Just bought Callaham Stuff!

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basile865
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Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by basile865 » Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:13 pm

I just bought the callaham premium upgrade kit for my 05 american standard strat (block, saddles and whammy bar). I'm excited to see what it'll do. Sort've an impulse buy but its the last thing that needs upgrading on my strat so I figured I'd take the chance while my finances allow me to. I'm not expecting it to turn into some crazy beast but I expect it to increase volume, clarity and overall increase its strattyness.

Should be here by friday or monday and I'll let everyone know whats up with it when she's all set up and good to go!

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by Stratabuse » Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:16 pm

You won't be disappointed!! I did that to my strat a few years ago, definitley makes a difference you can hear! :D

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by philmanatee » Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:41 am

You're going to dig it. As soon as I get the scratch I'm going to get the bridge setup for my Hank Marvin strat. Phil

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by basile865 » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:50 pm

Guys I just installed it and put on new strings and played for about a half hour.

I'll be real with you......so far.............I'm not all that impressed. I hate to say it believe me, I spent 125 bucks on it so I hate to say it! Not all that impressed.

The craftsmanship is top notch, no questions, everything threads and screws smooth like butta. Its all great looking stuff, but again........meh.......not all its cracked up to be SO FAR.

I notice open chordings have a nice balance about them and sound good which could be from the custom shop 69's I installed a week ago, but single note playing sounds a bit poppier in a bad way and a little brighter which I dont exactly dig as a clean player. Higher gain this would prob be better, or maybe some country twang on a tele. So far I dont hear much of an improvement if any at all. I'll have to get used to it and give it time I guess.

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by basile865 » Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:12 pm

I slept on it, woke up and played and still didn't like it.............enough to rip off the strings unbolt everything and put my old bridge/saddles back in and VIOLA my tone was back to where it should be.

Sounds crazy but the callaham stuff just plain old made my strat too bright and had this annoying sound if you played at normal intensity. It sounded fine playing quietly with just your fingers but the minute I'd dig in with a pick it made it sound like plastic and bright. I hate to say it because this was a 120 dollar lesson but I just really did not dig it. Perhaps because I use nickel/steel strings (brighter) with a stock bridge (duller).

Anyways I hope he accepts returns because I just did not like it......and his website GUARANTEES an improvement in tone, which in my case was not true. It just changed it for the worse in my personal opinion.

Its a shame because the stuff looks great, well machined threads etc. Well constructed without a doubt, but vintage tone? No sir, not to me anyway.

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by philmanatee » Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:35 pm

That's too bad it didn't work out for you. I hope he gives you a refund, he seems like a pretty good guy. The bottom line with anything is that it has to sound good to you. I can't believe how much stuff other people love that sounded like crap to me, but I really can't believe the stuff I think sucks that other people love! Phil

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by demonufo » Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:11 pm

:lol:
Sounds exactly like what I need. My late 90's US std is way dull sounding.
So I like purple, okay!!!!!!

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by basile865 » Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:24 pm

maybe the bridges from back then suffered more from this dilemma.

I'll sell it to you man PM me if you want it, but you better be quick otherwise this things goin back to callaham.

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by demonufo » Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:41 pm

basile865 wrote:maybe the bridges from back then suffered more from this dilemma.

I'll sell it to you man PM me if you want it, but you better be quick otherwise this things goin back to callaham.
Darn, if it were for a lefty, I'd be all over it! :(
So I like purple, okay!!!!!!

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by basile865 » Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:21 pm

Called up callaham and he was nice about it. I returned it in the mail today. Sucks I lost 18 bucks shipping it to me and then back to him but, atleast Ill get back the 115 I spent on it.

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by yngwie308 » Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:52 pm

This is why I don't mess with the vintage style bridges on my Strats or install a "Big Block" on my Original Floyd Rose guitars. On a mutt guitar, fine, but the vintage bridges work well with all their 'limitations' and if it isn't broke, why fix it I find myself saying. I did a lot of severe technical mods on my street/track car back in the day and though the improvements were technically an improvement in one direction, extreme as that was, some of the other characteristics were changed for the worse.
People either love or don't love Callaham. I like these new Suhr Moderns as an uber high-tech, new/old guitar, but I can live without owning one.
I know that John (Deuterium) swears by the Callaham upgrades he has performed on his YJM Sig Strat, fixing the string spacing and solving the high E slippage issue, but I like the old stuff.
Me personally as I get older (how much older can you get Dave!! :lol: ) I like things just the way they are, amps, guitars, ect. As we all know change isn't high on my agenda.. :lol: :lol: :twisted: :twisted:
Glad you could get your money back though!
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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by philmanatee » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:12 am

When I put the callaham stuff on the strat I recently built from various parts I felt it was the equivalent of putting the pigtail on my r4. It just seemed to make it more vintage correct. Phil

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by yngwie308 » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:29 am

So you are liking your Pigtail Phil?? I remember you asking about them, they are even more vintage correct, than vintage!! If such a thing is possible! :)
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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by philmanatee » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:53 am

yngwie308 wrote:So you are liking your Pigtail Phil?? I remember you asking about them, they are even more vintage correct, than vintage!! If such a thing is possible! :)
yngwie308
I'm loving the pigtail, I really got that guitar dialed in. I got to compare it side to side with a real 54 and I'm pretty impressed. I just picked up a Malcolm Young Gretsch today, I've been out in the garage cranking it, I've just about got it dialed in. 8) Phil

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Re: Just bought Callaham Stuff!

Post by basile865 » Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:15 am

yeah the callaham stuff is well machined and made BUT it made my guitar sound bright and overly touchy, very peaky if you played with a pick. Live and learn. From now on I wont change a bridge ever again, but then again Im about certain every strat I buy from now on is going to be a custom shop 69 because they just have everything I want in stock form!

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