Re: Steel Trem block

In article <5c035514-eb1c-4b8d-b190-9367502afbe1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Grip <mbetts@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Aug 10, 9:20 am, clau...@xxxxxxxxx (Claude V. Lucas) wrote:
In article <4e4283a6$0$29976$c3e8da3$54964...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,





VampX  <va...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 2011-08-10 11:58:06 +0000, Claude V. Lucas said:

FWIW, I've liked Callaham's Strat parts especially the trem & block
enough to leave it alone for a few years now after I got one and I
can't say that about the cheaper stuff. The machining is top shelf
and the steel he uses for the blocks is quite resonant. Should be
great with nice wood like an EJ...

Well Ill be putting it on the CS 64 first up. The EJ is doing fine on
its own atm and ive swapped out the Kinmans and slung a set of SD
Californian somethings in it. They sound cool as but that thing is made
of different stuff Im sure as its just light as a feather.

If this works out well Ill throw another block n trem in the EJ Strat
and see how it goes. I got the steel block mainly because it throws
back to the original design. Most elements on the CS 64 are in line
with the original design, just not the block.
--

Anyway, I'm guessing you'll like it. The resonant metal helps
accent the harmonic content a bit, if that makes sense...
Brightens things up a bit without getting icepicky.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I found out from the many, many builds I done over the years for
myself or others that it's a total crap shoot. Used the "best" parts
and trems, bridges, claws, springs etc, and parts from a literal "grab
bag" of no name junk that fits and there are little if any constants.
The funny and hardest thing for me personally is to realize when I hit
a point of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" :-)
Tinkering is waaay fun though, but I rarely buy stuff on hype or
endorsmnets. I'de say at least half the time cheap is just as good.

I've yet to be unhappy with anything I've gotten from Callaham, even
though his stuff sometimes costs a bit more. Everything fits the way
it should and works properly. I wrestled with an old Strat for decades
and still can't believe how well my current semi-homemade Strat stays
in tune with the Callaham trem. Precision machining. The pivot screw
slots are *exactly* the right size for the hardened pivot screws that
he ships with it. No slop there = no few cents +/- change in pitch when
you abuse the bar.

Buying cheap parts from random suppliers can definitely be a crapshoot.
I'm not into it any more. BTDT. I'd rather have one top-shelf Strat
than three or four that piss me off when I try to play them for tuning
lapses or strange overtones from the pickups or sharp edges that draw
blood or things that fall apart on their own.


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