Daytona bridge spacing

Tortious

Tortious

New member
Supporter
So I'm pretty much set on getting a Callaham bridge for my Daytona. I was looking at this archived thread http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/50041-what-did-you-replace-your-daytonas-bridge-with/ among several others, and I see mention of the vintage Callaham. But unless I'm doing something very stupid and misreading things, it sure looks like my bridge has the 2-1/16 spacing, which would mean it it would use the 'Mexican' version. Right? Right? This one:  http://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_bridge_mexican_catalog.htm

Cause the Vintage and V/N versions are different spacings.

Here's mine:

ZR2CvOj.jpg


It's harder than I thought to photograph straight on (and it didn't help having the high E out of the saddle) but I don't see how it's possible that anything other than the 'Mexican' replacement would work.

Thoughts?

 
It IS hard to tell as your photo is not nuts-on from above. Slide the ruler under the strings and measure from the center of the low-to-high pivot screws. That's your measurement. Ignore the string spacing from the saddles. 

You find the Callaham a capital improvement over the Wilkie. I got the one with the "narrow bridge spacing" cuz I wanted more wiggle room on the "E" strings for my YJM scalloped neck.

 
Well I'll be god damned. An optical delusion.

You're pretty smart sometimes, Beavis!

\

butthead.png


So the V/N-spec is in fact it. 2-7/32" mounting, 2-1/16" string spacing.

7hR8Kl9.jpg


Thanks!

 
Callaham makes the vintage screw spaced trem in two string spacings :blink:  

Meaning, Callaham makes two different trems that replace a vintage trem on the body.  One has vintage string spacing (2 7/32") and one (the V/N) has the more modern string spacing (2 1/16"), both with the same body (screws into the body) spacing.  I have a vintage / vintage in a drawer, it all depends on what will work with your neck.

Few times in all my guitaring have I been so absolutely and completely satisfied I got my money's worth out of an upgrade.  Every Callaham product has been an absolute win - if nothing else, the feel of the trem with their virtual pop-in arm is fantastic.

 
The Wilkinson VSVG trem bridge is not a direct match for any of the Callaham bridges. The mounting/pivot screw spacing on the Wilkinson is 56 mm (2.205 inches) and the string spacing is 54 mm (2.126 inches). String spacing on the Callahams is either 56 mm for the vintage styles or 52 mm for the Modern/Mexi/Squire stuff.

I put a Callaham vintage 56/56 mm on one of my Mirages and it worked perfectly.

 
Tortious you will love the Callaham bridge in your Daytona . You might want to experiment with a set of raw vintage springs when you set up the guitar . You can use all 5 springs in place of the Daytonas 4 black springs . If I remember correctly the Callaham springs are a little more taught then the black Daytona springs . It is a subtle thing but the raw vintage feel very refined . I would say a very smooth transition when you use the trem . No jerkiness . These springs made my Daytona a little more lively, gave it a slightly fuller note and dare I say improved sustain . Overall just funner to play . It is a subtle thing but for $12 I thought it was well worth it . Have fun with it ! I love my Daytona .

 
Roshark said:
You might want to experiment with a set of raw vintage springs when you set up the guitar . You can use all 5 springs in place of the Daytonas 4 black springs . If I remember It is a subtle thing but the raw vintage feel very refined . I would say a very smooth transition when you use the trem . No jerkiness . These springs made my Daytona a little more lively, gave it a slightly fuller note and dare I say improved sustain . Overall just funner to play . It is a subtle thing but for $12 I thought it was well worth it . Have fun with it ! I love my Daytona .
Click to expand...
Sorry to hijack, but I was thinking about Raw Vintage for my Strat and Charvel. Both have .009s, are decked and use the black, Fender springs. I have them spaced "Murkat-style" with one on the bass side and two on the treble side. The Charvel is tuned down a half-step to E-flat. I like the Fender springs, they are looser and have a smoother feel. The trem comes back to the body with ease, no slam or "click."

Will all five RV springs work with this set-up? Now that I think of it, this is probably a question for RV themselves, but I figured I'd ask someone with experience first. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
RobB I have no experience with Fender black springs unless that is what came with Hamer's Daytona . I have set up my Daytonas with DR Blues 11's and the raw vintage springs . Holding the RV spring in your hand it is very easy to bend and pull apart . The Daytona black springs have more resistance . The Callaham springs are even more taught . The RV are not quite as loose as an original  Floyd spring . The diameter of the RV spring is also greater then the Callaham and Daytona . This is something you just have to try because it is a personal feel and set up thing . It is subtle but a very real difference in feel . You can just pop the RV springs in . You may want to keep your charvel the way it is ( as a control) and experiment with your strat and see what you like best . I tried several different set ups and kept tinkering for 2 weeks . There are so many different ways to set up a strat . I have one Daytona a 1/2 step down and the other at regular tuning . If I had to pick one it would be the 440 one . I suspect it may be that the springs like to be opened up .  It is a cheap totally reversible mod . Have fun with it . I really like the refined feel the trem gets with these springs .

 
Thanks for the information, Roshark. I'm on my way to a local GC to check out a used, MusicMan Axis. I don't have a Floyd Guitar and this one has the decked Gotoh FR, etc. I'm gonna order a few sets from RV and see what can be found.

 
Bloozguy said:
The Wilkinson VSVG trem bridge is not a direct match for any of the Callaham bridges. The mounting/pivot screw spacing on the Wilkinson is 56 mm (2.205 inches) and the string spacing is 54 mm (2.126 inches). String spacing on the Callahams is either 56 mm for the vintage styles or 52 mm for the Modern/Mexi/Squire stuff.

I put a Callaham vintage 56/56 mm on one of my Mirages and it worked perfectly.
Click to expand...
Thank you for posting that. I'm sure it's been posted before somewhere in the history of this board, but as you likely know, when doing internet searches, a lot of Hamer questions end up right back here and it isn't always easy to ascertain a coherent answer. Hopefully this will turn up as an answer for someone down the line.

 
Roshark said:
Tortious you will love the Callaham bridge in your Daytona . You might want to experiment with a set of raw vintage springs when you set up the guitar . You can use all 5 springs in place of the Daytonas 4 black springs . If I remember correctly the Callaham springs are a little more taught then the black Daytona springs . It is a subtle thing but the raw vintage feel very refined . I would say a very smooth transition when you use the trem . No jerkiness . These springs made my Daytona a little more lively, gave it a slightly fuller note and dare I say improved sustain . Overall just funner to play . It is a subtle thing but for $12 I thought it was well worth it . Have fun with it ! I love my Daytona .
Click to expand...
They appear to be a bit more that $12 these days, but I went for them too. Ordered the bridge and springs from 2 different sources today, should have everything by late next week. As to when I'll actually get around to changing it all over, unsure, but I will attempt to document it in some manner.

Thank you too for posting this, I would not have even given springs a further thought without it.

I am mildly apprehensive about slotting the saddles. I have done it once before with some fairly shitty needle files I have, and I scored 5 of 6, which is effectively unacceptable. We'll see if I learned anything from that misadventure I guess. :ph34r:
 

 
Tortious, you will not have to slot the vintage strat Callaham bridge . The break angle and tension when strung up to pitch are plenty to keep the strings in place on my Daytona . 

 
Finally got around to this. Wow, what an improvement. It's like everything I thought this guitar could be is there. And no more rattles distracting me. You can feel the body and neck vibrating more. I didn't expect that big of a difference, but there is to me, and all of it good.

SzWcnyF.jpg


Some things I learned: The 6 bridge plate screws from Callaham are longer. Like, too long. So I used the old ones. I forgot about the ground wire soldered to the claw. I did not feel like removing and re-soldering it to the new one, so I left the old one in. [TGPmode] I'm sure that and the claw screws and the bridge plate screws are sucking massive amounts of tone[/TGPmode] :P I'll struggle by with those issues somehow.

Thanks again for the info and suggestions.

 
You made the right choice. Wilkie Strat trems are not my idea of a good time. They are awful.

Glad the Callaham is working out for you.  :)

 
All good, KH. If they work for you, great.

To me, Wilkies are "plinky' and lack "grunt." YMMV

 
RobB said:
All good, KH. If they work for you, great.

To me, Wilkies are "plinky' and lack "grunt." YMMV
Click to expand...


I might consider the Callaham upgrade if I ever get the opportunity to grab another Daytona USA

Edit: I just remembered. Perhaps it could also be pickup related. Those Seymour Duncan pickups tend to sound a tad plinky. Whatever pickups that are on my Daytona USA doesn't seem to be Seymour Duncans. I was told by the previous owner that it's some Fender Custom Shop pickups. They sound rather 50s for the lack of better words. Whatever they are, they don't have that nasally plinky tone, and they sound great

 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top