Short steel tremolo block (32mm): Where? Anybody got one....

[stubhead]

I have been vacillating between two builds*for a while - a Jaguar 24" shortscale and one with a Warhead 24.75" conversion neck. And whammy/not-whammy... so in the grand tradition, I'll build BOTH (eventually). I got a Squier "Vista Series" Jaguar body off of Ebay with a six-hole whammy route, and I already ordered the Boogie Rail convertor baseplate/knifedge thing. But, the body is thin, at 1 9/16" I definitely need the shortest trem block I can get. There are giant 3/4 pounder brass ones on Ebay at 32mm, 37mm and 42mm length. Where do I get a normal-sized steel 32mmer? Not zinc, not superfat either, just plain old steel.... I have to make it "normal" before I know what to abnormalize.

(It's a nice body by the way, this "Vista" series was Japan-made, in the era when Japanese Fender-branded guitars were out-performing American Fenders... it's pretty clear from the recent Fender Jaguars that they often used Japan/Squier to test new recombinant models before unleashing them as American Fenders. It's supposed to be "basswood" but it's the hardest, heaviest "basswood" I've ever seen, Japanese wood descriptions are... well, maybe they waved a sea bass over it or something.)
:toothy10:



*(go write yer OWN dirty-disco song, Duckles)

 

[line6man]

There are giant 3/4 pounder brass ones on Ebay at 32mm, 37mm and 42mm length. Where do I get a normal-sized steel 32mmer? Not zinc, not superfat either, just plain old steel....

I had the same trouble trying to find a 37mm Floyd block to replace the stock 42mm block that came with my Schaller bridge.
It seems that no one wants to bother with plain, ordinary blocks. You have to spend the money for fancy brass big blocks if you want a different size.  :sad1:

 

[stubhead]

But then where do all the old blocks go? Is it like some secret sacred burial ground, like old elephants..... somebody's got to have boxfuls of these things.  :icon_scratch:

 

[line6man]

But then where do all the old blocks go? Is it like some secret sacred burial ground, like old elephants..... somebody's got to have boxfuls of these things.  :icon_scratch:

People probably trash them, or take them to metal recycling centers or something.

If anyone wants a 42mm Floyd block, send me a PM. :blob7:

 

[Cagey]

Take a standard steel block to a local machinist and have him run it past his bandsaw to take off an appropriate amount to get the height you need. 5 minute job, probably wouldn't charge $10, if he charged you at all.

 

[line6man]

Take a standard steel block to a local machinist and have him run it past his bandsaw to take off an appropriate amount to get the height you need. 5 minute job, probably wouldn't charge $10, if he charged you at all.

Then you need to drill the holes.
Not that it would be a big deal.

 

[Cagey]

If you've got a standard steel block, it already has holes in it for both mounting and strings. The stop for the string's ball end is toward the top, so you have room to take some off the bottom of the block.

 

[line6man]

If you've got a standard steel block, it already has holes in it for both mounting and strings. The stop for the string's ball end is toward the top, so you have room to take some off the bottom of the block.

The holes for the springs are only like 3/8" deep on both my Strat bridge block and my Floyd blocks. You're going to have to drill them deeper on a drill press if you don't want your springs flying off.

Stubhead, why don't you put your hand crank drill to use here!  :icon_jokercolor:
For that matter, stick the block in a vise and get to it with a hacksaw.

 

[Cagey]

Ah, I forgot about the spring holes. But, those aren't hyper-critical. You can easily drill them deeper.

 

[Steve_Karl]

But then where do all the old blocks go? Is it like some secret sacred burial ground, like old elephants..... somebody's got to have boxfuls of these things.  :icon_scratch:

When it comes to the VS-100, some people probably keep them, because the large brass blocks limit the dive range
and eventually the idiot (ME) that spent $85.00 for a brass paper weight, ... eventually wake up and put the stock one back in and realize the stock one even sounds better than the big brass one.

 

[swarfrat]

Still don't have strings on mine, but it appears limited even with the factory block. But diving for me is like popping wheelies. I can go a loooong time without ever doing it, it's not the end of the world to never do it. But if you can, it's fun to play with in excess every now and then.

 

[line6man]

But then where do all the old blocks go? Is it like some secret sacred burial ground, like old elephants..... somebody's got to have boxfuls of these things.  :icon_scratch:

When it comes to the VS-100, some people probably keep them, because the large brass blocks limit the dive range
and eventually the idiot (ME) that spent $85.00 for a brass paper weight, ... eventually wake up and put the stock one back in and realize the stock one even sounds better than the big brass one.

$85 !?
I only had to pay $30 for my Floyd big block.