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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 7:17 am
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jmattis wrote:
Peter S wrote:
However, whether I actually WANT to spend a lot of time on something, when I can luckily now afford to buy a superior unit, is another matter entirely!

There are options to Callaham, where you don't even have to worry about if the screw tops are sharp or not; check e.g. these: Highwood Contoured Saddles

Those look sweet!


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:05 am
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jmattis wrote:
There are options to Callaham, where you don't even have to worry about if the screw tops are sharp or not; check e.g. these: Highwood Contoured Saddles


Well, thanks a lot for that suggestion, JM - they look absolutely ideal! And a lot cheaper than a new trem unit!

Anyway, I have the guitar home now and been playing it! I'll need to get it the way I like it (don't you always?), but I enjoy that stuff, so no problem. I want to try the original TS's in it instead of the CS '69's - although they're nice - and put 9's on instead of 10's, but the basic guitar is really good. Already sorted the choking with 1/4 turn on the saddle screws.

Waymore, yes, I do really prefer block saddles, but if I can get bent steel to work for me, why change the look?!

Anyway, perhaps you can help with this (as an owner)?... Does the trem arm stick a long way out of the bridge before the bend? I don't think there's a little spring in the hole (like the AmStd), but presumably there should be (as you have one)? But I'll have to do something about the arm. I should have an AmStd arm in my bits & bobs somewhere - don't know if the thread's the same but the 'bend' will be right.

And someone please remind me - what's inferior about this bridge? I recall on a previous thread someone saying it's a cheap (Mex?) unit and it's one of the ways Fender has saved money? If it's US quality, though, replacing the arm and buying JM's saddles would seem to be the way to go...?

Thanks again, all! Even though I occasionally get slagged off, this is a really helpful forum! Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 11:22 am
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The trem arm thread is 10-32 in both AmSpec/Highway One (#0073643000) and AmStd/Am Series (#0992054000) trem arms.
AFAIK you should have a trem arm spring (#0994931000).
And I have no idea why some diss the AmSpec trem - maybe just because Fender tells us it's made by Ping...

In general, I'm all for modding, but on the other hand, guitars (in general and US Fenders especially) do come out of the factory quite ready for use (after a good "initial setup", of course).
So, my advice: Set the guitar up, then play the guitar (really, for quite some time...), then make up your own mind if you need to change something.

If you get cuts: pick a little closer to the neck and/or tape the screw ends temporarily, till you have the time to grind them or buy shorter replacements. :wink:

And: congrats on the new family member.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 1:09 pm
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Quote:
Anyway, perhaps you can help with this (as an owner)?... Does the trem arm stick a long way out of the bridge before the bend? I don't think there's a little spring in the hole (like the AmStd), but presumably there should be (as you have one)? But I'll have to do something about the arm. I should have an AmStd arm in my bits & bobs somewhere - don't know if the thread's the same but the 'bend' will be right.


Tremolo arm is the same as standard or highway 1, and yes there should be a spring in there but it probably fell out, you can get a replacement spring(s) i used bridge pin from an acoustic to make a plug so it doesn't fall out again...you can check my thread here about that.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 1:12 pm
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Quote:
And someone please remind me - what's inferior about this bridge? I recall on a previous thread someone saying it's a cheap (Mex?) unit and it's one of the ways Fender has saved money?


Nothing. It's not a Mexican Strat. It has US steel block bridge (just as Standard and Highway) just vintage six screw one.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 1:16 pm
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Quote:
I want to try the original TS's in it instead of the CS '69's - although they're nice


I Personally love Texas specials in this guitar. Try it out.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:33 am
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Peter S wrote:
...and I cannot for the life of me see where the pennies have been pinched by Fender!...


At least on the Am Spcl, the bridge is about the same as a MIM. The block is cast (so is the Am Std block), and the saddles are not the same as an Am Std. The Callaham block (which is CRS) and saddles are much better than anything Fender has, including the CS stuff. I swap out the cast blocks in nearly all of my Strats to Callaham.

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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 3:10 am
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Thanks JM, Waymore & Shimmi, for the comments!

Yes, I have some spare springs - just didn't know whether the Special trem had one fitted or not. And yes, I've temporarily swapped an AmStd trem arm for this one and prefer it, so will be fitting my spare AmStd once I can find it! This supplied Special arm is quite different when placed side-by-side with an AmStd arm, but I understand I'm the 3rd owner of this 2014 Strat, so possibly the trem arm isn't original. It doesn't actually look or feel very Fender...

JM - agreed, I've given the same advice about 'playing it' in to others, and I'm not intending modding it other than doing something about the saddles/screws. Those Highwoods look like a great option to pretty much keep the look but lose the screws!

Otherwise, I'm swapping the CS '69's back to the original (supplied) Texas Specials and will give them a few months. I might then try some of my other spare pups, or the '69's again perhaps.

So, whatever I do with the bridge, I'm not otherwise modding it for a while, if ever!

Shimmi - I accept the Callaham is a big step up, likewise the Supervee (which I already have). Think I'll give it some time before I decide.

Will post a pic when I get it set up how I like it! Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:35 pm
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WaymoreProta wrote:
Quote:
And someone please remind me - what's inferior about this bridge? I recall on a previous thread someone saying it's a cheap (Mex?) unit and it's one of the ways Fender has saved money?


Nothing. It's not a Mexican Strat. It has US steel block bridge (just as Standard and Highway) just vintage six screw one.


But it is the same bridge as the MIM Strats, not the same saddles as an Am Std Strat. You can tell the difference in the MIM Strat saddles as compared to an Am Std Strat saddles by viewing them from the side. The Am Spcl definitely has MIM Strat saddles. "US steel bridge block"? There is a huge difference in the cast blocks found on both Am and MIM Strats, compatred to a CRS block such as Callaham.

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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 12:59 am
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Ok so the saddles are not the same as AmSt.
Honestly Special is a truly an excellent instrument and that's the bottom line, i owned a 79 standard, tried countless new standards in the stores, but special was just that Special, it has combination that I personally liked much more than most Standards, it somehow more melodic (than most I've tried), maybe cause of large head stock and neck shape it has great great sustain. I'm very picky about details, and what I was blown away is the finish, specially the neck finish and fret work, all 22 jumbo frets are fitted perfectly in maple neck, no gaps, no rough edges, all even no rocking anywhere on the neck. What I also noticed right away is that its a very vibrant body, every note goes trough the body really well, its not dead as some other Strats I've tried...
So it has a steel block but MIM type of saddles, I honestly couldn't care less since it doesn't cause me any problems in tuning, sustain or tremolo action.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 3:11 am
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WaymoreProta wrote:
Special is a truly an excellent instrument


Yes, I'd agree with that! The neck pocket is tighter than my AmStd's or Plus. The neck is said not to be 'edge-rolled' but seems perfect to me. It's not as pretty as my CS Strat neck, but the finish is as good, as far as I can see/feel.

Have now refitted the Texas Specials and think I'll stick with them. Sound good to me!

Trem-wise, I fitted an AmStd spring, but when I wound the arm back in, it didn't 'reach' the spring and just stopped winding when it hit the bottom of the threaded hole. So the spring had no effect. Tried other arms - same thing. Neither does there seem to be enough thread to hold the arm steady. I dropped a small spacer into the hole, then the spring, then the arm. Now the arm bears on the spring (good) but isn't very firm. IE: It wobbles too much in the hole without moving the block, as if the threads are well worn. All very odd!

Re the spring specifically, is the AmStd one different (shorter) than the Special? Otherwise, I can only assume the thread in the block has been abused, but in any case there doesn't seem to be much of it. Not like an AmStd, where you wind the arm in for ages...

Any ideas, please?!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 3:20 am
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Peter S wrote:
WaymoreProta wrote:
Special is a truly an excellent instrument


Yes, I'd agree with that! The neck pocket is tighter than my AmStd's or Plus. The neck is said not to be 'edge-rolled' but seems perfect to me. It's not as pretty as my CS Strat neck, but the finish is as good, as far as I can see/feel.

Have now refitted the Texas Specials and think I'll stick with them. Sound good to me!

Trem-wise, I fitted an AmStd spring, but when I wound the arm back in, it didn't 'reach' the spring and just stopped winding when it hit the bottom of the threaded hole. So the spring had no effect. Tried other arms - same thing. Neither does there seem to be enough thread to hold the arm steady. I dropped a small spacer into the hole, then the spring, then the arm. Now the arm bears on the spring (good) but isn't very firm. IE: It wobbles too much in the hole without moving the block, as if the threads are well worn. All very odd!

Re the spring specifically, is the AmStd one different (shorter) than the Special? Otherwise, I can only assume the thread in the block has been abused, but in any case there doesn't seem to be much of it. Not like an AmStd, where you wind the arm in for ages...

Any ideas, please?!

Cheers - Peter.


Those small black spring are the same as far as I know and Fender sells em in packs of 6 and 12 that's it, something must be wrong, I'll post a pic of my tremolo arm if it would help (later today) but it seams to be identical to standard....


Last edited by WaymoreProta on Thu Mar 10, 2016 3:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 3:24 am
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Quote:
Re the spring specifically, is the AmStd one different (shorter) than the Special? Otherwise, I can only assume the thread in the block has been abused, but in any case there doesn't seem to be much of it. Not like an AmStd, where you wind the arm in for ages...


It must have been tampered with since it takes a lot of turns to screw it all the way on my Special, just like on Standard.


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:28 am
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Here it is Peter

Image


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Post subject: Re: Callaham VN bridge or what?
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:35 am
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Here, it takes about 11 turns till you feel the spring tensioning it.

Image

Image

Image

Hope it helps.
Cheers


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