I own a 1987 Fender Japan Contemporary Strat (E series) with an OEM Kahler Spyder double locking tremolo bridge that I bought from a local music store that is no longer in business. I found the OEM single coil pickups to be thin & noisy, removed them and installed EMG SA pickups & an SPC module for midrange boost. I was lucky to find that the owner had it set up for light gauge strings. It's an awesome Fender Strat guitar for me that I still own & play this guitar onstage with my cover band! My friend owned the Fender Japan Contemporary HSS version guitar with the Schaller System 1/2/3 tremolo bridge and the tremolo bridge never stayed in tune when you depressed the tremolo bar. I hate to say this, but Fender installing their OEM Schaller built System 1/2/3 tremolo bridges did the Contemporary series guitars a great disservice. The necks (especially the 22 fret necks) & bodies are very good, but the System 1/2/3 tremolo bridge and the behind the nut locking nut is terrible, and the OEM pickups were average. Fender also installed either the Kahler 2500 series tremolo bridge/Spyder double locking tremolo/Killer double locking tremolo bridges which were the better guitars to have & own than the Schaller System 1/2/3 tremolo bridge. A lot of the Fender Japan Contemporary guitars with the Schaller System 1/2/3 tremolo bridges are coming up for sale now on Reverb & E-bay as they're considered "vintage". Most have been modified with the Schaller System 1/2/3 removed/altered or it's missing the OEM tremolo bar/saddles/fine tuners/etc.

Those System One bridges were actually made in Germany by Schaller, high quality.

Apparently the bridge posts are compatible with a GOTOH bridge & fits directly onto the posts.

I have a short allen wrench that came with mine that fits in the truss rod perfectly without removing the nut locking mech. I left the locking nut mech on mine. I just removed the screws and nuts. Seems to work fine that way. I did find that you MUST have the tremolo level in both axis, or the strings will not be in tune with each other. I also blocked the trem with stainless steel washers and all the springs installed pulling the block forward to hold the washers against the body. Really adds to the sustain and sound. We MIJ strat owners need to stay in touch. Thanks for the video. Rick in Tucson

@chrishodgson4290

Ай бұрын

Yes, they came with a set of keys that work really nicely. I still have mine. I put a wooden spacer in as a block, that works too. It does mean you can only lower the pitch but it does mean you can't push it out of tune resting on the bridge making it even more stable as I don't actually use the trem very much.

I love these bridges!

I have one. I think it's great also! 👍

The body wood , finish neck pocket and back cover are all perfect on mine and i lovve the feel and sound it has the SD everything axe pickups but i wish i had the original pickups . I just wish the sys 1 was better looking and the locking sys.

The locking nut didn't really do the job anyway, because it's above the nut instead of replacing the nut like the Floyd style one's. On my Kahler equipped guitars from back in the day, they had the same locking nut setup like this and I had to remove the nut and replace it with the new locking nut. Now they all have that how it's supposed to be of course.

@chrishodgson4290

Ай бұрын

I've owned mine since it was new in '85 and I'd have to disagree. It is well on to it's second set of frets and has always stayed in tune perfectly. But, it is a bit of a faff having to get allen keys out if it needs more than a fine tune.

Tengo una fender stratocaster mij contemporany 1986 con este mismo puente pero no tengo la barra de tremolo y no se que otro le puede dar 😢

@tonym.villacruzvillacruz5728

5 ай бұрын

Suerte que lo encontre en google. Yo pague como $30 por el mio porque era mandado a hacer 👍👍✔️

Wbats the spacing on the post knives?

Question: How do you restring this guitar? Is it like a floyd where I put an Eraser at the end of the tremolo so it doesn't sink? Mine actually has a string tree as well (In addition to the holes where the locking nut used to be) Thanks! I picked up a minty MIJ Strat for $150 this weekend. It sounds phenomenal, gonna have to check if the pickups were replaced or not but it is one of the "Stratiest" strats I have heard. The neck is wider and thicker than expected. All around amazing guitar.

@davidcastle3292

2 жыл бұрын

I just run mine through the trem block just like a vintage style. No removal of the ball end like an Ibanez edge or some Floyd styles.

@davidcastle3292

2 жыл бұрын

Nice pick up! Great necks, I had a us strat of the same mid 80's vintage and it was half the guitar. Fender Japan still makes the best guitars, the Kotzen tele is a dream guitar for me.

@MrDream-zm1pw

2 жыл бұрын

@@davidcastle3292 Sweet! I was a little intimidated because first impression are like: this thing looks wacky. haha. Thanks for the info.

Hey David hope you’re doing well, i own a similar strat with the system 1. I need to change the pickguard but i dont have the original one, so i need some help to buy the right one. Could you please tell me what is the bridge cutout size, it would be so helpfull. Thank you

@silhouettte13

Жыл бұрын

All the ones i have changed i had to nuy a blank and cut my self, a floyd cut is too narrow and the widening will cut through a screw hole, check out StratoSphere they had some direct replacements for “e” series…. But you may sill need to have one cut if you want something different like a one humbucker and one single

I have the same bridge on my MIJ Strat but I have a question. Any idea how to adjust saddle height, can it be done?

@davidcastle3292

3 жыл бұрын

Sorryii missed this question, individual saddle height is set for the neck radius, the bridge post is the only way I know to raise string height, you could fool with neck tilt angle too,

That's a big ass block imo, ibanez has really small blocks and I had a really cheap one that had more sustain than a Les Paul I had. I don't like this bridge though, it's kind of a kahler and a floyd put together but with more friction points haha. Btw that neck is gorgeous.

@davidcastle3292

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, research gas shown it to be an 85 japan market A series, the E series is MIJ for export, honestly the only 2 things I don't like are the basic estetic and the nut. Khalers top mount work great, I actually love bother the khalers floyd style and ibanez edge better than real floyd's...which are excellent

Hello. Could you specify the weight of the tremolo?

@davidcastle3292

11 ай бұрын

Hi, i dont have the guitar anymore my brother collect those. I dont have a weight but i would say its as heavy as a big block floyd … at least. It stout!

I’m trying to find a new trem bar and one new tuning screw. Any help would be appreciated

@davidcastle3292

10 ай бұрын

Try stratosphere they may be of help , loads of parts

@davidcastle3292

10 ай бұрын

Whammyparts.com too

@danalexander2149

8 ай бұрын

I was about to ask this same question, LOL.

Those bridges were made in Germany by Schaller

@davidcastle3292

2 жыл бұрын

I have heard the same. A shame the post don't match the Schaller Floyd.

I need one bridge saddle for my system one the chrome has come off and it looks crappy, I put a Tim Shaw gold in the bridge and custom glow in the dark paint that looks seafoam green, my neck ST-357 the truss rod adjusts at the heel and no tilt adjuster.

@davidcastle3292

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! Try. Stratconncetion.com they should have what ya need

@gonzo5912

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidcastle3292 yeah I been searching but I only need one not the whole set. $120 is tough now that I`m on disability my wife wont let me cough up that much for my guitar. it works just looks bad when the rest of the guitar is near perfect. thank you I wont bother you anymore, thought you might be interested since you have so many of them and maybe you had PARTS in a drawer somewhere. TY and Merry Christmas or Holidays.