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Post subject: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:07 pm
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Recently (c. late January) I acquired my first "new" Strat in decades.
It's a '97 American Standard in Inca Silver with a rosewood fretboard. As far as I can tell, it's all stock for the model year, except for the pickguard and CS Texas Special pups that the guy I got it from installed shortly after purchase (he was the second owner). I prefer the Tex Specials, so that's not a problem.
I traded him straight-up a lower-end Gibson with P-90's that I never really bonded with, and he wanted, so all is good.

I've gone totally bonkers for this axe! I know everybody says they have one of the good ones-but I feel this one is exceptional-very resonant, a dream to play, fat Fender sound, and maybe the Tightest, in terms of build that I have ever had the pleasure to pick up. Truly, a fine, professional quality instrument.

My question is about trem arms. I find the arm that came with the guitar is a little too long for me-it seems to cover too much string length if I hold it while playing. Makes access to most of string length difficult for me.
Has anybody used a shorter trem arm, and if so, any brand/model you recommend?
Thanks, O...


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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:35 am
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I have a couple of Callaham "Gilmore" sized arms, they will screw into an Am Std block.

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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 1:52 pm
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Thanks, Shimmi, I'll check out their site to try to find info.
Anyone else got any suggestions?
Thanks, O...


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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:00 am
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I'm with shimmilou...using the Gilmour 4.25" arm...w/Callaham bridge on my Glossy Relic build...

...the shorter arm is right where I want it...and the bridge block has a Delrin insert that keeps the arm from flopping around...

...check them out at Overdrive/StratCat

one of their selection pictures just below:


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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:52 am
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Instead of grossly overpaying for a Callaham, cut and re-thread your existing one to suit.

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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 5:23 pm
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Martian wrote:
Instead of grossly overpaying for a Callaham, cut and re-thread your existing one to suit.


Thanks to all.
Martian, I'm intrigued by your solution, being that I'm both poor and cheap, and usually looking for the least expensive reliable fix.
But is there really a way for a guy like me with no metal working experience, and no known access to the type of necessary tools, to easily cut and re-thread steel to size/spec?
Are there people out there who could do this for me at a cost less than that of a purchased replacement trem arm?
Thanks, O...


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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:55 pm
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Martian wrote:
Instead of grossly overpaying for a Callaham, cut and re-thread your existing one to suit.


Yeah, and keep the slop in your stock block, have the inferior cast block with less sustain, plus the risk of breaking your arm off in the hole. It's a lose-lose-lose! :D :lol:

The Callaham block is much more superior to a Fender block in every way, and the feel of no play in the arm is awesome. If you've never tried it, the control with the Callaham block is like a new experience in whammy use, and the enhancement in sustain and tone is a plus.

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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:15 am
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nyquilcoma wrote:
Martian wrote:
Instead of grossly overpaying for a Callaham, cut and re-thread your existing one to suit.


Thanks to all.
Martian, I'm intrigued by your solution, being that I'm both poor and cheap, and usually looking for the least expensive reliable fix.
But is there really a way for a guy like me with no metal working experience, and no known access to the type of necessary tools, to easily cut and re-thread steel to size/spec?
Are there people out there who could do this for me at a cost less than that of a purchased replacement trem arm?
Thanks, O...


You can do it with a hacksaw and a die, both readily available with free how to advice at any better home improvement store. Stick the arm in a vice for stability. Any machine shop could do it for you too.

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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:23 am
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shimmilou wrote:
Martian wrote:
Instead of grossly overpaying for a Callaham, cut and re-thread your existing one to suit.


Yeah, and keep the slop in your stock block, have the inferior cast block with less sustain, plus the risk of breaking your arm off in the hole. It's a lose-lose-lose! :D :lol:

The Callaham block is much more superior to a Fender block in every way, and the feel of no play in the arm is awesome. If you've never tried it, the control with the Callaham block is like a new experience in whammy use, and the enhancement in sustain and tone is a plus.


I've never run into any of those problems. But then again, if one uses the appliance in a manner inconsistent with its design, these problems would have to happen. Hence, short of conforming to its intended function, they'd have to shell out the big bucks to prevent it. As to the enhanced sustain and tone, I've never noticed it. :D :lol:

As always, this is merely IMO where YM Obviously V.

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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:01 am
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A few more options....

http://www.stratcat.biz/hardware-custom-tremolo-arms.shtml

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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:28 am
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Just kickin' in my $.02 her for what it's worth...

While I do agree with Martian that Callaham is a tad pricey, I sort of have to side with shimmilou on this one in that my experience so far is that they're worth it. In terms of trem blocks, I've used Fender, Guitar Fetish and Callaham...I really don't know what those folks at Callaham do so differently with their "cold rolled steel", but there is a significant difference in tone and sustain compared with other trem blocks. Does that difference warrant the $65 price tag over the $22 steel blocks from GF? In this case, I'd actually have to say yes. I can't really argue with anyone who chooses to go with Callaham.

Now that said, should the OP choose to go the "cut and die" method, I would recommend just picking up an extra trem arm...it's not like they're that expensive. This way you still have the original should you decide you're not happy with the mod. While I'm sure I sound like I"m knockin' Guitar Fetish up there, I'm not. I've actually been quite impressed with the quality of their products considering the relative prices. While I'm not seeing any short bars there (ala Gilmore), for the $4 or $5, I suspect one of those would suffice pretty well for cutting your own.

Along with that, while this one certainly falls under that whole personal preference thing, personally I have to say that I didn't really care for the shorter arm myself. I had picked up one for my Mexi's a while back at a guitar show...got it for a buck, so I figured "what the hell". I'm sure it's just that I'm used to the longer length arm, but every time I went to use the trem...yea...my hand missed the trem bar or I just didn't feel like I had a good grasp on it. I ended up going back to the longer bar just because it was more comfortable for me.


Again, just my $.02 worth...don't spend it all in one place 8) .


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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:51 pm
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A friend gave me an Ibanez arm that is shorter and a bit higher than the standard. It's nice and probably inexpensive but it does not have a plastic tip.

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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 3:13 pm
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I'm sure I'm a little late in responding... But I have a question about what the tap is for?

I just pull off the plastic tip, hack of a few inches and stick the tip back on... Although, in all honesty, I usually throw it in a vise, grab a pair of pliers and give it a matching bend as well.

I also bought a big bag of trem arm springs on EBay a few years ago... So, no slop in my wiggle sticks.


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Post subject: Re: Shorter Strat Trem Arm?
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:55 am
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Axis39 wrote:
I'm sure I'm a little late in responding... But I have a question about what the tap is for?

I just pull off the plastic tip, hack of a few inches and stick the tip back on... Although, in all honesty, I usually throw it in a vise, grab a pair of pliers and give it a matching bend as well.

I also bought a big bag of trem arm springs on EBay a few years ago... So, no slop in my wiggle sticks.


IME, the springs don't eliminate the slop. But not all Strats have slop with factory blocks (I have 11, some have slop, others do not). Of course the springs are hard to keep track of if you regularly remove the arm for storage (I do in most gig bags, don't in most hard cases).

For the OP (though he posted over a month ago and has likely solved his situation) I'd suggest just buying a shorter arm (not knocking the upgraded block, but he said he's both cheap and broke, so that's an unlikely purchase).

I just searched on ebay, and for example found one made by Overdrive Custom Guitar Works, a "DG Style" (presumably David Gilmore) short Tremolo Arm for $20 w/free shpg. They offer a range of thread types to fit American, Mexican, Japanese and Squire Strats, and offer 3 lengths 4 1/4" (DG) 5 1/4" (Intermediate) and 6" (Standard) lengths, and 6 different switch tip colors. Seems to me to be the way I'd go. Seller is strat-cat with a 100% positive feedback score of just under 2300. Sounds like a winner to me!

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