Gotoh block idea

[Cederick]

I wanna use a Gotoh Floyd for some possible build soon but it bugs me that the block is 41mm and slightly too long for regular recessed bodies and paying for a FU Tone shorter block from USA to Sweden will only be a big expense.

So I thought, maybe cutting up the slots where the springs are attached? That would at least make the springs come up to the desired height so that that springs can be straight in the cavity

And if the block would be a bit too long I could just "dig out" the back cover a bit so it has room to move.

This seems to me the easiest way to make a free conversion, since I don't have any metal router at home, but I do have a saw I can use. Also another good thing is that this will keep most of the mass of the 41mm block and therefor have good sustain (even tho I don't think a few millimeters really do THAT much of a difference in real life)

 

[Cagey]

Sounds like you're going around your thumb to get to your elbow. There's a big UK-based distributor called Thomann that has a bigger inventory than most of the places we have here. I think they have warehouses in other countries, too. You might want to look at what they have to offer before you start cutting up perfectly innocent parts.

 

[Cederick]

I know but they don't have Gotoh floyd blocks

Do Gotoh even manufacture 37mm blocks themselves?! Because I have never found one and I have been looking a lot...

 

[Cagey]

I think Schaller has some options, but their stuff is notoriously hard to get.

I'd keep looking, though. I don't know what kind of saw you have, but cutting something like the sustain block of a Floyd vibrato is not a trivial task.

 

[Cederick]

Well, I wanna go with Gotoh Floyd because it's a lot cheaper than OFR and Schaller, and I much prefer the arm holder on that one too. I can't say it's better, but I do kinda trust that all these extremely expensive Ruokangas, Suhr, Music Man and all those use Gotoh Floyds for a good reason rather than OFR and Schaller (my OFR on my first Warmoth has already started getting a bit tired only after two years...)

FU tone sells Gotoh blocks of different sizes but I'm just worried for import taxes, but I might go that way if I'm not as poor as I'm now hahaha

 

[Cagey]

I understand wanting to save money, but in the grand scheme of things, what's the percentage of the bridge in the total cost of building a guitar? $50 one way or another isn't a great deal when you're talking about spending $1,000-$1,200 or more on the instrument. I know - a million here, a million there and pretty soon you're talking about real money, but still. Buy the right part rather than compromise and I'm sure you'll be happier.

 

[Cederick]

Well maybe that aint too much money in real life hahaha. I just wanna have the stuff close but having to order from USA to Sweden just to get what I want...

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, I'm always surprised at how much trouble some people outside the US have getting things. Gotta be a real pain in the shorts. We're pretty spoiled here, I guess. Makes me laugh when I read about people swearing if so-and-so gets elected, they're leaving the country. Where are they gonna go? China? Pakistan? Canada? Who's got it better than we do?

 

[Cederick]

HAha, i dont know.

I should found myself really lucky living in a swedish town where there actually IS one of few guitar parts dealers here, you can buy Hosco, Allparts and similar stuff there. However, I've never bought from them because I am a bit picky about options so I had to go with Warmoth anyway in the end. :toothy12:

 

[stratamania]

The gotoh floyd type does have blocks made in the following sizes. Now where to find one in Europe.

GE1996T

Block : 40mm, 36mm, 33mm

 

[Cederick]

Yeah I have no idea! 

 

[stratamania]

Yeah I have no idea! 

I didn't see anywhere either in Europe. Australia, USA yes. You may have to order one from there and possibly have an import fee. Might be less hassle than trying to cut a block down.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

How about this one - UK based?

 

[Cederick]

How about this one - UK based?

Ah, just found it. However they have no block on the page but I was told they can bring one in if I would ask for it

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Just to make a quick point about Schaller - they're one of the few brands that you've actually got an advantage with if you're in Europe. Thomann will order any Schaller part, including custom combinations so you can do stuff like order chrome tuners with gold keys or whatever. Handy.

 

[Cederick]

However, they cost about twice as much as a Gotoh, which makes the decision even easier. Gotoh is only a few bucks more expensive than some licensed Floyds so I don't see the point in getting another Floyd than Gotohs

 

[stratamania]

You can get the 33mm block as an option here, they have prices in £ or €

http://g-jax.com/510/tremolo-units/tremolo-locknuts/ge1996t.html

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I think 37mm is the size you want for a W recessed mount. I got the L-shaped one (from FU), which is fine although I had to remove a tiny bit of wood from the back of the guitar to be able to pull up. So I'd say just get the 37mm rectangular one.