Callaham vs Faber bridges and tail pieces

[barnesjd]

Anybody own 'em? I'm shopping around because I want to replace the gold ones on my '80 Les Paul Deluxe. This thread got me interested in after-market options. I've narrowed it down to either Faber or Callaham. I like Faber because they lock. But I'm tugged towards Callaham thanks to his expose on the use of steel. Faber bridges are 70% zinc/30% aluminum on the other hand. While I feel pretty convinced by Callaham's spiel on steel, the price for the Callaham bridge is about the same as the bridge + tailpiece kit from Faber.

I'm willing to drop the extra coin if I'll be happier with the Callaham, but I'd like to hear from folks who've tried either or both manufacturers.

 

[barnesjd]

One should never post THEN search.

Relevant thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=139762&p=1616595&hilit=callaham#p1616595

 

[barnesjd]

...yet to find a thread of someone who actually owns a Callaham on their lester...

 

[Rdodson]

I do - amazing! Love it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4nF6aEBqwc

 

[yngwiestrat]

callaham doesnt make gold hardware. That said i have a nickle bridge and tailpiece on my Silverburst.. I am a big fan

 

[barnesjd]

callaham doesnt make gold hardware...

By "replace the gold ones" I mean that I want to get rid of gold and go nickel.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I do - amazing! Love it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4nF6aEBqwc

That is a great bit of bite from the LP. It has a nice clear note ring. No idea how to tell how you got it. Reminds me of a Tele with too much treble on the amp and dialing it back on the guitar.

If that bit of edge and clarity is related to the bridge.... That is a fairly easy swap.

Nice playing.

Rock on brother!

 

[Rdodson]

I do - amazing! Love it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4nF6aEBqwc

That is a great bit of bite from the LP. It has a nice clear note ring. No idea how to tell how you got it. Reminds me of a Tele with too much treble on the amp and dialing it back on the guitar.

If that bit of edge and clarity is related to the bridge.... That is a fairly easy swap.

Nice playing.

Rock on brother!

While the guitar is pretty special, the bridge did make a huge difference. Clarity, sustain, note-to-note separation...not cork-sniffing at all. A real difference.

In old-school terms, there is a spank with a resulting "bloom" of each note that makes wringing out the vibrato so fun.

 

[barnesjd]

I do - amazing! Love it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4nF6aEBqwc

Good lord. Will the bridge also make my fingers fly over the fretboard like that too?

 

[Rdodson]

Barnes - you are too kind! I just wish I got to play out like I used to.

I have a Callaham bridge on this old Strat and you can really hear the same thing; note-to-note separation even with a good amount of gain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbhO4w84gDk

The Callaham on Gibsons (you should hear it on an SG - really awesome) is just a neat deal.

 

[barnesjd]

Barnes - you are too kind! I just wish I got to play out like I used to.

I have a Callaham bridge on this old Strat and you can really hear the same thing; note-to-note separation even with a good amount of gain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbhO4w84gDk

The Callaham on Gibsons (you should hear it on an SG - really awesome) is just a neat deal.

You are indeed welcome. I know the feeling. I'm a novice at best, and now a rusty one because I just play at home when the kids are asleep.

I think I'm just gonna fork out the cash for the Callaham. I don't want to cut corners on my goldtop.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

not an accurate poll for me as I only have experience with Faber and TonePros and Faber wins hands down for me. Replaced a Nashville bridge with a Faber Locking ABR-1 and ToneLock TP studs keeping the existing TB.

The Gibson branded ABR-1 on my Historic (B7) is also really good.

I went with Faber because I liked being able to select what saddle materials and U went unfinished brass. I thought the Callaham stuff was a bit too pricy. I do want to try their solid steel TP

 

[barnesjd]

...I thought the Callaham stuff was a bit too pricy. I do want to try their solid steel TP

I feel it's pricey too, but I also understand that the materials and manufacturing process they utilize is costlier. It is a case where you get what you pay for. Here's to hoping that it translates to a more desirable sound as well.

 

[Rdodson]

not an accurate poll for me as I only have experience with Faber and TonePros and Faber wins hands down for me. Replaced a Nashville bridge with a Faber Locking ABR-1 and ToneLock TP studs keeping the existing TB.

The Gibson branded ABR-1 on my Historic (B7) is also really good.

I went with Faber because I liked being able to select what saddle materials and U went unfinished brass. I thought the Callaham stuff was a bit too pricy. I do want to try their solid steel TP

Shawn! So cool to see you post. Still have those genius Charvels/GMW's and incredible amp collection? I love that lavender one you have with the matching headstock.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i have the callaham as well as the faber

the fit and finish on the callaham stuff is unsurpassed.

however.

you have to be careful when using the callaham.

if you have a bright guitar already you will hate it.

it makes everything more hi fi.

sure it clears things up, but that may not be what you are going for.

I had a nice bright les paul that I put one on, and it was ice pick city.

changed it out back to stock gibson abr was much better.

changed it later to faber and got the same basic tonality but much better sustain.



i did use the callaham on another les paul that was dark and had loose bass, and it worked great.

brightened and tightened that guitar and with better sustain.

so I tend to only use the callaham stuff on darker guitars

 

[glip22]

i have the callaham as well as the faber

the fit and finish on the callaham stuff is unsurpassed.

however.

you have to be careful when using the callaham.

if you have a bright guitar already you will hate it.

it makes everything more hi fi.

sure it clears things up, but that may not be what you are going for.

I had a nice bright les paul that I put one on, and it was ice pick city.

changed it out back to stock gibson abr was much better.

changed it later to faber and got the same basic tonality but much better sustain.



i did use the callaham on another les paul that was dark and had loose bass, and it worked great.

brightened and tightened that guitar and with better sustain.

so I tend to only use the callaham stuff on darker guitars

My experience exactly. Hated it on the R8 I sold as it already had great low end and was brighter. I can tell that on a darker guitar it would be great.

 

[barnesjd]

If anyone is interested I have a Callaham that has one saddle slot that is off. You can have it for 45 shipped. Callaham will replace all the saddles for you for twenty bucks I think. So its a deal. Not spamming. Never even thought about it until your thread. I have the thumbwheels but not the studs as I left them on the guitar. A deal if someone wants it cheap.

I'll take it. PM on the way...

 

[Rdodson]

i have the callaham as well as the faber

the fit and finish on the callaham stuff is unsurpassed.

however.

you have to be careful when using the callaham.

if you have a bright guitar already you will hate it.

it makes everything more hi fi.

sure it clears things up, but that may not be what you are going for.

I had a nice bright les paul that I put one on, and it was ice pick city.

changed it out back to stock gibson abr was much better.

changed it later to faber and got the same basic tonality but much better sustain.



i did use the callaham on another les paul that was dark and had loose bass, and it worked great.

brightened and tightened that guitar and with better sustain.

so I tend to only use the callaham stuff on darker guitars

As a Callaham fanboy this is actually very fair and accurate. I don't buy overly bright guitars in the first place (wanting a very warm, woody, resonant thing) so that probably colors my opinion. I'm a big EJ/Holdsworth/EVH fan if that tells you my taste in what sounds "right".

 

[Shawn Lutz]

not an accurate poll for me as I only have experience with Faber and TonePros and Faber wins hands down for me. Replaced a Nashville bridge with a Faber Locking ABR-1 and ToneLock TP studs keeping the existing TB.

The Gibson branded ABR-1 on my Historic (B7) is also really good.

I went with Faber because I liked being able to select what saddle materials and U went unfinished brass. I thought the Callaham stuff was a bit too pricy. I do want to try their solid steel TP

Shawn! So cool to see you post. Still have those genius Charvels/GMW's and incredible amp collection? I love that lavender one you have with the matching headstock.

yep, still have em even though I've been more into LP's since early 2012.