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Callaham Guitars
Callaham Tremolo for Stratocaster, Vintage (2-7/32" Mount and String Spacing)
Callaham Tremolo for Stratocaster, Vintage (2-7/32" Mount and String Spacing)
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This is a complete tremolo unit that includes all hardware as pictured.
We include the "64" length arm by default (5.25", refer to images); if you would prefer a different length, then please let us know at time of purchase via email, or add a comment to your payment. We stock Callaham's arms with parchment tips only -- because we stock the full spectrum of plastic parts from Fender, we do not stock other colors from Callaham.
BLOCK
The blocks in all Callaham trems are made of 1018 cold-rolled steel like the vintage originals, which contributes to the sustain and harmonic content that has made these guitars legendary. Replacing a block made of inferior materials (zinc, leaded steel, sintered steel) with one of Callaham's blocks will get you one step closer to those $30,000 originals. All have a precision-machined top surface that is free of paint to ensure solid metal-to-metal contact with the top plate, for optimal tone.
Callaham's blocks are machined with shallow string ball holes, like the originals.
And all Callaham blocks come with a precision-reamed Delrin insert in the arm hole (Callaham's Enhanced Vintage design), which allows the tremolo arm to fit snugly and be free of play, without requiring a spring in the hole, as Fender's threaded blocks do. This gives you the best tremolo feel available, and without worrying about losing springs (in case you're unaware of it, new Stratocasters ship with a round label over the hole in the tremolo - the label's purpose is to prevent the tiny spring from falling out and being lost).
This feature also reduces the risk of broken trem arms. With traditional threaded block designs, when you use the arm you create forces that are concentrated right at the threaded portion of the arm - its weakest point. This is where arms typically break. Callaham's solution of leaving this bearing area of the arm unthreaded - coupled with the Delrin bushing that the arm bears against - virtually eliminates broken arms.
SADDLES
Callaham's saddles are designed from original pre-CBS saddles, with some improvements. Callaham has slightly lengthened the string slot as compared to pre-CBS saddles, so that the strings will not bind and bend against a sharp edge before going over the saddles, which reduces string breakage. Fender's current production saddles have their slots moved too far to the rear, causing string breakage and loss of downward pressure on the saddle, hurting both sustain and tone.
Callaham's saddles, like pre-CBS saddles, have threads running the entire height of the front skirt of the saddle. Fender's current production saddles have fewer threads and a shorter front skirt. Consequently, the Callaham height-adjustment screws are held more securely, with more thread contact, maintaining sustain and saddle stability.
There is a commonly-held belief that pre-CBS saddles were hardened, but Callaham states that every pre-CBS saddle they've tested measures on average only 50 Rockwell B. Callaham has chosen steel with a hardness of 95-98 Rockwell B for their saddles. Further, the steel work-hardens in the making of the saddle and is well over 115 Rockwell B where the string crosses.
- Country of Manufacture: USA
- Pop-in "64" arm included (other lengths available - see images)
- String Spacing: 2-7/32" (2.219" / 56.4mm)
- Screw Spacing: 2-7/32" (2.219" / 56.4mm)
- Enhanced Vintage block, w/ 10-32 Thread
- Fits Fender original 1954-1969; US Reissues; Highway 1 (through 2005); Custom Shop Time Machine Series; Jimmie Vaughan Strat; Eric Johnson Strat; Road Worn Strat; Japanese Reissues; Classic Series '50s/60s/70s
Customer Reviews
Allows your arm to be in a fixed position. Spongey feel without wiggling and ticking. Stays in tune super well. Everything you want from a Strat trem. A plus
I have been using Callaham parts for 18 years. Quality with attention to details like construction and tone. If you’re tired of getting zinc sustain blocks, check these out. You won’t be disappointed.
The machine quality of this hardware is fantastic! It certainly came through in the tone and brought an Aerodyne strat to life. The tight bend of the saddles provide that Fender ping without the sometimes annoying twang on the E1 & B strings. The semi pop in arm doesn't flop around, even just pushed in (I still recommend threading it in the remaining way however). The Callaham bar length is "just right" as Goldilocks said.
The bridge assembly itself is very nice, but why is the wiggle stick bare metal (not chrome) when coming with a chrome bridge?
Thanks for the nice review!
The arm that you speak of is actually stainless steel, not just plain steel. And the bridge is nickel-plated, not chrome. Chrome-plated parts are typically plated first with copper, then with nickel, then with chromium (sometimes the copper layer is skipped). The nickel is what imparts the silver color, not the chrome. When the chrome is applied over the nickel, it imparts a slight blue hue to the silver, but if chrome is not used (as it is not on this Callaham tremolo), then the natural color of the nickel is what you see, without the blue hue.
So the bridge should be about the same color as the stainless arm. The reason for this is that most stainless alloys are high in nickel content - it's the nickel that lends these steel alloys their 'stainless' quality, as nickel is less susceptible to corrosion than iron. So the stainless arm (high in nickel) is roughly the same color as the nickel-plated bridge.
There are a couple of benefits to using unplated stainless for the arm - the first is that it's relatively impervious to corrosion, and the second is that when the arm is bent, there's no risk of plating flaking off in the bent area. This allows you to bend the arm to get it at just the right height without worrying about plating flaking off. A problem you might have with a chrome-plated steel arm, like most Fender arms.
I recently purchased an American vintage series 2 1973 fender stratocaster. While setting the guitar up, I broke the tremolo arm while screwing it into the bridge. So, I ordered authentic Fender replacement parts and the bridge I received was an absolute shambles. Horribly made.
Now I I'm very familiar with Callaham's products. I've used their Les Paul and Gretch replacement bridges for a few years now. However, I had never had any need for a vintage style Stratocaster bridge... until now.
This bridge is the perfect upgrade to my American vintage series 2 strat. Excellent quality. Straightforward to install and set up. Callaham has taken what was already a great design and improved on it in substantial ways. After final setup (which is a floating setup), I noticed immediate tuning stability. Excellent all the way around.
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