Are there any issues (eg screw width etc?) that would prevent me from taking the block steel saddles off my 07 MIA and replacing them with vintage style ones for a look akin to the new Am Std?

Not to my knowledge but you may want to consider the ones from Callaham... they're stuff is really high quality but you'd have to be able to live with the fact they're stamped "CG" instead of "Fender".

On your current saddles, the intonation screws are not centered at the back of each saddle. Rather, the threaded holes in each saddle are offset to the left. The vintage style ones you want have the intonation screws centered so they are not direct replacements.

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You dig?

I would go Callaham. Great products. And they make an American Standard kit.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/up_amstd.htm

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Yes, of course - didn't think of that. So I would also need to get a new bridge plate as well then?

Yes, BUT...

Fender also redesigned the block when they went to this 'new' vintage saddle design. As of this typing, I've yet to have an opportunity (or reason) to disassemble one of these current tremolo systems. Consequently, I don't know yet if these new plates and/or blocks are interchangeable with the system you have. My gut says yes but that's all I have to go on at this point.

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You dig?

Surely the string is still heading out the same direction regardless of bridge - it's just that the saddle screws are offset on the old AM Std bridge?

It's no biggie, just been toying with the idea of swapping them so the brisge looks a bit more vintage, thats all...

Well, I know the spacing of the original vintage saddle bridge is wider than that of the American Standard (et al.) systems up TO this newest system. Consequently, the plate and the block by necessity are affected somehow. Maybe they reverted back to the vintage saddle spacing with this new system? Again, I haven't had a chance to compare yet. I tend to presume that the least amount of dimensional changes would be best as it yields the least amount of retooling expenses.

I must agree with you though, the vintage bridge does look the best. Even after all these years, the American 'whatever' types just doesn't look right to me somehow.

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You dig?

I was thinking about doing this too, a few months ago. I thought the new bent saddles would look good on my 2005 Sunburst strat, but wasn't sure if the string spacing was the same. I was going to buy the whole bridge and trem set off ebay, but wasn't sure if it would work, so I didn't. It sold pretty cheap too, like $50 so I should of got it and given it a try.

I haven't looked on Ebay lately for one, so don't know if that's the going rate, or if that one went cheap.

If you do it, let us know how it turned out.