Why Block A Tremolo On A Guitar?

Why Block A Tremolo On A Guitar?

How to "Deck" Or Block A Tremolo On An Electric Guitar?

Updated on April 3, 2018

Haywire Double Fat Plus in Antique White with Blocked Tremolo

Floating Tremolos Equal Out of Tune Guitars.

After playing a Guitar with a blocked tremolo-you'll love it! Why? Well simply put-if your not playing a guitar with an advanced system like the Floyd Rose Tremolo then chances are it's the 70 year old Fender floating tremolo bridge technology your using. So, why will you love playing a guitar with a blocked trem? You'll be in tune more of the time and no one in the band will give you a hard time anymore!
Problems with a “Floating Tremolo Bar” are as follows:
1-Strings almost never return to "zero" after a dive bomb.
2-If one string breaks, the rest of strings go out of tune because of tension change.
3-Intonation is less inaccurate and takes much longer to adjust.
4-Bending just “One String” will cause other strings to go out of tune.
5-Other musicians playing with you most likely will not be in tune with you.

How do we block a trem in the Custom Shop and why?

Blocking the tremolo requires pulling of the inertia block with the tremolo springs closer to the back wall of the trem cavity to prevent it from moving. It is accomplished by tightening the screws at the “claw” and it pulls the springs tight. This makes the bridge behave more like a hard tail bridge, eliminating common headaches. Remember this unit design has not changed since the 1940’s however players have changed!
It’s much easier to decipher an out of tune guitar in these technical times with the advent of our ”electronic tuners” not around when the tremolos were invented.For those who are purists and want to keep their instruments in “collectible” condition then have no fear. The process is not permanent. Eric Clapton blocks all of his guitars and he's got some real vintage models.

The electric guitar ‘Floating” trem bridge is only “blocked” when the screws are tightened under the tremolo cover plate in the back of the guitar body. If done properly the springs will be so tight that the trem will not move thereby rendering it blocked. The re-sale value is much better if you don’t physically change anything that can’t be reversed since lots of players still want a trem or whammy bar on their guitars. Fortunately there is another benefit. There is more sustain without the floating tremolo. If it’s blocked and it stays in perfect tune and it’s not permanent or invasive to your instrument and it’s completely reversible-then what’s not to like about it? Go ahead and block your trem!

Ordering From Haywire Custom Guitars

If you would like to order this or any other custom guitar, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your guitar needs. 

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"Create a Mood" With A Good Guitar Setup!

 Q: How Do I Know I Have A Good Guitar Setup?

 A: There should be no need to alter your playing technique as you move around on your guitar. 

A pro guitar neck set-up feels great and is consistent all the way up the neck and promotes effortless playing. It's almost impossible to get a good set-up when you buy off the rack in a music store. WHY? Simply because they don't know who is going to buy it and setup requirements are different for every player, so they do nothing. OK, I get it and fully understand why they do that. However they usually don't have a good setup tech on staff the very day you walk in. Know what you want! Take some ownership of knowing what you need to play well.
Then pursue it vigorously.

  A **Custom** guitar set up is what you want and is routinely done in The Haywire Custom Shop to give players maximum breadth and depth of hand freedom to play how they want to play when playing at their best.

The Custom guitar shop is where to go. It's not really a players responsibility to know how to do a setup, be he needs to know himself and his playing well enough to be able to describe the feel and know when he feels it. Much like music itself. Your setup should, "Create a Mood" for you.  We take pride, time and care in our set up work so the player is very pleased and surprised with the feel, action and performance of our very fine instrument setups-before he leaves the shop.
No waiting, we do it right away and hand it back over to the player for approval before he or she leaves. Then we guarantee it.  Sometimes finding your setup requires time, testing and patience especially if you are a new player. You know something is wrong, but can't verbalize it in an discerning manner. In addition to callouses, good setups are a necessary roadblock to get familiar with and loving playing a guitar.  Great guitar feel needs to be chased down until it's caught. Find your setup. Know what you need. Relay it properly. Have it done. Begin playing much better.

We encourage you to write us and let us know what you think about setups. Guitars are set up, intoned perfectly so any note or chord is in tune anywhere on the neck at a bare minimum.  In a great one-the FRETS will also feel smooth, silky and you'll feel the emanation of great tone because they have been leveled, re-crowned and polished. The fret now becomes a great base for the notes. The truss rod and neck angle are in synergy for that particular guitar because each guitar requires it's own custom setup as they are all different, just like people. Guitars need us to pay specific attention to their idiosyncrasies as instruments and don't want us to judge them by just how they look but how they CAN play if you help find their, "Sweet-spots"..... Find your Guitars potential. Find the sweet-spot, or let a good tech do it. Then play great!

 Install a new set of your favorite strings for your feel, before judging any newly setup guitar. In the shop, guitars have been played and thoroughly tested at the Haywire Custom Shop, South Carolina. When properly set up an instrument there is no need to alter your technique as you move around on your guitar.  Is your action the same on the 12fth fret as on the 1st fret?

Your neck set up must feel comfortable and consistent all the way up the neck for you to get comfortable with your best playing. You absolutely need to be pleased, surprised and very comfortable with the feel, action and performance of your instrument setup.  Are you thrilled with it?  You should be.  Find out what you're missing and go get a great setup for your guitar to match your style,playing comfort and level of expertise.  Talk to your tech today!                  https://www.haywirecustomguitars.com/buy-it-now/
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This Is An Article About Guitar Shims For Perfect Neck Matching And Alignment

Q:  Is there a problem with my neck pocket I see something in there?

 A: No problem there. It's a shim often used by Haywire, Luthiers and techs for years.
It is necessary in achieving very low action. It's part of the correct process in guitar building, setups or perfect neck matching and alignment.
 specifically:
If you'd like to learn more about the guitar building process
just go to HaywireCustomGuitars.com and click on BLOG for over 100 articles here:
http://www.haywirecustomguitars.com/blog.html

What is the purpose of a neck shim for a guitar?

A shim when referring to guitar builds is for a thin spacer with specific measurement particular to one guitar only. A shim for one guitar is not interchangeable with another guitar.
The standard terminology used by luthiers for a thin wedge under a bolt-on neck is a shim.

What is the purpose of a neck shim?
To adjust the angle or pitch of the neck.

Why would you need to adjust the angle or pitch of the neck?

Let’s say you replace the neck on your guitar. You install it, level the frets, re-crown, set the neck on all 4 axis, then add the two "E" strings clamp it, adjust your truss rod for proper bow, and then if notice that the height of the strings is high. You also notice that no matter how low you adjust the
saddles, the strings are still sitting way too high above the frets.It’s at that point you
need a neck shim to change the angle so you can adjust strings to your desired string height. Now, it's time measure for a shim. It's like visiting a tailor for a final fitting.

Where is a shim placed?

Under the heel of a bolt-on neck at the bottom or at the edge of the neck pocket. It's called a reverse shim at the other end of the pocket.

What can be used for shim material?

There’s a long list of materials that could be used. You could use a guitar pick, a thin piece of veneer, a business card,  a thin sheet of metal, however: HVAC silver sealing tape is one of the best choices. It is preferable to use a material that can but cut to fit across the width of the neck easily, and/or layered and won't degrade with age. Shims are also sold by Fender and Stewart-MacDonald.

Is it always required to use a neck shim whenever fitting a new bolt-on neck?

No. If after installing the neck and adjusting the truss rod you see
better action possible and you can set your action with string height better then use a shim.

You will need one, because the likelihood of a new bolt-on neck fitting exactly right just doesn’t happen. It's up to us to "make it happen".

Why is a neck shim so often needed for new neck installations?

Because wood is unpredictable in how it will settle in once installed.
No two necks fit exactly the same on a body.


As long as the bolt-on neck is installed properly and has a
 good, snug fit, the shim does not affect sound whatsoever.

Is it true some builders purposely put in a shim gap for tonal purposes?

Some builders do believe that the gap created by a shim actually adds in a
 special tonal quality and keeps the angle correct all in one operation.
                                      Rick Mariner-Haywire Custom Guitars, Custom Shop

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