Callaham Strat Hardware

[HeeBGB]

OK so I am building another parts strat. I had a maple Allparts neck finished in nitro that a friend gave me as a gift a few years back. I decided to finish it and purchased a body off of Ebay from seller MJTele. I have a couple friends that have guitars built from MJT parts and I knew the quality was good before I bought it.

So I am now embarking on buying parts to complete it. What I would like is to hear from people who have experience with Callaham parts and if they are worth the extra coin. Other parts suppliers would be welcome as well.

It's going to get a single ply guard and all vintage hardware. pup's are undecided as yet. I have Fralin's in another partscaster and I love them but I have a few friends that have Novak's and I hear good things about them so I may give them a try.

[telentubes]

I use a Callaham bridge on my tele and like it a lot. Very well made. Didn't spring for anything cryogenically treated, or anything else from Callaham for that matter. Just seemed like too much to spend, so rounded up the rest of the stuff from places like Allparts. The body and neck are Warmoth, and the pickups are Harmonic Design. The guitar sounds great.
Nice project you have going there. Keep us posted.

[NickC]

I got a Callaham Tele bridge with Callaham stainless-steel compensated bridge saddles.

I liked the tone. But after gigging a while with it, I kept breaking high-E strings. Upon examination I saw the string had cut into the saddle creating a burr .... in stainless steel! I ground the burr off with the Dremel ..... but I don't think that should have ever happened. So my confidence has been shaken.

I put a Babicz Bridge on the last Tele I built. It has a unique mechanism that I was not accustomed to. But once I figured it out, and got the intonation and action dialed in, I've been very pleased with it ever since. So much so I ordered A Babicz bridge for a Strat (still haven't had time to install it yet).

Another bridge you might wish to investigate is Glendale. They have some unique and interesting offerings.

[John_P_WI]

I built a warmoth strat a few years ago and used a Callaham bridge, neck plate and screws, and multi-ply pick guard. First off, Callaham hardware is A++++ quality and would highly recommend their bridge / block and neck plate. The strat sustains for days and is now my favorite guitar after I leveled and crowned the frets (this is very important too).

Make sure you measure the width of the string spread that you want. I originally ordered the "Vintage" block and did not like how close the strings were to the neck edge. Callaham graciously exchanged it for their "Vintage narrow" bridge which is absolutely perfect for me.

I would definitely use their products again.

I also used Fralin's Hendrix / EJ wind pickups with the base plate - don't remember IF I bought those from Callaham or Mr. Fralin himself...

[Reeltarded]

I like Fender hardware. I like stock vintage style everything because it has a track record of being workable. I don't mind other people using whatever, but I only use stock vintage or vintage reissue.

[vibratoking]

I replaced the block on my two point Strat tremolo with a Callaham. The original is made out of some crap metal, is small and very lightweight. The Callaham is stainless, and very heavy. I want to hear a difference, but I can't. The feel is different because it's heavier and bar flicks have a different character due to the heavier block, but no sound difference to my ear. The Callaham block was a waste of money, IMO.

The original Fender metal saddles caused the D string to break quite frequently and for no apparent reason. There have been times when I opened the case and the D string was broken, yet it was fine when I put it away. No burrs at all on the saddles, even under a microscope. These were not the bent metal saddles, but the full thickness type if you know what I mean. I replaced them with Graphtec saddles. Those are great IMO.

[Structo]

I built a Strat using all Callaham hardware including tremolo bridge. (six string)

As mentioned very high quality.
There was some flack at The Gear Page with some members thinking that the Callaham trem made their guitar too bright or some other buzz word I can't think of right now.

I didn't notice anything like that but considering that this strat has only had that hardware on it, I don't have anything to compare it to.

One of things I do like to do on Strats is install a base plate on the bridge pickup.
I think it takes a bit of the shrillness or ice pick out of the bridge pickup.

If you want to go with an all vintage look and feel Callaham will get you there.
Or, if you want to modernize it a bit, installing a new two point pivot trem, it is much easier to drill two holes verses six accurate holes all in a row.

I also like Gotoh hardware for it's quality and economy.

I bought a set of inline Kluson style tuners for another Strat.
They have staggered posts and a split top like Klusons.
And since they are staggered, no string trees.

[LeftyStrat]

Never used Callaham stuff, but I just replaced my stock bridge with a Blade Runner:

http://www.super-vee.com

The increase in sustain is awesome.

[Structo]

I've been curious about those bridges as well.
Glad to hear you like it.

[Jana]

I have used
vintage strat tremolo
pot metal cast strat tremolo (from the 70s)
original floyd rose
bladerunner
gotoh vintage
callaham vintage
modern strat 2 point

The absolute best for tuning stability was the floyd rose. But, it is ugly and a pain to change strings.

The next best for tuning stability is the modern strat 2 point. With a proper setup, graph tech nut and locking tuners, it will stay in tune very well.

For the best vintage vibe it would be the callaham. I don't care for the bent saddles but they are easily replaced with graph tech tuners if desired. The craftsmanship of the callaham is outstanding. Another thing I really like about the callaham (which I have on my latest build) is the tight fitting tremolo arm. If set up right, it will stay in tune reasonably well.

If you want to go cheap, the gotoh isn't bad but it is not the same quality as a callaham.

I tried the bladerunner and didn't like it. The actual plate part is a cool idea but the rest of it just didn't appeal to me. The tremolo arm is anything but elegant--it is a 1/4 diameter rod affair that is big and clumsy. No other tremolo arm will work with their setup.

So, if you want quality vintage look and feel--it's the callaham.

If you want tuning stability without the mess of a floyd, go for a 2 point like the American Standard strat tremolo and put a callaham block on it.

That's my .02 based on my own experiences.

[Bob S]

I built a Strat with graphite saddles, LSR nut & locking tuners.
You can beat it with a stick & it stays in tune.
Still not overly enthused with the noiseless pickups/ electronics though.
A buddy of mine swears by Callaham stuff.
Haven't tried any yet, so it's interesting to read some opinions.

[LeftyStrat]

Just to throw out everything thats out there, I thought this design is pretty innovative:

http://stetsbar.com

The travel is linear and the saddles move with the tremolo. I haven't tried one, but I may try one on my next build.

[Mark]

I had been agonising for years over getting a Callaham bridge for my Strat (1982 USA 57 ri).

I had heard people say it's a waste of money and it doesn't make any difference and others say it made a big difference. I dare say it does depend on the guitar you fit the bridge to.

I immediately noticed a difference between my bridge and the Callaham, the string tension felt different and the guitar had more chime. (If you use the Strat purely for distorted tones stick anything in.)

What eventually swayed me was Greg Fryer had done some work on my vintage bridge to get it to play in tune (better) and he remarked the metal was softer than vintage bridges. Perhaps the vintage bridges got harder over time, but the Callaham was the better sounding bridge IN MY GUITAR.

[billyz]

The Callaham bridges are excellent . Also, the Raw Vintage Saddles (better screws and springs too) and Springs( fatter, lower tension) are a nice improvement in tone as well. And don't forget to leave your back plate off, sounds better. Do use all 5 springs for the best tone.

[vibratoking]

...And don't forget to leave your back plate off, sounds better. Do use all 5 springs for the best tone.

Billy - could you explain your comments regarding back plate and 5 springs a little more? Maybe I need to learn something here. Personally, I can't listen to a Strat and identify whether the back plate is on or off.

5 springs don't work for me because it totally screws up the pressure/counter pressure between the springs and the strings. Waaaay to stiff for me in this configuration.