Hello everyone,

I recently installed a callaham vintage S bridge and figured i would attempt my first complete setup.

Here is where i stand.

1. Guitar is tuned to pitch and the strings are laying well at about 5/64th from the bottom of the string to the bottom of the 17th fret.

2. 12th fret harmonics are perfect as well as fretted note.

The problem: The callaham saddle screws are adjusted to damn near the end of the threads. I had to raise them this high to eliminate fret buzz.

So basically they're even, but i know this height isnt normal b/c ive never seen that steep of an inclination before.

What gives?

thanks all..

mark

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"Hello...you wanna cup of coffee?
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Should be bottom of string to the TOP of the 17th fret.

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-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Dont the callaham saddles have shorter grubscrews that are designed not to protrude from the top of the saddle when the heights set?

Lots of trem manufacturers like to limit height adjustment like that. I dont think its a good thing. Having a few screws digging in my palm has never worried me in twenty years. Not being able to set my action as high as I may want does.

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No no and no

In order to raise the strings to a height I liked I had to buy new screws, you can get them at McMaster-Carr.

I can't remember the thread info but here's a start.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#set-screws/=5hfo9x

Someone told me the correct way to fix it is by adding a shim but I didn't go that route. IIRC it's becuase the break angle over the saddles would be too great and not enough over the nut. The only draw back I've noticed is that the with the added height the angle of the saddles (above the trem) is pretty steep.

_________________
Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Did you try adjusting spring tension? that might help to get action and adjustment play on screws that you desire.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Thanks for the responses everyone...I really dont like these screws "maxed out" like nikininja stated...

I also have a much lower action towards the lower frets.

What is this an indication of?

Perhaps a nut replacement?

-thanks

mark

_________________
"Hello...you wanna cup of coffee?
I'm sorry, would you like a cup of coffee?
Ok you take cream and sugar?"

Martian is really up on setup problems.

Mark

Your lower fret action could be due to nut slot problems, unless you've been sawing away at them its unlikely on a guitar under 5 years old.

I'd look at neck relief first then neck pitch. It could be that your necks not got enough relief or that its been erroneously shimmed.

The simple nut slot check is to fret the 3rd fret with the 3rd finger then use your index finger to fret and release the first fret of the same string. If theres no gap between the top of the first fret and the underside of the string. Its likely that your nut slots worn too low. A small gap is fine, it should only be around .010-.015" on the high E, a little more for bass strings .020".

The truss rod/ neck relief adjustments are explained in the setup guide.
http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster_setup_guide.php

Neck pitch is a little more complicated to get right and involves you making a fret notched straightedge. I can instruct you through it but its a lengthy process. Best email me for that one.

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No no and no

Thanks nikininja,

I put a capo on the 3rd fret and the strings are touching the first fret.

New nut i suppose...?

_________________
"Hello...you wanna cup of coffee?
I'm sorry, would you like a cup of coffee?
Ok you take cream and sugar?"

Provided no one ever got happy with cutting/slotting your nut outside of the factory, based on your complaint (and sight unseen), you most likely have an arch (reverse) warp in your neck as it explains all the symptoms.

On a related matter: For the money you all (over)pay for those Callaham units, I would think that at least, the OEM allen screws should be at a longer length in general. Further, the idea of have to shim the saddles for the unit to function correctly on certain Strats is ludicrous. Naturally, this is IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

Nah dont capo it, just fret with the 3rd finger. Capo's can put far too much pressure on.

How old is the guitar. The last fender nut I wore out, it took me 9 years to do. They do stand up to a lot of punishment.

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No no and no

Opps, I should have specified it was to shim the neck.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Actually, I would regard it as the same thing if a guitar's neck had to be shimmed in order to accommodate an overpriced, supposedly direct replacement bridge unit.

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You dig?