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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 6:23:19 GMT -5
.... and .... it doesn't fit well (Cynical must be laughing sarcastically at the moment ) It looks like this: 2011-04-29 07.28.12 by panixgr, on Flickr I have emailed GFS twice with absolutely no answer from their side as to what they propose me to do with this. So most of the holes are a bit off. Should i wait for a valid solution from GFS or should i just grab the grinder and make the thing fit? (I think since I went the cheap way, i must live with it to the end, and do the work by myself). Do you have a recommendations about the style of grinding/cutting/technique, bit-type/size, etc??
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Post by cynical1 on Apr 29, 2011 8:34:04 GMT -5
(Cynical must be laughing sarcastically at the moment ) I'm always laughing sarcastically...it indicates nothing... Well...the problem appears obvious. All kidding aside...well...most of it, then... I can't really pin all of this on GFS. There are so many OEM variation on a theme out there it's a crap shoot on guessing hole layouts on imports. However, if I were GFS, I wouldn't even take an order for a trem block without a verified drawing template... The high end block makers generally provide a drawing to cover their @ss. Return shipping gets expensive... I feel for you on this one. I doubt GFS actually makes anything. They keep their prices down by buying everything outside and just reselling. If you did get a live body I would have to wonder if they've even seen one of these blocks. Probably because it's machined for a different trem base then the one you have. If it were me I'd just try and return it. A grinder is not going to help you here. By the time you got done butchering the trem base to make the screws fit you're still looking at the offset on the string and arm... Re-working the trem block would require some machine tools...at which point, if you had access to those machine tools, you could just make you own from scratch and be certain everything fit. As I said before, just try and return it, or ask for drawing of other blocks to see if you can find one that fits and see if they'll do an exchange. Better still, since you already have the trem disassembled, drop it on a scanner and make a .pdf to send to GFS or other vendors to verify fit prior to placing an order. These are deep waters here... I'm sure there are those that would tell you to grab a Dremel tool and have at it. This will only end poorly as it's impossible to achieve proper counter sinks using hand tools. These are necessary for the mounting screws to flush. And the odds are good the Dremel grinder is going to mutilate the chrome in ways never imagined if the chroming begins to flake on you. I don't know what your trem base is made of, but I'm betting it's going to be a real b h to drill out every one of those string holes...and leaving any sharp edges for the strings to come in contact with will shorten their life accordingly. And when all is said and done it's going to look like someone just butchered them all by hand anyway. Reworking the block, and doing it right, gets even more involved. To properly redo the brass block will require machine tools, plugs, long drills and a few taps. At that point, it's easier to find a block of brass and just make your own. Sorry to be the bearer of such grim tidings... If it makes you feel any better, I'm really not laughing... Happy Trails Cynical One
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 8:51:21 GMT -5
Thanx man, note taken. The one which scared me was about the life-span of the strings... all else i can handle really well (i think).
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Post by gumbo on Apr 30, 2011 8:24:27 GMT -5
C-1 is right..there are a squillion different bridge plates...been there and done that...even had fun trying to convince a US supplier that I had a Roland-Ready Strat with a vintage-reissue bridge..ended up having to send photos...(sigh!)
...in the end I ended up with a (steel) block that matched my bridge....but not until there were a few sleepless nights until it arrived...
A point for you to also ponder, BTW, is whether the thread in the block for the trem arm actually matches the thread on YOUR trem arm....that's another area of deep conjecture at times...
Personally, having taken it as far as you have, I would be tempted to just find a bridge plate that matches the new block, and install that....
....not laughing, either..
Cheers, Gumbo
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2011 9:56:31 GMT -5
Thanx guys, however, i think the potential reader here should not be turned down by the comments. And i explain: right now i am in the process of grinding the plate to match the block. Have done the block screws holes and i only have to deal with string holes and trem arm. Now about gumbo's worries about the trem arm: The old one was classic asian 6mm trem arm. The new block accepts 10/32 arm (in other words 5mm trem arm). In parallel with the order for the block, i had ordered (from northwestguitars.co.uk) the appropriate trem arm, with the appropriate color. And it fits perfectly. I think in few hours, most probably, i will enjoying my new block's enormous sustain capabilities PS As far as sharp edges of the string holes are concerned, i guess some fine sanding and some application with steel wool and/or lubrication will solve this problem. Anyways, the string themselves would act as steel wool, in the long term.
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Post by cynical1 on Apr 30, 2011 12:06:38 GMT -5
Well, as long as you're willing to let the sparks fly, I may as well throw out a few suggestions. If you don't have a Dremel tool, then find one, or something EU equivalent. Then scare up these bits: #453 - 5/32" Chainsaw Grind Stone. 1/8" shank.The chain saw sharpening bits work better on the chrome surface. You may need a few because sometimes the chrome can be hard as Hell to get through. # 83322 - Silicone Carbide Grinding StoneYou may need a few of these, too. Same reason as above. Once you get the holes moved and cleaned up some fine Emory Cloth will remove most of the rough edges and grinding marks. After that you may want to polish it up a bit...so: # 425 Emery Impregnated Disc...and you'll need this for the above wheel: # 402 MandrelIf you really want to polish it up after surgery then you'll need to find these: #414 - Felt Polishing 1/2" Wheels Which requires one of these: #401 - Mandrel And requires this stuff to polish the metal surface: #421 - Polishing CompoundProbably cheaper to buy a new trem...but hey, as long as you're willing the operate... One trick for keeping a standard Strat type trem in tune is to actually grind the flat top of the base where the strings come through into a rounded surface so the strings aren't making a 90 degree bend into the saddles. Another one is to countersink the six mounting holes from the bottom, then cut a groove in your mounting screws to give a knife edged constant location for the base plate to locate. I can't speak to the effectiveness of this, but I've seen it done and the players all commented on the improvement in staying in tune. Happy Trails Cynical One
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2011 17:04:56 GMT -5
Man, you are getting paranoid. The job was actually very easy.
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Post by cynical1 on Apr 30, 2011 18:04:06 GMT -5
Man, you are getting paranoid. The job was actually very easy. Didn't George Bush say that once?
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Post by lpf3 on Apr 30, 2011 18:09:02 GMT -5
Man, you are getting paranoid. The job was actually very easy. Didn't George Bush say that once? -lpf3
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2011 23:42:35 GMT -5
Man, you are getting paranoid. The job was actually very easy. Didn't George Bush say that once? Who?
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Post by cynical1 on May 1, 2011 0:53:26 GMT -5
Didn't George Bush say that once? Who? How soon the World forgets... HTC1
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 1:54:20 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 1:55:11 GMT -5
The guitar stays in tune, slightly better than it used to, however, i cannot claim that the change in tone-sustain is noticeable.
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Post by gumbo on May 1, 2011 4:22:10 GMT -5
...isn't it always good to know that all the effort was worth it? ...and I would suspect that your bridgeplate may have been one of the softer ones... Well done, anyway!!
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 7:11:20 GMT -5
Hello Gumbo, i don't know about the bridge plate, being soft or hard. I took me over half an hour drilling in order to have the holes widened enough to match the block. The impressive part is not the sound or sustain, i really didn't notice any difference, but the whole *feel* of the trem system. It just looks, and feels heavier. Most important is the intonation. It stays in tune just like a floyd rose. Impressive.
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