Roobaiting

[PhilKing]

Might get a Callaham steel block though...  :oops:

Have a word with Tim about the BK unit, steel block, vintage correct bent steel saddles.  It's about the same price as the Callaham but made in the UK.

[FernandoDuarte]

Wow! Bare Knuckle does bridges? :o
Didn't know...
Also a vintage tele? thinking in this:

But quite expensive about US$150 non-reliced, if you want relic + US$25 :?

[Elliot]

I have a Callaham replacement on my Baja - it does increase the sustain a bit and is more comfortable to play, but i',m not sure it was £99 better. 

PS also have a bakelite pickguard - now that was really throwing too much money about  :x

[AndyR]

I think BKP just do a strat unit at the moment Fernando, I understand it's GBP120.

[Philly Q]

Might get a Callaham steel block though...  :oops:

Have a word with Tim about the BK unit, steel block, vintage correct bent steel saddles.  It's about the same price as the Callaham but made in the UK.

I'm probably looking at a modern 2-point bridge at the moment, Phil, which is why is was thinking (too far ahead! :roll: ) about replacement blocks only.

But I haven't even got the Strat body yet, so a vintage 6-screw trem remains a possibility.

PS also have a bakelite pickguard - now that was really throwing too much money about  :x

I was thinking of doing that mod too  :lol: .  The single-ply plastic looks a bit cheap.  But no rush...

[Twinfan]

I can't wait to play my Teles through the Martamp Deluxe I have on order.  Pure Fender-driven class  :)

Tell me more!  Is this going to be a new model, is it based on the 57 Deluxe?

I'm saving up for perhaps a Goldstar but this sounds very interesting.

I'm having a 5E3 Deluxe with Power Scaling in a pine cab, covered in tweed with oxblood grille cloth and a leather handle.  Proper retro style.  :)

[ilÿti]

As a guitar shape, if a strat is a hot bird, a les paul a wise grandfathery type, an explorer a 6 foot 5 17 stone prop foward, it sort of puts me in mind of a senile old drunk that cant stop shiteeting himself.

Or something someone made from a table and bits of a robin reliant.

I hate teles. And I'm not gonna be silent any more!

Funny analogy. This is how I see it: The strat is a rich-kid college boy who hangs out with the football team but has no dissernable talent or creativity. The tele is his older brother with down's syndrome that he's too embarassed to tell anyone about.

The Les Paul is a hot lookin' fat chick. The SG is her rebelious little sister.

[FernandoDuarte]

The tele is his older brother with down's syndrome that he's too embarassed to tell anyone about.

[tomjackson]

And actually, for that tone, if it's anything like mine, what you want is Blackguards in that Baja of yours...

It's a possibility - although I think the first mod on Badger might be a replacement bridge.  Not a modern six-saddle one or anything like that (I've got them on my other Teles), but an "improved vintage" one from Glendale or Callaham.

Do you think that would make that much difference?

I seem to be coming across lots of folk talking about this. And also strat bridges - I've caught myself pondering the BKP strat bridge assembly...

But I find myself thinking "how much difference would it actually make?"

Callaham saddles on my AM strat are nothing short of a revelation.  I can't say how a callaham bridge plate would affect a Tele, but the saddles on my Strat have made the attack so much more round and...erm...stratty.  I suppose after playing the same guitar for 12 or 13 years you notice the subtle differences more....

[tomjackson]

I can't wait to play my Teles through the Martamp Deluxe I have on order.  Pure Fender-driven class  :)

Tell me more!  Is this going to be a new model, is it based on the 57 Deluxe?

I'm saving up for perhaps a Goldstar but this sounds very interesting.

I'm having a 5E3 Deluxe with Power Scaling in a pine cab, covered in tweed with oxblood grille cloth and a leather handle.  Proper retro style.  :)

Sounds nice.  12AT7 or 12AX7.? Celestion Blue or Jensen Alnico?

I quite fancy a Princeton Reverb but I'm sure Martin could produce something better built than the new reissue for £700.
But to be honest I need to stop talking / thinking about amps until I can actually but one  :(

[Twinfan]

One 12AT7 and one 12AX7, same as the original, and a Celestion "Heritage" Greenback.  I don't like Jensen speakers and the Blue is crazy money!

[AndyR]

Callaham saddles on my AM strat are nothing short of a revelation.  I can't say how a callaham bridge plate would affect a Tele, but the saddles on my Strat have made the attack so much more round and...erm...stratty.  I suppose after playing the same guitar for 12 or 13 years you notice the subtle differences more....

Thanks for that - you're starting to get me interested (I have a Fender Japan 62 RI Strat that is stock in this area, and seems to be doing ok, but you're never quite sure, are you? )

Have you just replaced the saddles, or the block as well? I've heard people swearing blind that the block makes a big difference...

Not sure how much a bakelite scratch-plate is going to help tone on the tele though Elliot/Philly, unless you replace the plastic knob on the switch as well? :D I hear what people say about the Baja scratchplate, and it really seems to offend some, but it doesn't seem to worry me at all - of course, I've never seen a bakelite one close up!

[tomjackson]

Callaham saddles on my AM strat are nothing short of a revelation.  I can't say how a callaham bridge plate would affect a Tele, but the saddles on my Strat have made the attack so much more round and...erm...stratty.  I suppose after playing the same guitar for 12 or 13 years you notice the subtle differences more....

Thanks for that - you're starting to get me interested (I have a Fender Japan 62 RI Strat that is stock in this area, and seems to be doing ok, but you're never quite sure, are you? )

Have you just replaced the saddles, or the block as well? I've heard people swearing blind that the block makes a big difference...

Not sure how much a bakelite scratch-plate is going to help tone on the tele though Elliot/Philly, unless you replace the plastic knob on the switch as well? :D I hear what people say about the Baja scratchplate, and it really seems to offend some, but it doesn't seem to worry me at all - of course, I've never seen a bakelite one close up!

I just replaced the saddles but I think I'l' change the block eventually as well.  I'm not sure you would get the same benefit on your 62 RI Strat, I think the problem with the AM standards was the cast saddles wheras yours should be vintage style?
The cast saddles probably work for some styles but they just took away a bit of the classic strat vibe for me, both aesthetically and sonically.  The attack of the notes is much more classic strat vibe now.
The callaham saddles are very good quality and may be an improvement for you but I suspect the block would do more.  It does seem expensive but I think bridge material / quality plays such an important role in your tone it could well be worth it.

[Elliot]

A Bakelite scratchplate does not affect the tone - I bought it as a GAS consoling purchase having just paid the tax man a vast chunk of my life savings.  It is by all accounts, unnecessary  :D

It does look slightly better, but only slightly.

[Philly Q]

Not sure how much a bakelite scratch-plate is going to help tone on the tele though Elliot/Philly, unless you replace the plastic knob on the switch as well? :D

It's not all about the tone though!  :lol: 

I really hate those single-ply plastic scratchplates and the way they warp all over the place, I had a Strat with one once and it made me cringe every time I saw it.  If I ever bought a Clapton Strat I'd bin the scratchplate immediately and replace it with a gold anodised one.

I'll probably get bakelite for the Badger, or I may totally change the look and put a torty plate on it.

As for the Callaham stuff, I'm prepared to believe the hype about the block - after all it is where the strings are anchored, and it's a big hefty chunk of metal (I worked out over the weekend that a trem system is about a pound heavier than a hardtail!).  I'd consider the saddles too, but I'm also interested in KTS Titanium (a bit more expensive).  And there's always Graph Tech as a cheaper option - I've used them before and like them  lot.