Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: gwEm on November 20, 2008, 11:23:22 AM

Title: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: gwEm on November 20, 2008, 11:23:22 AM
whats the difference there? anything to speak of?

thanks
Title: Re: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: mikeluke on November 20, 2008, 01:58:47 PM
Prepares to be shot down but..... not that I know of - MIA/MIJ are different though

Title: Re: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: gwEm on November 20, 2008, 03:02:05 PM
Prepares to be shot down but..... not that I know of - MIA/MIJ are different though

i'm wondering, because allparts and fender sell arms specifically for MIM strats. so, i wonder what the difference is. or can i just expect to use a MIA arm in my MIM strat?
Title: Re: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: Philly Q on November 20, 2008, 03:29:15 PM
I think the MIM trem units and other hardware are imported (from China, Korea or wherever) and have metric threads.  Whereas the US ones have imperial threads.  So you're best off getting the proper MIM bar. 

(That may only apply to newer models though - when I had my Jimmie Vaughan Strat years ago it had exactly the same bridge as my US '62 reissue)

Or you could get a new steel block and matching bar from Callaham!
Title: Re: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: gwEm on November 20, 2008, 03:35:35 PM
I think the MIM trem units and other hardware are imported (from China, Korea or wherever) and have metric threads.  Whereas the US ones have imperial threads.  So you're best off getting the proper MIM bar. 

(That may only apply to newer models though - when I had my Jimmie Vaughan Strat years ago it had exactly the same bridge as my US '62 reissue)

Or you could get a new steel block and matching bar from Callaham!

not a bad idea - they do a set with saddles i see.

well, i'll see if i like the guitar a bit more first.

out of interest - the steel block, and the decent saddles - do they really make a big difference?
Title: Re: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: gwEm on November 20, 2008, 03:41:55 PM
shite... according to callaham, the MIM 70s reissue use MIA arms :/ better cancel my order
Title: Re: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: Philly Q on November 20, 2008, 03:52:12 PM
shitee... according to callaham, the MIM 70s reissue use MIA arms :/ better cancel my order

Ooops. sorry!  :oops: :oops:


out of interest - the steel block, and the decent saddles - do they really make a big difference?

Don't really know, I'm afraid - I have a couple of Gotoh/Wilkinson trems with steel blocks but I no longer have any trems with die-cast blocks to compare with.  There's someone on the forum who got some Callaham saddles recently, but can't remember who.  And I'm sure Phil King must have some Callaham stuff!

(I did just order a Callaham Tele bridge, but that's completely irrelevant...  :roll: )

I'm not really a fan of bent steel saddles in general - they tend to have sharp height adjustment screws sticking out the top, which really bugss me.  I put Graph Tech saddles on my Robert Cray Strat.



Title: Re: MIM vs MIA trem arms
Post by: gwEm on November 20, 2008, 03:55:59 PM
shiteee... according to callaham, the MIM 70s reissue use MIA arms :/ better cancel my order

Ooops. sorry!  :oops: :oops:

No no no no!! not at all! if you wouldn't have made that reply i'd never have know and cancelled my order. i ordered an MIM arm from allparts earlier today. just changed my order for a MIA - which is better, as i won't waste any money if i upgrade the block.


out of interest - the steel block, and the decent saddles - do they really make a big difference?

Don't really know, I'm afraid - I have a couple of Gotoh/Wilkinson trems with steel blocks but I no longer have any trems with die-cast blocks to compare with.  There's someone on the forum who got some Callaham saddles recently, but can't remember who.  And I'm sure Phil King must have some Callaham stuff!

(I did just order a Callaham Tele bridge, but that's completely irrelevant...  :roll: )

I'm not really a fan of bent steel saddles in general - they tend to have sharp height adjustment screws sticking out the top, which really bugss me.  I put Graph Tech saddles on my Robert Cray Strat.
will search for posts on the subject. allparts do a stainless block for £30 which seems reasonable and i don't have to order internationally