Help with Callaham Bridge and Block for my Squier CV 60's strat

[capt_goodvibes]

Hi
I've just bought a Squier Classic Vibe 60's stratocaster and Im wanting to replace the Bridge and Block, I've read a few things on the GFS Block and some problems people seem to have getting them to fit properly, so I've decided to put a Callaham Bridge and Block in, I'm just finding it a bit confusing as to which one is the right one to fit straight into my Squier Classic Vibe 60's stratocaster, Im not sure but I think I have to get the Callaham Vintage S Model Strat Bridge Assembly, if anyone can tell me if this is the correct Bridge and Block assembly for my CV 60 I would appreciate it, I'd like to here from anyone who has upgraded their Squier Classic Vibe 60's stratocaster with a Callaham Bridge and Block,
Thanks

[The ConGREGation]

The Callaham site should list a phone number to call regarding your question,Greg.

[Yogi]

this one fits
"Made in Mexico" Import Strat UPGRADE trem- Solid STEEL block

LOL I sent a reply to your email and your profile, but just wanted to clarify so people don't think they have to shell out the big bucks for a Callaham. The Block itself doesn't line up with the trem hole on the stock bridge plate, neither does the Callaham. But the whole GFS assembly and Callaham assembly do. So you don't have to spend 100+ to replace the bridge on a Squier. The fullsize unit from GFS drops right in

[Yogi]

I have the GFS in 2 of my Squiers

[overdriver]

Callaham Vintage Guitars and Parts (Mexican Standard Strat Upgrades) you asked. IMO they are too pricy but its not my money.

scroll down a way, Mexican model strat bridge assembly, only 165 US + shipping and what ever tax.

[Yogi]

IMO, I would never spend that much upgrading an import guitar. I've noticed little if any significant changes in tone/sustain from going from a zinc block to a full size steel block, so I doubt a Callham would make any mark improvements. Your probably better suited buing the GFS trem assembly spending the rest of the money on a RS kit and you are set.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by Yogi

IMO, I would never spend that much upgrading an import guitar. I've noticed little if any significant changes in tone/sustain from going from a zinc block to a full size steel block, so I doubt a Callham would make any mark improvements. Your probably better suited buing the GFS trem assembly spending the rest of the money on a RS kit and you are set.

+ 1. I was going to and did, in a round about way, say that. But Yogi someguys just gota have that Callaham stuff. So.............

Thanks for saying it !

[Yogi]

I understand the guys dropping a 165 bridge assembly in a 3-4k guitar ( BTW why should it even need improving ) but they guys who rave about putting a callaham in MIM standard or a Squier I just don't understand

[capt_goodvibes]

Hey
Thanks for all your help, I just ordered the
"Made in Mexico" Import Strat UPGRADE trem- Solid STEEL block from GFS and the RS kit
this is exactly what I was after
Thanks again

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Yogi

IMO, I would never spend that much upgrading an import guitar. I've noticed little if any significant changes in tone/sustain from going from a zinc block to a full size steel block, so I doubt a Callham would make any mark improvements. Your probably better suited buing the GFS trem assembly spending the rest of the money on a RS kit and you are set.

Based on that, I'm thinking I'm just going to stay with the stock bridge/tremolo.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by Jason

Based on that, I'm thinking I'm just going to stay with the stock bridge/tremolo.

Man like your not with that shit block in there..

Even I changed mine, I like my ball ends being closer to the bottom of the block. And that more correct look.

Whatever pencil block

[Jason]

F U

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by Jason

F U

Florida University? oh no never did get book learned.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Jason

Based on that, I'm thinking I'm just going to stay with the stock bridge/tremolo.

In the '94 bullet I noticed a difference, but it has a mystery wood, swimming pool body... The CV It was mostly an appearance mod since I was gonna have the back cover off.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Yogi

In the '94 bullet I noticed a difference, but it has a mystery wood, swimming pool body... The CV It was mostly an appearance mod since I was gonna have the back cover off.

Aye... Yeah I'm not even a Strat guy, so I'm not trained to know wtf it's even supposed to look like. Well, I take that back... I am a Strat guy now, but I wouldn't even touch one in my first 12 years of playing. I picked up a Bullet and fiddled with it for about 2 minutes and decided that all Strats were crap.... Ahh... poor misguided youth!

[Yogi]

Yeah I remember that feeling. I thought my first strat was just a crappy squier so eventually I got into LPs, but when I traded in my Epi towards my first USA strat I was a believer again plus my skill level had dramatically increased

[RichCI]

Originally Posted by Yogi

I've noticed little if any significant changes in tone/sustain from going from a zinc block to a full size steel block, so I doubt a Callham would make any mark improvements. Your probably better suited buing the GFS trem assembly spending the rest of the money on a RS kit and you are set.

I put a Callaham block in my '57 Reissue Strat and it made enough of a difference (and a good difference, too! ) to make it worth it. After putting in the Callaham, the higher frequencies seemed less "cluttered" and more clear, for lack of a better way to put it. I'm not talking about a world of difference but it was enough that I felt it was money well spent. Your mileage may vary.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by RichCI

I put a Callaham block in my '57 Reissue Strat and it made enough of a difference (and a good difference, too! ) to make it worth it. After putting in the Callaham, the higher frequencies seemed less "cluttered" and more clear, for lack of a better way to put it. I'm not talking about a world of difference but it was enough that I felt it was money well spent. Your mileage may vary.

Yes some notice a difference some do not. A friend has 2 MIM standards he got a Callaham block for 1 and he and I noticed a difference, So he went ahead and ordered another for the other strat , didn't do a thing for the 2nd one. ?????????????

I use a Block much the same as Callaham made by a fellow in the UK. It did improve the tone qualities slightly in my CV.

[overdriver]

Something of interest Classic Vibe Owners Club - Page 21 - Fender Stratocaster Guitar Forum

[overdriver]

These are the blocks I use about 45 Canadian to my door

Cold rolled steel trem blocks - Fender Stratocaster Guitar Forum

[Yogi]

Yes like I said it really depends on the guitar but there are cheaper and more impacting mods that you can do. Pots, caps, and wiring do more to tone than a new block IMO

[RichCI]

Originally Posted by Yogi

Yes like I said it really depends on the car but their cheaper and more impacting mods that you can do. Pots, caps, and wiring do more to tone than a new block IMO

Definitely.

I bought the Callaham block because my trem arm broke inside of the original and trying to back out the broken piece seemed like more trouble than it was worth so that's why I bought a block in the first place. I'd read about Callaham hardware so I figured "Why not?" I don't know if I would have otherwise bothered trying it or not but I do like how it turned out.

[TreeHugger]

I upgraded the Callaham bridge to my Highway One Strat a year ago. I really like it.

[Frails]

Callaham parts, especially their blocks are big improvements over stock. If the price is too rich and you can find a CRS block for less, all the better. But get that zinc doorstop out of there at all costs.

[mymindsok]

Originally Posted by Yogi

IMO, I would never spend that much upgrading an import guitar. I've noticed little if any significant changes in tone/sustain from going from a zinc block to a full size steel block, so I doubt a Callham would make any mark improvements. Your probably better suited buing the GFS trem assembly spending the rest of the money on a RS kit and you are set.

It amazes me that guys keep posting in varias forums saying that the Callaham bridges aren't worth buying but not one of them so far has bought the real thing and tried it out themselves. What kind of educated opinion is that?

I bought my second EJ Strat a couple of years ago and it's my favorite Strat so far. We all probably know by now, that the EJ's come stock with Fender's Vintage Trem assembly and that it has a full size, painted steel block but one day I saw a Callaham Trem assebbly for sale on Ebay, bought it and after two years, recently installed it.

Firstly, when you compare the stock Fender assy with the Callaham, it's obvious that the Callaham Assy is heavier, better finished and of better quality. The new parts drop right into the old space and all of the screw holes line up dead-on. Something that some people miss, is the fact that Callaham has corrected a mistake made by Fender and moved the fulcrum point of the bridge plate, to center on the center point of the mounting screws. Thats one important difference between a real vintage Fender Trem and the new ones. (And yes, it makes a difference!) One last advantage is that you will never need to modify the stock saddles to clear the strings, because he holes are already elongated. I guess Callaham thought of everything!

Strung up (Same strings!) and with the intonation adjusted and unplugged, the guitar sounds more alive, more woody and significantly louder than it did with the stock parts. Thankfully, the improvement can be heard amplified too.

My EJ was hand picked by a Fender Sales Rep from whatever was in the Cali Warehouse, so it started out as a "Good One" but now it's clearly better. I think, considering the original cost of my guitar and the amount that it has been improved that the parts swap was worth the price and I'm planning to add one to my MIM.

PS: I recently saw one of these assemblies sell for $80 on Ebay, so if youre interested in trying one, keep your eyes open!

[Yogi]

I think it is an educated opinion my friend. It doesn't make very much since in my opinion to have a $130 bridge on a $200-$350 guitar ( new/used), when you can spend the money to make much more substantial improvements such as getting rid of the mini pots and subpar wiring.

I never said that Callaham is not an improvement, I just mentioned that the price/improvement ratio is not awe inspiring. Now would I think about putting one on my $2,020 Strat, maybe yes. 130/2,020 that I already have invested is a drop in the bucket.

Yes I have never tried one, but I based my opinion on what I did observe. Ok, if steel and full sized is supposed to be so much better than tiny and zinc, and let's say the inferior (GFS) full sized steel block was a very minor improvement in tone ( tone, I'm not talking mechanics here, just tone), then the superior full sized CRS Callaham can only be so much better than the GFS in the tone department.

[overdriver]

Hi Yogi how are ya. I got another MIM classic (on route) 50s 2 tone. And I ordered a celtrocka ( Kevin's) CRS for it. I would buy the GFS but Kevins as I have said before is only 5 bucks more.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by overdriver

Hi Yogi how are ya. I got another MIM classic (on route) 50s 2 tone. And I ordered a celtrocka ( Kevin's) CRS for it. I would buy the GFS but Kevins as I have said before is only 5 bucks more.

Yeah Celtrockas stuff looks really nice, and I may buy some of his stuff later on but isn't he in Ireland or something? Might be cheaper for me to keep ordering GFS. Im contemplating the trigger on another strat too in the next couple of hours. I'll let yall know

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by Yogi

Yeah Celtrockas stuff looks really nice, and I may buy some of his stuff later on but isn't he in Ireland or something? Might be cheaper for me to keep ordering GFS. Im contemplating the trigger on another strat too in the next couple of hours. I'll let yall know

Ya he is in Wales, it only takes 5 days for his to reach me! GFS takes 6-8 plus shipping is more. With all the exchange and stuff, well total cost for me is 45 Canadian for his and about 37 for GFS. If I lived in the states I would go for the GFS. But for the few xtra dollars I like the idea of Kevin's a bit more.

[Frails]

Originally Posted by mymindsok

It amazes me that guys keep posting in varias forums saying that the Callaham bridges aren't worth buying but not one of them so far has bought the real thing and tried it out themselves. What kind of educated opinion is that?

I bought my second EJ Strat a couple of years ago and it's my favorite Strat so far. We all probably know by now, that the EJ's come stock with Fender's Vintage Trem assembly and that it has a full size, painted steel block but one day I saw a Callaham Trem assebbly for sale on Ebay, bought it and after two years, recently installed it.

Firstly, when you compare the stock Fender assy with the Callaham, it's obvious that the Callaham Assy is heavier, better finished and of better quality. The new parts drop right into the old space and all of the screw holes line up dead-on. Something that some people miss, is the fact that Callaham has corrected a mistake made by Fender and moved the fulcrum point of the bridge plate, to center on the center point of the mounting screws. Thats one important difference between a real vintage Fender Trem and the new ones. (And yes, it makes a difference!) One last advantage is that you will never need to modify the stock saddles to clear the strings, because he holes are already elongated. I guess Callaham thought of everything!

Strung up (Same strings!) and with the intonation adjusted and unplugged, the guitar sounds more alive, more woody and significantly louder than it did with the stock parts. Thankfully, the improvement can be heard amplified too.

My EJ was hand picked by a Fender Sales Rep from whatever was in the Cali Warehouse, so it started out as a "Good One" but now it's clearly better. I think, considering the original cost of my guitar and the amount that it has been improved that the parts swap was worth the price and I'm planning to add one to my MIM.

PS: I recently saw one of these assemblies sell for $80 on Ebay, so if youre interested in trying one, keep your eyes open!

Bravo!! Couldn't agree more about the Callaham's. In fact, Callaham made a MIM Strat of mine sound so good, I sold my USA Strat and have never considered a recent production USA model since. Personally I don't get the argument about the cost of the guitar having to justify the price of a Callaham. Isn't it better tone we're after? It's not like the Callaham's break the bank. Start out with the block at $60 and you'll notice a difference believe me. If you don't like it, you can resell it. There aren't a ton of them on the bay to compete against. That alone ought to be a sign of their quality.

BTW- Those EJ's sure are some nice guitars....nice choice.