Rock Socks Questions:
What are they made of?
Un-dyed, 100% Cotton material. Soft and gentle.
What if they don’t go all the way to the back of the guitar fork?
Simply take scissors and snip off the first 1/4 inch of the pouch ends - so they become a hollow tube - and then reposition the tubes so they sit where they need to sit to protect your guitar’s headstock.
How many do I use?
Use one pouch on each fork. A pack of 8 tubes will protect four wall hangers.
Can I use these with a regular stand-up type guitar stand?
Not really. They are made specifically for wall hangers.
Will these work with mechanical hangers that have moving tabs on the front?
They may not work with hangers that use the weight of the guitar to rotate small tabs in front of the headstock to prevent it from falling. Those hangers need some friction on the sides of the neck to work correctly and the socks can allow the guitar to slide and the tabs don’t move into place. It may work with your setup or it may not. There’s no way to tell. A guitar is unlikely to fall out of a wall hanger in the first place, so using them shouldn’t be a problem.
Tremendous Tone Block Questions:
How does it really work?
Tremendous Tone Blocks (TTBs) work because your guitar remembers the exact string tension it was under when the blocks were in place and it was in tune. All you have to do is get back to that same exact string tension with the blocks removed and the guitar will be in tune.
Will this method damage my Floyd Rose.
Absolutely not. The only caveat is care must be taken to use the proper size screwdriver when adjusting the claw spring screws so as not to damage the heads of the screws.
I used the method and the guitar is not in tune. What happened?
Most likely you simply made a mistake and you just need to go through the steps again. If the bridge came dislodged off the post when you changed the strings and it did not re-seat properly - this will cause problems. Check the bridge is properly seated and level on the posts and repeat the tuning procedure. Also check for other loose or worn hardware or cracks in the wood near the hardware and replace or repair as needed.
Can I use TTBs with a Khaler, Bigsby or Gretsch style tremolo?
NO - you can not. This kit is made for Stratocaster, PRS, Floyd Rose and other similar bridges with a metal tone block, springs and claw in the back cavity of the body. It will NOT work for surface-mounted tremolos or for tremolos that have an angled or slanted tone block in the back
I’ve done the procedure several times and my tuning is unstable. What gives?
There is most likely a mechanical problem with your guitar. You should consult a Guitar Tech to have them inspect your instrument. Cheaper guitars with Floyd Rose copy bridges made with low-quality metal can wear out after just a few years of playing. If you bought the guitar used it might need a new bridge or new posts to be brought back to proper specifications so it functions properly. Consult a qualified Guitar Tech.
Will this kit work for a Strat-style bridge?
Yes - it will. Follow the exact same procedure and just ignore the sections about fine tuners and locking the nut retainer screws.
Do I have to wait till I change my strings to use the kit?
No. You can use it whenever you need to get in tune. Follow the procedure but just loosen your strings instead of replacing them.
Does my Floyd Rose need lubrication?
No. Just keeping it clean and free of grime is all you need to do. If you have a vintage guitar that is starting to rust you might want to consider replacing the rusted hardware. Keep in mind that a Floyd Rose bridge’s knife edges and saddles can wear out after years of use - but lubrication will not help this.
Can I use the kit to permanently block the bridge off? (Hard-tail)
Absolutely - Just loosen the back claw springs 3 or 4 turns of each screw and then find the correct combination of blocks that keep the bridge base plate flat and level with the top of the guitar. Leave them in the back cavity between the tremolo block and the body and tune the guitar to pitch. The blocks will be held in place by the string tension. If they aren’t then loosen the back claw spring screws a little more until they stay in place. You’re done! Remember to remove the trem bar and store it away.
I have a non-Floyd Rose guitar and I blocked off my bridge with TTB’s but it still won’t stay in tune. Why?
It you have the cavity behind the metal tone block filled with wood and it's pressed in snugly tight, and the bridge is sitting flat/parallel with the guitar body and it still goes out of tune with playing then you either have a problem with your guitar's nut or the tuning pegs. It's probably not the tuning pegs unless they are loose or feel “notchy” or don’t turn smoothly. To check them, loosen all the strings until they are very slack - and then make sure all the front nuts and back screws that hold the tuners to the headstock are snuggly tight.
It's MUCH more common for a poorly cut nut to grab and bind the strings causing tuning instability - especially with bending strings or playing hard. This requires a guitar tech to fix the problem because filing the slots on the nut should be done very precisely and with special, expensive files you probably don’t own. If done wrong it will make things worse. If you have no experience with it - consult a Guitar Tech.
If I’m blocking off my tremolo, do I have to put wood blocks in front of the tremolo block and behind it?
No. As long as you fill the cavity behind the metal tone block you are good. We also recommend that you do not remove the claw and springs because this can cause grounding problems.