A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

Funny that he preferred the Gotoh.....I have done the same for almost two decades myself....anyways here is the test.


Some time ago a few friends of mine and myself started some tests ...the purpose was to find the most accurate sounding 6 screws trem..(and overall the most accurate strat sound in general) something that would sound like an old vintage trem ..obviously we didn't test everything on the market but at least it gaves interesting results among what we had ..here is what we tested and what we heard :

WILKINSON 6 screws vintage : much lighter than a real vintage Fender (-25% ).. misses some width and sustain ..block is full size so given the big weight differences the steel must be very different

FENDER reissue : 6 holes spaced at 56.5 instead of 56..will just not move freely and will even stay blocked (binds on screws),6 holes not countersunk on the back ... paint between block and plate , block TOO long and too heavy ..springs will catch the back plate ..all in all a big dissapointement ..still sounds better than wilkinson but ..unusable without some mods so ..

CALLAHAM : doesn't have any of the Fender probs..really good bridge. block a little heavier than real Fender vintage... sounds great... may be a hair on the bright side

GOTOH GE101 : none of the Fender probs..block is the same weight as a Real Fender vintage ... BEST sound of all

Tests were done with SEVERAL of the same type of trems on 3 different guitars from a brand new one (my Suhr) to several years old ... with several friends listening so I think it is valid..several amps were used too

For those who want I have a PDF with all parts weight..including also the Gotoh VSVG but I left this one on the side as it is too different from vintage..the purpose being to have something that looks AND sound like a vintage strat and with correct material ..so I didn't bother (yet) testing trems with aluminium blocks or De Temple's titanium unit..I'd like to test the D'pergo unit though

Cool

thx

BRUNO
 
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Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

That's some cool info. I'm not surprised he liked the Gotoh the best. I've been using one for 13 years on my frankenstrat and it's an incredible trem. I'd get another one for another project or as a replacement in a heartbeat.
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

Erik do you have the same Gotoh as was stated above? the ge101?

will it fit any 6 hole vintage spaced route?

I think maybe that will help fix my callaham trem issue where it is a tad bright.
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

To be honest, I have no clue as to what the model number of mine is. I bought it 13 years ago while building my frankenstrat. Didn't even pay attention that. All I know is it's a Gotoh and it came highly recommended by a buddy of mine who was helping me out.
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

Huge Racks? Tell me you meant Hugh Racks...
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

Interesting, though I'd like to see the review go into a bit more detail. I'm gonna be returning my MIM strat to a bit more "original" status here pretty soon, was considering putting a callaham bridge in there but TBH I'm having trouble justifying the 100+ price mark for a guitar that was originally 300. The gotoh might be the way to go for me.
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

Dunno the first time I used a Gotoh....it was like...ok this baby does it right!
As I have played and setup quite a few ole strats;)
Maybe the Callaham is nicer made and all that...but nobody is ever going to make me get one, as the Gotoh simply just have the sound, and I am getting the VSVG for my HW-1...and stuffing my old 101st on my Tokai again...hehe
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

Rid i cant find those GOTOH ones you are talking about on the net to buy one.
can anyone give me a link??

Has the model number changed or anything?

hey what is the block made from on the GOTOH??


I was just wondering that i wanted one to be a slight bit less bright than my Callaham.
On the flip side of that did you do a sustain test as well?

I recently put in a zinc block on the Callaham and it made the trem smoother but KILLED sustain and dynamics.
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

Mine came from one of two places, either Warmoth or Allparts. Unfortunately, I can't remember. I want to say Allparts because that is where I got the original tuners from and I think I got the bridge at the same time.
 
Re: A tremtest..borrowed from Huge Racks...

i also love my 15 year old Gotoh Vintage trem..... It is a good trem and sounds great.. Plus they only cost $75 or so here in Canada
 
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