratmaster
Has to be in the running for "Thread of the year".
Bob the builder
Dr. Stratster
Dam skippy
Rufustelestrat
Senior Stratmaster
I tried blocking my trem with wood but it gave the guitar to much woody tone.
Cast iron is not steel. It's much softer, but it would probably make a perfectly good trem block.I always wondered why they just don't run with making a trem block from cast iron steel. Density is roughly the same.
Difference in Weight of Steel Versus Cast-Iron
Our ancestors began working with iron about 3,000 years ago, and the effect on civilization cannot be overstated. Iron ores contain iron in compounds with other elements. The two most common ores are hematite, Fe2O3, and magnetite, Fe3O4. Iron is extracted from ore during smelting. The initial...
mattier303
Strat-Talker
Mine are made from the rarest metal on earth, comets …the s,as one king tuts sword was made from….krypton it’s baby…
but honestly make sure they are magnetic , i certainly gp can hear a difference in shattty zinc plated condensed tin foil blocks over the nice solid metal ones. And no paint….also I replace a lot of ,y ibanez lo pro edge blocks with brass ones and it’s like ringing a bell, sustain for days…one of the easiest cheapest m tone enhancing mods I know of
but honestly make sure they are magnetic , i certainly gp can hear a difference in shattty zinc plated condensed tin foil blocks over the nice solid metal ones. And no paint….also I replace a lot of ,y ibanez lo pro edge blocks with brass ones and it’s like ringing a bell, sustain for days…one of the easiest cheapest m tone enhancing mods I know of
Why don’t they just make them out of tone wood.
Oldboy
Senior Stratmaster
Trem block miners at work.
