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Post subject: Callaham vs Fender
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:55 pm
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I have a 2008 Fender MIA Strat. This is the newer block and saddles compared to 2007 and earlier. Will the Callaham block and saddles make a difference? I have great ears and low income. So please take that into consideration for me. Thanks.

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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:40 am
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I don't know about the newer block, but my 2005 American Deluxe changed a lot for the better with the Callaham block and saddles. Definitely strattier, the 5 pickup positions have more personality, better pick attack, sweeter and more rounded tone. The old trem block felt kind of silent and lifeless.


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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:12 am
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Fender increased the mass in the block with the 2008 model. IMHO, this is one of the best bridge design they have ever come up with.


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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:37 am
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jnastyNE wrote:
Fender increased the mass in the block with the 2008 model. IMHO, this is one of the best bridge design they have ever come up with.


Absolutely so!!!! My 2008 MIA 3 Tone Sunburst Maple Neck Strat with it's new bridge block attributes to it's tone just fine and awesome.

I love it....


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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:21 pm
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Jay, I am not absolutely sure, but I think the MIA deluxes have the old style blocks and saddles.I believe they upgraded the MIA Standards , but not the MIA Deluxes.


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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:04 pm
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BigJay wrote:
budglo wrote:
Jay, I am not absolutely sure, but I think the MIA deluxes have the old style blocks and saddles.I believe they upgraded the MIA Standards , but not the MIA Deluxes.


Yes, I seem to recall something like that too. I think the new block is "copper-infused". I wonder if that's standard on AmStd's now or just select editions.
To my knowledge they only upgraded the MIA Standard with those features.I used to have a 2001 MIA American Series and now have the 08 American Standard and can honestly say the tone on the newer is so much more livelier.The 2001 sounded lifeless to my ears and eventually sold it.The 08 is the same set up,maple neck ,same pickups and its like night and day.I am just curious why they didnt upgrade the MIA Deluxes too.I think they still have that silly case and the block style saddles.


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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:31 am
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Thanks for the replies.

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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:55 am
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BigJay wrote:
I just swapped out my 2008 AmDlx block for the Callaham. My plan was to conduct a test, recording before and after, including wave-forms. I even built a lever contraption to control attack. I mic'd my amp and turned off the reverb. There was no affect, just straight guitar noise.

I believe the 2008 AmDlx block is 1040 steel. Moreover, its not really "cubical", if thats the right word. Its got a big corner cut off. Convwersely, the Callaham is 1080 steel and is "cubical", complete with the corner still intact. So, not only is the Callaham more dense, but its more volumous. Both of these characteristics should change its resonant properties. Somebody mentioned Fenders new blocks are more dense. I dont know if mine is the newer, denser version or the older one.

I put new strings on the guitar, tuned it to an open G and strummed in the lever contraption. Then I picked up the guitar and and picked a little, while recording. The recording went well, including the wave-form.

Next, I put the Callaham block on the the AmDlx bridge. I restrung the guitar with new strings of the same variety and set it in the lever contraption. I tuned it to open G, again, and strummed. Then I took picked the guitar, attempting to mimic my earlier picking.

But I made a mistake that adulterated my second recording (Callaham). Before starting the actual recording, I instinctively adjusted the input levels on the midi-interface. I did this because the the wave-forms were peaking out on the Callaham. What it showed, was that the sound was definately different. But because I messed with the inputs, the test was flawed. Im very pissed off about that and havent decided whether Im going to reconstruct the test.

What I can tell you is that before I jiggered with the input levels, the system was definately showing a difference in sound. The wave forms were different. The amplitude was a little variable and the sustain was longer with the Callaham, as I recall.

Further, the differences in what I heard between the two blocks was also very perceptible. To my ears, the Callaham definately changed the tone.

Notice, Im not saying it "sounded better". Whether you prefer one tone over the other is up to you. Whether that affect is worth $100 is also debatable and preferential. I am very happy with the results and would recommend the Callaham over whatever Fender block I had.



Very interesting. I recently got a new (vintage-style) Callaham block, bridge plate and saddles! The whole caboddle! These have the narrower saddle widths: just like those on the 'new' Am Stds. I go it for my YJM because the older-style width saddles cause he strings to fall of the edge of the fretboard, and replacing just the saddles did not seem possible because of the way they were attached to the bridge-plate.

It's good to see an attempt at a fully objective test like this - and I'd deffinately like to know the results when you repeat the test. But the results you've got so far suggest that they really do make a differance! Thanks.

I must get arround to fitting it soon!


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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 3:34 am
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Thanks, will let you know!


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