Replacing American standard trem with Hipshot or Callaham

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Schneidas	Replacing American standard trem with Hipshot or Callaham		Lead	[-]
Posts: 260 Thu, Mar 27, 2008 09:05:45 Bronze Member	Tags : None I've been thinking about replacing the American standard tremolo on my Fender/USACG dual-humbucking Strat with either a Hipshot 2-pivot trem or one of those Callaham narrow-spaced vintage 6-hole trems (2 1/16" string spacing). In case I go for the Callaham, I'll have to order the American standard-to-vintage conversion kit aswell. Since this guitar has dual-humbuckers I'll need a narrow spaced bridge. I'm really just looking to get the best possible tone out of her, that's why I want to upgrade the trem. I should also add that in general, I prefer 6-hole trems over 2-pivot ones. Now the reason I'm having a dilemma is that I've never seen a Strat style guitar with humbuckers AND a vintage-style bridge (Callaham or Fender) - usually Strats with humbuckers come either with Floyd Rose trems, or modern 2-pivot trems - so I'm wondering if there's a reason for this. I have a Callaham trem on my 3-singlecoil USACG Strat and played dry (not amplified), the tone is realtively bright with that trem. On the other hand, I also have a Hipshot fixed bridge with my other dual-humbucking USACG Strat and when played dry, that tone is a bit mellower. So I'm wondering if the tone of a Callaham trem would sound somewhat weird with humbuckers and if it's better to choose a Hipshot trem for that guitar. I'd love to hear what you guys think about this www.myspace.com/schneidas
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javacody		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1101 Fri, Mar 28, 2008 03:24:28 FIB Humble Man of Steel	I personally love the Callaham bridge, it would always be my first choice. I think you don't see vintage trems with humbuckers too often because of the spacing issues. However, you do have F spaced bridge humbuckers and I think if you look around, you can find some vintage trems and humbuckers fitted together. I don't think its a tone issue, but more of a mechanics issue. Using that narrower spaced Callaham trem would probably allow you to use normal spaced buckers. Also, most guys who like vintage type strat bridges are probably kind of purists about the Fender Strat formula. They probably think putting buckers on a strat is blasphemy. Blah Blah Woof Woof -Jimi Hendrix
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nocaster		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 18227 Fri, Mar 28, 2008 04:27:57 The Big FIBer	If you really think there's a significant tone improvement to be had from the vintage formula, be happy with just replacing the block. I see more potential hassles from changing the whole bridge than any real benefit you'll gain. i feel the weight of the world on my shoulder; as i'm gettin older ya'll people gets colder most of us only care about money-makin; selfishness got us followin the wrong direction wrong information always shown by the media; negative images is the main criteria infecting the [people's] minds faster than bacteria; [peeps] wanna act like what they see in the cinema
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Schneidas		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 262 Fri, Mar 28, 2008 08:26:14 Bronze Member	Thanks Java and Nocaster. Nocaster, I keep reading the saddles on the American standard bridges are notorious for sub-optimal sound and therefore folks like to change them with better quality saddles (brass or steel vs the zinc they are supposedly made of). I'd also be interested to read what kind of potential hassles you'd see from a American standard to vintage-style conversion, as that Callaham kit seems to be quite simple (very pricey though for a bunch of screws). www.myspace.com/schneidas
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javacody		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1111 Fri, Mar 28, 2008 13:11:41 FIB Humble Man of Steel	I personally think there is a tone improvement, but this really depends on what kind of tone you like. A block replacement may be a good thing to consider. Blah Blah Woof Woof -Jimi Hendrix
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Schneidas		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 265 Fri, Mar 28, 2008 22:21:59 Bronze Member	Java, what do you think would be the difference in tone between tha Am.standard and vintage-style bridge? Btw, I have replaced the block of the American standard bridge with a Callaham block years ago - but to be perfectly honest, I couldn't really tell a difference after the change... Yet, I keep reading those American standard saddles are also tone-suckers www.myspace.com/schneidas
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javacody		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1112 Sat, Mar 29, 2008 01:30:05 FIB Humble Man of Steel	I'm not sure. I really like the vintage bridge and I think that hardened steel is the way to go. I think the saddles are probably the biggest difference, but having already done a block upgrade, I'm not sure you are going to see too much more of what I would consider to be an improvement? Especially if the steel block didn't seem to make much difference to you. Let me ask you one thing, how do you have the trem set up? Is it to Fender spec, floating slightly away from the body or do you have it screwed down tight to the body? Blah Blah Woof Woof -Jimi Hendrix Last Edited By: javacody Sat, Mar 29, 2008 14:22:30. Edited 1 time.
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Schneidas		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 266 Sat, Mar 29, 2008 07:03:10 Bronze Member	I always like my trems screwed down tight on the body. I think it gives a slightly fuller tone with better sustain than a floating bridge www.myspace.com/schneidas
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nocaster		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 18229 Sat, Mar 29, 2008 11:29:24 The Big FIBer	Okay then, why not try just replacing the saddles? i feel the weight of the world on my shoulder; as i'm gettin older ya'll people gets colder most of us only care about money-makin; selfishness got us followin the wrong direction wrong information always shown by the media; negative images is the main criteria infecting the [people's] minds faster than bacteria; [peeps] wanna act like what they see in the cinema
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javacody		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1118 Sat, Mar 29, 2008 14:27:16 FIB Humble Man of Steel	I think when you have the bridge screwed down to the body, then the block and springs don't play as much of a part in your tone. When the bridge is floating, you can hear the difference with a steel block (in my opinion) and the springs do something to the tone as well. The saddles would probably still impact the tone though. Blah Blah Woof Woof -Jimi Hendrix
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Schneidas		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 267 Sat, Mar 29, 2008 14:44:42 Bronze Member	"Okay then, why not try just replacing the saddles?" that would be another way to go, yes I was just hoping to replace the 2-pivot system with a 6-hole trem as I really prefer vintage-style trems in general. They're easier to setup flush with the body - the 2-pivot system always slips back and forth... I was kinda hoping the standard-to-vintage conversion kit was an easy to do mod for this www.myspace.com/schneidas
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Boris Bubbanov		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 Fri, May 2, 2008 07:00:01	Yeah, it is hard to really clamp down on a 2 post system. You can tighten those 6 hardened screws with 5 springs and a tight claw and that's decked once and for all. I was just very concerned about the cautionary language I remember reading on the Callaham site about getting everything including the neck radius to align adequately on that Kinman inspired conversion kit. Makes ya wanna use an F-spaced humbucker. BTW the Am Se compatible Callaham steel block and offset screw bent saddles sounds great; except that I just got this Glendale Chimemaster and that is amazing.
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Replacing American standard trem with Hipshot or Callaham

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