More Callaham foolishness...

Jim Sams · May 26th, 2008, 01:47 PM

Well, I really like the new American Deluxe V neck Strat I bought last month, but something was missing. It sounded pretty good but was missing a little of the "Magic" sparkle of a great vintage strat.
I read all the great reviews of the Callaham trem blocks on this site and (while previously I thought that was just hype) bought the "American Deluxe Upgrade Kit".
Well, let me tell you, it was WELL worth the money. The trem block and saddles make WAY more difference than I would have imagined. The guitar is much more alive, responsive and sparkley.
Try it, you will like it!

BritishBluesBoy · May 26th, 2008, 02:02 PM

Not foolishness at all. Callaham products are excellent.

Mark Davis · May 26th, 2008, 02:11 PM

It makes a big differenmce on Am stds and MIM stds with the small thin block.

Doesnt make as dramatic of a difference when you replace an AV steel block thats already the full size with the Callaham.

JimiBryant · May 26th, 2008, 02:15 PM

I had my doubts but then I tried some Callaham parts and now I'm
absolutely convinced from my own personal experience.

his stainless steel screws for neck and bridge mounting will make
quite a difference, as will Callaham's stainless steel neck plate and
his cold-rolled steel trem blocks..

also, IMO, he does the very best Telecaster knobs!!

Jim Sams · May 26th, 2008, 02:18 PM

The american Deluxe trem starts out full sized and then is beveled toward the end where the springs connect. I also replaced the sintered saddles with the Callaham parts. Another thing is that the stock trem block is "Coated" with something that may inhibit the transfer of vibrations.

Lance · May 26th, 2008, 02:44 PM

I put a Callaham block in my CP60 Strat. I didn't realize it .... I just assumed the original block would suck but it turned out to be a real block! Anyway, there was only the most minor difference.

I do like the short bar!

65flh5326 · May 26th, 2008, 03:59 PM

Musical metal? I think so!
I was playing around with 1"D X3'L round steel bars in my machine shop.
Suspending the bars with a pair of vice grips and tapping on them with a brass hammer.
Cold rolled mild steel has a better "ring" then hot rolled.
The best is O1 chrome nickel vandium alloy tool steel "very spendy".

Thanks,
Don

Mark Davis · May 26th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

I put a Callaham block in my CP60 Strat. I didn't realize it .... I just assumed the original block would suck but it turned out to be a real block! Anyway, there was only the most minor difference.

I do like the short bar!

You got lucky and got one of the first ones before they changed the specs.

The early CP 60's have steel block and stainless steel saddles and real CS 69's.

AFter they made a few they changed specs to stamped steel saddles zinc block and CS designed 69's made in mexico withiout any AY sigs on them.

Lance · May 26th, 2008, 04:15 PM

Yes.....I must have an earlier one. I have the AY sig pickups.

Interesting!

keiths · May 26th, 2008, 10:39 PM

Wow, I have had the exact opposite experience. I built a parts strat and used the callaham vintage hardware set and it never sounded right. I sold the bridge as I was considering parting it out and installed a cheap wilkenson bridge (albiet with a steel block) and the sound improved dramatically.

robt57 · May 26th, 2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keiths

Wow, I have had the exact opposite experience. I built a parts strat and used the callaham vintage hardware set and it never sounded right. I sold the bridge as I was considering parting it out and installed a cheap wilkenson bridge (albiet with a steel block) and the sound improved dramatically.

When I was parts collecting for my 60 DIY pastscaster Strat, I read love/hate stuff on the Cally Trem. Funny though I only read raves about the actual steel trem block. For the coin and the gamble, I decided on the USA Vintage Fender Trem. I think I paid $80.00 shipped, and attribute a lot of that Strat's great tone to that setup.

Rob DiStefano · May 27th, 2008, 07:12 AM

I love yer topic title!

Kid Klash · May 27th, 2008, 12:52 PM

Has anyone compared the Callaham blocks to the no-name steel blocks being sold on fleaBay for half the price? If so, what do you think? Are the Callaham trem blocks worth the extra $$ in tone and sustain?

boris bubbanov · May 27th, 2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kid Klash

Has anyone compared the Callaham blocks to the no-name steel blocks being sold on fleaBay for half the price? If so, what do you think? Are the Callaham trem blocks worth the extra $$ in tone and sustain?

I wouldn't say, because there's no way to know what an e-bay vendor might sell you.

Of all the things out there, this is the one where provenance is essential.

Except for the fact that this new Glendale Chimemaster has blown my mind, every single Tele or Strat component from Callaham has produced the best results, far better than stock in every Fender guitar.

I still haven't decided about the steel Callaham block on the Comanche. The stock zinc shouldn't be good, but it sure is.

Kid Klash · May 27th, 2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I wouldn't say, because there's no way to know what an e-bay vendor might sell you.

Of all the things out there, this is the one where provenance is essential.

Except for the fact that this new Glendale Chimemaster has blown my mind, every single Tele or Strat component from Callaham has produced the best results, far better than stock in every Fender guitar.

I still haven't decided about the steel Callaham block on the Comanche. The stock zinc shouldn't be good, but it sure is.

One eBay vendor is selling what he says are real Fender steel trem blocks ("a magnet sticks to them") for between $26 to $35, depending upon whether you're looking at a trem block for a MIA standard, MIA vintage or MIM strat. Shipping is $7.50. That appears to be half the price of the Callaham units. Granted, the Callaham units look beautiful, but I'm still wonering if they sound twice as good as the Fender steel trem blocks? I'm a practical, pragmatic and somewhat cheap guy - if the Fender blocks do as well as the Callaham blocks, then I'd just as well save the extra money for a few gallons of gas for my car. ;)

boris bubbanov · May 27th, 2008, 11:48 PM

K K, once you start looking to buy Callaham stuff, you're spending more and more money to get smaller and smaller amounts of improvement, that's why the Callaham hardened mount screws, saddles and block upgrade on a MIM Standard seems such a clear bargain to me. On that model, the difference is real big.

The Fender US blocks are leaded steel; I don't think they sound as good. I'd wonder where this vendor is getting this stuff; there just aren't that many steel blocks being taken off Fender guitars. Just because they're magnetically reactive does not make them Fender and it also does not make them good.

May I ask, what kind of guitar are you trying to upgrade? Your other big issue is fit; there are about a dozen different block designs, they don't interchange. Chances are so high the block you receive thru e-bay will be the wrong one for your guitar.

Kid Klash · May 28th, 2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

K K, once you start looking to buy Callaham stuff, you're spending more and more money to get smaller and smaller amounts of improvement, that's why the Callaham hardened mount screws, saddles and block upgrade on a MIM Standard seems such a clear bargain to me. On that model, the difference is real big.

The Fender US blocks are leaded steel; I don't think they sound as good. I'd wonder where this vendor is getting this stuff; there just aren't that many steel blocks being taken off Fender guitars. Just because they're magnetically reactive does not make them Fender and it also does not make them good.

May I ask, what kind of guitar are you trying to upgrade? Your other big issue is fit; there are about a dozen different block designs, they don't interchange. Chances are so high the block you receive thru e-bay will be the wrong one for your guitar.

I hear what you're saying about the Callaham units being very high quality, including the screws and saddles.

The fleaBay seller says he's selling new, genuine Fender steel trem blocks. I don't want to add spam to this thread, but if you do a search for trem blocks on fleaBay, he'll pop up. Yesterday, he had three of them; one for MIM, one for a MIA standard, and one for a MIA vintage. I've also seen other sellers there with "steel" trem blocks. The cautious side of me trys to avoid FleaBay at all costs, but the cheap ba$tard in me drives me to look for bargains.

As far as my Strats are concerned, I've got a bunch of them including vintage and newer MIAs, MIMs and some modded MICs.

I'm getting my current kicks by buying the $85-$100 Bullets and turning them into fire-breathing dragons. Cheaply. Like this one : http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocas...ml#post1152435

I'm certain you can appreciate this, given your collection of 51s. ;)

JimiBryant · May 28th, 2008, 03:54 PM

keep in mind that there's plenty of variety as far as "steel" goes -
and what the hype seems to be for is cold-rolled steel as opposed
to cast, or stamped steel.

cast or leaded steel can be somewhat dull-sounding.

Mark Davis · May 28th, 2008, 04:22 PM

The main difference in a Callaham as compared to a Fender its string holes are drilled more shallow like the original Fenders were and its made from the same formula steel. The Eric Johnson trem blocks are drilled just like the Callahams with the shallow string holes.

Ny guess is the guitar strings cant really tell one steel block from another but they can tell zinc from steel.

Kid Klash · May 28th, 2008, 04:45 PM

Thanks guys.

DavidP · May 28th, 2008, 04:50 PM

I've got one for my old US Std and I'm a believer--I'm ready to spring for one to go into my MIM Jimmy Vaughan--anyone know the specs on the trem units in that model (I thought it was US vintage but would hate to be wrong).
Cheers.

Kid Klash · May 28th, 2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidP

I've got one for my old US Std and I'm a believer--I'm ready to spring for one to go into my MIM Jimmy Vaughan--anyone know the specs on the trem units in that model (I thought it was US vintage but would hate to be wrong).
Cheers.

From the Callaham site :

If you have :

American Reissue Strat or
Highway 1 Strat (up to & including year 2005) or
Custom Shop Relic or
WD exact vintage or
Stewart MacDonald vintage or
Jimmie Vaughan Strat or
Eric Johnson Strat
2 7/32 string spacing

Order :
Vintage Repro Block enhanced
Replaces hot rolled leaded steel block.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/

TeleHawg · July 5th, 2008, 10:48 AM

Just installed a Callaham bridge assembly on my '65 CS Strat Relic (yeah, the new stainless steel clashes with the relic finish, but so what?), and I do hear a difference. The notes really pop off the strings, and the whole assembly adds a gorgeous shimmer to the overall sound.

boris bubbanov · July 5th, 2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

It makes a big differenmce on Am stds and MIM stds with the small thin block.

Doesnt make as dramatic of a difference when you replace an AV steel block thats already the full size with the Callaham.

I agree.

I think a lot of this has to do with getting "that sound" that so many of us identify with the Strat.

By comparison, replace the stock block with Callaham on a G + L Comanche ( zinc, which alloy I do not know) and be confused as to which sound you prefer. I've got 2 very similar Comanches ( ash bodies of similar weight, very similar one piece maple necks (bi-cut), one with stock, one with Callaham and I still can't choose.

And, this Glendale "Chimemaster" with a brass block and 3 brass saddles yields a very impressive sound, one I'm enjoying immensely at the moment, but this isn't the sound of Strats I hear in recordings or in the hands of other players, either.

May 26th, 2008, 01:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jim Sams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 278	More Callaham foolishness... Well, I really like the new American Deluxe V neck Strat I bought last month, but something was missing. It sounded pretty good but was missing a little of the "Magic" sparkle of a great vintage strat. I read all the great reviews of the Callaham trem blocks on this site and (while previously I thought that was just hype) bought the "American Deluxe Upgrade Kit". Well, let me tell you, it was WELL worth the money. The trem block and saddles make WAY more difference than I would have imagined. The guitar is much more alive, responsive and sparkley. Try it, you will like it!

May 26th, 2008, 02:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 40 Posts: 4,250 62 Photos	Not foolishness at all. Callaham products are excellent. __________________ BBB.

May 26th, 2008, 02:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,262	It makes a big differenmce on Am stds and MIM stds with the small thin block. Doesnt make as dramatic of a difference when you replace an AV steel block thats already the full size with the Callaham. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

May 26th, 2008, 02:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,579	I had my doubts but then I tried some Callaham parts and now I'm absolutely convinced from my own personal experience. his stainless steel screws for neck and bridge mounting will make quite a difference, as will Callaham's stainless steel neck plate and his cold-rolled steel trem blocks.. also, IMO, he does the very best Telecaster knobs!! __________________ I'm sick and tired of following my dreams, so I'm just gonna ask 'em where they're going and hook up with them later!

May 26th, 2008, 02:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,157	I put a Callaham block in my CP60 Strat. I didn't realize it .... I just assumed the original block would suck but it turned out to be a real block! Anyway, there was only the most minor difference. I do like the short bar! __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

May 26th, 2008, 02:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jim Sams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 278	The american Deluxe trem starts out full sized and then is beveled toward the end where the springs connect. I also replaced the sintered saddles with the Callaham parts. Another thing is that the stock trem block is "Coated" with something that may inhibit the transfer of vibrations.

May 26th, 2008, 03:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
65flh5326 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: walla walla wa Posts: 172	Musical metal? I think so! I was playing around with 1"D X3'L round steel bars in my machine shop. Suspending the bars with a pair of vice grips and tapping on them with a brass hammer. Cold rolled mild steel has a better "ring" then hot rolled. The best is O1 chrome nickel vandium alloy tool steel "very spendy". Thanks, Don

May 26th, 2008, 04:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,157	Yes.....I must have an earlier one. I have the AY sig pickups. Interesting! __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

May 26th, 2008, 10:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
keiths TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Age: 35 Posts: 68	Wow, I have had the exact opposite experience. I built a parts strat and used the callaham vintage hardware set and it never sounded right. I sold the bridge as I was considering parting it out and installed a cheap wilkenson bridge (albiet with a steel block) and the sound improved dramatically.

May 27th, 2008, 07:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,623	I love yer topic title!

May 27th, 2008, 12:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
Kid Klash TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PDX Posts: 66	Has anyone compared the Callaham blocks to the no-name steel blocks being sold on fleaBay for half the price? If so, what do you think? Are the Callaham trem blocks worth the extra $$ in tone and sustain? __________________ My band : www.theexecutivesmusic.com

May 27th, 2008, 11:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,154	K K, once you start looking to buy Callaham stuff, you're spending more and more money to get smaller and smaller amounts of improvement, that's why the Callaham hardened mount screws, saddles and block upgrade on a MIM Standard seems such a clear bargain to me. On that model, the difference is real big. The Fender US blocks are leaded steel; I don't think they sound as good. I'd wonder where this vendor is getting this stuff; there just aren't that many steel blocks being taken off Fender guitars. Just because they're magnetically reactive does not make them Fender and it also does not make them good. May I ask, what kind of guitar are you trying to upgrade? Your other big issue is fit; there are about a dozen different block designs, they don't interchange. Chances are so high the block you receive thru e-bay will be the wrong one for your guitar. __________________ Bubban0v

May 28th, 2008, 03:54 PM	#18 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,579	keep in mind that there's plenty of variety as far as "steel" goes - and what the hype seems to be for is cold-rolled steel as opposed to cast, or stamped steel. cast or leaded steel can be somewhat dull-sounding. __________________ I'm sick and tired of following my dreams, so I'm just gonna ask 'em where they're going and hook up with them later!

May 28th, 2008, 04:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,262	The main difference in a Callaham as compared to a Fender its string holes are drilled more shallow like the original Fenders were and its made from the same formula steel. The Eric Johnson trem blocks are drilled just like the Callahams with the shallow string holes. Ny guess is the guitar strings cant really tell one steel block from another but they can tell zinc from steel. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

May 28th, 2008, 04:45 PM	#20 (permalink)
Kid Klash TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PDX Posts: 66	Thanks guys. __________________ My band : www.theexecutivesmusic.com

May 28th, 2008, 04:50 PM	#21 (permalink)
DavidP Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 512	Which Callaham block for a Jimmy Vaughan? I've got one for my old US Std and I'm a believer--I'm ready to spring for one to go into my MIM Jimmy Vaughan--anyone know the specs on the trem units in that model (I thought it was US vintage but would hate to be wrong). Cheers. __________________ barely in tune and teetering on the brink of oblivion...

July 5th, 2008, 10:48 AM	#23 (permalink)
TeleHawg Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Waterville, Maine Age: 62 Posts: 205 10 Photos	I hear the difference Just installed a Callaham bridge assembly on my '65 CS Strat Relic (yeah, the new stainless steel clashes with the relic finish, but so what?), and I do hear a difference. The notes really pop off the strings, and the whole assembly adds a gorgeous shimmer to the overall sound. __________________ "Don't worry 'bout it, Hoss. Just stomp your foot and grin." --Hank Williams