strat bridge replacement...

[BigB]

Hi there

Still planning my Vox Standard 25 upgrade (cf  http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20154.0 for the "which pups" part and a pic of this axe). I'll have the fret dressed and nut replaced pretty soon by a competent luthier, and I though I might as well change for a better bridge - the stock one is  very average, and a bit mechanically damaged (!!!).

Looks like the top-of-the-crop is the Callaham, but it's just a bit expensive, and I don't have enough experience with strats and strats trem bridges to make an educated opinion on whether it's really worth that much.

Another option I spotted are Wilkinson's WVCSBCR or WV6SBCR - possibly not as vintage-correct and thoughtfully designed as Callaham's, but AFAICT Wilkinson's product have a pretty good reputation, and they are much more affordable.

So, anyone here having experience with one of theses products - or both, or other alternative ?

NB : I'm perfectly ok with the inherant limitations of a vintage strat trem, so what I'm after are mostly better tone / sustain, decent tuning stability, and smooth action. Oh, and reliability, of course !-)

TIA
B.
 

[tomjackson]

I upgraded my American standard with a Callaham Block and saddles.  It's nice stuff and well made but as long as the block is steel I think the effect will be pretty much the same.  The effect was slight, nothing compared to the effect of a new Warmoth Boatneck neck.  But then again the difference may be more noticable on a better guitar (90's strats were pretty average IMO, 9 piece alder with a veneer, soft cr@ppy maple neck)

I'd give the Wilkinson one a go if I were you, as I said the Callaham stuff is good but due to the laws of diminishing returns, you may not tell the difference.

Or try the BKP strat bridge?

[FernandoDuarte]

Tom, where you that posted these saddles sometime ago?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Brass-Guitar-Saddles-Vintage-Fender-Width-430_W0QQitemZ350241438373QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item518c043aa5

Have you tried it? I'd like to try, if I had a strat

[tomjackson]

Tom, where you that posted these saddles sometime ago?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Brass-Guitar-Saddles-Vintage-Fender-Width-430_W0QQitemZ350241438373QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item518c043aa5

Have you tried it? I'd like to try, if I had a strat

No Fernando, I've got the Callaham cold rolled steel ones, and they are very nice, as far a saddles can be :D

[Elliot]

I have both Wilkinson and Callaham and I can say that whilst the Callaham is very nice, the Wilkinson is just as heavy and very well designed.  For your Vox i'd go Wilkinson.

[Philly Q]

Just a thought - does that old Vox have the same mounting-screw spacing as a Fender-style Strat tremolo?

Far eastern parts aren't always standard sizes, and that was probably more the case 30 years ago than it is now.

[BigB]

I'd give the Wilkinson one a go if I were you, as I said the Callaham stuff is good but due to the laws of diminishing returns, you may not tell the difference.

I have both Wilkinson and Callaham and I can say that whilst the Callaham is very nice, the Wilkinson is just as heavy and very well designed.  For your Vox i'd go Wilkinson.

Ok, so it'll be the Wilkinson. At least if:

Just a thought - does that old Vox have the same mounting-screw spacing as a Fender-style Strat tremolo?

Far eastern parts aren't always standard sizes, and that was probably more the case 30 years ago than it is now.

Yeps, this is something I have to sort out before spending my good money.

@tom: Yeps, I've seen mentions of that BKP bridge on the forum, but it's neither on the shop nor on the products pages. Does anyone have more informations about it ? But anyway - IIRC, it was in the £130 range, and I'm a bit on a budget so I'd rather go for the Wilkinson if it's good enough.

Thanks you guys for your inputs.
B.

[gwEm]

bkp strat bridge is lovely

or just pimp the saddles and block on your old bridge

[nikininja]

Hi
I've tried both the Callaham replacement block on a mexican strat. Then later went with a Wilkinson 5+1 to get the 56mm American Strat string spacing. I absolutely swear by the Wilkinson 5+1 now, I know others who use the Wilkinson 2point trem systems and think their great too. I have no doubt that their a great replacement.

Onto the tremblocks. Callaham have long stated that Fender dont use 1018 cold rolled steel, as part of their marketing ploy. This is an absolute lie, fender have always used 1018 CRS on their American Vintage Reissue guitars. The American Standard and Deluxe guitars use 1018 CRS too, coated in a plasticized paint.

I did notice a big difference when I replaced the zinc block on my mexican strat for a callaham steel block. I noticed a bigger difference when I replaced the callaham modded mexican trem for the Wilkinson one. One thing Callaham are hot on is that the top of the block is ground really flat. It makes great contact with the tremplate. The trem arm fitting design is 2nd to non too. Not sure about the Wilkinson 2point trems but the 5+1 trem arm fitting took a bit of figuring out to get right. Nothing from the krypton factor, just not as straightforward as the Callaham.
I paid £50 for a callaham block, I paid £26 for a Wilkinson 5+1 trem system.

[BigB]

Thanks to all you guys for your inputs and educated answers. Ok, the axe is now being cared of by my favorite luthier - new nut, fixing a couple dents on the touchboard laquer, etc. His own opinion was that the stock bridge was far from bad and the slightly damaged part was easy fix. In fact he happened to be very surprised by the sustain ("more than some gibbies" to quote him) and tone of the guitar and advised me to wait until the guitar was fixed and properly setup to find out if it would really be worth going for a new bridge. Anyway - if that was to happen, I'd go for the Wilkinson.

Good news is that the fixes will be way cheaper I thought they would be, so I should be able to get new pups (probably Apaches) sooner  :D

Thanks again everyone.