I have a 1995 Fender American Deluxe Plus, Ash Body, Rosewood fingerboard. It came with a Fender DLX Locking Tremolo Assembly. A few years ago a tech replaced it with a Fender American Standard bridge. I think all of the original springs, claw, and etc. from the Fender DLX Locking Tremolo Assembly were used. I like the guitar but am not happy with the tremolo. First, I do not know from where the tech got the American Std. Bridge. I suspect it was an old bridge lying around his shop and not a new one. Second, ever since I got it back from him I noticed that the string tension does not seem quite right. Third, I can hear the springs making noise when I play. All of the original springs, claw, and etc. from the Fender DLX Locking Tremolo Assembly are still in the guitar so I don't know if this is a good idea or not.

This can be fixed by taking it to a local tech to adjust the tremolo. However, before I take it to a tech I am looking at upgrading the hardware so the guitar has a really good bridge. That way I know that the tremolo is done once and for all. I am looking for traditional Strat sound for Rock, Blues, and Pop. If I can sort out the bridge problems then it is worth keeping this guitar for the long term. Otherwise, I will sell it and get a Start which comes out of the box with the right parts.

I am looking at:
(1) a new American Series Strat Bridge Assembly ('86-'07) which includes new springs, etc. so everything can be replaced.
(2) a new Fender American Standard Strat Upgrade Bridge which is used on most American made Strat models produced from ‘08 onwards. This would just replace the bridge.
(3) a new Fender American Ultra/Deluxe Tremolo System upgrade which is used on most American Deluxe made Stratocaster. This would just replace the bridge.
(4) A Callaham Am. Std. Premium Upgrade kit but I need (1) or (2) first.
(5) A Callaham Am. Dlx. Premium Upgrade kit but I need (3) first.
(6) A Gotoh or Wilkinson bridge and springs.

What is considered to best bridge Fender makes, i.e. the Fender American Series Strat Bridge ('86-'07), Fender American Standard Strat Upgrade (‘08 onwards), or the Fender American Ultra/Deluxe Strat Bridge? What is the best amongst the Mann Made, Wilkinson, Gotoh, Callaham, etc. bridges?

Ive replaced countless tremolo's for people. Obviously, most of the guitars are either MIMs or MIA Standards and Deluxes. You dont find a high demand for replacements for Custom Shops, because they're already on par with the high end replacements.
First off, people for some reason get angry when you say "upgrade". Their argument is that its not an upgrade, just a change. I think that's debateable with some parts, and not on others. If you take a jack out of a Squire, and replace it with a Switchcraft; it's an upgrade. If you replace a Squire's tremolo with a Callaham, its an upgrade, and the same go for pots, switches, and a lot of metal hardware. SOme are made with higher quality materials. WIth that said; Callaham was always the go-to for an upgrade, and not just the block. Lately, I've found KCG to be the best Ive used. I put their high mass brass block in my main strat, and never looked back to the steel. It gives it some harmonic richness that the steel doesnt have.
If someone were to walk in and say "just put the best tremolo system you can do".
I'd use the KCG, with "Raw Vintage" springs and saddles.

Without your guitar in front of me, its tough to diagnos why the tremolo isnt acting the way it once did, or what's making the noise. I'd be willing to guess though;

Firstly, a lot of people on this forum can rattle off model year and every available option the way people can with baseball stats, I am not one of them though. What I know is; in at least the last several years, American Stds dn American Delx come with black springs, these have less tension than the silver ones you find on Reissues and Artists series. I think the noise isnt coming from the springs themselves, but probably where the spring loops over the claw. When you move the tremolo arm, its probably causing the metal from the springs loop and the claw to rub together making the noise. The springs really shouldnt change the tension all that much if youre using the same strrings, because even if the springs get stretched, you would just compensate by scewing the claw in more. Its probably coming from the 2-point knife edge posts. Over time, the tremolo plate that rests against the posts can dull and lose its edge. SO when you use the arm, its no longer smooth, becasue the sharp edge has become flat.

With that problem, you can get someone to work an edge back into it, or buy a new plate. Its probably cheaper to just get a new plate.

Thats funny I did the opposite I put a Deluxe locking tremolo in place of my deluxe tremolo.
I have no Idea why they quit making them. that was the best tremolo on the planet for a Fender.
Have you checked out the Super Vee? http://www.super-vee.com
What did you do with your deluxe locking tremolo?

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like me you prolly have some brand loyalty with fender as ive never been disapointed by their guitars or amps. however callaham guitars makes custom nickel and steel bridges in parts and entire essemblies

I do have some loyalty to buying a Fender bridge. That is why I am wondering which Fender bridge is the best, i.e. the Fender American Series Strat Bridge ('86-'07), Fender American Standard Strat Upgrade (‘08 onwards), or the Fender American Ultra/Deluxe Strat Bridge.

To use the Callaham upgrades I need to have a Fender Bridge. They make an upgrade for an Am Std bridge and also for an Am Dlx bridge. It is hard to tell what is the difference. Callaham also sells a Vintage S-Model Strat which is a complete assembly. That might be my best choice if I go with a Callaham bridge.

I still have the Fender DLX Locking Tremolo so I can put it back. I could turn it back into a Deluxe Plus by reinstalling the Locking Tremolo and the original pickguard with Lace Sensors. Ultimately, I just want a traditional Strat sound for Rock, Blues, and Pop. My other strat, an Am Dlx HSS with Fralins, covers that pretty well.

Deluxe Pluses weren't necessarily shipped with the Fender locking bridge assembly, aka Mini-Floyd. Some (especially the earlier versions with the Silver/Silver/Blue Sensors) were fitted with an American Series 2-point tremolo and a Hipshot Tremsetter.

According to Jeff Xhefri Reich the Fender Ultra/Deluxe pop-in bridge was a common option on the Deluxe Pluses and Ultras produced between 1989 and 1993.



You guitar will remain a Deluxe Plus with Lace Sensors either with the Ultra/Deluxe non-locking bridge or the Mini-Floyd installed.

Thanks!!

I will either install the Mini-Floyd or get a new bridge:
(1) a new Fender American Standard Strat Bridge (Fender part # 0075091000).
(2) a new Fender American Ultra Bridge (Fender part # 0036449000) which was used on new American Deluxe and American Deluxe Pluses. However, it is no longer available.
(3) a new Fender American Deluxe Bridge (Fender part # 0077092000) which is used on new American Deluxe made Stratocaster. However, it is not available to the public.

So, the only available bridge is the one which comes on the Fender American Standard Strat. What do you think of that bridge?

The American Standard bridge is a regular American 2-point system with vintage-style bent-steel saddles and a copper-infused steel block.

The "new" Deluxe system you're talking about (the one used on the post-2010 USA Deluxes) is essentially the Deluxe/Ultra pop-in bridge upgraded with the same copper-infused block as the American Standard.

If you decide to purchase a post-2010 Deluxe HSS with the raw switch and the compound radius, you can replace the "new" Deluxe tremolo with the Mini-Floyd, add the matching backplate from your Deluxe Plus and transform the guitar into an American Deluxe "HSS LT".

The American Deluxe HSS LT lasted 9 long years and it's a shame Fender discontinued offering the Mini-Floyd on that series as of 2007.

Perhaps they'll bring back the locking bridge option on the American Deluxe HSS in 2012.

could be OT but @rabbuhl and @windwalker9649:

so is the new Fender American Standard Strat Bridge (Fender part # 0075091000) a direct replacement to the pre-08 bridge assemblies on older AM Std Strats, meaning it will be a simple 'pop the old one out and pop the new one in' thing? no mods to be done?

thing is i have a 95 AM Std Strat with cast saddles but I wanna switch to the bent-steel saddles. the compensated callaham bent-saddles is an option but im particularly loyal to keeping this strat entirely a Fender (actually got the body without pickups and got me a set of Custom Shop Fenders... to keep it still a Fender). So ive decided to replaced the bridge altogether.

so again, will the new Fender American Standard Strat Bridge fit perfectly on the pivot studs already installed in the guitar body?

thanks in advance!

I've used Fender, Hipshot, Bigsby, and Wilkinson on my guitars. Absolute favorite is the Wilkinson VS 401. The VS 100 is nice, but I don't think it has a steel sustain block as standard equipment (???). The VS 401 has a steel block, and is nicely finished off and contoured. The trem arm does not wobble. Nice, big, heavy saddles, and they don't break strings.
Here's a link: http://www.mojotone.com/guitar-parts/tr ... NEW-DESIGN

On Darren Rileys site:
http://www.darrenriley.com/shop/cart.ph ... ail&p=1888
Genuine Fender American Standard Strat Upgrade Bridge. Features vintage style stamped saddles and solid steel block. Direct retro-fit for all American Standard 2-point tremolos. Includes block, plate, and saddles as shown. Does not include arm, posts, springs, claw, etc.

So, according to his info yes.