This kit is for the new for 2017 Fender American Professional bridge. Although touted as a new and improved model, it still uses the powdered metal block typical of Fender's mass production models.
This kit replaces the powdered metal block with our renowned Callaham Enhanced tremolo block, produced from cold-rolled American steel, and featuring our proprietary zero-clearance bushing. This is then paired with an included Callaham Virtual pop-in Tremolo Arm. The kit also includes a set of Callaham Vintage Style Stamped Steel Saddles with stainless steel screws and springs. Lastly we provide tremolo springs that are superior to those provided by Fender.
Block:
All Callaham blocks are made of 1018 cold-rolled steel like the vintage originals, which contributes to the sustain and harmonic content that has made these guitars legendary. Replacing a block made of inferior materials (zinc, leaded steel, sintered steel) with one of Callaham's blocks will make a real improvement to your tone.
Enhanced Vintage Design:
The block is Callaham's Enhanced Vintage design, which utilizes a Delrin bushing in the arm hole, for the arm to bear against. With traditional threaded block designs, when you use the arm you create forces that are concentrated right on the threaded portion of the arm - its weakest point. This is where arms typically break. Callaham's solution is to leave this bearing-portion of the arm unthreaded, and to insert a Delrin bushing into the block for it to bear against. (Delrin is similar to nylon). This virtually eliminates broken arms.
Virtual Pop-In Arm:
While Callaham's arm is unthreaded where it bears against the Delrin bushing, it does have a few threads at the end. This allows you to push it in, then spin it once or twice to engage a couple of the threads. The threads are there simply to keep the user from inadvertently pulling the arm out during use. So the arm is "virtually" a pop-in design, but engaging a couple of threads is suggested.
Saddles:
Callaham's saddles are designed from original pre-CBS saddles, with some improvements. They've slightly lengthened the string slot as compared to pre-CBS saddles, so that the strings will not bind and bend against a sharp edge before going over the saddles, which reduces string breakage. Fender's current production saddles have their slots moved too far to the rear, causing string breakage and loss of downward pressure on the saddle, hurting both sustain and tone.
Callaham's saddles, like pre-CBS saddles, have threads running the entire height of the front skirt of the saddle. Fender's current production saddles have fewer threads and a shorter front skirt. Consequently, the Callaham height-adjustment screws are held more securely, with more thread contact, maintaining sustain and saddle stability.
DOWNLOAD A COPY OF OUR CALLAHAM TREM BLOCKS DATA SHEET AND COMPATABILITY DATA SHEET TO CONFIRM WHICH ONE YOU NEED.
Specifications and in the Kit:
Please choose the tremolo arm from the list below.
(exc. 20% VAT)
