Big Blocked my So Cal

[DHardmanJr]

I decided to put one of the Big Block brass sustain blocks on my So Cal. Why? Well, I felt that when playing north of the 12th fret the sustain just wasn't as good as my guitars with rosewood or ebony fretboards. I had seen rave reviews of these brass Big Blocks, so gave it a shot.

Here's the one I bought: http://floydupgrades.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=184

The verdict: It does give the guitar slightly more sustain. It does change the sound of the guitar. Even unplugged, the sound was deeper/fuller. Overall I like the new sound. The negative is that it took some of the spank/bark out of the guitar to my ears. I was going to record it before and after to give you an A/B, but I was too excited to install the Big Block.

In terms of range of the Floyd, there was no practical impact on the ability to dive or pull up. The block is a little thicker, so it does limit the pull back range slightly, but there's still plenty of pull back range.

Doing this experiment makes me think that things that give sustain to a guitar like neck-through or the bigger sustain block also darken the sound and take away the spank/bark. Maybe that's why some say they like bolt-ons for the spank/bark and neck-throughs for sustain. I know some will say that bolt-ons can sustain just as well as neck-throughs, but that has not been my experience.

[ADR]

Dave: Which size/style did you get? Can we put a longer one on our So-Cal's? being that it's not a recessed Floyd.
Did you get the new "L" type? I know that on my Kahler,the "blk steel rollers" sound different than the brass ones. Is the block on the So-Cal brass or steel?
I was planning on upgrading the So-Cal as well.Maybe I'll get the "Titanium Blk" :idea:

[toejam]

Doing this experiment makes me think that things that give sustain to a guitar like neck-through or the bigger sustain block also darken the sound and take away the spank/bark. Maybe that's why some say they like bolt-ons for the spank/bark and neck-throughs for sustain. I know some will say that bolt-ons can sustain just as well as neck-throughs, but that has not been my experience.

A maple neck-thru should actually give a little more brightness than a bolt-on, since it goes all the way through the body.

[DHardmanJr]

Did you get the new "L" type?

I got the brass "L" type, 37mm. It was only $6 more and the only downside I can see to the extra bit that makes it into an "L" is it would be hard to adjust the trem arm allen wrench screw without essentially removing the Floyd.

The titanium one is so much more expensive than the brass one - like 5x. I'd be curious to see if it is 5x better sounding. Seems like the brass one would give the best bang for the buck.

[DHardmanJr]

A maple neck-thru should actually give a little more brightness than a bolt-on, since it goes all the way through the body.

That would be an interesting combo.

[savage]

Here's the one I bought: http://floydupgrades.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=184

The negative is that it took some of the spank/bark out of the guitar to my ears.

trust me and just put in some duncans to get back those qualities
dimarzio's are NOT known for these traits anyway

[Bryan]

I bought their titanium one for my PC-1. They always run them on ebay and I got mine for $100!!! I haven't had a chance to install it so I'm glad to hear it'll make a difference when I get to it.

[Newc]

It's not just the mass that darkens the tone, it's the material density. Denser materials like steel will pass-along the incoming vibrations more intensely than softer materials like brass.

My Halford WRMG has tons more sustain due to the 140+ metal spikes mounted on the body. As well, since most of them are nickel-plated brass, the tone is darker.

[metalchurch79]

It's not just the mass that darkens the tone, it's the material density. Denser materials like steel will pass-along the incoming vibrations more intensely than softer materials like brass.

My Halford WRMG has tons more sustain due to the 140+ metal spikes mounted on the body. As well, since most of them are nickel-plated brass, the tone is darker.

Very true indeed, the material density has a 'voice' also.
p.s. NewC, what is a Halford WRMG? is it something you made or a 'Metal Mike' sig?

[toejam]

p.s. NewC, what is a Halford WRMG? is it something you made or a 'Metal Mike' sig?

That would be a Warrior MG body I sold to him. It used to be plain black when I owned it (and I had a PS-4 neck on it).


Newc doctored it up with red makeup and spikes. :ROTF:

[metalchurch79]

Nothing wrong with that Warrior! How did you attach the studs to the guitar? I always wanted to make a K.K.Downing Hamer 'mini-v'. Like the Red one he had with the metal studs around the perimeter.

Joe, I like that Jackson LesPaul, tell me more about that, is it a Custom Shop, or a limited run? what year etc....
I know Charvel made an Import 'Paul with satin Silver hardware. Matter of fact there was a few on the 'bay recently.
Thanks

[toejam]

Nothing wrong with that Warrior! How did you attach the studs to the guitar? I always wanted to make a K.K.Downing Hamer 'mini-v'. Like the Red one he had with the metal studs around the perimeter.

Joe, I like that Jackson LesPaul, tell me more about that, is it a Custom Shop, or a limited run? what year etc....
I know Charvel made an Import 'Paul with satin Silver hardware. Matter of fact there was a few on the 'bay recently.
Thanks

That is a JJP (Jackson Junior Paul). It's a downsized, bolt-on, Dinky Les Paul with a painted neck. They were in production in '97. http://audiozone.dk/cm/displayimage.php?album=54&pos=3
I bought it from someone here on this forum, then traded it to someone here, then he sold it on ebay to someone else from here. I think it's passed through the hands of a few other guys on this board before that. It played and sounded great, though!

[Trem]

That would be a Warrior MG body I sold to him. It used to be plain black when I owned it (and I had a PS-4 neck on it).


Newc doctored it up with red makeup and spikes. :ROTF:

The most CVLT! Axe Ever

[Newc]

Nothing wrong with that Warrior! How did you attach the studs to the guitar? I always wanted to make a K.K.Downing Hamer 'mini-v'. Like the Red one he had with the metal studs around the perimeter.

That's exactly what inspired me to do this. I started off just planning to outline the body in pyramids like KK's V, but laid them all over the surface and liked the look, so I went for full-coverage. Plus, with the black background, it does remind one of Rob Halford's stage outfits.

As for how I did it:

I took a 1/2" wood dowel about 5" long and drilled a recess into one end with a 3/4" drill bit. Just deep enough to fit the pyramids down to the little tangs on the end.

I used that to hold the pyramid's shape and then hammered them directly into the surface. The domes were easier since they were rounded like the recess in the dowel.

For the spikes, which are meant to be screw-mounted on things, I drilled holes into the body and mounted them on dowels (1/8" I think - same width as the screws).

Joe, I like that Jackson LesPaul, tell me more about that, is it a Custom Shop, or a limited run? what year etc....
I know Charvel made an Import 'Paul with satin Silver hardware. Matter of fact there was a few on the 'bay recently.
Thanks

I had one of those Charvel Les Pauls (the Silver) and they are very good guitars. Wish I woulda kept it.

[metalchurch79]

Yeah that Les Paul is sweet for sure, but it's backwards!
I always loved Jacksons copies of the Gibson shapes. To me they seems more refined, and I wouldn't feel like a traitor and jumped ship. It's such a shame that Gibson/Fender are at war with each other about copyrights and such.

I mean, how much impact would a limited run make on the other companies' production and profit? Common buyers probably aren't even aware of their existance anyway. Oh well...

And Newc, that is just amazing what you did to the Warrior! I love it man! I was gonna take a JS30 Rhoads and hack the long wing off to make a Mini-V, but never got around to it. Maybe this winter when boredom sets in

All hail the Priest!