Make your strat sound better

[valvetronix]

^{Copied from MY post on Jam Session.}

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I block the tremolo on the my 1963 Fender Strat. I use a rectangular piece of maple as the block (7/16" thick by 1-1/2" high x 2-5/8"). I have drilled a whole in the bottom of the block so I can insert a screw and remove the block easily. I set up the tremolo with all 5 Vintage Silver springs, with the spring claw screwed tigh to the wall. This makes a springy reverb chamber and sustain block in the guitar body.

BUT (There always is one)

The only problem IS... The vintage tremolo has a rectangular sustain block. Present day American Standards have a tapered sustain block. Making a tappered block is much more difficult. I dont have time to type all the information you may need now. But if anyone is interested I may be able to write out a step by step guide some other time.

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Originally Posted by stratman56
Thanks for letting us know what you learn! I was thinking about putting a stablerizer on mine. What do know about them? Also, is it worth putting a roller nut on them.


I really dont know much of any about stablerizers, ive heard good things... Thats about it

Again, I havent had much experience with rollernuts! I did install 1 on a Fender strat though. It had the stock nut, I put a graphite nut on, then about 3 weeks later the owner brought it back and had me install the LSR Roller. I was alittle skeptic of it, for no real explainable reason. I loved the sound afterwards either way! I played the guitar extensivley with each nut, and after the LSR was installed I thought the guitar sounded more 'solid' even though all I did was ADD parts. In my opinion it helps coupling which I talk about alittle bit in my Tele thread, the string is better coupled with the nut, then the neck, then the body so it increases sustain, it may be a impreceptible amount, but it does, im sure.

That could go the other way though. More of the string is coupled... So it should rob the string of room to vibrate right? I dont know. It didnt on that particular guitar....

So I really dont know what to tell ya. I would

[mrboston]

Couldn't you just get a hard-tail strat. Wouldn't that effectively do the same thing? I mean I understand blocking the trem, but I like to have that whammy bar available. I know it's an age-old debate. I just think if you want a fixed bridge, buy one.

[emixolydian]

Wait, whats the point of having a fixed bridge?

[vash03]

emixolydian said:

Wait, whats the point of having a fixed bridge?

there's no way you're serious

[Don't Fuck With Me]

The crux of the biscuit is this: If you want a fixed bridge, why not use a guitar that HAS a fixed bridge?

[vash03]

ya =\. Supposedly blocking the trem gives you a tad more sustain but i don't really have a strat to try it out with. hardtail strats are hard to find anyway, this would be helpful maybe to needy people like most of us lol.

[valvetronix]

Basically... If you have a strat with a normal tremolo... Its much easier to block it, than to buy a new strat... Isnt it?

Also, blocked strats will still have the springed natural reverb chamber, and sustain block... while a fixed has bad coupling on the under side of the bridge (which is easy to fix... see tele thread) and no reverb chamber...

All in all, mostly, if you KNOW you want a fixed bridge, buy one, if you want both, both a trem and block it...

[mrboston]

^I dig it, just have more options available. Sounds good to me. Plus the block can always be removed if you don't like it.

[vash03]

yea, sounds really useful for guitars with a floating trem..thats a turnoff to alot of people. If they really want it, they can just block it and w00t! instant love guitar.