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Hey guys....I know this has been covered here quite a bit in the past...but being that I'm an old Charvel guy playing new Charvels...and it's been a while since I've been playing guitars with Floyds...I recently came across floydupgrades.com. And then this month's guitar world did a review...so I figured, why not....there aint no way I'm gonna spend the big bucks on a Titanium block for a Korean made floyd...but the 30 some-odd dollar brass block was definitely worth a shot. So here's my review of the whole process. Let me just preface by saying, I've never taken apart a floyd bridge because I've always dreaded putting it back together.
Anyway...I was really impressed with Adam's site and the instructional videos (not to mention the endorsements of some pretty well known players). So my first step was to email the site and ask which block to buy....I didn't know which size to get. Within half a day, I got a response...was told to get the 37mm. So I ordered that, got the replacement springs, the block bolts, the trem stopper, and a replacement spring claw.
Within 3 days, I got the parts...and since it was Friday night, I figured I'd tackle this project on my SD HSS. There's no way I was going to do this on my SD Telly...cause that guitar is goddamm perfect as it is...at least for me.
Well...unlike Adam....who did the whole upgrade in three 7 minute videos... I started at 9pm and about 5000 4-letter words and 5 hours later, everything was back together...more or less. I did install the trem stopper...I guess it helped with re-installation..not sure
The one thing I did really nail was marking the saddles properly, because I did not have to re-intonate. Amazingly, the guitar was perfectly intonated when I put it back together...or at least really close.
There were a few things that didn't go right...first, I think my neck may have gone out of adjustment a little....but I kinda expected that, what with removing all the strings...also, I didn't plan on keeping the trem blocked, as I like a floating bridge, so I removed the trem block right away...at least once I got the strings back on...so at the point in Adam's instructional videos where he starts re-setting things up, I kinda went off on my own.
I did like he said, and added an extra spring for the re-setup...but the problem I had...and what I still don't understand...by adding the 4th spring, it brought my bridge to what was called, "ground zero"...or perfectly parallel with the body. I didn't need to adjust the trem block to get here. I knew right away that when I removed one of those springs that it would push the bridge out further (make it uneven with the body, with the trem pointed down towards the nut). I tuned back up again, after removing the 4th spring and removing the trem stopper...guitar still intonated...but the damn bridge is now uneven. Even after screwing in the bridge screws a little, to try and even it out a little, it wasn't enough.
If I left the forth spring in, it was perfectly even...but I don't know if that's the right thing to do...is it ok to have 4 springs, when the original setup calls for 3?
Finally...the last problem was that the "noiseless" springs that I purchased along with the big block, didn't fit into the block!...the ends that connect to the block were too thick to fit in the holes...or at least 2 out of the three were...I did get one in. Matter of fact...those springs seemed to be a little tighter than the stock springs. I have a feeling that if I were able to get those in, my bridge would've been even...and my setup would've been perfect. (well...all but the neck...and even that, I'm not sure if it's out of adjustment...I'm just guessing).
Despite the few things that were not right when the job was done, it was certainly still very playable/functional. I, obviously had to try it out...and I will say..it's not a night and day difference (perhaps the titanium setup - with the titanium saddles would be more dramatic), but it definitely brightened up the sound a bit...in a good way. I played it back to back against the SD Telly (which, as I mentioned above, is 'perfect'), and it sounded as good, if not better...and that's the highest compliment I can pay this device. Reason I say that is because I never liked the SD Strat sound as much as the Telly..even though they are similar.
In the end, I took the guitar down to my local shop that always fixes my guitars...I'll let them fine tune the floyd now...because it really is beyond what I can do. I wish I could watch them do their work, so I'd be able to make the last few adjustments.
I'm glad I did this though. I finally got to take apart a floyd...I was able to get it back together, more or less, intact..., and I got a better sound out of my guitar. I recommend this to anyone who is thinking about it. If you're familiar with taking apart a floyd, and re setting it up, you'll have no problem getting this thing in. Otherwise, I'd take it to your local shop (as long as they have a guy that knows floyds at least - which has been harder to find lately). I'm seriously considering buying a true Kahler (German made) floyd for my SD Telly...and buying the titanium parts. It is, after all, my favorite guitar right now...and even though the price of this would be pretty hefty...It would be worth it for that guitar...then I truly will have a custom Charvel...which is what I've wanted for a long time anyway.
Thanks for reading my long post. I'd love to hear your comments....and I'd especially love to hear from those of you who know floyds..how to set them up...and those of you who have upgraded to the brass/titanium blocks.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Anyway...I was really impressed with Adam's site and the instructional videos (not to mention the endorsements of some pretty well known players). So my first step was to email the site and ask which block to buy....I didn't know which size to get. Within half a day, I got a response...was told to get the 37mm. So I ordered that, got the replacement springs, the block bolts, the trem stopper, and a replacement spring claw.
Within 3 days, I got the parts...and since it was Friday night, I figured I'd tackle this project on my SD HSS. There's no way I was going to do this on my SD Telly...cause that guitar is goddamm perfect as it is...at least for me.
Well...unlike Adam....who did the whole upgrade in three 7 minute videos... I started at 9pm and about 5000 4-letter words and 5 hours later, everything was back together...more or less. I did install the trem stopper...I guess it helped with re-installation..not sure
The one thing I did really nail was marking the saddles properly, because I did not have to re-intonate. Amazingly, the guitar was perfectly intonated when I put it back together...or at least really close. There were a few things that didn't go right...first, I think my neck may have gone out of adjustment a little....but I kinda expected that, what with removing all the strings...also, I didn't plan on keeping the trem blocked, as I like a floating bridge, so I removed the trem block right away...at least once I got the strings back on...so at the point in Adam's instructional videos where he starts re-setting things up, I kinda went off on my own.
I did like he said, and added an extra spring for the re-setup...but the problem I had...and what I still don't understand...by adding the 4th spring, it brought my bridge to what was called, "ground zero"...or perfectly parallel with the body. I didn't need to adjust the trem block to get here. I knew right away that when I removed one of those springs that it would push the bridge out further (make it uneven with the body, with the trem pointed down towards the nut). I tuned back up again, after removing the 4th spring and removing the trem stopper...guitar still intonated...but the damn bridge is now uneven. Even after screwing in the bridge screws a little, to try and even it out a little, it wasn't enough.
If I left the forth spring in, it was perfectly even...but I don't know if that's the right thing to do...is it ok to have 4 springs, when the original setup calls for 3?
Finally...the last problem was that the "noiseless" springs that I purchased along with the big block, didn't fit into the block!...the ends that connect to the block were too thick to fit in the holes...or at least 2 out of the three were...I did get one in. Matter of fact...those springs seemed to be a little tighter than the stock springs. I have a feeling that if I were able to get those in, my bridge would've been even...and my setup would've been perfect. (well...all but the neck...and even that, I'm not sure if it's out of adjustment...I'm just guessing).
Despite the few things that were not right when the job was done, it was certainly still very playable/functional. I, obviously had to try it out...and I will say..it's not a night and day difference (perhaps the titanium setup - with the titanium saddles would be more dramatic), but it definitely brightened up the sound a bit...in a good way. I played it back to back against the SD Telly (which, as I mentioned above, is 'perfect'), and it sounded as good, if not better...and that's the highest compliment I can pay this device. Reason I say that is because I never liked the SD Strat sound as much as the Telly..even though they are similar.
In the end, I took the guitar down to my local shop that always fixes my guitars...I'll let them fine tune the floyd now...because it really is beyond what I can do. I wish I could watch them do their work, so I'd be able to make the last few adjustments.
I'm glad I did this though. I finally got to take apart a floyd...I was able to get it back together, more or less, intact..., and I got a better sound out of my guitar. I recommend this to anyone who is thinking about it. If you're familiar with taking apart a floyd, and re setting it up, you'll have no problem getting this thing in. Otherwise, I'd take it to your local shop (as long as they have a guy that knows floyds at least - which has been harder to find lately). I'm seriously considering buying a true Kahler (German made) floyd for my SD Telly...and buying the titanium parts. It is, after all, my favorite guitar right now...and even though the price of this would be pretty hefty...It would be worth it for that guitar...then I truly will have a custom Charvel...which is what I've wanted for a long time anyway.
Thanks for reading my long post. I'd love to hear your comments....and I'd especially love to hear from those of you who know floyds..how to set them up...and those of you who have upgraded to the brass/titanium blocks.
Look forward to hearing from you.
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