Tone of Titanium vs Steel Strat Block Results

bluehugh2 · Oct 13, 2005

The trem block debate has raged on for quite some time, so I thought Id post the titanium vs. steel vs. the real 56 Strat comparison that Pete F. and I embarked on today. As a reference, we each own similar Suhr Classic Strats Petes is a swamp ash/maple Mary Kaye and mine is a 2-tone with the same woods. We have compared their glorious tones before so we were able to use Petes guitar as a reference once we had installed the titanium block in my 2-tone Suhr. It can be noted that my Suhr sounds a hair brighter, anyway, with the same steel blocks but they sound very, very similar. Anyway, I bought the DeTemple titanium block and installed it in the 2-tone. Now our Strats diverged from their common 1088/steel block original bridges. I like the way the ball ends of the strings sit where you can get at em when strings break. The titanium block was nicely machined as well. And about 4 oz lighter too! Now heres the tonal difference. The 2-tone with the titanium block became brighter with the change there was a shift in the frequency spectrum. It also seemed, if anything, not weaker (as might be expected), but slightly punchier, louder, and spankier too. So, even though we might have predicted a weaker sound, it just wasnt the case still rich tonally! Now for me, although I wouldnt call the change negative, the guitars total frequency response was shifted to the brighter side. But the Suhrs are so well balanced with the steel block that I found that I preferred the sound of the steel block on balance - a great fat and solid tone that is neither too bright nor too dark! Where I can see the titanium block working well would be to brighten up a Strat that might be a bit on the dark side. It would add clang and brightness it could work well. Now after all this, we plugged in the 56 Strat the real deal! To me, it was muddier that the Suhrs particularly on the neck pickup. The notch positions were definitely more chimey and aggressive on the Suhrs. The bridge position was nice and edgey on the 56 without being harsh and ice-pickey but the Suhrs have a great, almost Tele-like tone on the bridge pickup that I have come to love (its a little over-wound). I often use the tone control with the Suhr bridge pickup to tame it a little. Pete F. and I feel that the Suhrs are every bit as good as those vintage treasures thank goodness for John Suhr! So now to the basement to re-install the steel block on my Suhr Classic!!!

mule train · Oct 13, 2005

Cool, thanks for the results.
I was wondering about some of DeTemples claims ,the fossilized mastadon this and that ,titanium this...

I have heard his pick-ups are pretty evenly balanced and are very desireable.

v-verb · Oct 13, 2005

Save us from those crazy Canadians!!!

Hey Hugh - and where was my invite?

Strung Up · Oct 14, 2005

This was for a 1088? PM me if you're interested in selling it.
Thx

Pete Faragher · Oct 18, 2005

Originally posted by v-verb
Save us from those crazy Canadians!!!

Hey Hugh - and where was my invite?
Click to expand...

Sorry Nigel.......
I would have called you but we did this in the afternoon,,,,,and I know that would cut into your Jack Astor's time

Pete Faragher · Oct 18, 2005

Just to echo Hugh's thoughts.....I think we felt the DeTemple was a great upgrade for some Strats, just not the Suhrs. Also all our guitars are 50's style with maple necks. Probably rosewood board guitars would benefit more as they tend to be darker and more compressed to start with.
Kudos to DeTemple and Suhr

bluehugh2 · Oct 18, 2005

Nigel, Well you're always welcome at our tonefests in that dank T.O. basement that PF calls home.
But you have to get yourself a Suhr Classic! John Suhr has proven that lightning can strike twice(or EVERY time).
For me, it helps loosen the hold those vintage axes have - I'd rather take the Suhr to a gig than the vintage gear. Hey, if I can accomplish the same thing with a $2,000 piece of gear rather than a $12,000 antique - I'm there!
And the interesting thing is that I think the feel and tone and playability of the Suhr guitars is generally BETTER than the vintage pieces. Sure, I still love the vibe of my '65 Strat and '57 Esquire, but can you imagine the vibe of a Suhr Classic in 30 years!!!???

v-verb · Oct 18, 2005

You Guys! - I was just teasing - and yes I just came back from seeing my favorite ladies at Jack Astor's!

Cheers

Nigel

Strung Up · Oct 18, 2005

Originally posted by Pete Faragher
Just to echo Hugh's thoughts.....I think we felt the DeTemple was a great upgrade for some Strats, just not the Suhrs. Also all our guitars are 50's style with maple necks. Probably rosewood board guitars would benefit more as they tend to be darker and more compressed to start with.
Kudos to DeTemple and Suhr
Click to expand...

I've put Ti on 2 Ash/maple and 2 hollow mahog./Brazilian, and think ti improved all of them (all of them are boutique builders' Strats). In my opinion, to say they just make guitars brighter is overlooking about 3 other things they do to sound and playability. If you care to see another opinion, search for my review.

Pete Faragher · Oct 18, 2005

Originally posted by Strung Up
I've put Ti on 2 Ash/maple and 2 hollow mahog./Brazilian, and think ti improved all of them (all of them are boutique builders' Strats). In my opinion, to say they just make guitars brighter is overlooking about 3 other things they do to sound and playability. If you care to see another opinion, search for my review.
Click to expand...

I think Hugh did mention a few other benefits from the block other than the brightness boost. Hugh and I have differing likes in what we want from Strats. He likes more brightness and spank than I do. I like a more compressed, even, middy tone. For me, I can't imagine needing to use a DeTemple block. Except as I say, if I had a Strat that was seriously suffering in the definition dept. I did like the fact that the test guitar was lighter with the DeT block and I liked the definition that the notes had. Unlike Hugh I don't have an issue with the problems of changing a broken string with the standard Suhr block. But the test guitar ended up EXTREMELY bright to my ears. Like I said, in that particular guitar the con out weighed several pros.
Our test amp by the way was my Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature. Not a bright amp by any means. If you used a AC-30 or another inherently toppy amp, the brightness issue would be extrapolated. Which could be a good thing for those that like that sound. Just not me.

µ¿ z3®ø™ · Oct 27, 2005

not wanting to be left out of the "toronto" loop...
i have two of david schecter's early guitars (one w/o a schecter decal on the strat shaped headstock, it's THAT early) when he was into using exotic tropical rainforest hardwoods and lots of brass hardware. both have brass trem blocks and shedua bodies. they both sound very glassy, not in a bad way, but i have to be careful where i use the guitars. fits well in some circumstances, not so well in others.
i did at one point in time swap out the trem block for a stock fender steel one. it made the guitar darker and a bit more 'vintage sounding' (neither schecter attempts to copy the sound of a vintage strat) in that it sounded more like what a normal strat would sound like as opposed to the glassy late seventies/early eighties exotic wood/neck thru sounds like the early BC rich etc.. i ended up going back to the brass trem block 'cuz it made the guitar sound more complex harmonically. i get my vintage strat tones from my 'buddy holly' custom shop strat.
anywho, hello fellow t-dot gee-tar pickers.

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Tone of Titanium vs Steel Strat Block Results

bluehugh2 Gold Supporting Member

mule train Gold Supporting Member

v-verb Member

Strung Up Member

Pete Faragher Member

Pete Faragher Member

bluehugh2 Gold Supporting Member

v-verb Member

Strung Up Member

Pete Faragher Member

µ¿ z3®ø™ Member

Share This Page