hi , i've been reading good things about the callaham trem unit in the states and was wondering if there was anything like that on this side of the pond that would fit a mim strat ? i seem to remember niki recomending one but i can't remember which one it was , cheers
Alan

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it probably wont go down well on here, but on www.strat-talk.com theres a member called "Celtrocka" or something like that. he lives in wales and hand makes quality trem blocks. ive heard great things about him. hes an engineer and a guitar player

Hi Alan: I bet what Nick would have been recommending would be one of the Gotoh-Wilkinson bridges with the appropriate two-point or six-screw spacing for a MIM. (I have a feeling Nick is sceptical about Callaham - but I mustn't speak for him.)

Trev Wilkinson's premium lines can be found on his own website. Here's the page about bridges:

http://www.whamster.com/viewSection.php ... =sections2

It is essential to check the pivot screw / post spacing on your existing bridge. On US Fenders that is 56 mm centre to centre of the outer two screws. However, on many MIMs (and Squiers) it is usually 52 mm. You need to find a compatible model to that crucial measurement.

I can highly recommend the various VS models on that page, nearly all of which I have personally used. However, if your guitar has the 52 mm spacing they are no use to you. Don't be mislead by the elongated screw holes on some of those bridges. That is about avoiding snagging during return to pitch: it is not to allow a 56 mil bridge to go onto a 52 mil body.

If you find what you need on that page... then shop for it almost anywhere else! WDMusic.co.uk, for example. The prices on that page are full RRP list prices - and make my eyes water! You can get those products substantially cheaper very easily. Ebay is another good place to look.

And if you can't find what you need amongst those, you can also look for 52 mm spaced bridges at axesrus.com. An odd but sometimes very useful website.

A fulsome answer. Any use?

Now. Is someone going to dig up this maker in Wales? That sounds very interesting...

Cheers - C

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cheers for the replies guys , and i think your right ceri ,i seem to remember the wilkinson name , i'll do some digging , cheers
Alan

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i would go with wilkinson VS 100CV

i've ordered up a wvp6 with steel block , it should do the job nicely i'll report back on fitting and sound when i get it fitted , cheers
Alan

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the trem unit arrived this morning , the fitting was no problem to do at all , so restrung the mim strat and proceded to do a set up , reset the string hights ect and set the trem to my liking , plugged it into the jcm800 and hit a few chords , the guitar sounds a lot nicer now , more mids and highs than before then i turned up the volume on the guitar and statred to play the old zappa tune zoot alures the trem movements sounded so much better than they did with the stock unit and there was no problems with tuning stability, with mild use anyway i'll get some more playing done later and report back on anything else i come across , but so far for the money i have no complaints , it's a tidy ,well thought out trem unit that i think is a good bit better than the standard one and it fits onto the mim strats cheers
Alan

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A very nice choice Alan.
http://www.applestone-music.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p2216.html

Just be carefull to get that arm fitting sorted out before you put the trem on the guitar. Theres a grub screw round the back of the block to tighten onto the trem.

Yes I'm more than skeptical of Callaham. I refuse to accept the validity of any company that resorts to practices they have used in the past.

thanks niki and yes i.ve got the grub screw wound up mate it's a well made unit for the money , oh axesrus do the trem for £27.50 just incase anyone is thinking of buying one , cheers
Alan

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This forum is fantastic, we have niki, ceri, and martian, these guys have great insight into the build and workings of guitars. Thanks again for all your help gentlemen, it is very much appreciated.

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10-4 good buddy, over and out!

i'm in full agreement with you there silverslack , i would say it's the most polite , helpfull and insightfull forums on teh web and it makes me proud to be a part of this wonderfull gathering .
and back on the subject of the trem , the more i play with it the more i'm glad i bought it after playing for a few hours last night with lots of light and heavy use the guitar was still in tune the fender unit would have had the tuning all over the place i'm really thinking about changing the bridge on my 89 mij , perhaps in the new year i nead to get a couple of pio caps as well for the strats and tele i might change the pots out in the mim as well , cheers
Alan

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Totally agreed. By luck this is the first guitar forum I joined and after a bit of time here, I was excited to join other forums. Let's just say I was pretty disappointing to see what goes on at most other sites. That helped me realize how special this group of people are.

Oh by the way, good stuff on the new Trem, Alan, nice to hear how well it's working out.

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