Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

[Lewguitar]

It's everything you guys have been saying they are all these years. :cool2:

Worth the price just for the solid feel to the vibrato arm when it's screwed in. No more loose fit and rattling around.

I'm very impressed. I'd like to get one for my own Strat now.

And yes: I did set it up with claw angled - the Carl Verheyen method.

Works for me!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Good to get another positive review.

I'm so very, very close to ordering one for my MIJ Strat. The bridge is the only thing on that guitar I don't love. At first I thought I should just get Callaham saddles, but the more I look at it, the more I think I'd really enjoy the whole bridge.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Good to get another positive review.

I'm so very, very close to ordering one for my MIJ Strat. The bridge is the only thing on that guitar I don't love. At first I thought I should just get Callaham saddles, but the more I look at it, the more I think I'd really enjoy the whole bridge.

Get the whole bridge. All the parts are top notch and the way the vibrato arm screws in snugly makes all the difference in the world.

It's not tight - it's just precise. It doesn't move or rattle in the hole.

There's no slop like there is even in the otherwise excellent Fender '62 Reissue Vibrato that Fender uses on its finest Strats.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Ratherdashing: measure the spacing of the six top screws.

I put this one in a brand new MIM Strat and the screw spacing was closer together than for an American made Strat.

Callaham makes a few vibratos made to match whatever screw spacing you might have on your guitar.

The Japanese Strats I've replaced vibratos on used the same spacing as the Fender '62 Reissue Vibrato I put in them - but check anyway.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Ratherdashing: measure the spacing of the six top screws.

I put this one in a brand new MIM Strat and the screw spacing was closer together than for an American made Strat.

Callaham makes a few vibratos made to match whatever screw spacing you might have on your guitar.

The Japanese Strats I've replaced vibratos on used the same spacing as the Fender '62 Reissue Vibrato I put in them - but check anyway.

Good tip. I already knew about the MIM's having narrower spacing at the bridge, but I'm pretty sure the MIJ's have the same spacing as the USA RI's. I'll measure and confirm before I order.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

The Callaham's are top notch units. Most of the time I find they're a bit brighter than Fender's RI USA bridges and have more sustain as well.

I have a couple on Strats with USA standard necks and vintage reissue bodies...I get the ones with Fender USA mounting screw dimensions but Mexican string spacing...no more high E slippage and they sound great.


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[MetalManiac]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Cold Rolled Steel.Thats the premium way. As Tgwif could probably attest, they also have the proper bridge 'break angle',or whatever its called , on the Strat bridge correct.
In all honesty, My Les Paul will get a Callaham solid cold rolled steel bridge and stop tail as soon as I can afford it.

 

[LReese]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

The one I had installed sounded brighter to me - I wound up re-installing the stock bridge. I can't say about the more sustain angle. The stock Fender bridge is fine, but I do really like that arm bushing. No doubt the C is a fine bit of kit.

The Fender blocks are powder coated, which might knock off a little brightness. When Suhr used to install the old Fender bridge (They still do if you provide it - as I recall) they would strip the block and drill out the mounting holes slightly.

The Gotoh GE101TS is also a fine version of a Fender 6pt bridge. If I needed one I would look for one of those 1st.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Lew, have you tried Raw Vintage springs ? If not, it's worth the $20 or so to experiment with them. My 3 Strats all have Callaham bridges and RV springs and i've never looked back since fitting them.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

I'm kind of interested/curious about the raw vintage springs.

I've fitted the callaham block to my otherwise stock 6-point strat bridge. I also put brass saddles under all the plain strings (top 3) and couldn't be happier. Sweet and steely all in one.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Callaham tailpiece with Raw Vintage springs are the only way to go with a Strat!


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[Lewguitar]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Well then, if I decide to get one for my own Strat it'll be with the Raw Vintage springs.

The Callaham I installed today went into a MIM Strat, not my own guitar...but I sure like it.

It did not seem to make the guitar brighter. It did seem to give it better sustain and a slightly beefier & thicker tone.

And as I mentioned, the arm is not loose and wobbly like it has been in every Strat I've ever played up until today - including mine.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Yep, another 'only ever having strats with a callaham' with me too. And Raw vintage are great, even for trem deckers like myself. Makes the unit ever so slinky.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

I can't remember when I got my Callaham tailpiece but it's been years and the arm us still nice and tight!

It really is amazing and the attack and sustain smoke anything else I've tried yet plus the way it's made makes it stay intone SO much better than the versions Fender sells.

The ONLY thing Bill needs to change about it us the springs...the Raw Vintage springs are as amazing in terms of springs as the Callaham tailpiece is in terms if tailpieces.

I think every Strat player that uses the vibrato should use a Callaham tailpiece with Raw Vintage springs.


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[Lewguitar]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Anyone tried these yet:



The new Highwood saddles are supposed make an improvement as well.

http://www.highwood-guitarparts.com/

 

[wahwah]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

My suggestion here would be to try the Raw Vintage bridge saddles, as well as their springs. They replaced the Callahams on my old Strat, and there'll be no going back to the Callahams.




Cheers………………………………….. wahwah

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

^^ In what way were the RV saddles an improvement on Old Dear?

Another +1 for RV springs. I use 5 in my main Floyded guitar and they're great - still soft enough to allow good motion, and using all of them gives a slightly stronger tone. I used 4 for ages and was surprised by the difference made going to 5.

Anyone tried these yet:



The new Highwood saddles are supposed make an improvement as well.

http://www.highwood-guitarparts.com/

It's a good idea. One reason I'm leery of vintage trems is the fact that the saddles aren't notched, allowing the string to wander.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Anyone tried these yet:



The new Highwood saddles are supposed make an improvement as well.

http://www.highwood-guitarparts.com/

I looked into those a week or so ago but to be honest my Callaham saddles, after I got the right screws in it during the set up give me no issues.

I'd be afraid to change the saddles since I love the tone but hearing wahwah saying he likes the raw vintage saddles makes me wonder about them.

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[JeffB]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Years ago I put a callaham block on a mim strat bridge and it made a significant positive difference. I am sure the whole replacement bridge would be that much better.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

I looked into those a week or so ago but to be honest my Callaham saddles, after I got the right screws in it during the set up give me no issues.

I'd be afraid to change the saddles since I love the tone but hearing wahwah saying he likes the raw vintage saddles makes me wonder about them.

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Me too!

I do think the Callaham vibrato warmed up this particular MIM Strat some. Increased the sustain and fattened it up some for sure.