I'm enjoying the new series of videos Adam. I was wondering if you think a pickup upgrade has a greater effect on a guitars tone or a brass block install?
Thanks! Great question too! Everything is a link your tonal chain. In my opinion the block is the heart of the matter first. What you feed into the pickups is crucial! Garbage in - garbage out. New pickups will help (and mask the tone). I say start at the block (also a far less expensive upgrade than pickups with an even greater result) - then if you want to go further with pickups - you should! But in that order.
YEsS!!! I 💯 agree with adding BRASS BLOCK TO FENDER STRATOCASTERS,I USE IT W/ MY 62& MY 63 STRAT LIKE YOU SAID, A NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE FOR THE BETTER WARMER FULLER TONE,I WISHED I WOULD OF DONE THIS 40 YEARS AGO!!!!❤
Just installed one of these blocks in my Blacktop Strat and the difference is actually huge! Super impressed and delighted. The notes ring out, the sustain is vastly improved and you can feel the increase in resonance in the body when you play. Only thing is you need a 4mm allen key for the screws provided, rather than standard Phillips head screws, when attaching to the trem assembly. Looking at the old block in my MIM strat, I am kind of disappointed in Fender for providing such a crappy core component in a $750 guitar. This block certainly fixed the issue!!
I took my 1988 Charvel Japanese Import Model 5FX to FU-Tone on May 9th 2020 and Adam Reiver put in a Big Brass Block, Brass Spring Claw, 2 Brass Claw Screws, and 2 Red Noiseless Springs. I kept the stock block, stock springs, and claw but what Adam did to my guitar is incredible . The tonal difference is huge over the small, thin factory block and it's enhanced even moreso with the Brass Claw and Brass Screws. I've had that guitar for 30 years(2nd owner) it's near mint, and it's the best it's ever played and sounded. I highly recommend Adam Reiver/FU-Tone to get the best tone and sustain out of whatever guitar you have.
Put masking tape under the saddles and mark the location of each one then just line them back up. Even better just spread the saddles enough to get a screwdriver in or turn them on their sides and remove the three screws. You don't even have to take the trem off of the guitar to change the block
You know.........I've been playing for decades. I get a nice guitar and, sometimes, change the pickups, but didn't mod other things on a good or great sounding guitar. Why mess with what you already love? And, I think they are too much expensive and I would get them if they broke. Your first Strat sounds like my good sounding Strat (my loved Strat). My headphones and my ears made me loved the extra clarity and overtones. They are sliding my stubborn right hand toward the wallet. Went to your website and your FU pickups sound outstanding, too. You da man!
Q- when considering upgrading to a brass FU-Tone block, is it recommended that you replace with like for like? For example can a 32mm stock FR block be replaced with a 37mm,or is that dimension based on the availability of space in the guitar? I have an ESP with a 32mm block, but it looks like a 37mm could fit easily.. Any guidelines or tips on choosing which products to buy?
A luthier told me that more mass equals more attenuation (damping), in contrary to what most people think. That goes for soundboard thickness, saddles, LP tail pieces and what ever. Then a sustain block for a Strat needs to loose weight, more than to gain weight!!
Any experience routing out the back of the guitar to make room for the new tone block? The cavity in the back of the guitar is always too small to fit a full sized tone block in MIM & Squier Strats I've worked on. Tips and thoughts on routing out the cavity would be appreciated.
That one should not require routing and all. BUT - when they do, I like to use a Dremel with the round sanding barrel. Go in through the back, and go gently back and forth with the tool. Works like a charm! Tip: cover your pickups with painters tape to keep the dust out.
Hey Adam! Quick question, will this block fit all fender style bridges? I replaced a bridge on a guitar a while back with a fender deluxe style bridge.
Not exactly. BUT - I make this for the 4 Fender models. Some of the "Fender Style" bridges are an exact match! Email me and I will go over how we can see if you have a match. adam@fu-tone.com
I prefer the first block, less volume and sustain but I still prefer the sound and I believe it’s more dynamic. The plinkiness does not bother me I see as a more expressive guitar.
Actually owning a MIM strat I just modded, I totally disagree with that. There is a nasal harshness to the tone with the old, thin block that just disappears with the brass block. The notes decay less quickly too. I bought it as an experiment but this thing fn rocks!
@@Chrishagen very personal I really hated the brass…lots of sustain but for me nope…this is highly personal taste !!! Enjoy your brass !!!en ended up with a big steel block…more like what I was looking for
Adam Great job as usual! When a chance can u do review of MOV-Viola 🎸's (SP-22 HSS) Victor Cos model I was interested in. Curious what mod's u wud do on it. There's a spec rundown on his UTube video. Thanx, Larry!
Excelente video! Las Stratocaster económicas tienen normalmente un Block mas delgado, puedes indicarnos cuál es el grosor adecuado del Block para hacer la compra precisa. Saludos desde México.
I have a cold rolled steel block in my Fender CS Strat (Ash body, rosewood fretboard). It has a great amount of sustain...What would brass block bring (if any) to the table?
Great question Joe. Totally different sound signature. In my opinion, a warmer, rounder sound. My advice is: try it, if you don't love it - send it back.
Is it worth upgrading my saddles on my American Standard when I do this block upgrade? While I have it down I wanna do what needs to be done one time. I have a 2016 with the stamped saddles like this Strat does.
@@FloydUpgrades Hi, just got a brass block for my MIM strat and it sounds much better, no doubt - very happy with it. I have a question about the trem arm as per the guy above: Mexican strat trem arms are 5mm, but the one on your site is 4.8mm. I have been able to screw in my Mexican trem arm ok into the brass block, but won't the 0.2mm difference in ideal trem arm diameter wear out the threads in the long term? Wouldn't it make more sense to make the threads exactly the same diameter as the Mexican trem arm in a replacement block for Mexican strats, rather than 0.2mm out?? Thanks.
Кино
I'm enjoying the new series of videos Adam. I was wondering if you think a pickup upgrade has a greater effect on a guitars tone or a brass block install?
Thanks! Great question too! Everything is a link your tonal chain. In my opinion the block is the heart of the matter first. What you feed into the pickups is crucial! Garbage in - garbage out. New pickups will help (and mask the tone). I say start at the block (also a far less expensive upgrade than pickups with an even greater result) - then if you want to go further with pickups - you should! But in that order.
FU - TONE Makes perfect sense. Doing both is like a great one-two punch! 🎸
Before - 0:55
After Brass Block - 7:20
YEsS!!! I 💯 agree with adding BRASS BLOCK TO FENDER STRATOCASTERS,I USE IT W/ MY 62& MY 63 STRAT LIKE YOU SAID, A NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE FOR THE BETTER WARMER FULLER TONE,I WISHED I WOULD OF DONE THIS 40 YEARS AGO!!!!❤
Just installed one of these blocks in my Blacktop Strat and the difference is actually huge! Super impressed and delighted. The notes ring out, the sustain is vastly improved and you can feel the increase in resonance in the body when you play. Only thing is you need a 4mm allen key for the screws provided, rather than standard Phillips head screws, when attaching to the trem assembly. Looking at the old block in my MIM strat, I am kind of disappointed in Fender for providing such a crappy core component in a $750 guitar. This block certainly fixed the issue!!
You are the greatest gift to anyone that owns a tremolo system. And a damn cool dude my friend! Thanks for what you do for us all.
Stock 0:55
Brass Block 7:22
I took my 1988 Charvel Japanese Import Model 5FX to FU-Tone on May 9th 2020 and Adam Reiver put in a Big Brass Block, Brass Spring Claw, 2 Brass Claw Screws, and 2 Red Noiseless Springs. I kept the stock block, stock springs, and claw but what Adam did to my guitar is incredible . The tonal difference is huge over the small, thin factory block and it's enhanced even moreso with the Brass Claw and Brass Screws. I've had that guitar for 30 years(2nd owner) it's near mint, and it's the best it's ever played and sounded. I highly recommend Adam Reiver/FU-Tone to get the best tone and sustain out of whatever guitar you have.
Put masking tape under the saddles and mark the location of each one then just line them back up. Even better just spread the saddles enough to get a screwdriver in
or turn them on their sides and remove the three screws. You don't even have to take the trem off of the guitar to change the block
You know.........I've been playing for decades. I get a nice guitar and, sometimes, change the pickups, but didn't mod other things on a good or great sounding guitar. Why mess with what you already love? And, I think they are too much expensive and I would get them if they broke. Your first Strat sounds like my good sounding Strat (my loved Strat). My headphones and my ears made me loved the extra clarity and overtones. They are sliding my stubborn right hand toward the wallet. Went to your website and your FU pickups sound outstanding, too. You da man!
Love this stuff Adam!
Thank you for doing these, man i love that strat!!
Posted to my pages.
Rock on!!
Thanks JB!!! You ROCK~!
"Thumbs up"
Q- when considering upgrading to a brass FU-Tone block, is it recommended that you replace with like for like? For example can a 32mm stock FR block be replaced with a 37mm,or is that dimension based on the availability of space in the guitar? I have an ESP with a 32mm block, but it looks like a 37mm could fit easily.. Any guidelines or tips on choosing which products to buy?
Needed to upgrade my MX fender strat, hell ya!
excellent products for guitars, we use them at riedell guitars, highly reccomemed!!!
A luthier told me that more mass equals more attenuation (damping), in contrary to what most people think. That goes for soundboard thickness, saddles, LP tail pieces and what ever.
Then a sustain block for a Strat needs to loose weight, more than to gain weight!!
any big block to hipshot us contour 2 point tremolo ?
thanks
Any experience routing out the back of the guitar to make room for the new tone block? The cavity in the back of the guitar is always too small to fit a full sized tone block in MIM & Squier Strats I've worked on. Tips and thoughts on routing out the cavity would be appreciated.
That one should not require routing and all. BUT - when they do, I like to use a Dremel with the round sanding barrel. Go in through the back, and go gently back and forth with the tool. Works like a charm! Tip: cover your pickups with painters tape to keep the dust out.
Hey Adam! Quick question, will this block fit all fender style bridges? I replaced a bridge on a guitar a while back with a fender deluxe style bridge.
Not exactly. BUT - I make this for the 4 Fender models. Some of the "Fender Style" bridges are an exact match! Email me and I will go over how we can see if you have a match. adam@fu-tone.com
I prefer the first block, less volume and sustain but I still prefer the sound and I believe it’s more dynamic. The plinkiness does not bother me I see as a more expressive guitar.
Actually owning a MIM strat I just modded, I totally disagree with that. There is a nasal harshness to the tone with the old, thin block that just disappears with the brass block. The notes decay less quickly too. I bought it as an experiment but this thing fn rocks!
@@Chrishagen very personal I really hated the brass…lots of sustain but for me nope…this is highly personal taste !!! Enjoy your brass !!!en ended up with a big steel block…more like what I was looking for
Adam Great job as usual! When a chance can u do review of MOV-Viola 🎸's (SP-22 HSS) Victor Cos model I was interested in. Curious what mod's u wud do on it. There's a spec rundown on his UTube video. Thanx, Larry!
Excelente video! Las Stratocaster económicas tienen normalmente un Block mas delgado, puedes indicarnos cuál es el grosor adecuado del Block para hacer la compra precisa. Saludos desde México.
I have a Mexican Fender Player Series Strat, which block should I choose?
I have a cold rolled steel block in my Fender CS Strat (Ash body, rosewood fretboard). It has a great amount of sustain...What would brass block bring (if any) to the table?
Great question Joe. Totally different sound signature. In my opinion, a warmer, rounder sound. My advice is: try it, if you don't love it - send it back.
@@FloydUpgrades I would try it..Do you have dealers in EU? Or can you send me one for F vintage 6 screw bridge? :)
Yes - Check out our friends at Mor Music - www.mormusic.com - Or order on FU-Tone.com
Nice video ....simple
anyone knows if this would this fit on a Schaller Vintage Tremolo 3801 model?
Is it worth upgrading my saddles on my American Standard when I do this block upgrade? While I have it down I wanna do what needs to be done one time.
I have a 2016 with the stamped saddles like this Strat does.
I suggest doing one thing at a time to see what the benefit was for each part.
@@FloydUpgrades great idea! Thanks for the information!
Will the PMS fit into a strat?
Does my existing Fender Mexican tremolo arm fit this block or do I need to purchase a new one?
Your arm will fit.
@@FloydUpgrades alright then. SOLD!
@@FloydUpgrades Hi, just got a brass block for my MIM strat and it sounds much better, no doubt - very happy with it. I have a question about the trem arm as per the guy above: Mexican strat trem arms are 5mm, but the one on your site is 4.8mm. I have been able to screw in my Mexican trem arm ok into the brass block, but won't the 0.2mm difference in ideal trem arm diameter wear out the threads in the long term? Wouldn't it make more sense to make the threads exactly the same diameter as the Mexican trem arm in a replacement block for Mexican strats, rather than 0.2mm out?? Thanks.
There seems to be a little more volume with the brass on the clean sound
Which fits a classic vibe 50s Strat made in Indonesia?
Makes as much difference as the scratchplate screws. Thanks for the demo!
The guitar casting couch
let the notes sustain, don't cut it.
Do you still have the same pull back distance?
Yes - The Strat block is the dame size as original block - just better sounding material!
@0.55 for stock @7:22 for brass
0:55 - Original
7:22 - New Block
I would like to hear a chord played before and immediately after, no talking in-between. By the time you're done talking it's hard to tell.
1:21 - 7:48 - Back to back
Shhhhtratocaster
Shtrat
oh geez - trying to keep that Philly accent in check...
@@FloydUpgrades 💕