American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
- Thread starter mexstrat
- Start date
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
It's doable but it'd be a lot of work for not much benefit.
Honestly, the only thing wrong with the bridge unit on '05 MIM Standard Strats is that they have a pot metal sustain block...
That is unless you got a Strat from the short run where they actually ran out of MIM Standard bridges and put Classic Series vintage-spec bridges with steel blocks.
Can you take a pic of your spring cavity with the cover off? Basically this view:
It's doable but it'd be a lot of work for not much benefit.
Honestly, the only thing wrong with the bridge unit on '05 MIM Standard Strats is that they have a pot metal sustain block...
That is unless you got a Strat from the short run where they actually ran out of MIM Standard bridges and put Classic Series vintage-spec bridges with steel blocks.
Can you take a pic of your spring cavity with the cover off? Basically this view:
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
As someone who likes vintage-style Strat bridges, I'd put a Callaham bridge on a MexiStrat before I'd put an American Deluxe bridge on one. Barring that, I'd do the Callaham block.
https://www.callahamguitars.com/tech_blockdetails.htm
As someone who likes vintage-style Strat bridges, I'd put a Callaham bridge on a MexiStrat before I'd put an American Deluxe bridge on one. Barring that, I'd do the Callaham block.
https://www.callahamguitars.com/tech_blockdetails.htm
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Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
I unfortunately don't have time to take that picture at the moment to do that as I have other stuff I need to get done, but I highly doubt that the bridge is anything other than the MIM standard. Maybe I'll take the picture sometime tomorrow, but the problem I have with my bridge is that the tremolo arm is wobbly because the screw hole for it is stripped (previous owner's fault, I got the guitar used). I also like the idea of a pop-in tremolo. I once emailed fender to get the full specs of my guitar, and it is apparently the "vintage style synchronized tremolo" if that answers your question.
It's doable but it'd be a lot of work for not much benefit.
Honestly, the only thing wrong with the bridge unit on '05 MIM Standard Strats is that they have a pot metal sustain block...
That is unless you got a Strat from the short run where they actually ran out of MIM Standard bridges and put Classic Series vintage-spec bridges with steel blocks.
Can you take a pic of your spring cavity with the cover off? Basically this view:
I unfortunately don't have time to take that picture at the moment to do that as I have other stuff I need to get done, but I highly doubt that the bridge is anything other than the MIM standard. Maybe I'll take the picture sometime tomorrow, but the problem I have with my bridge is that the tremolo arm is wobbly because the screw hole for it is stripped (previous owner's fault, I got the guitar used). I also like the idea of a pop-in tremolo. I once emailed fender to get the full specs of my guitar, and it is apparently the "vintage style synchronized tremolo" if that answers your question.
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GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
In addition to the Callaham (super high-quality and pricy) that Little Pigbacon mentioned above you could get stuff from GuitarFetish.com. They sell whole bridges or just steel blocks (which is where the arm mounts) which would only require unscrewing and rescrewing parts.
Well, the thing is that it's not a simple swap. Replacing the block or even the whole trem with the same type is a whole ton easier than replacing it with an American Deluxe trem. It's the difference between six wood screws used for mounting versus two studs mounted in bushings which would need to be pressed into the body. You'd need a drill press to convert bridge types cleanly.
In addition to the Callaham (super high-quality and pricy) that Little Pigbacon mentioned above you could get stuff from GuitarFetish.com. They sell whole bridges or just steel blocks (which is where the arm mounts) which would only require unscrewing and rescrewing parts.
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
Beware of the string spacing. American has 56mm E-E, Mexican/Asian has 52mm E-E. With the wider bridge you might start to experience strings falling off the fret bevelled edges for the outer strings. Why do you want to replace the bridge? If you don't like the guitar, if it has poor sound or sustain, a bridge swap might not improve it, unless of course the current bridge in question has serious flaws.
Beware of the string spacing. American has 56mm E-E, Mexican/Asian has 52mm E-E. With the wider bridge you might start to experience strings falling off the fret bevelled edges for the outer strings. Why do you want to replace the bridge? If you don't like the guitar, if it has poor sound or sustain, a bridge swap might not improve it, unless of course the current bridge in question has serious flaws.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk
Vintage American is wider. Modern American is the same as import.
Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
What makes it so that wider string spacing in the bridge wouldn't be compatible? Would it not fit in the spring cavity, or would the strings be prone to slipping off the neck? Aren't American necks and Mexican necks the same size? If I can get a professional guitar repair guy to do it and he has a drill press and stuff, would these concerns still hold true? The current bridge doesn't have any serious flaws. I've just been considering upgrading it.
What makes it so that wider string spacing in the bridge wouldn't be compatible? Would it not fit in the spring cavity, or would the strings be prone to slipping off the neck? Aren't American necks and Mexican necks the same size? If I can get a professional guitar repair guy to do it and he has a drill press and stuff, would these concerns still hold true? The current bridge doesn't have any serious flaws. I've just been considering upgrading it.
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Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
Why? Do you have problems with it? Or are you in a mood to spend money? GilmoureD kindly explained the various versions. If you upgrade and retain your 52mm string spacing you won't have problems with the spacing.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
Is there an issue with your bridge beyond the wobbly arm? Honestly, I'd just get a replacement of the same type and call it a day. There's not a drastic difference that I've noticed as far as usable range of the trem where tuning is stable. If you want to get wild with the trem I'd go with a non-recessed Floyd Rose. If you're not going wild but want supreme quality, get a Callaham replacement that uses your existing mounting.
The biggest problem is the mounting holes.
Is there an issue with your bridge beyond the wobbly arm? Honestly, I'd just get a replacement of the same type and call it a day. There's not a drastic difference that I've noticed as far as usable range of the trem where tuning is stable. If you want to get wild with the trem I'd go with a non-recessed Floyd Rose. If you're not going wild but want supreme quality, get a Callaham replacement that uses your existing mounting.
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
Ok, you guys have convinced me that it's not worth replacing it. I just really like the bridge on the American Deluxe, but don't want to spend money on the american deluxe guitar. I love my mexican strat to the point where I don't want to replace it, just make upgrades to it. The bridge is ok. If I'm not blown away by how awesome the american deluxe bridge is on my mexican strat, it's not worth it. Sounds like I wouldn't be blown away, so I shouldn't do it. Thanks for the insight!
Ok, you guys have convinced me that it's not worth replacing it. I just really like the bridge on the American Deluxe, but don't want to spend money on the american deluxe guitar. I love my mexican strat to the point where I don't want to replace it, just make upgrades to it. The bridge is ok. If I'm not blown away by how awesome the american deluxe bridge is on my mexican strat, it's not worth it. Sounds like I wouldn't be blown away, so I shouldn't do it. Thanks for the insight!
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
No problemo. Warning, though... This place DOES make you do crazy stuff.
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
Just out of curiosity, walk me through what you have done there. What kind of bridge is that? Looks like some aftermarket neck. What is all that?
No problemo. Warning, though... This place DOES make you do crazy stuff.
Just out of curiosity, walk me through what you have done there. What kind of bridge is that? Looks like some aftermarket neck. What is all that?
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
That's an AllParts Candy Orange body with a Mighty Mite MM2902FCR neck. The bridge is an old '80s thin-plate Floyd Rose with a black EVH dTuna on it. The body was not routed for a specific trem so I had no worries of turning the wood to sponge by redrilling near original holes. I've got a Duncan '59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge with no tone control on it and two DiMarzio Area '67s with separate tones.
LOL Sorry to hijack...
That's an AllParts Candy Orange body with a Mighty Mite MM2902FCR neck. The bridge is an old '80s thin-plate Floyd Rose with a black EVH dTuna on it. The body was not routed for a specific trem so I had no worries of turning the wood to sponge by redrilling near original holes. I've got a Duncan '59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge with no tone control on it and two DiMarzio Area '67s with separate tones.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
An American Deluxe bridge and American Standard bridge are (or at least were, correct me if in wrong) the same except for the screw vs. push-in arm which is otherwise the same block (epoxy-filled or something.) Not a bad setup, but a lot of people would rather have a six-screw trem with stamped saddles and a nice metal block, for tone reasons. Both styles will set up well.
An American Deluxe bridge and American Standard bridge are (or at least were, correct me if in wrong) the same except for the screw vs. push-in arm which is otherwise the same block (epoxy-filled or something.) Not a bad setup, but a lot of people would rather have a six-screw trem with stamped saddles and a nice metal block, for tone reasons. Both styles will set up well.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
What ever happened with you and those blokes at the pub has nothing to do with this place.
What ever happened with you and those blokes at the pub has nothing to do with this place.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
I would suggest just replacing the block. The actual plate is good. I've got the same plate on a couple guitars with replacement blocks.
If you're on a budget:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Made-in-Mexico-105mm-Solid-Steel-Trem-Block_p_1145.html
If you've got a bit of money to spend:
https://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_mexstdblock_catalog.htm
Both are big upgraded to the existing block and will fix your arm wiggle issue. Both will also require a new arm as the MIM Standard arm is not vintage spec. Both will use any arm that would fit in a vintage Strat. Callahan sells nice arms, too, including the David Gilmour style shortened arm.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Yeah, you've got the smaller zinc block.
I would suggest just replacing the block. The actual plate is good. I've got the same plate on a couple guitars with replacement blocks.
If you're on a budget:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Made-in-Mexico-105mm-Solid-Steel-Trem-Block_p_1145.html
If you've got a bit of money to spend:
https://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_mexstdblock_catalog.htm
Both are big upgraded to the existing block and will fix your arm wiggle issue. Both will also require a new arm as the MIM Standard arm is not vintage spec. Both will use any arm that would fit in a vintage Strat. Callahan sells nice arms, too, including the David Gilmour style shortened arm.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Re: American Deluxe Bridge on Mexican Strat?
So I'm going to sound like a complete idiot. I think I know what you're referring to when you talk about the block but I'm not sure. What are you referring to when you're talking about the plate? I'm not completely familiar with the anatomy of the bridge. From what I see online, it appears that the plate is the thing in the front. How can you see that from the picture I sent?
So I'm going to sound like a complete idiot. I think I know what you're referring to when you talk about the block but I'm not sure. What are you referring to when you're talking about the plate? I'm not completely familiar with the anatomy of the bridge. From what I see online, it appears that the plate is the thing in the front. How can you see that from the picture I sent?
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