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Are the MIM strat vintage style bridges the same quality or even the same bridge as on the American vintage strats?

If not,are the newer series MIM bridges the same?

I'm already confused, but that's a good question

logic would dictate that they must be different in order to justify the difference in cost

but, Lew might know

no..they are far different animals...the MIM has a narrower string spacing thus smaller saddles and is made of cheaper metal. then comes the trem block...the MIM ones are a joke to be honest, they are tiny little thin blocks and the US vintage ones and reissue ones are much larger and thicker which helps a bunch with sustain. also, you can't swap from one to the other since the 6 mounting screws are the same width as the string spacing so a MIM trem won't work on a US body and a US trem won't work on a MIM body...unless you fill the mounting holes and redrill them that is.

-Mike


Originally Posted by XSSIVEno..they are far different animals...the MIM has a narrower string spacing thus smaller saddles and is made of cheaper metal. then comes the trem block...the MIM ones are a joke to be honest, they are tiny little thin blocks and the US vintage ones and reissue ones are much larger and thicker which helps a bunch with sustain. also, you can't swap from one to the other since the 6 mounting screws are the same width as the string spacing so a MIM trem won't work on a US body and a US trem won't work on a MIM body...uless you fill the mounting holes and redrill them that is.

-Mikethat's it in a nutshell!

makes sense ... I know Lew did a comparison of the weight of a couple vintage style trems and blocks, and found the MIA vintage heavier and better sounding than the other one he compared .. MIJ?

Can you swap the trem blocks?

trem blocks can be swapped but not from MIA to MIM...Callaham guitars makes amazing blocks for ALL fender tremolos...they are even better that the 62 reissue that Lew likes so much (as do I!)...BTW...the Jimmy Vaughan strat is the exception to the MIM tremolo rule, they have the 62 reissue tremolo


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireBTW...the Jimmy Vaughan strat is the exception to the MIM tremolo rule, they have the 62 reissue tremolo

as does the deluxe powerhouse strat which is what one of my strats is...it has the 62 reissue trem on it stock and is MIM!

-Mike


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellCan you swap the trem blocks?

yes,
I know Callaham, for one, sells the blocks

Is it a pricey upgrade?


Originally Posted by XSSIVEas does the deluxe powerhouse strat which is what one of my strats is...it has the 62 reissue trem on it stock and is MIM!

-MikeThat's not exactaly true...the Classic series, and the Deluxe series do have full size tremolo blocks, but ther are not the same as the JV Strats...the JV's have the same block that comes in the MIA and Custom Shop reissues, the trem blocks in the Class and Deluxe guitars are not quite the same...close but not the same.


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellIs it a pricey upgrade?if you have a MIM Strat and want to upgrade to a full size trem block from Callaham it is about $55.00 for the block...check them out.

www.callahamguitars.com


Originally Posted by XSSIVEno..they are far different animals...the MIM has a narrower string spacing thus smaller saddles and is made of cheaper metal. then comes the trem block...the MIM ones are a joke to be honest, they are tiny little thin blocks and the US vintage ones and reissue ones are much larger and thicker which helps a bunch with sustain. also, you can't swap from one to the other since the 6 mounting screws are the same width as the string spacing so a MIM trem won't work on a US body and a US trem won't work on a MIM body...unless you fill the mounting holes and redrill them that is.

-Mike

Great post....I thought the USA bridge was quot;The Onequot; to get and not the MIM....Ok,that confirms my suspicions..

I want a lefty Fender USA Vintage bridge....


Originally Posted by Curlymakes sense ... I know Lew did a comparison of the weight of a couple vintage style trems and blocks, and found the MIA vintage heavier and better sounding than the other one he compared .. MIJ?

Yes, I compared MIJ trems to the three oldies I have from '62 and '63 and also to the Fender '62 RI trems. I found that the 40 year old originals and the '62 RI trems were heavier and pretty much identical in weight and tone...but that the Gotoh made MIJ models weighed alot less even though they used fullsize tremolo blocks.

I have not compared the MIM trems to MIA trems.

Lew


Originally Posted by Lewguitarbut that the Gotoh made MIJ models weighed alot less even though they used fullsize tremolo blocks.

LewThat's the key! The Classic and Deluxe series guitars have that trem...it is full size and better IMO that the thin MIM stuff, but still not as good as the 62 reissue trem.


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireThat's the key! The Classic and Deluxe series guitars have that trem...it is full size and better IMO that the thin MIM stuff, but still not as good as the 62 reissue trem.

Seeing as I'm a lefty,my cool option would be to get the Fender USA Vintage bridge...One of my older strats(Early 80s)has a Floyd on it that I'd like taken off and have the vintage one replace it..John John and myself are working out something,but I need a bridge..