Grabbed an "Extra Light Swamp Ash" solid strat body - 2lbs 13oz

[river]

    It isn't hard to swap bridges, and sometimes experimentation is the way to go since it can be hard to predict what you will prefer - hence the zinc block sometimes being preferred. Yeah you might need a whole new bridge- a manufacturer in Turkey called Hantug makes titanium blocks to sell on eBay for the best price I've found. Could be that they make a drop-in fit for your bridge, otherwise it isn't hard to swap in the future if you feel like it. Hantug will also do custom parts but I don't know what they charge.

    I admit, I've been biased against the zinc blocks although I've played guitars that had them that sound great. I should keep one on hand to try, you really never know what's going to mix well with the rest of the recipe. Right now I have some 6-point trems like Callaham and Wudtone, and brass, aluminum, steel, cast steel, and titanium blocks for swapping and experimentation. That's how I found titanium sounds great with light swamp ash- still need to give aluminum a try for the same reasons.

 

[stratamania]

If you want to upgrade the block of the then look for parts for the VS100 or VS100N.  They are the same size.

 

[vikingred]

If you want to upgrade the block of the then look for parts for the VS100 or VS100N.  They are the same size.

Ok, cool.  Found this brass block. And this aluminum block. The brass says special order, "THIS ITEM IS SPECIAL ORDER ONLY. IF YOU ORDER THIS BLOCK, IT WILL BE PUT INTO OUR CUSTOM SCHEDULE AS SOON AS ORDERED. This could take anywhere up to 3 months depending on our schedule at the time of order.  Aluminum block doesn't have that message.

Here is an interesting comparison of the stock Zinc block to the Brass block.  The Brass block is a whole 5.5 oz heavier.  Wonder about the aluminum, it only weighs 3.4 ounces, which is about 2oz less than the stock Zinc block.  I think for this build I'd go with the aluminum, if anything.  What think you, stratmania?

 

[stratamania]

Well of course I meant to say replace the block of the Trem not the then. Silly spell checker.

Personally I'm not sure I would want something quite heavy as a Trem block. There's probably been tons of good music made with standard zinc or zinc based alloy. Of course brass contains zinc also.

If you want to try an alternate to the zinc, then aluminium might be worth a try. It's used often for tailpieces.

 

[Cagey]

Ok, cool.  Found this brass block. And this aluminum block. The brass says special order, "THIS ITEM IS SPECIAL ORDER ONLY. IF YOU ORDER THIS BLOCK, IT WILL BE PUT INTO OUR CUSTOM SCHEDULE AS SOON AS ORDERED. This could take anywhere up to 3 months depending on our schedule at the time of order.  Aluminum block doesn't have that message.

Y'know... we have a machinist with his own personal CNC machine on the site here. DangerousR6 does all sorts of wonderful things with metal. If you want a brass block in less than 3 months. I'd wager he could satisfy. He's made me a number of things out of brass and aluminum like custom knobs, bridges and pickup mounting rings, and I highly recommend him.

 

[vikingred]

Well of course I meant to say replace the block of the Trem not the then.

Huh?

 

[stratamania]

If you want to upgrade the block of the then look for parts for the VS100 or VS100N.  They are the same size.

Then in the above sentence should have said Trem.

 

[vikingred]

"Your Order Has Shipped - USPS".  It's on it's way!  Gonna bounce it to you, Tonar, along with da neck.

 

[Tonar8352]

Looking forward to it.

 

[vikingred]

Body and neck on their way to you priority mail.  :glasses10: