Steel Block

[Bruno]

Gotoh/wilkinson VS100, Fender standard or Gotoh GE101: what tremolo have the steel block?
Read the descriptions I think none of the three.

But, as you know, I usually don't understand English well... :dontknow:

 

[Cagey]

The Gotoh GE101 has a steel block, according to their catalog.
The Gotoh/Wilkinson has a steel block, by hearsay.
The Fender Am Standard is anybody's guess. My guess would be zinc.

All three of them use cast saddles, rather than the junk stamped steel parts Fender used for so many years. On the Gotohs, they're stainless. I suspect they are on the Fender as well. Also, they all have hardened steel mounting plates. So, they're all fairly similar. Given a choice, I'd use the Gotoh/Wilkinson.

 

[Superlizard]

Ciao Bruno -

If you go Fender Standard, get one from here:

http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm

"Callaham Vintage S Model Strat Bridge Assembly"

Everything's made of cold-rolled steel.

And I highly recommend those stamped saddles (you will get with Callaham bridge):

They provide a much improved tone (clear treble) over these sh!tty pot-metal block saddles:

 

[AutoBat]

Graph Tech string saver saddles can improve most bridges.
I replaced my terrible vintage style (like the 1st pic Mr. L posted) with some great ones (like his 2nd pic, but black)

 

[Bruno]

There is a empirical evidence to see if the block is or not steel?
For example, with a magnet?





OT:
Can you tell me the exact *length and width* of the screws for the contour hell?
I think  4x40mm and 4x45mm - two by two -

 

[Cagey]

There is a empirical evidence to see if the block is or not steel?
For example, with a magnet?

Clever idea. I tried that on the sustain blocks of the Wilkinson VS100 vibrato bridges I have here, and they're not steel. So, they're either zinc or aluminum.

 

[Bruno]

My gotoh ge101 does not have steel block
(GE101 TS, this have steel block - but more expensive, 30euro -)

 

[Cagey]

There's more labor in a steel block than there is in the cast ones. Steel has to be machined/drilled/tapped, while the cast parts only need to have the mounting holes tapped.

 

[Superlizard]

There is a empirical evidence to see if the block is or not steel?
For example, with a magnet?

Correct - use a magnet.