callaham tele bridge plate, dissappointed?

i love callaham hardware. i got a new bridge plate but i must say that i am disappointed at how fast, a few weeks, the inside of the tray is rusting...small brown "dotting" all over it.
yes, i clean it and even wipe with a bit of oil...which i wish i would've known to do FIRST...may have saved it a bit.
is this what i should expect? my original one (few years old) doesn't have nearly as much, if any.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/c87c072f.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/9854c9c2.jpg

my personal opinion is that most of the "boutique" hardware is just overpriced, freeze dried, fat fried, chicken chokin', mother frickin' hype. 4 my dollars, the quality of a wilkinson comp 3 saddle beats the competition hand's down. as always, ymmv.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/9854c9c2.jpg

This doesn't look anything like any of the Callaham bridgeplates I have.

May we see some other images?

How close are you to the beach?

In my experience, fit there's anything wrong with the Callaham, it is to immaculate and "professional" looking for a rough and ready Fender guitar:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/Bubbanov/52april272007014.jpg

Why not just call Bill Callaham and ask him about it? I can't imagine he wouldn't replace it ASAP.

Why not just call Bill Callaham and ask him about it? I can't imagine he wouldn't replace it ASAP.
i did. thus my post here.

This doesn't look anything like any of the Callaham bridgeplates I have.

May we see some other images?

How close are you to the beach?

In my experience, fit there's anything wrong with the Callaham, it is to immaculate and "professional" looking for a rough and ready Fender guitar:


Boris, thanks for posting. not on the beach, nor do i play on the beach but yes a coastal town... as most places i've lived. that is my same plate, from your photo. how old is that one, any special treatment? i called them and told them: it is hot here and of course i sweat. we downright drip here, already before we even start (extra shirt, towel, recommended). i regularly clean my guitar, etc etc. see my orginal bridge photo which i sweat all over for a year or so and the callaham is like, 4 months old.

they said, without seeing any pic, that yeah that is steel so it will rust. and try some wd40. i'm kind like, "really"? so at this rate ...what? idk.
more pics... hope this serves:
btw, evrything you see except the pups is callaham steel...only the inside of tray is a different finish or texture...funny, but one of my, even newer, callaham knobs on the top developed a...like a worn out/discoloration... like small oily rub off of chrome...only one...and i use both a lot...a lot, here:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/guitars/Tele/f5e26418.jpg ...these are a month old, control plate? callaham, fine.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/guitars/Tele/b56961f4.jpgpay no attention to the optical illusion string alignment friends...my A did get bumped, obviously. :shock:
as you can see?, nothing else has this problem...nor does anything else i have, e.g., my original plate, knobs.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/guitars/Tele/db26790c.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/guitars/Tele/12e4f325.jpg
hope i didn't post too many. wanted to give fuller idea for advice.

so, am i over-reacting? ...about the rust. :grin:

i've got that bridgeplate with steel and also brass saddles. not my cup of tea. if anyone wants it feel free to message me with a reasonable offer. guess i should specify u.s. address only since i'll send it by regular mail.

delete

I'd like to say I just bought a Callaham Vintage Tele Bridge a few weeks ago, and only after two gigs with my guitar, I noticed rusting in several places on the bridge plate, and on the saddles! Needless to say, I'm a bit peeved over this! I live in FL, about 12 miles from the beach, AND I DO tend to sweat on my gear, but I've never seen any rusting on any of my other guitar components like I have with this new bridge! Any thoughts????

Folks pay ridiculous money for that relic'ed look! Also, isn't that the characteristic of plain steel? Bill bent over backwards to make sure I was good, so I think you should talk to him. He totally stands behind his stuff, at least he did a few years ago.

I have not had any rusting or discoloration issues with the Callaham hardware and bridge I bought in 2007. My bridge is 6 years old now with no rust evident anywhere, lots of play on the guitar and it has been to over 200 gigs.

I wonder if they are using a different plater or if the plater is skipping a step.

I have been using Wilkinson on recent builds and they work just fine for $20

I just use the regular Fender Pat Pend one. It's stayed rust free after 2 1/2 years with the Tele out in the open on a stand, even though it hasn't been cleaned or polished nearly as often as it should be.:wink:

It's definitely more fun to be pleasantly surprised by a cheap item, than it is to be disappointed by an expensive one.

I'd like to say I just bought a Callaham Vintage Tele Bridge a few weeks ago, and only after two gigs with my guitar, I noticed rusting in several places on the bridge plate, and on the saddles! Needless to say, I'm a bit peeved over this! I live in FL, about 12 miles from the beach, AND I DO tend to sweat on my gear, but I've never seen any rusting on any of my other guitar components like I have with this new bridge! Any thoughts????
my plate has spotted quickly, faster than the MIJ plate, anyway i think it's normal.
my steel saddles, in use longer than the plate, haven't at all. but the saddles are polished stainless, i guess. the plate isn't.
also (sw) florida. --i need a shower BEFORE i play, after even a brief setup....insane wet playing...drippage everywhere.

I have not had any rusting or discoloration issues with the Callaham hardware and bridge I bought in 2007. My bridge is 6 years old now with no rust evident anywhere, lots of play on the guitar and it has been to over 200 gigs.

I wonder if they are using a different plater or if the plater is skipping a step.

I have been using Wilkinson on recent builds and they work just fine for $20
no plate on bridge plate.

my personal opinion is that most of the "boutique" hardware is just overpriced, freeze dried, fat fried, chicken chokin', mother frickin' hype. 4 my dollars, the quality of a wilkinson comp 3 saddle beats the competition hand's down. as always, ymmv.

This x10000000!

This x10000000!
if it's not stock it's "boutique"?
ergo Wilkinson is boutique.
don't know about Wilkies but the other is thicker and does sound different.
ymmv

no plate on bridge plate.

This pic is from 2009 when it was 2 years old.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/714/medium/img_1321a.jpg

I sweat a lot. I found that the knurled knobs naturally began to discolor after a couple hundred gigs.

Aggressive cleaning with something like isopropyl alcohol will also expedite taking the very thin nickel-plating off the steel. Salt in the air, humidity, as well as corrosive sweat.

In my situation I am quite pleased with the natural patina that develops, as I am not as fond of the blinding chrome look. I much prefer the matte look of the Callaham bridge.

Over time, my sweat, the humidity here, plus cleaning wore away some of that top coat so that rust naturally develops. Since my guitar has been through many battles, it looks more congruent.

Guitar players ask me fairly often about it, it is a conversation starter. They like the way it naturally has been worn over time.

Every so often I will dremel-buff/grind the entire bridge off the body, spray it with clear-coat, and the whole process starts again.

I would beware of anything that does not respond to oxygen, food that does not spoil, and many Russell Crowe movies.

if it's not stock it's "boutique"?
ergo Wilkinson is boutique.
don't know about Wilkies but the other is thicker and does sound different.
ymmv

This is my 2012 challenge build with a Wilkinson bridge. It is the only one I use now. It does not have the lower edge cut off but I don't mind.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/2012-tdpri-tele-build-challenge/127502d1336966084-mike-simpsons-2012-challenge-build-thread-compled-2012-tdpri-cocosonic11-jpg

I have used a few of the Wilkinson half bridges too.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/tele-home-depot/51920d1276467866-tres-recogida-especial-img00356a-jpg

I sweat a lot. I found that the knurled knobs naturally began to discolor after a couple hundred gigs.

Aggressive cleaning with something like isopropyl alcohol will also expedite taking the very thin nickel-plating off the steel. Salt in the air, humidity, as well as corrosive sweat.

In my situation I am quite pleased with the natural patina that develops, as I am not as fond of the blinding chrome look. I much prefer the matte look of the Callaham bridge.

Over time, my sweat, the humidity here, plus cleaning wore away some of that top coat so that rust naturally develops. Since my guitar has been through many battles, it looks more congruent.

Guitar players ask me fairly often about it, it is a conversation starter. They like the way it naturally has been worn over time.

Every so often I will dremel-buff/grind the entire bridge off the body, spray it with clear-coat, and the whole process starts again.

I would beware of anything that does not respond to oxygen, food that does not spoil, and many Russell Crowe movies.
+1

mine. the rust spits happened almost immediately, maybe a week!
(yes, here is also "rust" in the top of some of those poles.)

this pic is just pledged, oiled, strung.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/guitars/Tele/9800e28c2d8b1f8f98db6aa8bcb54335_zps543ca115.jpg

guess one day i'll pull it back off and wire brush off some the initial spotting.
had i known better, i'd light coated with 3-in-1 FIRST. now i just wipe it out, as i keep my "string parts" lightly "greased" (3-in-1).

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/ichisatori/guitars/Tele/96bbd020f6cef50441418b159745cb21_zpsecf2dd59.jpg

Too bad about the bridge rusting quickly. In my opinion they should have replaced it for you.

Too bad about the bridge rusting quickly. In my opinion they should have replaced it for you.
i think they would have. but i think another would have done the same just as quickly.
my original plate was well on it's way to doing the same before i replaced it.

besides wearing sweat bands, NO. i just don't know what one could really do.

the acidic(?) salty buckets of sweat at least a few times a week. ?

i am kinda curious though: the saddles won'r rust at all (see pic), so why not make the plate out of the same stuff or if it is the same stuff, what's different?
the pate isn't polished like the saddles. my original looks like is has plating applied, as fas as inside the tray, only in the front, before the pu.

Guys unplated, unfinished mild steel is going to rust, humid salt air, plus sweating all over the bridge will just accelerate the process. Really does not matter who made the part.

Andrew Carnegie didn't seem to need as much sleep as other men, and yet, he always looked well-rusted:)

Guys unplated, unfinished mild steel is going to rust, humid salt air, plus sweating all over the bridge will just accelerate the process. Really does not matter who made the part.
right. no problem for me. it did, however, carry on faster than the stock model, perhaps.
anyways, i like mine. a lot.

Mine rusted pretty quickly as well and I don't play out or much since it was installed. I just assumed that what they did. I love the sound of it, so I'm kind of cool with it, I guess.

I agree that there could be a disclaimer on the site, or perhaps a process where this wouldn't happen so quickly.

I really do love the sound of it and the functionality. I can also say that Callaham has a tremendous level of customer service, and is among the best in his field across the board.

If it is an issue, I can't imagine him not doing everything in his power to make it right.

The matte finish probably has more susceptibility to this, but I like it, not wanting to blind people in the audience with the laser-light effect chrome has when hit by strong light. It creeps me out just thinking of that terrible movie that tried to ruin the memory of Hank Garland:)