Callaham Steel Tremolo Block II

The sound is similar, although the middle bottom seems more pronounced. More on this to follow.

The tremolo bushing is nice - the bar doesn't flop whether you have one thread coupled or all of them. It feels tight in any position.

The bar is two ounces heavier (11) and considerably wider than the stock PW-29 zinc bar, although it fit in the cavity with no modification.
The mounting screws are half again as long as the original OEM screws and non ferrous.

The surface where mating takes place is polished - "We always have gone to great lengths in our machining to produce a near mirror finish on the mating surface with the top plate to obtain the best fit possible. A very important detail missed on all factory blocks."

All the holes lined up perfectly.
(I did notice that the Fender person who drilled the holes for the bridge plate was inside tolerances on the outside holes and perfect on the four holes in the center)

No modifications were needed, it just dropped in.
(A quick trick - rather than removing the saddles to get to the mounting screws that affix the block, turn the saddles on their sides two at a time and you can easily get access without changing intonation)

The links are sound clips of both blocks.
Guitar into amp - the knobs on the amp are in the center and on the guitar they are dimed. No effects.
It progresses from the number one position of the selector switch through number five.

Zinc PW-29 Tremolo OEM block

Callaham Steel Tremolo block\

It is now not as hard to make that initial break from the body, once the bridge lifts, it feels very smooth.
I have not made any adjustments to the claw et cetera.

After a day playing I have noticed some differences.

I can hear sustain and clarity...less mud, so to speak. A chord, even with full OD can be heard - all six notes just flat out ring.

The sustain is not just a longer note per se but the contents of that note as it decays is important and this is full.

I have been at this all day, obviously there must be some, "I bought/traded it, so it must be good," syndrome - but as anyone that knows me will attest, I do not do the hoodoo that you do so well.

The Raw Vintage Springs made a very real change in the harmonics and so I must confess that some hoodoo works.

This sounds like the Outlaws Green Grass & High Tides opening.

It also took the guitar from 7lbs 8 oz to 7lbs 10oz.

The trouble with the hoodoo is there are SO many variables, I can't be certain which is responsible. Is it the material? 

Or maybe it is just the mating surface and screws that are twice the length of the OEM screws?

And the one thing I dismissed out of hand? The delrin insert that holds the bar where - ever you leave it? Genius.

Oh yeah - the tremolo itself feels much smoother. Sounds better in that when you have to exert a bunch of pressure to break the tension there is a corresponding warble.

Since this is smooth, there is no warble...just the notes changing pitch...smoothly.

I can finally use the tremolo the way it was meant to be.

I have also noticed that the area between the anchor holes in the zinc block for the springs and the trailing edge of the block has grooves from the steel springs digging into the softer zinc.

Thanks for stopping by, Frank.