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Post by JebusCrebus on Mar 16, 2007 7:10:20 GMT -7
After reading the other threads on these things I pulled the trigger on a new block, arm, and saddles for my Custom Shop 1960 Strat. I took the "online" approach some of you mentioned and used www.specialtyguitars.com I talked to Paul directly (great guy to talk to) and the deal was very easy, they even do the Pay Pal thing, and parts were in stock, no waiting for back orders or production times. I'll post more info in a couple of weeks when the stuff gets here, since I'm in the great white north I gotta wait for snail mail and customs before they arrive, typically adds 2- 3 weeks to transit times. [glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow]
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Post by jzguitar on Mar 16, 2007 8:10:08 GMT -7
Very cool - please update us when you get it. I've been thinking about getting the whole block/bridge assembly for my cheapo 60's reissue.
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Post by mward on Mar 16, 2007 8:27:57 GMT -7
You WILL notice a difference. I'm skeptical and I noticed bigtime. Even unplugged there's a huge difference and now the guitar just sustains forever.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Mar 16, 2007 9:05:57 GMT -7
Will these still make a difference if the trem is locked down with all 5 springs ? Most stuff I have shipped to friends in Michigan and bring it home from there . Just picked up an Avatar 2X12 cab for a fellow Z member yesterday , brought it into London and shipped it by FedEx to him . Just checked the tracking and it was delivered today ! Avatar will NOT ship to Canada for some reason .
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Post by mward on Mar 16, 2007 9:30:25 GMT -7
Yes, I run mine with all 5 locked down tight and it makes a big difference.
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Post by zdogma on Mar 16, 2007 9:37:51 GMT -7
Will these still make a difference if the trem is locked down with all 5 springs ? Most stuff I have shipped to friends in Michigan and bring it home from there . Just picked up an Avatar 2X12 cab for a fellow Z member yesterday , brought it into London and shipped it by FedEx to him . Just checked the tracking and it was delivered today ! Avatar will NOT ship to Canada for some reason . They now have a Canadian distributor: www.steamcomusic.com/avatar/index.htmlIts way up in the 'Peg, but apparently they're reliable guys.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Mar 16, 2007 10:15:45 GMT -7
Yes, I run mine with all 5 locked down tight and it makes a big difference. Might be worth a try then . Thanks for the Avatar cab dealer in Canada Zdogma
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Post by JebusCrebus on Mar 27, 2007 4:49:58 GMT -7
I just got my Callaham block yesterday, 10 day shipment time (including the weekend) from Specialty Guitars. That's really fast for International, at least in my experience. I recommend them to anyone looking to buy theses parts, do it on line or give them a call, Paul is really easy to talk to. www.specialtyguitars.comI installed the parts the same night in less than an hour including a cleaning, re-string and a complete setup of the Geetar. I did not get a chance to play it through my Jr yet but I noticed a big difference in the resonance of the Axe acoustically. I'll plug it in tonight and wail through the Jr for a good workout and report back. I suspect it will make a huge difference based on what I heard last night. [glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow]
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Post by mward on Mar 27, 2007 6:01:16 GMT -7
I noticed the same thing too. After I installed the block stringing it up and tuning it - a lot more acoustic sustain and resonance in the body. It's insane how much difference a different metal makes.
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Post by groovergeorge on Mar 27, 2007 6:48:11 GMT -7
I've got Callaham blocks in both my strats and could never go back. It's not just the extra sustain I have found you get but a little bit more sparkle. It's really hard to explain and I was dubious at first but if you get one and compare it you will not realize the difference they really do make.
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Post by JebusCrebus on Mar 28, 2007 4:42:07 GMT -7
I got chance to play the Strat through my amp for a couple of hours last night. This guitar responds very differently now, the low strings sound huge, and the high strings ring very clear. The guitar now rings like an acoustic and she sustains like a bugger. This new setup in conjunction with the articulation of the Z really makes a player sharpen his/her chops as there is no forgiveness for being sloppy. I am a believer! Now I may have to upgrade 6 more strats and a Tele! [glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow]
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Post by zgrip on Nov 17, 2007 13:40:50 GMT -7
Thanks to some different threads on the Callaham block, including this one, and some helpful PMs from Jebus Crebus (thanks! and more karma to ya) I have had a Callaham block in my Fender AV 62 reissue for a few weeks now. The callaham replaced the stock vintage ri block which Fender claims is made of the same material they've used since the vintage reissues came out. This may be true but it's not the same material Fender used up until 71. Other differences are the Fender block is slathered in a thick plasticy paint including on the top of the block that mates with the bridge plate. This can only reduce sound transfer between block and bridge. Also the string holes in the Fender block go half way up the block, on the callaham they are at the bottom of the block, just like on the old Fenders. So as far as I can tell the block Fender is using on the AV reissues and the custom shop strats is not at all like a true vintage spec block and has a negative effect on tone. I've owned this strat for 5 years so I'm very familiar with every nuance of its tone and have also been through two string changes with the callaham. Differences I hear are not due to new strings. The callaham blocks makes a big difference. I was expecting subtle differences at best but it's much more than subtle. Bass extension is improved, just bigger and tighter. Harmonic complexity is increased across the board. Clarity is much greater, it's easier to hear note separation, even in complex chords. The high e and b strings sound much fuller, rounder and ring like never before. Chime and sustain increased greatly. This is how a strat is supposed to sound but the garbage block Fender uses inhibits all this tonal richness from coming through. And my strat sounded pretty damn good already. The improvements must be even more pronounced when upgrading an import strat with even cheaper trem blocks such as those tapered zinc things you see on the mexi strats and American standards. Unless Fender changes their block, any strat I own will get a callaham block. This made a better improvement than any pickups, pedal or tube change has ever made. I would say this is a must for any strat that doesn't have an original spec block which includes the AV and any Custom Shop strat. The EJ block I think comes closer to the callaham as it doesn't have the paint on top and the string holes come to the bottom of the block. It's unknown to me if they use the same cold rolled steel Callaham uses but I would doubt it. If you have any strat other than a vintage strat that already has the original Leo spec'd block, get the Callaham immediately. Do not for one minute think your AV or CS strat has the proper block, it doesn't.
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Post by Hohn on Nov 17, 2007 19:17:11 GMT -7
How are people keeping the rolled steel block from rusting?
JH
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Post by zgrip on Nov 21, 2007 18:37:43 GMT -7
Good question Hohn. I checked with Bill Callaham and there is a very thin coating on the Callaham block, just not on the top surface that mates with the bridge plate. I didn't notice it but he says it's there. Some of the original 50-60's blocks might have a touch of surface rust after many years but apparently nothing that affects tone. Any surface rust can probably be lightly sanded off.
If my Callaham block rusted away to nothing, I'd get another in a heartbeat.
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