Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

  • Gotoh VSVG Vintage Tremolo

    Votes: 11 40.7%

  • Gotoh Vintage Tremolo

    Votes: 5 18.5%

  • Callaham Vintage Tremolo

    Votes: 8 29.6%

  • You should have gone with a hardtail dumba$$! (rob option)

    Votes: 3 11.1%
  • Total voters
    27
Got_tone?

Got_tone?

New member
Out of these three which would you go for and why. I'm thinking about going with one of the gotoh, but would consider shelling out for the callaham. Is the price of the callaham really that worth it? This'll go into a Ash & maple/rswd neck strat. I'm looking for a good solid strat tone. The surfers I ordered should cover most of that, but I know that the trem plays in as well.

1)Gotoh VSVG Vintage Tremolo
Wilkinson_Gotoh_VSVG_Vintage_Tremolo_sm.jpg


2) Gotoh Vintage Tremolo
Gotoh_Traditional_Tremolo_for_Strat_sm.jpg


3) Callaham Vintage Tremolo
brdgass3.jpg
 
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Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

I would happily use any of those three. Everything depends upon the trade-off that you want to strike between performance and tone.

Money no object, I'd go for the Callaham with the modern unthreaded (push-in) arm. Ideally, the shortened "Gilmour" spec vibrato arm.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

Quite honestly, I'd like a nice balance between performance and tone. I wouldn't be doing crazy ass dives, but enough to get a good vibrato/pitch bend. I'm also looking for a good strat tone, hence I went for a 6 point and the surfers. I originally wanted to go with a floyd, but I bit my lip since it would kill some of that classic strat tone.
 
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Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

The Wilkinson VSV is intended to combine the tone of a traditional bridge with the increased bend range of their VS-100 vibrato bridge.

The last time that I heard "that tone" was when I tried out a Fender AVRI '62 Stratocaster at my nearest authorised dealer. First impact of the plectrum through a re-issue Princeton Reverb and there it was.

That guitar kinda followed me home. :naughty:
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

No bad choice there bro- but if you've got the $, the Callaham is tough to beat.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

I like the VSVG too (BTW, it's a Wilkinson, manufactured by Gotoh), I have a VS400 and it's almost as stable as a Floyd.
Great tone too. I haven't tried the Callaham though.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

The Gotoh Vintage (number 2). I actually have one from 1993 on my Frankenstrat. It's been on it since the day it was assembled. Awesome bridge. I don't use the trem bar much these days so it's blocked down.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

I need a Dwallahamsi cryo super induction mega super giga block brassowichi ultra steel hardned alu copper coloured.....vib....

Oh well they use to make Katana swords and such....I think they what steel is all about;)
Still have a few Gotoh 101's that are old as dirt!
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

:biglaugh:Six hole vintage type trems are a thing of the past. Fine for vintage correct
applications, however, pretty much all installation instructions froem OEM's
dictate that the trem itself should pivot on the two outer screws and that
the 4 remaining inners are really only there for stability and balance.

Any unnessesary additional contact is an unwanted source of vibrational deprivatioin
which equals tone sucking! general rule of thumb for Tele bridges is that the
least amount of contanct equals a greater transference of string vibration
from the bridge to the body, hence a tendency for three saddles instead of six.
Sure, there may be some intonation compromises, but hell, with compensated saddles
these days I dare anyone to spot the minute differences and failings.

These days I have two Strat trem preferences, for the vintage airier sound
you can't beat the modern Fender two post vintage 6 saddle bridge,
Leo, I believe would have come to the engineering conclusion.

For a more modern sustain oriented sound, then any of the bridges you've
mentioned in their two post varieties will be grest, not to mention the
modern Fender deluxe trem or the Hipshot varieties, they have the best trem
arm feel in the business bar none!!

You know the dilemma you face now don't you?...................You need more Strats!!!
What a bummer:biglaugh:
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

Will S-T said:
:biglaugh:Six hole vintage type trems are a thing of the past. Fine for vintage correct
applications, however, pretty much all installation instructions froem OEM's
dictate that the trem itself should pivot on the two outer screws and that
the 4 remaining inners are really only there for stability and balance.

Any unnessesary additional contact is an unwanted source of vibrational deprivatioin
which equals tone sucking! general rule of thumb for Tele bridges is that the
least amount of contanct equals a greater transference of string vibration
from the bridge to the body, hence a tendency for three saddles instead of six.
Sure, there may be some intonation compromises, but hell, with compensated saddles
these days I dare anyone to spot the minute differences and failings.

These days I have two Strat trem preferences, for the vintage airier sound
you can't beat the modern Fender two post vintage 6 saddle bridge,
Leo, I believe would have come to the engineering conclusion.

For a more modern sustain oriented sound, then any of the bridges you've
mentioned in their two post varieties will be grest, not to mention the
modern Fender deluxe trem or the Hipshot varieties, they have the best trem
arm feel in the business bar none!!

You know the dilemma you face now don't you?...................You need more Strats!!!
What a bummer:biglaugh:
Click to expand...

He did. He designed the bridges on the G&L guitars.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

Out of the ones listed, i've only heard good things about all of them. I tried a Callaham in one of my Strats and then fitted my others with them.

Another worthwhile improvement is using Raw Vintage springs.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

FWIW - of the above if you wanted standard width, go for the Gotoh. The Callaham is a bit brighter to my ears. I do like the busing on the C, but its not worth 2x the $$ to me.

I'd suggest a Gotoh 510 Steel block. I've had 3 installed so far (1 Strat, and 2 Suhrs). Whether a 2 post or 6 post, they seem to have a kind of a deep resonance vs the vintage type bridge. String spacing on the 510 is a little narrower than the vintage bridges.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

I totally forgot about the 510 Gotoh. Will look into those springs. I'm still leaning towards a gotoh and will probably end up with a vsvg due to the price and vintage/modern appointments. It's not set stone though, so keep them coming.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

They catch a lot of internet hate, especially here but the Callaham is an amazing piece of work...great built quality, great materals used and the workman ship is past top notch!
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

the guy who invented fire said:
They catch a lot of internet hate, especially here but the Callaham is an amazing piece of work...great built quality, great materals used and the workman ship is past top notch!
Click to expand...

I have to agree here - the hype is what turns me off on them. I have one installed, its not coming out by any means - the extra brightness does not bother me one bit - but the Gotoh is a much better bang for the buck IMO. You can buy a lot of teflon tape for the difference.

The bladerunner does interest me.
 
Re: Strat Tremolo: Which would you go for?

Took out my mates Callaham...he did not like the sound of it in his JV strat.
Stuffed in a 510 with traditional saddles....no wiggley vibarm on that one, got the same on my Navigator, but with solid saddles instead.
Liked that one alot more.....but well what do they know??
They have only been around forever;)

Hate my bare behind!
 
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