Schaller 3801 Vintage Tremolo

[B3Guy]

??? how in the world do those saddles work on a wilkinson?! they don't look remotely the same as the stock ones.  :icon_scratch:

 

[Cagey]

When you install this tremolo?

I haven't installed the Schaller yet. I have other issues with the body that need to be resolved before I can assemble it. Namely, the holes for the bridge mounting stud bushings are too large. I'm not sure why, as Warmoth doesn't even offer the kind of setup I've got on this thing, but the problem exists anyway. I traded for it used, and it has had several owners. Somewhere along the line, somebody needed bigger holes and drilled these out. So, I'll fix it. It's too pretty to give up on <grin>

 

[Cagey]

??? how in the world do those saddles work on a wilkinson?! they don't look remotely the same as the stock ones.  :icon_scratch:

Look at them close. There's not as much difference as it seems. The intonation adjustment changes from a hex head set screw to a Phillips head machine screw, and the casting is slightly different, but they work fine. I've got them on one of my Wilkies here. I'll have to dig around and find a picture.

 

[bagman67]

I don't know if I'd call it the "main" good point of a Wilkinson, but it's certainly a desirable feature. On the other hand, the Schaller has roller saddles.

Hey, is that my Wilky?  I'm famous!

 

[Cagey]

Yes, it is, as a matter of fact. You'll be even more famous once I post the build thread. Everybody is going to be soooo envious! <grin>

Incidentally, as long as we're talking about bridges and saddles, would you like me to order a set of those roller saddles?

 

[B3Guy]

Interesting! are there other roller saddles that will work on a wilkinson? (those are cast aluminum . . . doesn't look like the most robust stuff to me . . .)

 

[bagman67]

Incidentally, as long as we're talking about bridges and saddles, would you like me to order a set of those roller saddles?

No thanks - I won't really realize a huge amount of utility from it, since I am nobody's idea of a whammy bar abuser.

 

[Cagey]

Interesting! are there other roller saddles that will work on a wilkinson? (those are cast aluminum . . . doesn't look like the most robust stuff to me . . .)

Not that I've been able to find, and I've looked quite a bit. The aluminum isn't really an issue, because the strings ride on the hardened steel rollers. As a result, there's no wear problem, and aluminum is pretty stiff so it's not a tone-sucker. Besides, you're sitting on steel set screws bearing against a hardened steel base plate.

If you were moving the saddles frequently, I could see where you might end up with some wear marks in the lock channels, but who does that? Usually, you set your intonation and forget about it for 35 years or so.

 

[Cagey]

Incidentally, as long as we're talking about bridges and saddles, would you like me to order a set of those roller saddles?

No thanks - I won't really realize a huge amount of utility from it, since I am nobody's idea of a whammy bar abuser.

Ok. Worst case, someday you buy a Whammy pedal <grin>

 

[bagman67]

Yep, that'd be a worst-case, all right.  My effects rig is a 15 foot cable.

 

[Cagey]

Hopefully, it's a low-capacitance, oxygen-free, ultra-flexible, braided-sheath, silver-soldered, strain-relieved 15 foot cord that cost you at least $100. Otherwise, as we all know, it'll sound like... something that sounds bad.

 

[bagman67]

I think I picked up this one about 22 years ago (srsly!) for about 10 bucks.  So I must sound like crap.

 

[Cagey]

A vintage cord! Well, why didn't you say so? The angels themselves direct your signal! Those have the precise waveform-shaping and best tone-enhancing qualities known to man! Or something.

I've got an old Whirlwind Cobra cord here that's gotta be 35 years old or so. It's one of the original milspec cords that you could use to tow cars with if the occasion arose. I'm not sure it meets the modern sonic demands made on cords, but on the plus side, you can't kill the bloody thing. You could drive a truck back and forth over it a dozen times and not have any effect.