Tremolo block
The solid metal block beneath the tremolo baseplate, into which the springs are hooked and through which the strings pass.
The block is the mass at the heart of a tremolo system and is usually described by its thickness: a full-depth block adds sustain and low end, while a thin one gives a brighter, more quacky tone. The strings anchor in the block and the springs pull on it, so all the energy of the tremolo passes through this piece of metal. Replacing a standard block with a heavier one is one of the classic upgrades on a Stratocaster-style guitar.
Example: A guitar whose tremolo was upgraded with a thicker brass block for more sustain has had its tremolo block changed.
See also
Related
- PageTremolo cavity
- PageTremolo spring
- PageSustain
- PageAction
- PageArchtop
- PageB-Bender
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley