Who besides Callaham?

[Old Cane]

I'm getting ready to start a strat build, Daphne Blue, and I have a set of Budz pickups to use. I was going to go all Callaham but I thought I might save a little money and either get another kit like his if you guys can direct me to one, or put pieces together. What are good tremolo units besides the Callaham? And tuners? Are his prices hard to beat for the kit? The plate, pick guard and so on I can probably find spares in the house or at least here in town. I get pots/caps etc for R&S when I need them.

[bobbyperu]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

I'm getting ready to start a strat build, Daphne Blue, and I have a set of Budz pickups to use. I was going to go all Callaham but I thought I might save a little money and either get another kit like his if you guys can direct me to one, or put pieces together. What are good tremolo units besides the Callaham? And tuners? Are his prices hard to beat for the kit? The plate, pick guard and so on I can probably find spares in the house or at least here in town. I get pots/caps etc for R&S when I need them.

I just finished a strat build myself and went with a VSV-G Wilkinson trem that sounds fantastic. It adds so much resonance to the guitar. That said it was not cheap ($125 if I recall correctly) but well worth it. Stratosphere on eaby is great for strat bits too.

[boris bubbanov]

The truth is Bill Callaham sells the good pots and other hardware as cheap as you will find.

I understand the mentality of staying with what you have on a complete Fender or other S-type, not replacing everything with Callaham; but if you're building from scratch is just makes such good sense to get the best and get it all from one place. If the price is anything close to equal with somewhere else, it seems the right thing to do, to direct one's business to the guy making all these breakthroughs in improving the sound of Strats and Teles. Rather than someone who is just involved in importation and sales only.

[Rob DiStefano]

I like cheap, junky, crappy, way-offshore, totally toneless and clueless Squier hardware.

Well, some of it. Umm, definitely Squier Strat bridges.

YMMV, as I'm sure it will for more than some.

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

The truth is Bill Callaham sells the good pots and other hardware as cheap as you will find.

I understand the mentality of staying with what you have on a complete Fender or other S-type, not replacing everything with Callaham; but if you're building from scratch is just makes such good sense to get the best and get it all from one place. If the price is anything close to equal with somewhere else, it seems the right thing to do, to direct one's business to the guy making all these breakthroughs in improving the sound of Strats and Teles. Rather than someone who is just involved in importation and sales only.

This is exactly why I was wanting to go with Callaham to begin with. This is what i was wanting to hear to confirm what i was thinking about his quality. I have a replacement bridge ordered for my American Telecaster and it should be here soon so I'll be able to judge the build firsthand but from what I hear I guess i can't go wrong.