Tribute Strat.

[jaberwock]

My tribute to my Dads memory ( he bought me my first real guitar at sixteen, a 62 Strat ) guitar is under way, body ordered from MJT finishing, as per the HFC experts recommendation,

The 1962 neck I bought last year is having the non original ebony fretboard, and binding removed, and replaced with a seven and a half inch radius Brazilian rosewood one.

A couple of questions:

Matt Jenny at MJT can offer a reliced allparts vintage tremelo bridge, any one used one of these ? would a Callaham bridge offer any significant improvement in tone ? or is that just "cork sniffery "

Any recommendations for period correct, staggered pole piece, pickups, probably looking for a tad more juice in the bridge position, maybe 5% overwind; there just seem to be so many guys making amazing pickups these days.

Many thanks Jaberwock ( I'll post pics when I start putting it together )

[hardheartedbill]

Allparts is usually decent stuff. At least as good as trad fender offerings. I like the vintage style wilkie w pop in arm

[murkat]

I would not dismiss callaham, nor refer to as cork sniffy.

The guy machinnes his own stuff with tight tolerences

and very close to the real deal back in the day.

I have, use, and recomend highly.

Pickups, If you want the most time period correct true single coils,

J.M. Rolph www.jmrolph.com

Fred Stuart www.virtualvintageguitars.com/guitars/stuart

And this other guy, I can not remember, who wound pups for Jonathon at GVCG back in the early days. I'll get back to you on that.

But, the two mentioned above, hands down, the real deal. No hype.

[hardheartedbill]

The callaham is a nicer bridge than ever came on any strat or am I wrong?

[murkat]

The callaham is a nicer bridge than ever came on any strat or am I wrong?

same principles as the original, but better.

[velorush]

For me, the most notable benefit of Callaham was feel. The trem just felt tighter and worked better.

The descriptions of the bridges and blocks contrast the differences with stock.

[jaberwock]

Thanks for all the replies.

Reading the info on the Callaham bridge they do seem be very well engineered, and thought out, put the Fender ones to shame really.

Murkat I'll check out those pickup links; I'd previously been considering Bareknuckle " Apaches", and Lollar " Vintage blondes.

Regards Jaberwock

[zenmindbeginner]

1960's pre-CBS pickups were hand scatterwound 42 AWG formvar coated wire with Forbon flatwork, butyrate or nylon bobbins and larger diameter sand or roughcast Alnico V magnets.

[seeker]

For pickups, I can personally recommend Wolfetone "Flashbacks". Have a discernable shimmer-iness that is amazing.

Dropped a set into my G&L Legacy. When my killer-player bro heard them he finally realized what I'd been telling him for years was true. Changing out stock pickups is not sacrilegous and doesn't ruin the mojo. IIRC, he now has -no- electrics with original pups. LOL.

[jaberwock]

Thanks, I will check out the Wolftones ( got the impression they were more famous for their humbuckers ).

I've also been looking at these https://bareknucklep...&series=patpend

The J M Rolph website doesn't seem to be working at the moment, the home page opens, but when you click pickups comes up with "page not found" and the Fred Stuart site is " access denied "

From sound clips my favorites so far would be the Lollar vintage blondes.

Thanks Jaberwock

PS Anyone know a method for aging clay dot markers ?

[Lockbody]

I'm a broken record when it comes to Strat and Tele pickups: Aaron Campbell at Rumpelstiltskin pickups . Every pickup I've ever got from him wildly exceeded my expectations for quality and tone. The latest are his "Pre-CBS set with a hot bridge pickup with base plate.

[jaberwock]

Very fairly priced as well .

These seem to have picked up rave reviews from Fender vintage enthusiasts http://www.buckcannon.com/pickupsforstrat.html

Lucky I don't live in the States, with all the amazing guitar gear you have there, I'd be broke within a month.

Thanks Jaberwock

[django49]

I love the idea of building a guitar as a tribute to my Dad. Where exactly would I find a chip that says, "Turn that S**T down!" every time I open the case?

[jaberwock]

My Dad actually helped me build my first amp too, from a fifties radio set, probably peaked out at three watts but plenty loud enough to annoy the neighbors, then moved on to a Selmer treble n' bass 50, which could rile neighbors several blocks away ( when my folks were out ).

Jaberwock