Andy Eagle ( Guitar repair tech for 30 years )

[HomespunEffects]

Do you prefer Tusq, bone, or something else (buffalo horn, mother of pearl, brass...) for nut material?

And to piggy back on that question, what do you think of the Fender roller nuts?

 

[Eagle]

Do you prefer Tusq, bone, or something else (buffalo horn, mother of pearl, brass...) for nut material?

Bone but sometimes it can be sticky and you have to try another piece. Tusq and graphite are great but they wear out quickly.

 

[Eagle]

And to piggy back on that question, what do you think of the Fender roller nuts?

The LSR nut is very good but I would not modify a neck to take one . I can get the same performance from a regular bone nut.

 

[OrganicZed]

Bone but sometimes it can be sticky and you have to try another piece. Tusq and graphite are great but they wear out quickly.

Thanks! Is there a specific first fret action height you aim for or do you dial in slot depth by feel?

 

[Eagle]

Thanks! Is there a specific first fret action height you aim for or do you dial in slot depth by feel?

Fret the guitar on the second fret and you need to see light over the first. As small as you like but something.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

It the best one I have found. Not a fan a Y leads though.

You should look at the Musicomlab Parallelizer. By far the best sounding mixer I've found and it's extremely versatile. 3 channels, stereo ins/outs, MIDI etc.

 

[Eagle]

You should look at the Musicomlab Parallelizer. By far the best sounding mixer I've found and it's extremely versatile. 3 channels, stereo ins/outs, MIDI etc.

Thanks I will check it out.

 

[la szum]

Hi Andy,

Any thoughts on the ability to maximize a Floyd Rose 1000 Tremolo? Upgrade the block, saddles,
or springs?

Not having any issues currently. Just looking to maximize a couple of Charvels that have the 1000
on them from the Factory.

 

[Eagle]

Hi Andy,

Any thoughts on the ability to maximize a Floyd Rose 1000 Tremolo? Upgrade the block, saddles,
or springs?

Not having any issues currently. Just looking to maximize a couple of Charvels that have the 1000
on them from the Factory.

They have improved a lot over the years. They generally only need a new arm with no play but only if it’s got play now. The block is not really an issue unless it’s the early cast version.
I have only swapped the arm mech on my Charvel

 

[la szum]

Thanks!


So, the Tungsten/Titanium Trem Block thing is not so much of a thing??

I may still bling out mine for the fun of it.

 

[Eagle]

Thanks!


So, the Tungsten/Titanium Trem Block thing is not so much of a thing??

I may still bling out mine for the fun of it.

You don’t need too. The different blocks are just different rarely any better.

 

[la szum]

Now I have to decide how much my curiosity is worth.

Have done this dance with traditional Strats before, so I should know the ending.

 

[Stone]

Tone is in the Trem Block ??

 

[Chocol8]

Tone is in the Trem Block ??

It is a significant mass closely coupled to the vibrating strings so…

 

[Eagle]

Tone is in the Trem Block ??

Not unless there is something seriously wrong with the one already there.

 

[la szum]

More mass and/or a different material will not alter resonance and/or sustain?

 

[Chocol8]

More mass and/or a different material will not alter resonance and/or sustain?

If there is one thing we can safely rely on it is that Leo Fender didn’t spend a dime putting trem blocks in there if they didn’t do anything that was obvious compared to without it! He didn’t like wasting money where he didn’t think it mattered.

You could definitely make a “block” out of a softer material that absorbs and dampens vibration and get a guitar with very little sustain to prove the point.

 

[Eagle]

If there is one thing we can safely rely on it is that Leo Fender didn’t spend a dime putting trem blocks in there if they didn’t do anything that was obvious compared to without it! He didn’t like wasting money where he didn’t think it mattered.

You could definitely make a “block” out of a softer material that absorbs and dampens vibration and get a guitar with very little sustain to prove the point.

Yes it makes a difference but the starting block needs to be pretty bad before the common replacement ones are a noticeable improvement.
Typical fender USA or Floyd original has a quality block in them.

 

[Chocol8]

Yes it makes a difference but the starting block needs to be pretty bad before the common replacement ones are a noticeable improvement.
Typical fender USA or Floyd original has a quality block in them.

That I agree with. If you have a cheap pot metal import it could be pretty noticeable, but replacing one brand of steel with another won’t do much except lighten your wallet.

 

[la szum]

Well, it's a really nice guitar, and fun to play. Just wondered about squeezing
another 1.67% of fun out of it.

Any thoughts on the annoying mechanical resonances that seem to increase with a
Floyd, @Eagle over a fixed bridge, or a traditional Strat Trem?

I saw this recent Tom Buckovac Video and was like, "Yup. It's true for me, too."



Timestamped.