Gotoh 510 Tremolo: zinc vs steel block

[tucky]

Anyone owned both with a Strat. Unfortunately Gotoh won't let you buy the block separately so I can't try both without buying two complete tremolo systems

I currently have a Callaham with a steel block which is good but can be a little bright on my guitar as it is a maple neck strat. But switching to the Gotoh I don't want to go with the zinc block if it is going to be dull sounding.

[EADGBE]

Just a guess. Steel will be a tad brighter with a little more sustain than the zinc because it's stiffer and weighs a little more.

[tone?]

get an all Brass block for the Callaham if the steel one is has is too bright


Killer Guitar parts has em, so does Floyd upgrades and I think Glendale has all brass blocks

I LOVE the sound of a brass block with an all steel base plate and saddles

EBMM does it

[tucky]

bump for any more opinions

[XmasTree]

guitarfetish.com

they make a bunch of aftermarket blocks - cheap

i don't know if you need USA or MIM though.......

**i just checked. they have BOTH USA and Import size brass blocks for $25
good deal

[LReese]

Just my $.015...

If the Callaham is too bright, sell it and get a Gotoh or Fender Vintage trem. My experience is that either is not as bright as the Callaham.

I think the 510 Steel sounds better to my ears than the Vintage trem bridge, but you might need to do a little alteration around the arm mechanism area to fit the 510 which you might object to.

I've never experienced the Zinc block, but have heard it can sound good on the right guitar.

[Eagle1]

The zinc blocks that Gotoh make are liquid poured not sintered so they sound good.
The string tension is also less on the zinc option because the ball ends of the strings are held a lot closer to the plate in this block . The Gotoh CRS block is designed to be like a vintage Fender block with shallow drilled holes.
Both good but different.

[tucky]

Originally Posted by Eagle1

The zinc blocks that Gotoh make are liquid poured not sintered so they sound good.
The string tension is also less on the zinc option because the ball ends of the strings are held a lot closer to the plate in this block . The Gotoh CRS block is designed to be like a vintage Fender block with shallow drilled holes.
Both good but different.

I saw from the Gotoh parts catalog that the zinc block is drilled so the strings don't touch the top of the string holes but their first point of contact is the bridge saddles. This may be a good thing. And I know Jim Tyler prefers them for his guitars.

For a alder strat with full maple neck maybe zinc is the way to go to lessen the brightness.

Have you had any direct experience with these blocks Eagle1?

Is the CRS Gotoh block as bright as the Callaham?

Maybe a brass replacement may also be a good option?

[Ahess86]

I have both and have tried them on several different guitars, I usually prefer the zinc but steel sounds more vintage strat. FWIW I was able to order the steel block separately from allparts, call them up and ask.

[Eagle1]

Brighter but not as bright as the Callaham,and yes I've fitted lots of both models.
I personally don't like the EQ curve of brass on a strat trem.

[jzgtrguy]

Originally Posted by tucky

I saw from the Gotoh parts catalog that the zinc block is drilled so the strings don't touch the top of the string holes but their first point of contact is the bridge saddles. This may be a good thing. And I know Jim Tyler prefers them for his guitars.

For a alder strat with full maple neck maybe zinc is the way to go to lessen the brightness.

Have you had any direct experience with these blocks Eagle1?

Is the CRS Gotoh block as bright as the Callaham?

Maybe a brass replacement may also be a good option?

I have an Xotic XS-1 with the Zinc block. I experience exactly what you describe. Because the ball ends of the strings slot in up by the plate the guitar has less tension and staying in tune amazingly well. I think the guitar sounds great. I've still been curious about brass blocks thought but I want one that is drilled out so the ball ends slot in up by the plate like the zinc block does.

[burningyen]

Originally Posted by LReese

I think the 510 Steel sounds better to my ears than the Vintage trem bridge, but you might need to do a little alteration around the arm mechanism area to fit the 510 which you might object to.

I've never experienced the Zinc block, but have heard it can sound good on the right guitar.

So the rout alteration is only necessary for the steel block models (510TS), not the zinc block models (510T)? If it's necessary for both, how much alteration are we talking about, and where?

[LReese]

Depends on the guitar - I got away with just scraping the paint off on one, the other needed about a millimeter. I think Zinc and Steel use the same plate (please correct if wrong). The alteration is on the jack side of the route on top.

Originally Posted by burningyen

So the rout alteration is only necessary for the steel block models (510TS), not the zinc block models (510T)? If it's necessary for both, how much alteration are we talking about, and where?

[carderoni]

Originally Posted by XmasTree

guitarfetish.com

they make a bunch of aftermarket blocks - cheap

i don't know if you need USA or MIM though.......

**i just checked. they have BOTH USA and Import size brass blocks for $25
good deal

I swapped the stock zinc block on a MIM with a steel one from GFS before. Perfect fit, added a noticeable bit of sustain and life to the guitar but nothing world changing. That's been my experience going from zinc to steel blocks regardless of manufacturer. The brightness mentioned by others could also be considered good ol' Strat jangliness, just more of it.

[VaughnC]

I have yet to have a Strat where a zinc block sounded better (to my ears) than a cold rolled steel block. Pressed powder steel blocks seem hit and miss. Brass I haven't tried yet as cold rolled steel sounds excellent to me...so I saw no need to look elsewhere. But, strangely enough, one of my Strats did tonally improve when I replaced a Callaham trem with a new, gold plated, Fender vintage reissue trem...so sometimes you never know .