Cheap trem block - lesson learned

[Kiper]

I bought my first PRS last December when they were having the big sale. I bought a SE Custom 24 Quilt which was a new model at the time. I played it in store and really fell in love with it. A combination of the sound, resonance and looks really struck me. I also couldn't resist that beautiful ebony board.

Soon after I brought it home, that same week I ordered locking tuners, new pickups and a Musiclily brass block. Initially I though everything was great, a big upgrade. The tuners certainly look a lot better and are great for string changes. The pickups I settled on sounds great in this guitar (DiMarzio Illuminator set). The block looked great, was heavy, and it was a good fit.

It wasn't long before I quickly fell out of love with this guitar. It sat in my rack mostly unplayed and I even put it up for sale a couple weeks ago. The guitar sounded kinda awful acoustically, had weird (bad) overtones, was way too bright in general and the fretted G note at the 23th fret of the G string was way louder than other notes for some reason.

Just just a couple days ago, I was thinking about this guitar, puzzled as to why I loved it so much in the beginning and at the store. I decided to reverse the trem block and install the original again just to see and sure enough, it changed everything. The tone acoustically is really balanced now, no weird overtones. I'm really enjoying it again.

Honestly I'm really surprised. I know this was a cheap block, but it's a solid piece of metal. No moving parts, well machined. It was a solid fit once installed (I did have to create countersink holes in the block for the screws). What could possibly be different about this block vs a Mann made one? I don't know, but clearly trem blocks make a big difference good or bad.

Anyway, I'm not gonna change it again. The original block sounds excellent and I'm gonna leave it alone. Just thought I'd share this store for anyone who looks up reviews of these Musiclily blocks.

 

[d^rren]

I mean, the original cast zinc blocks are also what I would describe as a "cheap block" so it's not necessarily the right description.

Guitars are often more than the sum of their parts. And as tone chasers, we often try to fix things that aren't broken in search of that "next level" in our tone quest.

My philosophy is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." And even if I do "fix" a perceived issue, I always like to have the option to change things back.

I'm glad your block swap was totally reversible and you got your guitar's mojo back.

As far as why the block didn't sound good, the main thing I would guess is the mass of the block was creating peculiar resonance somewhere else in the guitar. (e.g. the wolf note on your G string)

There are several different alloys of brass, and if the alloy used and the exact dimensions were a little different, it could lead to a less-than-optimal result.

 

[TheCraftsman]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, that being said I loved my SE CU24-08 and still upgraded to a MannMade Trem (full not just block) and it’s awesome it brought the guitar alive for me. I don’t know the cost of the Musiclily blocks but I’d not hesitate to recommend a trem from JM

 

[SinSir]

John Mann is the only way to go

 

[Kiper]

Yeah, I believe it. I'm leaning towards not fixing what isn't broken. Plus, being in Canada, the MannMade bridge is like $300 CAD.

I do plan to block this trem soon with blocks of wood. I'm curious to see what kind of changes I experience from doing that.

 

[SinSir]

We look things and say to ourselves the words on paper read the same. Workmanship discussion aside, there's varying grades of materials and all is not equal. Rather it's worth it to you or not is up to the individual.

 

[TheCraftsman]

I’m based in Europe and the mannmade bridge probably cost me almost half of what I paid for the guitar with import taxes, but… for me… zero regrets.

 

[Broseph]

the manmade blocks are worth their price. I am always satisfied with them. Go for the steel block if you want increased acoustic sounds.

 

[TonyG]

Recently upgraded the trem on my SE Santana with a Musiclily one (In EU so Mannmade cost prohibitive) and found the opposite to the OP.
Improved stability and for me notable improvements in tone and sustain.
I did the whole trem so perhaps just replacing the brass block on the existing SE trem doesn’t work so well.

 

[Kiper]

Recently upgraded the trem on my SE Santana with a Musiclily one (In EU so Mannmade cost prohibitive) and found the opposite to the OP.
Improved stability and for me notable improvements in tone and sustain.
I did the whole trem so perhaps just replacing the brass block on the existing SE trem doesn’t work so well.

I believe it it. Could be something unique to my guitar that just didn't interact well with the block. Who knows.

 

[Kiper]

If I plan on blocking the term with wooden blocks, I wonder if a block upgrade to a MannMade would have a smaller effect in this case?

 

[Kiper]

Go for the steel block if you want increased acoustic sounds.

Didn't know there was a steel block option. That might be a better option for me.

 

[andy474x]

I’ve always thought the blocks in SE/S2 were considerably better than the ones in other budget guitars, for example the block in my early 00’s MIM strat was a toy, comparably. I don’t change anything out unless I change the whole bridge.

 

[Kiper]

I’ve always thought the blocks in SE/S2 were considerably better than the ones in other budget guitars, for example the block in my early 00’s MIM strat was a toy, comparably. I don’t change anything out unless I change the whole bridge.

Yeah, I'm on the fence about it. Like you, if I do it, I'll do the whole bridge.

 

[Kiper]

*** UPDATE ***

I have since bought the MannMade upgrade kit for the SE trem bridge. They had a sale over the weekend and they didn't have the full bridge assembly in stock so I picked up the upgrade kit (brass block, saddles, trem screws, springs).

I think it sounds better, hard to tell, but it's definitely not worse like the Musiclily brass block.

One thing though, is that the MM brass block actually rubs on the side wall of the trem cavity. So I'm going to have to do a bit of sanding in order for the bridge to float properly.

 

[Broseph]

*** UPDATE ***

I have since bought the MannMade upgrade kit for the SE trem bridge. They had a sale over the weekend and they didn't have the full bridge assembly in stock so I picked up the upgrade kit (brass block, saddles, trem screws, springs).

I think it sounds better, hard to tell, but it's definitely not worse like the Musiclily brass block.

One thing though, is that the MM brass block actually rubs on the side wall of the trem cavity. So I'm going to have to do a bit of sanding in order for the bridge to float properly.

Are the trem screws level? I’ve had plenty of PRS se and upgraded all the bridges. I can’t recall having this issue.

 

[Kiper]

Here are some pictures. I tried to capture how the block is tight against the cavity side wall on the treble side.

 

[Kiper]

@Broseph this is probably the picture that shows it best:

 

[SinSir]

@Broseph this is probably the picture that shows it best:

A backside shot showing the trem cavity would show the best.

 

[Kiper]

A backside shot showing the trem cavity would show the best.

I actually spent some time sanding the edge that was catching/rubbing and now it's perfect. But it was indeed leaning against the side.