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New trem blocks for import Strats

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I got one in "out for delivery" status as I type! :AOK:
Got it for my 50s vibe Strat.
I'll let you know what I think.
 
M29 said:
Man that is long overdue:bravo:

M29
Click to expand...

No kidding. I tried getting a petition going to get Callaham to start doing them and he refused and was going to soak me $160 to custom make one for me.
I'm glad Jay at Guitar Fetish has good business sense. Think about how many guitars that are out there that these will fit. It's a no brainer if you ask me. There is no way to loose money by making them. It is the one upgrade to many of these guitars that will make a huge difference.
 
Stupid question since it says Asian models included, but this should fit the Fully strat, yes?

---To answer my own question, I found the screw spacing measurements at GFS and they are indeed the same...
 
I don't mean to highjack the thread but I know there are a number of Squier '51 lovers here and the new rage for that is this bridge. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...STRK:MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=160245191696&rd=1

I have no affiliation with the seller but over on The Squier '51 Modders Forum this bridge is really catchin on.
Maybe Jay could be persuaded to get some of these closer to home. :poke:

I know of one Squier Strat that will get the new steel trem block and I am already spreading the word. :D

Again Thanks Spud.

M29
 
tjcurtin1 said:
Stupid question since it says Asian models included, but this should fit the Fully strat, yes?

---To answer my own question, I found the screw spacing measurements at GFS and they are indeed the same...
Click to expand...

That was my question too. Good to know the spacing is the same.
 
Robert said:
The question is how good it is, compared to what Callaham would produce?

For $19, I'm skeptic until I hear a few people saying it really is good quality.
Click to expand...
It's just a block of steel with holes in it. What's the difference? $19 is OK in my book for anything better than what is on the trem right now. Besides Callaham wont make them.

From the product description:


For those of you who have been waiting for these- Told ya we'd do it!!

A real SOLID STEEL tremolo block with vintage-correct dimensions- BUT... Fits the thin, cheesy "Made in Mexico" and all of the Made in Asia trems.

Why bother replacing your block?? As you can see from the photo- the stock block on all of the imports is a thin, lightweight Zinc trem block with very, very little mass.

In addition they use a fatter trem arm thread- not like the old fashioned trems- so the whole balance and feel is off. To make matters even worse the ball ends of the strings sit right up top of the block, close to the trem plate- That means almost none of the string vibration is channeled through the block, resulting in thin, weak tone and terrible sustain.

The GFS block is made from REAL Solid steel- Lead-free ROHS compliant steel- When you bang it with a screwdriver it goes "PING" and not "thunk...". The ball ends sit close to the BOTTOM of the block just like my 63, and it ONLY takes a USA standard 10-32 thread trem arm. (Sorry, your Chinese arm WILL NOT FIT)

The result is a total transformation of your guitar for UNDER TWENTY BUCKS!! Come on!! Sustain is increased noticeably, tone is like NIGHT AND DAY, even tuning stability is just a hair better. You can't NOT buy this!!

Look- there's a cottage industry of guys hand making these in the USA, with prices two, three or even four times higher than we charge. I've bought them all. These sound and feel just as good- there...I said it.

You get the block as pictured. Your stock mounting screws fit PERFECTLY, just reuse them. You will need a USA sized arm- If you have one from any vintage or modern screw-arm Strat, you're all set- if not we sell them cheap too... Just unscrew your saddles, unscrew the old block and screw the GFS unit in it's place- THAT'S IT!! be VERY careful when screwing the new block on- real steel will always have a touch of oxidation on the threads so you'll need a little bit of pressure, but they thread nice and tight and once secure- it's like a single block of metal!

These are black electrocoated to fend off rust. (Silver paint looks cool but paint tends to dampen vibration a bit, and hence tone and sustain are very slightly affected)
 
I just mounted my new block to the bridge plate of my Vintage Vibe 50s Strat and had to use mount screws from an old Mex Fender 70s Strat block, that I had laying around, as the scews from the Squier were to long by a couple 64ths or so.
:thwap:
Just giving you all a heads up!

Other than that niggle, perfect fit so far.
Getting ready to put the saddles back on, string her up and set her up.
 
Bad news, the trem bar does not line up!
Didn't notice it till I started putting the saddles on.
String holes line up but the trem bar hole is off center toward the back of the plate. Kinda follows the American pattern

I suspect it would probably fit a Mexican Fender or an MIJ but it does not fit my Squier:thwap: :eek:

Hell, it sounded good without the steel anyway. :rockon:
 
I was on another forum today (I should probably work more!) and Jay from GuitarFetish basically said that his are terrific quality and should be a major upgrade to stock but went on to say that Callaham makes the best. Maybe it's the grade of steel (?) that sets the higher priced ones apart?
 
FWIW my 60s Strat has the MIM Callaham block and it's simply a work of art. Everything fits and lines up and it looks "professional". Of course he makes them for both American and MIM trems so yeah they'd definately work. I don't have any more Squiers so I don't know how those trems are designed in terms of measurement and alignment. I'd expect the GF dude to create a solid steel block that would fit ANY Squier, including the whammy bar hole. At $19 a shot it would be a dream come true.
 
On the FDP another fellow has had the same issues with the screw depth. NOt only were the screws too long but the depths varied by 1/2 of the overal screw length. I am wondering what kind of research is being done by Guitar fetish. They may be cheap but it has to work. 20 dollar paperweights are highly overated.
 
When you say the Trem bar hole does not line up do you mean the hole for the tremelo arm. I read somewhere that the thread is different, so you would need to use an american threaded arm.
I don't use the trem arm so it would work for me?
 
The trem arm hole!
They've updated thier page to reflect that 50% sometimes are off.
Jay also offered me an upgrade kit, with proper bridge plate or send it back.
I'll decide tomorrow.
 
Dauntless said:
The trem arm hole!
They've updated thier page to reflect that 50% sometimes are off.
Jay also offered me an upgrade kit, with proper bridge plate or send it back.
I'll decide tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying that. It is great to get a heads up so you can order the correct parts BEFORE you take it apart. Did he say anything about the mounting screws size?
 
Boy I am totally fed up with that FDP. I just hope this forum doesn't get like them over there. There was a thread on there about the new blocks from GF and it was deleted. Nobody can understand why. That is the second one in a couple of weeks that they have "summarily executed" for no apparent reason.
From what I gleaned from the postings over there, the trem bar hole on the block will not line up with the hole in the bridge plate for the two point trems on most asian guitars. It will work for the 6 point though. Also you need an american threaded arm but they are only 4 bucks from GFS.
 
Go for the kit! :AOK:

Pretty much what I'm gonna do and when I have my compadre's mexican apart, I'll check this block out. If it fits, he can buy me a box of strings, for my effort.
 
ZMAN said:
Boy I am totally fed up with that FDP. I just hope this forum doesn't get like them over there. There was a thread on there about the new blocks from GF and it was deleted. Nobody can understand why. That is the second one in a couple of weeks that they have "summarily executed" for no apparent reason.
From what I gleaned from the postings over there, the trem bar hole on the block will not line up with the hole in the bridge plate for the two point trems on most asian guitars. It will work for the 6 point though. Also you need an american threaded arm but they are only 4 bucks from GFS.
Click to expand...

There's a little history on this subject at FDP...

About 2-years ago, there was a very heated debate about steel trem blocks on FDP. It was so heated that Jim Callaham and a rep from Fender (Mike somebody, I can't remember), got into the fray. Acusations about the quality of the Callaham block and the Fender block flew back and forth, with each side claiming the superior product, with the best steel. Callaham, without saying that Fender's steel was inferior, claimed that his steel block was made the way that the old "vintage" blocks from the 50's and early 60's were. Same steel, same construction. His claim suggested that Fender no longer used the same quality of steel or construction. Mike from Fender defended the Fender block vehemently, saying that the quality of the steel was the same as it had always been. Callaham and others countered with the arguement that the string holes were counter-sunk deeper on the newer Fender blocks, thus affecting the tone adversely. All the while this was going on, posters by the dozens were adding their opinions in defense of their preferred product. It was quite entertaining, to say the least. It was probably one of the most interesting debates I've seen on FDP.

There is also one additional possibility for the deletion of the thread mentioned: From what I've observed, FDP will sometimes delete threads with links to dealers who aren't sponsers of FDP. I'm not quite sure what criteria Chris Greene uses in making those calls (or if there actually is a set standard for doing so).
 
Wow, that would have been interesting to read, Blooz! Who got the most support in the debate - Callaham or Fender?

By the way, I don't think anyone has a clue as to what criteria Greene uses for such actions. The word totalitarism comes to mind... :whatever:
 
M29 said:
I don't mean to highjack the thread but I know there are a number of Squier '51 lovers here and the new rage for that is this bridge. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...STRK:MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=160245191696&rd=1

I have no affiliation with the seller but over on The Squier '51 Modders Forum this bridge is really catchin on.
Maybe Jay could be persuaded to get some of these closer to home. :poke:

I know of one Squier Strat that will get the new steel trem block and I am already spreading the word. :D

Again Thanks Spud.

M29
Click to expand...

You just had to post this, didn't you M29....:thwap:

Just when I thought I had everything I could possibly want or need for my Squire 51, you come up with this. :poke:

It just goes to prove the adage: Addicts don't like to be alone in their addictions....
I know, you're just returning the favor, right...? :D
 
Robert said:
Wow, that would have been interesting to read, Blooz! Who got the most support in the debate - Callaham or Fender?

By the way, I don't think anyone has a clue as to what criteria Greene uses for such actions. The word totalitarism comes to mind... :whatever:
Click to expand...

I'd have to say that the results were inconclusive. Those who favored the Callaham, were unmoved by the Fender arguements, and vice-versa. It's hard to say how those on the fence were swayed, but they may have been more confused when the debate ended than when it started.

On a personal level, I really can't be too critical of Chris Greene. He is known to be more than a bit dictatorial, but he's always been ok with me...even complimentary on a couple of occasions. Still, the atmosphere at FDP in general is not as friendly, open, and easy going as it is here...:AOK:
 
That seems fair enough. But, although I am not a member there (well a think maybe I am, I just never log in), what is the point of discussing and sharing guitar if it is not friendly, open and easy going. :)

I suppose it is "serious business" for some, but that would risk ruining it for me. I saw an article in Time last night (nerd talk was the name of the piece in the mag with Mandela on the cover) that indicates harsh talk is somewhat of a norm with some commenters on the net. I have no real reason to spend my time subjecting myself to that sort of thing though. Thanks Robert, for creating a place that is friendly, open and easy going! :AOK:
 

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