Blocking the trem for dives only?(better,more solid tone?)

RG player · #1 09-16-2002, 01:22 PM

Does this mod improve the actual tone of RG guitars?
I like the fact that it does help bent notes be more accurate and that tuning is much easier,but i am also concerned about the overall tone?
EVH swears that by having the base of the trem sit or come into contact with the body improves the tone?

**jemsite** · #2 09-16-2002, 01:29 PM

welcome to the forum.

tone changes would be about zero. Playability changes would be significant. It all depends what you want in the axe.

Blocking might not 100% stop the bend problem, that unless you block it very tight. The firmer the springs, the more stable, but useless the trem really becomes. At what point does a hardtail make more sense?

BTW - i would go with what *you* like, not what EVH says... for example his best tone was 20 years ago with non-locking trem guitars unlike what he's ever endorsed... glen

AdamBilz · #3 09-16-2002, 01:39 PM

[quote]Blocking might not 100% stop the bend problem, that unless you block it very tight. The firmer the springs, the more stable, but useless the trem really becomes. At what point does a hardtail make more sense?

When did Yoda join the forum? Good your advice is, though

RG player · #4 09-16-2002, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemsite

welcome to the forum.

tone changes would be about zero. Playability changes would be significant. It all depends what you want in the axe.

Blocking might not 100% stop the bend problem, that unless you block it very tight. The firmer the springs, the more stable, but useless the trem really becomes. At what point does a hardtail make more sense?

BTW - i would go with what *you* like, not what EVH says... for example his best tone was 20 years ago with non-locking trem guitars unlike what he's ever endorsed... glen

Unfortunately i like his old tone

And want to get as clost to it as possible with a RG

You said that there is NO difference in the actual tone though?
I would think that by blocking it,the tone would resonate more? but this is why i ask?

MidnightFlamed · #5 09-16-2002, 03:29 PM

I wouldn't think it'd do all that much, even if it did slightly change the tone. I'd think pickup and amp choice are gonna be the biggest contributors to nailing EVH by far... Just my two cents.

sniperfrommars1 · #6 09-16-2002, 04:08 PM

nailing evh tone is in the hands mostly

. He basically goes for this number of things. He uses itty bitty small frets, Non floating floyd trems, he bolts his pickups to the body, and he likes as little in his signal chain as possible, and he reaLly uses very little gain. I disagree with glenn on a few points here though. Evh's modern tone is BETTER. lol Listen to respect the wind there is no way he could have done that 20 years ago and sound half as good.

rty13ibz98 · #7 09-16-2002, 11:35 PM

this is becoming and EVH thread. hehe, i don't like blocking, but its the only way to get more chicken picking out of a floyded axe. i personally have guitars just for that, but not everyone has that luxury. i personally love EVH's tones from every album with the least going to 5150 and ou812. **** was great, but NEW eddie. i absolutely love VH1, but balance has the best tones to date...as well as eddie's best lead work, taste and phrasing wise. aftershock is amazing as is seventh seal. plus having owned and loved several 5150s at one time, i have a connection to them. i feel the best way to get EVH tone is with the hands first, then the amp. although i didn't use his settings, the amp is pretty key and well as pickups. guitar woods have different characteristices, but their tones are shaped by the pickups. i get EVH tones thru almost all my axes...all the hum ones. also...a key ingredient regardless of body wood is mainly this...a maple neck. EVH has a high mid prescence that rosewood and ebony can't get. a certain snap to the attack.

rich

sniperfrommars1 · #8 09-16-2002, 11:53 PM

Yeah. His tone has very little fuzz to it and a nice smooth clean breakup. Although it may not be all that popular here (Whoever says this isnt a steve vai guitar site is on crack). His attack is so important. He often uses his middle first finger, and thumb to hold the pick, and he arches his wrist really sharply when he trem pics, instead of balancing on the guitar body like alot of us do. Also has about a quarter inch of play in his vibrato bar so he can hold it while he picks. hes an odd cat Ill give him that

VOLTAGE · #9 09-24-2002, 11:46 AM

nailing the old evh tone?(Hahahahaha!) dont even bother unless you have his old gear! for a ballpark version a paf pickup gets you closer.
anyway blocking the trem does this,
1.it makes the bridge more stable which in return gets more vibrations to the body.
2.It makes tuning much less a hassle,no more break a string and the whole axe goes out!
3.allows you to de-tune one string (ala unchained) and have the rest stay in tune.
4.makes palm muting a lot more stable so that when you rest your palm on the bridge it will not move at all.
I think this is a personal preference,i do block mine so that i can still dive pitch,i use a piece of hard maple in the cavity so the block rest;s against the wood, i have used both floating a semi-blocked and the latter is better for me!