My psycho strat is complete?????

[ganzosrevenge]

No Floyd... unless it came stock. You'll have to do a good bit more rerouting, and It'll completely change the tone and resonance of the guitar. If you must modify something in the bridge, I would be inclined to contact Callaham Guitars and order a Bridge block upgrade kit for that strat. Even though the block weighs a LOT, and it costs a good deal of money, the general consensus on this, and other, forums is that the block adds a musical quality to the strat increasing its sustain and resonance. Realize that the stock block in the MIMs, and even the USA lines are made like hamburger meat. They have steel, but they're also copper-infused... it makes the block heavy enough to work, but it does muffle out some of the overtones, the harmonics, and just the way the string is held isn't conducive. The callaham is like one BIG piece of high-quality steel that is rolled into the block shape... no cracks, no structural compromises, and because of the bushing that holds the bar in, you will not get the "i can wiggle the bar but the bridge won't move!" effect. There is ABSOLUTELY no play in the guitar. The bar only moves when you want to make vibrato (which is a very good thing).

What I would advise you to do, because the setup you have with a vintage trem SCREAMS awesome, is to go on Callaham's website www.callahamguitars.com, find the strat bridge system that works with a roadworn stratocaster, and purchase it. . (That guitar has to rank as one of the few relic strats I've seen that I find myself wanting.) Once it's properly installed (and there is a proper way to install a 6-point bridge to get more resonance), and it's set up and intonated and the bridge is radius'd, you're going to hear notes and sustain that you've never heard from a strat before. Considering that a Road Worn is about $900 to $1,000 at GC (so it's not a cheap MIM, but very close to the AmSe pricewise), it's worth the nice goodies, and to me the callaham screams "awesome improvement".

Otherwise, you've got one of the nicest looking Strats I've ever seen, done modding to taste (which is something Leo would approve... being the tinkerer he was) all it needs is that better bridge block and that'll really kick up the sustain / resonance a notch or two.


From an owner of a callaham block

Jason


Links:
Bridge Technology: http://www.callahamguitars.com/bridges.htm
The Bridges themselves http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm (and go down to Vintage Model Strat / S Bridge Assembly).

Jason

[EARTHLING]

I am not a big strat man myself, but your guitar i REALLY wanna play and hear how it sounds ! Looking good !
Got any clips ?

PS : ...keep the stock trem !

James

not yet.. i am going to do some recording in 2 weeks..

[DLT]

Floyd is a pain to set up but Mick will tell you it kicks ass. Don't care for the music but god that guitar gives me G.A.S.

Whatever that is...

What the heck is that? It looks like a mutation of Johnny Winter and Slash!

[elscorcho]

Looks good-to-go the way it is...ENJOY!

[theodie]

Floyd is a pain to set up

No, not really. I dont know why people are so intimidated with a OFR? No, do not put a Floyd on this axe.

[theodie]

What the heck is that? It looks like a mutation of Johnny Winter and Slash!

+1

[Jessie Sammler]

Even though I like Floyds (especially the ones that rest on the wood and don't float), I think it's a shame to route a guitar that already sounds and plays great. There are enough guitars and bodies out there with the Floyd route, and it's not that big a deal to order one from Warmoth or one of the others.

[Fusion1]

Looks sweet. Just last week I was trying to decide what I want in my Charvel Model 1 that I have a Hum/Single pickguard from Warmoth and I decided the Dimebucker / STK S2 but never tried the STK S2 in the neck so I am going with a Cool Rails neck. Not sure if the Dimebucker will be too thin for the Charvel if so an X2N or D'Activator X should fix that.

[astrozombie]

Even though I like Floyds (especially the ones that rest on the wood and don't float), I think it's a shame to route a guitar that already sounds and plays great. There are enough guitars and bodies out there with the Floyd route, and it's not that big a deal to order one from Warmoth or one of the others.

i totally agree. its irreversible.

[Jessie Sammler]

Zombie, who's that Electric Lady in your avatar?

[YHWH]

... very nice-looking, hot-rodded Strat.

[astrozombie]

Zombie, who's that Electric Lady in your avatar?

... my wife?

[Jessie Sammler]

Interesting. My avatar is my zombie doppelganger.

[astrozombie]

Interesting. My avatar is my zombie doppelganger.

I was just kidding bro, it was a joke, i thought you were going to react differently.

that Katy Perry.

[Jessie Sammler]

I would have guessed she was the bastard daughter of Katy Perry and Keira Knightley.

[astrozombie]

I would have guessed she was the bastard daughter of Katy Perry and Keira Knightley.

im in love with the woman. she is amazing.

[Jessie Sammler]

[astrozombie]

my point exactly.

[BloodRose]

if Fender offered a HWY1 start in white i'd build a Mick Mars guitar!!!

Dittto!! I have a VERY highly modded UnSquier strat that is a superstrat, save for a Floyd. Its really Bad-a, Im just not a strat guy.. But, if it wasnt so expensive to have a route done, I wouldnt mind adding a floyd to this beast. Its got sustain and mojo galore, the whole thing just vibes in the hands like its alive..

Jessie, my ear isnt so assute (im half deaf) that I can distinguish a OFR vs a lic one, but Id like to upgrade them all too, just for the duribility and similarity with maintenance and all.. It would cost me a mint tho. I might be able to tell the difference if I had two guitars exactly the same, but one with a OFR and one with a Lic floyd.
I must say that I dont feel Im losing much tone by using Floyds and some of my OFR guitars sustain just fine..
I may upgrade my faves with brass blocks..


Earthling,
Looks awesome!! Dont change a thing, Except strings.

[Fusion1]

my point exactly.

are those real?