Is this a mod most would make on a American Deluxe Strat? Are they that much better?
Any info would be great.
Ive heard all great things about them,but find it hard to believe the stock Fender saddles and block are not of high quality.
thanks

Some would argue the merits of this mod on an MIA strat (especially the newer models). But, without a doubt, it would be a significant improvement over the MIM, MIK, or even the MIJ blocks and saddles.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

I can attest to the Callaham block and saddles for a mim strat. Made a unbelievable diff in the tone and especially the sustain.
Interested to hear what bigjay comes up with.

Well, there's "high quality" and there's "higher quality".

The fact is every production guitar made is designed to fit a price point so corners are cut here and there. The higher the price point, the few corners are cut.

Now your talking Bigjay thats a great study.

i havent tried this mod myself, but those that have say its a good mod for a MIM or such with an inferior block, but not so much with the MIA guitars.I can say that the MIA that I have has descent sustain, but I also know the MIA blocks were upgraded in 08 .All you can do is try it .Hope it works out for you .Personally have never heard of any of the giging musicians doing anything to an American Deluxe.

hmmm, i wonder what improvement the would do to my mim cp 60s.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

I'm another MIM owner who can attest to the Callaham blocks making a huge difference on my guitar. I certainly recommend it to ANYONE who owns an MIM (especially an older one). Next to the pickups, this was really the single biggest improvement in regards to sound, tone and sustain. I didn't even get the saddles...I'm back to my original saddles on my MIM, but the block was just the difference between night and day.

Now on an American...yea, that would be a tough call and I'm looking forward to hearing BigJays results there. From what I've read on Callaham's website, they supposedly use a better grade of steel in their trem blocks and they're supposed to have a little more mass then an Am Std trem block. I'm sure there probably is a difference but I think the degree of that difference may be a little subjective. As with most things though, I'm sure some people will hear a huge difference, others not so huge.

Again though, for the cheaper and especially the half sized blocks, those Callaham blocks do make a world of difference.

Peace,
Jim

It seems like BigJay will provide the definitive answer here, but -- honestly -- this just rings to me of a "mod only for the sake of modding" to me. An AmDlx in my opinion is just fine the way it is ... but that is just my opinion.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

BigJay, I read your own thread on this subject over in the lounge a few weeks back and I'm glad to see you're still going ahead with the project because I have a few American Strats and two of them are Deluxes and I am anxious to hear your impressions.

One thought I had but never mentioned after I raised that concern about the old strings was that it might be interesting to to see some kind of graphical representation, before and after. I am not a true technoid so I'm not 100% certain what kind of equipment might be needed for such a test but I'm wondering if an oscilloscope could be used. I don't suppose you're buddies with any amp techs with a scope? Or perhaps someone who knows better can name a better piece of equipment.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I put a Callaham block in my American. Since I didn't make before and after recordings, I have convinced myself that there is a big difference.

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