So I was never much of a tremolo user but lately I have been wanting to experiment with one on my 1997 American Lonestar Strat. I have owned this guitar for a number of years but never installed a tremolo bar in it (it didn't come with one). So I found a tremolo bar and when I tried too install it I found out the tremolo block is stripped out and/or the tremolo bar someone had previously installed broke off in the block. Either way, I have to replace the tremolo block. I have read about how Fender tremolo blocks are not the best quality and prior to failure so I am thinking about an upgrade. So here my question: Callaham Guitar parts for Strats (specifically their premium upgrade kit with block, bar and saddles)

1.) I hear they are excellent quality, it that true?

2.) It is worth the $115 for the kit or should I just buy another tremolo block from Fender? I can also just buy the trem block and bar from Callaham for $75.

3.) For those that have done this upgrade, is the tone and playability improved? Do you recommend it?

4.) Are the Callaham saddles worth adding for tone and playability?

5.) Although not that important to me, should I be concerned about the effect on value after I upgrade it? It all stock right now. Does this upgrade improve the value at all in the long term?

Any other opinions or advice on this kit would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

_________________
"I'm not going to make a living at this, but it sure is fun."

Guitars:
1997 American Deluxe Series LoneStar Strat
1999 American Standard Tele
1990 Gibson J-200 (European Maple/Sycamore body)

Amps:
Traynor YCV40WR

I bought the block and arm for my AmDlx. I absolutely love it!
I didn't replace the saddles, so I can't speak to those.

Keep all of the old parts, then you won't have to worry about value if you sell. Besides, yours is broken now. So even if the Lonestar becomes a collectors item, you will have replaced the block anyway.

_________________
AmDlx HSS
62 Hot Rod
Luke w/Piezo
Carvin Belair

First I have to say that I have one of the Callaham trem blocks on my '96 MIM Standard and I -LOVE- it! HUGE difference in sustain over the stock trem block. I also have to add here that while I didn't replace the entire bridge, the Callaham block was a perfect fit...no mess, no fuss. I also must add that the folks at Callaham were a pleasure to deal with...very knowledgeable and professional. If only the folks at FMIC were so helpful!

To answer your questions specifically...

"1.) I hear they are excellent quality, it that true? "

In my opinion, yes...absolutely!

"2.) It is worth the $115 for the kit or should I just buy another tremolo block from Fender? I can also just buy the trem block and bar from Callaham for $75. "

Yes, I think their trem kits are -very- well worth the money and -NO- I would not just buy another one from Fender (because you'll only get the same crap that's already on the guitar). As far as a trem block vs. the whole trem, I just went with the block and I'm quite happy with it, but you can't go wrong with the full trem either.

3.) For those that have done this upgrade, is the tone and playability improved? Do you recommend it?

In my opinion, I don't think that the trem really does much for playability (unless you have a -really- crappy one that is). This is just my opinion but in my mind most of the playability of a given guitar comes more from the neck than anything else. As far as tone goes, I would have to say that the pickups are going to affect this more than the bridge. However you WILL notice a substantial difference with the sustain.

"4.) Are the Callaham saddles worth adding for tone and playability?"

Again here I think saddles are a bit of a subjective thing. I've never really seen where the saddles affect tone all that much at all, Fender, Callaham or otherwise (unless again you have something -really- cheap). Usually the single biggest issue I see in regards to saddles is about string breakage. If you're not breaking strings, I'm not sure I'd worry about it all that much. You could get a bit more sustain with the Callaham saddles, but honestly the trem block itself is going to make a much great difference. If you go with the full bridge, this point is irrelivant.

"5.) Although not that important to me, should I be concerned about the effect on value after I upgrade it? It all stock right now. Does this upgrade improve the value at all in the long term?"

As Bruno said, just keep the original parts stored somewhere in a plastic bag if you're worried about the instruments value and/or restoring it to original. Since these Callaham parts don't require any modifications to the instrument itself, you can always just pop them back on later if you choose (or just include them if you sell it). As far as the value of the instrument itself, this too is a subjective thing. You can buy a Squire Bullet for $100 and as long as you take good care of it, in 5 or 10 years you can probably get your $100 back. On the other hand you can pay $1000 for an Am Std and in 5 years you -might- get $600 to $800 for it untouched (depending on how much new models are going for at that point). Now as to any "collectors" value, that's a different subject completely and will only be determined by time. Again here though, because this "upgrade" doesn't require any mods to the instrument, it won't detract anything and if anything, it will add a bit to the value of the instrument for a serious guitar player (vs a collector) because you'll have a better sounding instrument.

Honestly, I highly recommend Callaham...I found them to be an excellent company with excellent products. In fact my -only- nit about them is that I think their ordering process is a bit out of date. I'd like to see them implement online ordering via Paypal or something. Other than that, I have no complaints about them -at all-.

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

All the above is true. I have many of their blocks on my Strats and a kit on one of them that I built. Excellent quality and a tone difference you can hear! I love the pop in type arm as well.