The only mod I do on EVERY Strat + installation tips.

Today I go show you why I love the Callaham Vintage Strat bridge and some tips on how to install one and dial in your own Strat. Not sponsored, just really love this bridge.

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0:00 Intro
0:55 A problem that needed solving.
1:40 Comparing the Fender block and the Callaham
3:25 Comparing the Fender plate to the Callaham
4:43 Install part 1 - Tools needed
5:36 Install part 2 - How tight should the bridge screws be?
6:46 Install part 3 - Two important setup steps you shouldn't skip
8:00 Install part 4 - How to adjust the tension on the whammy bar
9:27 Stress Test - Let's see if it stays in tune
10:17 Wrapping things up

[S.Lang]

Never heard about the Callaham bridge before, you also just sent me down in the rabbit hole about “ cold rolled steel “ . Love these videos, thanks!

[AdrianDMarti]

Great to know about the Callaham.! You rock Jim!

[jqueify]

Thanks for the tips, I've got try one of those

[Bliggick]

It doesn't matter to my old weathered mitts and maybe it doesn't matter to you but some people would complain that you need shorter grub screws holding up your saddles so they are not raking into their palms. I bought some cheap Musiclily saddles from Amazon for a budget guitar and I appreciated that this competitive parts company included multiple screws at different lengths to address this issue.

[Markleford]

Prefer 2-point bridges, but a few of the project Strats have 6-screw. I float my bridges pretty well at this point and they're pretty stable, so mostly I want to start getting into replacing just the block for extra sustain and better feel! I especially want to do this on the Starcaster "Strat" that has 5mm threads on the bar, which makes them all the more bendable than the 6mm ones!

[kmatax]

You can also get a set of replacement screws from mannmade who makes prs bridges, the screws replace original fender screws but have a slit point on them that the bridge cut outs ride on basically like knife edge points on a floyd

[bluwng]

Never broke a trem arm. I use 9 gauge and 2 springs floating so there is, little tension to overcome. People that break them often use 100 springs screwed all the way in. I exaggerate but it makes my point.😊

[bluwng]

The pivot point/ bevel being on the center of the screw holes helps but not for friction it prevents the plate from sliding up and down. Physics wants your bridge to pivot in the center of the hole and a traditional Fender wants to pivot behind the screws as well as the center which creates instability hence the sliding motion. PRS bridges are same as Callahan and realistically you don’t need the PRS screws as the bridge won’t slide due to inherent stability of the design?

[Alex-jwjc]

I install the same way. I also prefer the vintage narrow version to avoid the E strings from falling off the fretboards. I know Callaham has their own saddles but I reinstall the fender to keep the look.

[GoodmanRecordingsTokyo]

I see another XS convert! I'm running these over a year on some guitars.

[vinced]

I'm gonna get that bridge now. I see the Callaham vintage bridge set comes with a set of springs and screws. Let's see if those springs are better than the originals. I heard about Raw "Vintage Springs" being the ultimate replacement to go with. Anyone heard about that?

[kmatax]

Check out the wudtone bridge thats similar and adds a support plate to ride on and if you want to get crazy you should check out rock rabbit bridge thats made of titanium

[Bliggick]

Looking on the Callaham website for the American Standard bridge upgrade kit, they offer the option of either Right Hand Center or Right Hand Offset. What is that they are talking about? Also, do you still need the spring in the arm hole to make the arm float?

[bciecko]

I love after market parts. The little differences that add up to big changes for the better.

Injave thr atock on my strat. Its an american ultra and has a pop-in arm. I dont mind it at all. Its a 2 point trem as well.

[kmatax]

So is that cory wong strat body slightly smaller from what i heard about it?

[queeffersthrlnd]

I was unlucky to have my arm break in the block so I’m going to replace it or the whole bridge/trem. What do you think of the Vegatrem? I was thinking of getting this Callahan but it just seems so similar to the one I already have besides the block and the screw holes. I’m probably wrong but I’m wondering if the vegatrem is worth the extra 100.

[NintenDub]

All you gotta do is back out the 4 middle screws. I do this on all cheapish starts, .as it isn't the bridge that the problem.on one bullet strat I have, two of the 6 screws are just crooked. Saving time means being sloppy. So to anyone with a cheap strat, take the strings off, undo all the 6 screws, than set the 2 outter most screws, and than screw the inner 4 inward, until they move the bridge, than back em out a half turn or whatever. If you do that, and address the nut, as well as sus out the need or irrelevance of string tree/trees you can.get any cheao strat to absolutely stay in tune. My stock bullet starts(2) and one squier "strat" all can be hammered on and they stay in tune perfect.of.course they slip over time, but even the best standard style strat in the world.doesnt hold tune 100%. There's simply no need, whatsoever, to upgrade the bridge and saddles and block. You might need more springs, I've found to prefer more of them, but at a less tension so the the vibrato is more spongey.and ive also floated them and have had great success of bending uo and down withoit going out of pitch, and ppl are impressed cuz they see a squier, amd they're like "oh great" amd i tell them to hammer away and telk me.its out of tune. And they do, and than they look at me like it's magic or I just got a good one. It's all about mechanics and very simple understanding.its why I love leo genders designs. They're simply brilliant, and dumb, and so simple, yet elegant but stupid and very well thought out.and he wasn't a guitar player which makes it even cooler. Tho we have Floyd's and such today, from an operational standpoint, there's no need to go any further than where Leon left it when the50s closed out, as he perfected it

[tomasodriziola]

I tried super vee, Callaham, Wilkinson. Super vee had very extreme effect on sound that I hated but it stay in tune great. Wilkinson was good for money and did not have this change of sound very solid, but the Callaham is the one that feels best to use and doesn't completely ruin the sound ( super vee ). so yes agree

[GoodmanRecordingsTokyo]

On my strats I shim the neck and replace the springs with a set of Raw Vintage.

[Lomoholga]

Once I tried a two-point Gotoh 510 I can’t go back to a vintage 6-screw style.

I find the vintage bridges simply don’t stay in tune nearly as well as a two-point despite the endless advice on how to set them up properly.

It’s funny how people have these long detailed lists of how to get 6-screw bridges to stay in tune and with two-point bridges the list basically consists of ‘just use it and make sure the nut is cut properly’