Members dcindc Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 The trem block holes in your guitars are inadequately routed for a fullsize block. That doesn't surprise me. Your reticence to fit it does. I think the GFS saddles look better, other than the marks on them from machining. The pickguard isn't really a deal breaker or problem for me. I am used to having to perform modifications when installing aftermarket parts on guitars, cars, whatever. I'd be interested to hear how your perception might change if you actually installed it, but I doubt that's gonna happen. Nice pics and review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PaulSter Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 All in all, the swap just doesn't seem worth it, even if it could fit easily. OTOH, if I were building a parts-o-caster, meant to be really nice, I would just opt for an inexpensive and easy to get American Standard trem off ebay. PaulS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ianlange11 Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 That is the wilkinson block correct? I got one of those for a cheapo strat and while the holes didn't line up quite (even with the 5 widened holes) I managed to get it in and it works smoothly. Very nice trem, I like that stagger idea too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cold Gin Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Next time get a Callaham unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cold Gin Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Why is the block on the GFS trem painted black??? Now THAT looks cheap. :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members captainobvious Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 I actually prefer the black painted look over the unfinished metal look of the fender unit. BUt to each his own The saddles while better radiused on the GFS unit are certainly thinner, thats pretty clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cold Gin Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Shiny metal looks MUCH better than black paint....and sounds better too. Painting the block is counter productive tone wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members captainobvious Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Shiny metal looks MUCH better than black paint....and sounds better too. Painting the block is counter productive tone wise. Like I said, to each his own. But since you brought it back up, where the fvck do you see a shiny block on the finder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sleepeatplay Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Wow, an actual honest review. Good job. I thinking of going Wilkinson on my partscaster eventually.Ahh, the joy of life....It's never perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcindc Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Steel rusts. Zinc doesn't. As for your tone comment, I sig'd ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cold Gin Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Like I said, to each his own. But since you brought it back up, where the fvck do you see a shiny block on the finder? My blocks are all shiny and rad. Shiny chrome and shiny steel baybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members D34dBaWx Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 does the ad say it is a drop in replacement? if it does then it shouldn't need modding to install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cavpilot Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Why is the block on the GFS trem painted black??? Now THAT looks cheap. :poke: Black has more TONE, sustain, smells better, tastes better, and the ladies love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cold Gin Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Steel rusts. Zinc doesn't. As for your tone comment, I sig'd ya. Finally Im sigged!! And my comment is true actually, just ask Mr Callaham and Eric Johnson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members littlemilo Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Interesting this thread pops up today, I just put a GFS trem in my 2000 MIM Fender last night. No mods needed to install. I also put one in a partsocaster a few months ago, I needed to dremel the cavity a bit to get clearance for the block on that one. I have since blocked that trem. I'm not sure whether the stock Fender saddles are better than GFS or not. I did put the fender saddles back on the mim. Here is a pic of the partso with GFS saddles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wagdog Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Good honest review. That said, I like the gfs trems on my bullets. On one it was a drop in, save for filing a bit of the pickgaurd. On the other I had to enlarge the trem cavity a bit. I don't have a MiM strat so I can't compare the saddles, but I thought the saddles looked fine and work fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted January 10, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Next time get a Callaham unit. Yep that's what I'm gonna look into next. Not the whole assembly, but definitely the full size block. Overall I think this is a good unit if you're building a partscaster and you're assuming that you're going to do some fitting during your build. In that scenario you can't pass it up for $35 bucks. But if you're trying to build your star guitar, your baby, then I would definitely invest the money in Callaham, or Wilkinson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 and the guy with the Predator didn't you see your trem on the Predator only uses 4 screw not six like a vintage Fender trem. How the fuck did you think the srew holes would line up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Raxus Prime Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ermghoti II Posted January 10, 2009 Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Why is the block on the GFS trem painted black??? Now THAT looks cheap. :poke: Because it's cheaper. Says so right on the GF page in question. I spend so little time admiring the finish on my trem blocks that it's not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted January 10, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2009 Because it's cheaper. Says so right on the GF page in question. I spend so little time admiring the finish on my trem blocks that it's not an issue. I don't understand why the color of the block is so important? You never see it except for when you take the guitar apart...everyone has their preference though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kid Klash Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 Not that it matters, but the GFS steel blocks on the trems that I bought for a couple of my Strats don't look painted - they look like they've got a black oxide finish, which helps prevent rust without interferring with the sustain. Oh - and they dropped right into my 1996 MIM Strat and my Bullet Strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted January 11, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 Not that it matters, but the GFS steel blocks on the trems that I bought for a couple of my Strats don't look painted - they look like they've got a black oxide finish, which helps prevent rust without interferring with the sustain. Oh - and they dropped right into my 1996 MIM Strat and my Bullet Strat. I'm pretty sure the fit isn't GFS fault. As someone stated earlier it's probably more because of the large variation in the bodies from the Korean made guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 I bought the block only to replace the stock one that came with the guitar. Doing this I get to use the original saddles. And there is a tonal improvement, subtle, but still an improvement. The only issue is have is that the threads for the trem arm do not line up so I can't use the trem which is not a real issue since I have it tightened all the way down any way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ermghoti II Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 Hm, I do remember him specifically staing that the black coating was less expensive than chroming or whatever, might be in the poncho thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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