Whoa, this thread his derailed but since I just read the whole thing I'll throw in my 2 cents.
I'm as big as a Fender fan-boy as you will find, but I have to say I love the Callaham blocks. Threw one on one of my MIMs and it really did a good job with the tone and more importantly how the bar behaved.
I just bought one for one of my U.S. Strats that already sounds great but I'm tired of taping up the trem hole everytime I take the axe out (to save the spring) and also dont like how high the bar sits because of the spring.
I dont like how the Cally site trash talks Fender, but I wouldnt care if I was Fender. It isnt like I can order a Strat without a block so it doesnt hurt sales.
There is no shame in Fender admitting the Am.St. blocks are not as good as higher end models- that is why you pay more for them. Same goes with pups, rolled necks ect. ect.

Well I took out the Callaham bridge today and I can honestly say I can't tell a dfference since I put the original Fender bridge back in.This was in my '62 RI HR...the reason I tried it was after reading the claims by some players and the Callaham site's claims that Fender bridges did not have the sonic qualities they should and were not made the same way as the originals were.
Since Mike E. has posted on this issue,I believe they are what he says they are and in my opinion the Callaham bridge makes no difference in sustain or tone in a Strat that already has a steel block.
As usual,ymmv.

Wow , I can't believe this thread is still going like this. Simply amazing. I think I'm gonna start making blocks and marketing them.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Well lads, essentially what the block does for you is all that matters. Whether I like the claims made by Callaham or abhorr the businees practices. Or like Shimmilou you think their the best thing since sliced bread. It all matters little. It's how the thing makes you feel that's important.

All I was trying to do was introduce a little bit of investagitive homework into the equation. Hopefully one day, I'll have the ability to accurately measure the water displacement caused by a American Deluxe tremblock. Then I'll be able to accurately ascertain the material used to make the thing.
It's not beyond the capabilities of the man at home, just beyond the capabilities of this one at the moment.
All in all, while we can be objective about it, instead of becoming overly defensive, it's a bloody interesting subject.

_________________
No no and no

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

What, pre-sliced bread is a pretty damn fine invention in my book. We had a spate of baking our own bread at Chateau Nick a couple of months ago. Aside from constantly having the smell of fresh bread around the place. I got sick of cutting slices fast.

Would my attention be better put to use on making a bread slicing machine, rather than worrying about the trivialities of strat parts?

I urge anyone who doubts the above to bake their own bread for a month. See how you feel about it then.
If someone gets as much joy from a tremblock as I get from not having to near chop my fingers off everytime I want toast, more power to em. I say.

_________________
No no and no

Okay - if you think the steel block has a measurable effect on your tone (and not just the feel of the trem) then post a couple of MP3s and we will do a blind test right here on the forum.. Start a Poll and allow users to choose between the tracks - one Callaham - one not.. play the same track using the same setup.

Let's just see what shakes out.. I'm betting on snake oil.

^^
No thanks, you really want someone to do all that work to convince alot of people who already have their mind made up?
I trust my own ears. I'm happy with the block.

Compressed MP3 audio played back over computer speakers. Yeah, that will be effective.

_________________
Bill

Wurgh a marked lack of confidence on the part of the Callaham lauders. Just ribbing ya:lol:

With the claims made by it's advocates, it should be easy to prove. I'm sorry but all talk of MP3's being compressed and digitized is a bit silly. After all, all music is recorded the same way these days. Be it in whatever digitized format.
Surely you should be able to see the increased sustain as signal length on recording software.
The only problem you have is making sure ALL other factors are the same. The rest of the hardware and setup are absolutely identical. Including how you strike the string.

_________________
No no and no

Problem with doing a side by side comparison with the same guitar and amp is the reason I put off taking the Callaham out of my Strat,you have to do the setup again,which on Sunday wasn't a big deal because I stayed inside and it was a cold day.
My ears aren't good enough to hear a big difference,maybe because the Strat sounds great anyway.

Off topic, but there is a significant difference in sample rates, bit rates, lossy or lossless compression and other factors used in digital recording today. Any true test needs to be double blind. There many considerations involved in developing a meaningful comparison.

_________________
Bill

Not really as even free programs will record and measure the sustain claim.
Also both blocks measured on the same guitar, using the same software. In the same plain setup. A clean amp and a microphone or a usb out into a computer.
What do you think modern studio's use? Reason or Ableton mostly. A lot still use Pro-Tools.

I'm not really interested in audiable differences, as that still leads to opinion based views. Where some will say they hear something and others state they can't. But measured ones. You can download free software that will accurately display signal strength and time elapsed. It will also show a good representation of note fadeout, once you get looking to the track lines. Which lets face it, take about 5 seconds for a complete novice to work out.

The far more knotty problem is ensuring that the string is hit with the same amount of force, in the same position, twice. Twelvebar had a plan to use a car wiper motor and arm, I can't figure it though.

_________________
No no and no

I'm well aware of the problems of digital recording and representation of recordings. As well as the problems caused by modern engineers who scoop everything and drownd it in reverb!

We gotta plan the test for sure. We can't just have at it with a camping knife and a rubber band.

_________________
No no and no