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Next thing I tried was to remove the Hipshot steel block and try to use one of my Callaham steel blocks (the one intended as a direct retrofit for American standard trems).
Of course it didn't fit... so I have to use the Hipshot trem block which is too damn short...

Thanks guys.
Good to know that the ball end is supposed to be this way. Usually, with most manufacturers the ball end enters all the way or, like with Callaham, just a short way into the block. I just thought it looked weird on the Hipshot but can see the tonal benefit from this.

Yes, it certainly looks like the block is intended for a very thin guitar.

Garrett, my block looks like an American standard block too, it's just a good 1.5cm or 2cm shorter.
Is your block the same size as a standard Fender or Callaham block?

I just send them an email... hopefully they'll reply soon

Way cool!
Just got a response from a tech at Hipshot. He told me that the block shouldn't be this short and that they're sending out a new one to me tomorrow.
I'll let you guys know how it turns out.
Hopefully, the new one will have the correct length because the trem has made a nice difference in sound to my Strat.

I'll let you know as soon as the trem gets to me and is installed...

And the story goes on:

A very nice Hipshot tech contacted me and let me know that the people who assembled my trem probably didn't know of the different block lenghts.
Anyway, he said they were all out of the long blocks so he would handmill me a new one and send it out right away.

I recieved it today and... well... it's disastrous!

First the good - the length is perfect, exactly as the old American Standard trem blocks.

Now the bad:

1.)The trem arm doesn't fit. The trem arm hole in the new block is just too tight.
The trem arm fits the old block perfectly btw.

2.)Even if the trem arm would fit the block, the new block would be completely useless, as the tiny holes, where the trem springs of the cavity are supposed to go in, are cut with a really bad angle!
Meaning: the springs don't go in well (do not enter all the way, even with the use of force), it's like the holes are cut with a small curve forcing the springs to pop off easily when they are inserted and when I pull at them.

This wasn't the case woth the old block: the springs would insert perfectly fine and smooth into the tiny holes and wouldn't jump out if one pulled at the springs.

3.)The fit between the new block and the trem base plate is not perfect, the holes are very slightly off, they don't line up 100% with the new block... It's not so bad that the trem is unusable but it isn't accurate (on a $170 trem!), whereas on the old block the holes would line up perfectly.

plus, there are tiny differences between both blocks (not so important, but I'll mention them):

4.)The top of the block is painted black, whereas the old block had the paint on top removed, revealing the steel surface.
Some might argue that the paint removed from the top of the steel block is preferable and increases resonance.

5.) The diameter on the string holes on the new block (where the strings are suppoesed to be inserted) is different, the new holes are larger than the ones on the old short block. I'm not sure which one is supposed to be the correct version, I just think it's strange that they differ on both blocks.


I'm slightly pissed...