software

I just put an old aftermarket vintage trem on my strat. My buddy brought it over for me try before I get the Callaham setup and I may not need to now. It is a single piece unit(not bolted on to the top plate), cast steel(not potmetal) with heavy saddles that weighs in at 350 grams. The stock MIM trem weighs in at a mere 220 grams and looks pretty pathetic in comparison. The block has S.T.C. Made in Japan cast into it, anyone know what make it may be? How does the weight compare to the Callaham or Fender RI? The change in tone was dramatic, much fuller, more sparkly and better sustain.

NOS Vintage Trem, Made in Japan
Trem Block Side by side comparisonwow, that looks like a huge differnce in mass.

Ryan, that weight sounds about right...I like that your string poclets are cut more shallow more like a vintage render form the 50's or early 60's! I have never seen that tremolo before but I'll be honest...the Fender reissue is a great tremolo and IMO the Callaham is even better but if you are happy with tht one roll with it!

Thanks Christian, it's nothing special to look at and I may still get the Callaham. But this is absolute proof to me that increasing the mass will do wonders for a MIM. When strumming acoustically, I couldn't feel the vibration from the body. Now I sure can, not as much as a set neck but oh so much more. My thinking now is that the Callaham would be better yet because of the rolled steel transfering vibration even better than cast steel. That and I know that it will just plain look better. Not that this one looks bad, just not as refined.

great tremolo you have, gratz!

i couldn't goolge anything senseful for 'S.T.C. Made in Japan tremolo'

Hmm...

No idea of the manufacturer, but a dead ringer for the '70s quot;transitionalquot; bridge.

my callaham weights in at about 375 or so not sure if thats average or not but it made a huge difference in the sustain and tone of my mexi strat

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My three real vintage 60's Fender trems and the Fender '62 RI weigh in at about 375 grams...like Jeremy's Calaham. I measured a few full size MIJ trems (Gotohs probably) out of various MIJ Fender Strats a while back and they came in at around 320 grams. I think the heavier trem does sound quot;betterquot;...deeper. Lew

That's the thread that I was looking for before posting this! Coudn't find it to save my life....Thanks Lew! So do you think that a mere 25 grams extra would make that much of a difference? Any thoughts on the quality of the one I've got based on the pictures?

I dunno about 25 grams but 50 grams sure makes a diff. That doesn't mean a Strat with a 320 gram trem won't sound good though. I've got a few of those 80's MIJ Strats with the 320 gram Gotoh trem (I'm assuming they are Gotoh...) and I haven't felt the need to change them all over to the 375 gram Fender '62 RI trem...just some. Still, if I was building a Strat or wanted to be 100% sure I was getting the maximum tone out of it, I'd go with the 375 gram Fender '62 RI trem. I've never felt the need to spend the extra bucks on a Callaham because the '62 RI trem sounds exactly like the trem in my '63 Strat and that's good enough for me...but I'm sure the Callaham's are good too. Lew

Well, I got some more info on this trem. It's an old Washburn and the price was right....free. It really made a huge difference in my strat's over all tone and throatyness. And sustain is so much better! I'm not in a rush to change anything right now.

A little OT, but I wonder what a heaver sustain block would do for a Floyd?

I'm no expert on Floyd's, but why the heck not?
Here's the new Tremolo in action
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It's a bit off topic, but do you think the block makes much of a difference if the trem is tight to the body?

al