Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

[ratherdashing]

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/

That's really cool. Resolves my #1 complaint with Strats - the dozen little screws jabbing my palm

Although, the Callaham saddles have height-compensated screws, correct? That seems to at least minimize the problem.

Plus, €44 (about $60) for saddles is pretty steep.

 

[Lewguitar]

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

That's really cool. Resolves my #1 complaint with Strats - the dozen little screws jabbing my palm

Although, the Callaham saddles have height-compensated screws, correct? That seems to at least minimize the problem.

Yeah. But a really good hardware store should carry those little allen screws in different lengths. That's what I use when I need to. I keep an assortment on hand. In Boulder we have McGuckin Hardware, the biggest and bestest hardware store I know of.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Just installed my first Callaham Strat Vibrato...

Bill Callham sells 2 different size screws, I bought both sizes when I ordered my tailpiece from them them picked up a handful if a 3rd size and once I spent the time I got it all set up and there are no screws digging into my palm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Securb]

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.

I had the same experience. I replaced mine with a Babicz Full Contact and couldn't be happier. It sounds fuller without that brightness that was overly shrill. I guess it is all preference.

That's really cool. Resolves my #1 complaint with Strats - the dozen little screws jabbing my palm

That is another reason why I went with the Babicz it is super comfortable no top screws.

 

[wahwah]

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

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

They were a much better tonal match to a vintage guitar than the Callahams. There's no doubt that the Callaham saddles are beautifully machined, but they gave my old Strat a kind of cold, sterile 'ping' that really didn't suit it at all. The Raw Vintage saddles provided a richer tone without the sterility. I still have the original block in that guitar, so I'm not about to mess with that, but the Raw Vintage saddle and spring combination (5 springs) has been fantastic.



Cheers……………………………………….. wahwah

 

[J E C]

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

Those are some beautiful looking saddles. There is something to be said about an arm that DOS NOT wiggle in its mounting, that is one thing that I dislike very much. I have been wanting to try the Raw Vintage Springs. Were can they had at?

 

[PFDarkside]

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

Has anyone done an upgrade on a two-post? What is the easiest way to get as close as possible to vintage style on a Deluxe Plus with "Floyd" two post? Find the cheapest American term available then upgrade the saddles and block?

 

[Lewguitar]

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

Has anyone done an upgrade on a two-post? What is the easiest way to get as close as possible to vintage style on a Deluxe Plus with "Floyd" two post? Find the cheapest American trem available then upgrade the saddles and block?

I really like the snug fit of the trem arm and the block on the Callaham. I don't know if you could use a two-post top and attach a Callaham block and arm to it. But that would be a nice upgrade if you could.

 

[LReese]

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

KGC also uses a type of insert, but no steel option. No slop.

If you want to go to the Gotoh 510, it also has a no slop arm. Also teflon tape is cheap and lasts a pretty long time.

 

[JordanM82]

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

I put a full Callaham bridge in my strat, there is nothing about it that would make me every consider replacing it. Improvement in both tone (more bloom and complexity) and sustain. I am also running the RV springs as well, 5 of them.

 

[PFDarkside]

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

I really like the snug fit of the trem arm and the block on the Callaham. I don't know if you could use a two-post top and attach a Callaham block and arm to it. But that would be a nice upgrade if you could.

He makes an American upgrade kit that fits the 2-post, so you get a new block and either offset or center saddles based on year. However he does not offer a "full" 2-post vibrato like he does with the 6-screw version. So I'm thinking I just need a 2-post top plate and the remainder of his kit for this particular guitar.

 

[Lewguitar]

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

He makes an American upgrade kit that fits the 2-post, so you get a new block and either offset or center saddles based on year. However he does not offer a "full" 2-post vibrato like he does with the 6-screw version. So I'm thinking I just need a 2-post top plate and the remainder of his kit for this particular guitar.

I'd call him and talk to him about it. Just to be sure.

 

[jumble jumble]

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

I've put his block on two American Standard bridges, works out great. Just get the American Standard Upgrade kit. Although in the end I went back to modern saddles (graph tech string saver classics), because of the wandering string issue. If there's a difference in tone between these two saddle types then I can't hear it.

 

[Rockstar216]

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

Although I'm not a vintage purist by no means I can't get along with modern strat saddles I like the vintage bent steel saddles. Those Highwood saddles look right up my alley. Vintage sound with modern innovation.

 

[ratherdashing]

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

Although I'm not a vintage purist by no means I can't get along with modern strat saddles I like the vintage bent steel saddles. Those Highwood saddles look right up my alley. Vintage sound with modern innovation.

Yeah, I'm not a vintage purist either, but my MIJ Strat has an early 60's look and feel to it. It demands a vintage-style bridge. I'm fine with Graphtech etc. on my more "modern" guitars, but not this one.

 

[Zerberus]

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.

For the record, about 90-95% of all steel plates, ingots, bars and pipes produced in the world are cold rolled.
Hot rolled steel is reserved for special applications where a particularly low level of impurity is essential. Assuming the same alloy, Cold rolled steel is just flat out cheaper, both in price and in quality.

Kool-Aid tastes great, but drinking too much of it can cause problems, especially if swallowwed blindly and without question. Marketing hype is very similar in that respect.

 

[Stratman]

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

For the record, about 90-95% of all steel plates, ingots, bars and pipes produced in the world are cold rolled.
Hot rolled steel is reserved for special applications where a particularly low level of impurity is essential. Assuming the same alloy, Cold rolled steel is just flat out cheaper, both in price and in quality.

Kool-Aid tastes great, but drinking too much of it can cause problems, especially if swallowwed blindly and without question. Marketing hype is very similar in that respect.

Zeb:

Your information is incorrect!

For example the first step in manufacturing Cold Rolled steel products involves cold reducing coils of hot-rolled, pickled steel product to a thinner thickness. The cold reduction operation induces very high strains (work hardening) into the steel sheet; thus, the steel sheet not only becomes thinner, but also becomes much harder, less ductile, and very difficult to form. However, after the cold-reduced product is annealed (heated to high temperatures), it becomes very soft and formable. In fact, the combination of cold reduction and annealing lead to a refinement of the steel that provides very desirable and unique forming properties for subsequent use by the customer.

PS: I am an active Member of ASTM committee A01.01 ~ A01.05 and A01.19 for several years, ASTM set the international standards for production and testing of steel and other products.

 

[Stratman]

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

Angled Brass Claw and Brass Saddles!

 

[SJ318]

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

Hi,
2 things, what exactly is the diff between my J.Beck black springs, and why are vintage springs better? Sound? Tuning stability(That would worth it alone)! Also, do the Callaham saddles lock down on the bridge plate? Some one said a while ago all the things you fellos are saying about a Wilkenson/Gotoh Trem set up from Stewart McDonald. Same as Callaham?
I guess that makes 3 things-sorry, but I really am interested, very much!
SJ

 

[mojosman]

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

They were a much better tonal match to a vintage guitar than the Callahams. There's no doubt that the Callaham saddles are beautifully machined, but they gave my old Strat a kind of cold, sterile 'ping' that really didn't suit it at all. The Raw Vintage saddles provided a richer tone without the sterility. I still have the original block in that guitar, so I'm not about to mess with that, but the Raw Vintage saddle and spring combination (5 springs) has been fantastic.



Cheers……………………………………….. wahwah

In my case I switched from vintage Fender saddles to Callaham. I didn't notice the "sterile" tone that you mention. I have noticed that I haven't broken a string since the switch. To me their re-design of the saddle to reduce string breakage was what sold me. I don't know if the raw steel saddles are an improvement over the Fender ones in this regard? I tend to keep strings on a guitar longer than most people, and breakage became an issue as strings had been played over a long period of time.