swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Nov 23, 2006 21:33:51 GMT -7
I've decided it's time to replace the gold hardware on my strat. I've had this guitar for about 12 or 13 years and the bridge saddles have just about had it. The tuners are (I think) gotoh kluson style and they were never that great to begin with. Now a few of the buttons are getting loose so I've decided to go ahead and replace everything.
I know gold hardware doesn't hold up as well as nickel, but it looks very cool on this guitar, a three-tone sunburst with pearloid pickguard. It's possible I could be talked out of gold, but somehow I just can't picture the guitar without it.
In any case, I am looking for suggestions on what to get for good quality replacement stuff. The tremolo is a vintage six screw type with 2 7/32" spacing. I've seen the Wilkinsons with a pop-in tremolo arm which I like the sound of. I was never able to get the threaded bar on this tremolo to stay where I wanted it and it has always had a little bit of slop in it's action. I end up leaving it in the case most of the time.
For tuners I'd like to go back with the kluson style. I see now that there are kluson style locking tuners available. This guitar does stay in tune rather well even when I use the bar, but I'm curious to hear what any of you who have the locking type think of them.
For the rest (neck and jack plates, screws, etc) I'm just looking for some longevity from the gold plating.
Any info or experiences much appreciated.
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Post by groovergeorge on Nov 24, 2006 4:12:01 GMT -7
Go www.callahamguitars.comThere replacements parts are made to vintage specifications and are precision quality built. There are no replacements out there better. Both my strat and tele part-o-casters are bulit using these superior quality parts and they equal anything out of the fender custom shop if not better. I think callaham is making a vintage stle trem with new pop in type arm as well. Not sure about the gold parts,he was starting to discontinue that stuff. Good luck.
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swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Nov 24, 2006 7:39:49 GMT -7
Go www.callahamguitars.comThere replacements parts are made to vintage specifications and are precision quality built. There are no replacements out there better. Both my strat and tele part-o-casters are bulit using these superior quality parts and they equal anything out of the fender custom shop if not better. I think callaham is making a vintage stle trem with new pop in type arm as well. Not sure about the gold parts,he was starting to discontinue that stuff. Good luck. Wow. Great tip man. Thanks. I'm thinking now I will go to nickel finish hardware. He's probably discontinuing the gold because it just doesn't last. That looks like some really nice stuff.
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Post by GuitarZ on Nov 24, 2006 7:48:49 GMT -7
If I was going to change one thing on my old Les Paul, I would put the locking tuners on it. I have them on my Strat and it's such a breeze to change the strings.
Also, if you think you're not going to like your ax with nickle, stick with the gold. I've changed a couple of things on my Les Paul and I found that I just couldn't quite get use to looking at it if it didn't look the same. It didn't feel the same or sound the same and I knew it was in my head with the looks.
Of course, I do get stuck in my ways from time to time.
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Post by Shannon on Nov 24, 2006 9:19:22 GMT -7
I agree with GuitarZ on the locking tuners. And the best thing that I've done to my strat (other than Fralin pups) was installing graphite saddles. I use to break at least 1 string a gig. I haven't broken one in over 6 years now.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Nov 24, 2006 9:26:39 GMT -7
Gold looks nice but it's inevitable it will wear off . If you can stand it with nickel I would go with that for the long run . I agree on the locking tuners too....very nice .
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swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Nov 24, 2006 10:05:35 GMT -7
Gold looks nice but it's inevitable it will wear off . If you can stand it with nickel I would go with that for the long run . I agree on the locking tuners too....very nice . Thanks for the info everyone. I think I'm pretty much sold on the Callaham stuff that groover suggested. Looks like some really high quality stuff. I knew the gold hardware wouldn't last when I had this guitar built way back when, but I loved the look. Now I'm more interested in something that will last a while. I've got plenty of pics of this guitar when it was new with the gold. It's really still in excellent condition save for the hardware. The locking tuners is something I'll have to think more about. I'm hesitant to deviate from the total vintage appearance and I've never had tuning issues with this axe. It's always been pretty solid with the split post klusons, though I do like the idea of quick and easy string changes.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Nov 24, 2006 11:32:00 GMT -7
Nothing wrong with the Kluson's swampstomper as thay will work fine too , the locking tuners are just more handy but I appreciate your idea to keep the vintage look which I like too . Keep your old parts as these are good to keep when 20 years down the road when the guitar is a prized collectable ! ;D
+1 karma for your efforts and show us some before and after pics if you can !
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Post by skydog958 on Nov 24, 2006 11:59:03 GMT -7
I've also found locking tuners to make life a lot easier. My 535 and my Zion both have gold Schallers, and while I never really liked the look of them on traditional guitars (i.e. Gibson and Fender), they look fine on those and work really really well. On the gold hardware, sometimes the faded gold look goes better than the brand new gold look (I like Black Beauties with a bit of ware on them!).
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swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Nov 24, 2006 13:05:02 GMT -7
Nothing wrong with the Kluson's swampstomper as thay will work fine too , the locking tuners are just more handy but I appreciate your idea to keep the vintage look which I like too . Keep your old parts as these are good to keep when 20 years down the road when the guitar is a prized collectable ! ;D +1 karma for your efforts and show us some before and after pics if you can ! Hey thanks man! I just faxed my order in to Callaham. I'm gonna stick with the vintage style klusons for now. I keep a small pair of needle nose pliers in my case so string changes aren't that much bother. I'm used to the split posts. I'll have to dig around and find my stash of pics from when the guitar was new and I'll be sure to post a few before/after shots when the transition is complete.
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swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Nov 24, 2006 13:06:53 GMT -7
On the gold hardware, sometimes the faded gold look goes better than the brand new gold look (I like Black Beauties with a bit of ware on them!). Faded, yes. Pitted out and rusted? Not so much. <g>
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Post by skydog958 on Nov 24, 2006 13:18:14 GMT -7
point taken And I lied, the tuners are Sperzels, not Schallers.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Nov 24, 2006 13:23:48 GMT -7
point taken And I lied, the tuners are Sperzels, not Schallers. I've got the Sperzels on my 50th anv and deluxe Strats which are standard equipment . Had a fellow who knows Fender well telling me a new Deluxe Strat he was looking at had China made Sperzels with a big "S" on the lock knob . Is everything going to be made in China !!
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Post by groovergeorge on Nov 24, 2006 14:59:43 GMT -7
I hate to be a know it all self proclaimed tone connoiseur but I wouldn't recommend going graphite/graphtech saddles unless you wanted to change your tone. I know I'm going to get a few eyes rolling but there are a lot of people who will back me up here. Those things along with graphite nuts to me on a strat or tele are a definate no-no if you want to keep that vintage sounding twang. I'm big on a real bone nut as well. Plastic,LSR Rollers,Brass and Locking systems all sound different.
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swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Nov 24, 2006 16:00:45 GMT -7
I hate to be a know it all self proclaimed tone connoiseur but I wouldn't recommend going graphite/graphtech saddles unless you wanted to change your tone. I know I'm going to get a few eyes rolling but there are a lot of people who will back me up here. Those things along with graphite nuts to me on a strat or tele are a definate no-no if you want to keep that vintage sounding twang. I'm big on a real bone nut as well. Plastic,LSR Rollers,Brass and Locking systems all sound different. I would tend to agree. I favor bone for nuts and for the saddles on my acoustic guitars. In fact, the thing that actually led me to have this strat built as opposed to just buying one was that at the time most every strat Fender made came with the LSR roller nut. I just didn't care for it, and really a well shaped and maintained bone nut shouldn't cause any tuning issues.
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Post by tele1962 on Nov 24, 2006 22:53:00 GMT -7
In 40 years of replacing tuners for folks , I found one simple truth about tuners. They all wear out. We talk about this brand and that brand like there's a bit of magic here and there, but there's not. Gotoh, Schaller, Sperzel, Kluson, Kluson Deluxe, Grover Rotomatics...given enough time , they wear out, and claims of superiority are greatly exaggerated, and a source of muffin shop debate among guitar players. The repair guy just shakes his head and smiles at the chatter. The debate also continues between the Chrysler 318CID, and the venerable Ford 289CID. Both good, and yet both needed equal amounts of repairs over the years.
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swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Dec 4, 2006 12:49:53 GMT -7
+1 karma for your efforts and show us some before and after pics if you can ! Well I got my stuff from Callaham on Friday and just got some time to install it today. Very nice hardware, I'm quite pleased with it. Here are a few pics: On the operating table. You can really see how nasty my old bridge had gotten here: Ready to put the neck back on: Posing with new best friend. A few closeups: I'd like to thank groovergeorge again for the great tip on where to get this stuff and to everyone else that offered advice. This was a great upgrade for this guitar. The Callaham stuff is beautiful and I don't think I'd look anywhere else were I looking for vintage-type Fender hardware in the future. His improvements to the tremolo system and especially the way the bar works are brilliant.
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