[pulkit]

Does Vai's EVO have stock or brass block?

 

[IbanezFreak777]

He has SOLID gold

 

[pulkit]

Funny response. Hahahahahaha.
Now what is the truth?

 

[CosmicDebris]

http://www.vai.com/minisites/EVO/images/large_images/hrdwre_LRG03.jpg

looks stock block.

 

[pulkit]

Wow that's awesome.
I guess I better not upgrade mine to brass like everyone is trying to.
I mean if Steve is not doing it I guess the brass thing is all bull****?

 

[webmaestro]

Wow that's awesome.
I guess I better not upgrade mine to brass like everyone is trying to.
I mean if Steve is not doing it I guess the brass thing is all bull****?

I don't think it's bull, but definitely a matter of taste. When you put one of those big blocks in there, you gain a little in the tone department, but lose some trem mobility. Depends on what is more important to you. If you don't do much heavy tremolo work, then adding a brass block might be a good option for you.

Considering Vai's technique... where he makes HEAVY ass use of the trem... I can totally understand why he'd stick with stock. The block would be hitting the body every time he did one of his heavy pulls/dives.

 

[jono]

I don't think it's bull, but definitely a matter of taste. When you put one of those big blocks in there, you gain a little in the tone department, but lose some trem mobility. Depends on what is more important to you. If you don't do much heavy tremolo work, then adding a brass block might be a good option for you.

Considering Vai's technique... where he makes HEAVY ass use of the trem... I can totally understand why he'd stick with stock. The block would be hitting the body every time he did one of his heavy pulls/dives.

I'll go a step further, you don't "gain" any tone you just change it, whether you think it's for better or worse is a separate matter. Personally I don't like these brass big blocks, I find there's very little difference and what the actually is, takes the tone of a superstrat away from its normal punchy tonality and mutes it somewhat rather than improves it. I can see why Vai wouldn't change on several levels.

 

[Swirltop]

IMHO the brass blocks take away the highs and bring in a lot of mud to a distorted tone, clean tones sound a bit fuller, but is that really why you bought your RG/Jem?

 

[pulkit]

I know some genius finally decided to make these brass blocks taper like the stock ones.
Regardless, I'll stick to stock.

 

[GUITARMAGEDDON]

I would have thought his was made from the stuff that fell at Roswell or moon rock or something..

 

[satch_jr]

it would be great to have the feeling from people having put big blocks into their Ibanez to get other opinions. What I read up to now was positive so I'm guessing if this is really usefull or not?

 

[OBIE Rudys Studio]

I had an FGM 400- and the brass block helped the sustain and tone immensely!

 

[Kyle am I]

Steve changed a lot of things on evo - the neck, the bridge pup, some electronics stuff, straps and stuff. I wouldn't be suprised if he started changing trems and blocks and such.

 

[fwd0120]

The all about Evo thing is pretty outdated. I'm pretty certain I heard about SSV trying them, but of course, he may have not kept it - I'm not sure the difference it really makes to the guitar...

 

[Lin-Fo]

I once held Evo and, being that guy, actually looked under the trem plate at an EVO Experience when he came to Richmond and it was the normal edge tremolo block. That being said I once bought a '99 UV777BK that had a brass block installed and that guitar would not stop sustaining a note even if I wanted it too! When I bought my '91 UV777GR the previous owner included a brass block that he had meant to upgrade the LoPro too but never got around to doing, and I've been debating doing since I bought it.

 

[Kyle am I]

Does anybody have any detailed pictures of FLO?

 

[Drew]

Wow that's awesome.
I guess I better not upgrade mine to brass like everyone is trying to.
I mean if Steve is not doing it I guess the brass thing is all bull****?

Plenty of other guys get great tone other than Steve.

I have a brass block on the OFR7 in my PWH (it's clearly nowhere CLOSE to stock). IT definitely made a difference in tone - stronger midrange, for one, and maybe a little more sustain. Whether or not that's an IMPROVEMENT is totally a matter of taste, but I'll stay that my UV is a great sounding guitar, it was before the block, it still is after.

I kind of want to throw one in my Strat too, but it hasn't been urgent...