Final decisions: Bridge and pickups

[Brow]

Hey guys.

The time has come that I can now afford to replace the pickups (with BKs obviously) and the tremolo of a Mahogany/Ash bodied 70s Japanese Strat that I have.

I plan on replacing it's current pickups with a HSS BK set, and just wanted to check what sets I should be thinking about?

I was all but decided on a Crawler/Irish Tour/Irish Tour set, but with all this talk of the Abraxas (sp?) pickups, I wasn't sure if 1 of those in the bridge would be an option?

I play mainly 60's and 70's Rock music but I'm also thinking of 'branching out' into the 80's Rock too so i can mix up setlists a little more and was just curious if my original choice of Crawler/Irish Tour/Irish Tour would be able to handle the 80's stuff ok aswell?

If not, let me know suggestions :)

I also need suggestions for a suitable replacement Tremolo bridge. I don't want a bridge for doing crazy divebombs and tricks with (so no Floyd Rose or Kahlers etc please  :)). Something like a Gotoh or Wilkinson would suit me fine. There's just so many options I just don't know where to start :)

The current tremolo on the guitar has 6 screws that the tremolo pivots around, so maybe that limits my options?

Thanx for any help guys :)

Craig

[The amazing Phil]

Well I know Callaham make excellent hardwear, a little pricey but worth it. http://www.callahamguitars.com

I got a Callaham tele bridge and it's great, compensated saddles, thicker steel plate rather than the thin plated stuff you get from Gotoh, and a cool touch is that the lower lip of the "tray" is cut back so as to make tremelo picking the high e easier, like Danny Gatton's apparently.

It's not cheap but if you're splashing out on pickups it won't hurt having a bridge that'll do 'em justice.

[Tim]

The Crawler bridge will certainly have more meat than the Abraxas which is brighter and sweeter with a touch less output.

Your trem is a typical vintage style.............there are as you say plenty to choose from.In my experience the biggest benefits in tone come from replacing the trem block.........Allparts make a nice machined steel one which is quite reasonable and then there's the Callaham stuff the Charlie Chandler does.........I think HJM has gone this route..........HJM can you come in on this one?

[Brow]

Thanx for the posts guys :)

So everyone thinks I'll be ok with my original thought of Crawler/IT/IT?

The main problem I'm having with the current tremolo bridge on the strat is that that the string space on each saddles is quite wide (around 2 or 3mm) which means that everytime I re-string the guitar the string spacing changes depending on where on the saddle the string is sitting (if this makes any sense?, I've not described it very well).

Keep the opinions coming guys :)

Craig

[HJM]

I've got both the Callaham trem in a Jap strat and the Allparts one in a strat that BKP built for me. They're both very good, give more resonance and twang to the tone. When I went from the jap bridge to the callaham it was dramatic - almost as much of a tone change as pickups I have to say. The strat lacked body, twang, sustain and attack, now it has all 4......together with a good set of pickups it will make even an average strat sound top notch.

Downside, there's a very slight ring on the  open G string, I've heard it in vintage strats too, I'm told it's down to the bridge design and is a trade-off for he great tone you get  - it doesn't come through the amp though so nothing to really worry about!

[Brow]

Thanx for the info HJM.

I'm not sure if I just need to replace the Trem block or the whole bridge unit.

I don't want to use it for extreme dive bombing or whammy bar tricks etc, just for a bit of vibrato n small dips etc.

In your opinion, would the current bridge with a new tremolo block and a setup be able to do what I want it to do?

Craig

[Brow]

I've just looked on this page http://www.allparts.uk.com/acatalog/SaddlesForStrat.html and was wondering if a set of those narrow spaced saddles and a new tremolo block would sort my problems out?

Craig

[Ratrod]

I've heard the Wilkinsons are pretty good.

+1 on the Crawler and Irish Tours, especially because of the mahogany in the guitar.

[HJM]

It depends on what's wrong with your bridge is it a tone or a tuning thing?? - the callaham trem block sorts out most of the tone problems, they also do  vintage correct saddles - i have a set of graphtech FAAS pickup saddles on my callaham trem. The base plate of the callaham trem is very very well made, and it's a really tight fit against the trem block.

The trem arms by Callaham are perfect for me, and look and feel great too!

I'd look to the nut for tuning problems, most start here ime. The BKP strat has a set of gotoh klusion style locking tuners - they look the part and work really well. I'm also looking to fit a graphtec nut in he future.

[Brow]

It depends on what's wrong with your bridge is it a tone or a tuning thing?? - the callaham trem block sorts out most of the tone problems, they also do  vintage correct saddles - i have a set of graphtech FAAS pickup saddles on my callaham trem. The base plate of the callaham trem is very very well made, and it's a really tight fit against the trem block.

The trem arms by Callaham are perfect for me, and look and feel great too!

I'd look to the nut for tuning problems, most start here ime. The BKP strat has a set of gotoh klusion style locking tuners - they look the part and work really well. I'm also looking to fit a graphtec nut in he future.

The guitars tone is ok (hopefully this will get better with my BKs) and the tuning is always good too.

The main 'problem' i'm having is where the string sits on the saddle. Each string saddle has about a 2mm wide gap for the string to sit on, which means that whenever I re-string the guitar, the string ends up sitting in a  different place on the saddle and the string spacing changes everytime and the strings no-longer aline with the pickups.

I don't know if this is a problem or not, or if it's just me being paranoid and worrying about nothing  :roll:

Does string spacing affect the size of the tremolo block that I need?

Craig

[TwilightOdyssey]

I think you should go with a Warpig and 2 x Trilogies!! ;)

[Brow]

I think you should go with a Warpig and 2 x Trilogies!! ;)

I think that setup would be a little too 'manly' for me mate :)

You know I only play 'wimpy' music  :lol:  

[Rainmaker]

Don't mind if I hijack Craig. :p

Will these Callaham strat bridge assemblies fit on my Yamaha Pacifica?

[HJM]

There's some different spacings available, for Mexican, American and Jap strats - they're all different!! US are the widest, butth narrower ones run over the bridge pup pole pieces better!!

It will sound better with the strat, and new sadles should cure your string problem too.

As for teh Pacifica I don't know - Charlie Chandler will, call guitar experience www.guitarexperience.co.uk

[Brow]

There's some different spacings available, for Mexican, American and Jap strats - they're all different!! US are the widest, butth narrower ones run over the bridge pup pole pieces better!!

It will sound better with the strat, and new sadles should cure your string problem too.

As for teh Pacifica I don't know - Charlie Chandler will, call guitar experience www.guitarexperience.co.uk

Thanx for the reply HJM :)

I think I'll go for an Allparts Trem block and a set of those narrow string bridge saddles. For how much use the tremolo will get, I don't see much point in paying £60+ for a Gotoh or a Wilkinson :)

I have a few bits I could do with selling 1st and then I can order my pickups :)

Craig