Simple Trem Suggestion?

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I did see it, and responded to it, but I always "preview" my posts before I commit, and noticed that the size had changed. Figure you'd seen what you'd done and corrected for it, so I edited my post to approval  :laughing7:

Preview... ya that is a good feature :laughing3: Thanks for all the help brotha! I got all my fret polishing tools just waiting for my neck to arive and now when I do the work I can post better photos  :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

I look forward to seeing progress pics.

 

[stratamania]

The wilkinson is a good well engineered trem and it will do a good job.

The saddles do look a little different to other trems but are well engineered and how something looks to one or another is just choice. But I would not base preference on what someone else uses.  I like Jeff Beck's tremelo usage but how something looks has nothing to do with what he plays.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I ended up buying a Gotoh Wilkinson Tremolo VS100.

You won't be sorry. It's one of the best designs out there at the moment. My other choice would be a Schaller part...

...but it's not a "drop-in" replacement for a Fender route. The mounting posts are spaced like a Floyd. Plus, they're not easy to get.

Hey Cagey if you wanted to run one of these schallers in a new build what would you ask warmoth to do for spacing and rout? Specifically I was looking at the Schaller tremelo 2000. Although that vintage one is purtty darn nice!

 

[Cagey]

The call it a Vintage Strat replacement bridge, but I'm not sure why. There are no vintage Strats it would fit on. But, if you're buying a new body, the routing and mounting hole placement is the same as for a non-recessed Floyd Rose.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

Thanks for the response and fueling that dreams.  I am creating a list even though it might be a bit before I get another. It looks like you can register on schallers website and order directly from them although I bet the led times take a bit.

 

[Cagey]

If you plan to use chrome parts, there is one of those bridges left here, and at a decent price. That's where I got the two I have.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I like the vintage copper. So good lookin.

Might look good with a amber dyed body with a custom wood burn design, tru-oil finish and a goncalo alves neck  :dontknow:

 

[Cagey]

I like that finish, too. Went looking for those parts once a couple years ago and couldn't find them anywhere, not even in Europe. Have to get them direct from Schaller. Make for a very unique guitar, though.

 

[primi]

The call it a Vintage Strat replacement bridge, but I'm not sure why. There are no vintage Strats it would fit on. But, if you're buying a new body, the routing and mounting hole placement is the same as for a non-recessed Floyd Rose.

I was looking at that when I was ordering mine but decided it's not quite there. Spacing is slightly different and stud diameter as well. You think it would fit anyway?

Floyd is 74.00 and drilled for 9.9 and Schaller is 74.3 and drilled for 10.2

I have no experience whatsoever with installing bridges so I went with a different one. Would have prefered this one though. Or the 2000 but that one doesn't fit anything warmoth offers I think.

 

[Cagey]

Hmm... I'm not sure... I may have had to drill out the mounting peg bushing holes. I don't remember now.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

The call it a Vintage Strat replacement bridge, but I'm not sure why. There are no vintage Strats it would fit on. But, if you're buying a new body, the routing and mounting hole placement is the same as for a non-recessed Floyd Rose.

I was looking at that when I was ordering mine but decided it's not quite there. Spacing is slightly different and stud diameter as well. You think it would fit anyway?

Floyd is 74.00 and drilled for 9.9 and Schaller is 74.3 and drilled for 10.2

I have no experience whatsoever with installing bridges so I went with a different one. Would have prefered this one though. Or the 2000 but that one doesn't fit anything warmoth offers I think.

So looking at the Schaller website it says the Schaller locking tremolo is the exact dimensions as the floyd rose but all their drawings do show the spacing at 74.3mm and warmoth shows they have been drilling at 73.99.  It must work though or I am sure we would be hearing tons of complaints.  74.3 is the spacing for the vintage tremolo also so I'm figuring a non recessed would work. Although warmoth does show the hole size as 9.91mm and Schaller shows a 10.2 is needed so that might need to be enlarged.

I really like the Tremolo 2000 also and that tremolo calls for  a 56.0mm spacing.  Pretty close to the 55.9mm spacing of the american strat routing and the wilkinson. Again though the hole diameter calls for 10.2 mm, a bit bigger than the fender diameter of 9.53mm and the wilkinson 9.7mm.  I'm wondering if you could just get the wilkinson routing and just bore the holes to size?

 

[primi]

I don't know how much of an exact science this is but a difference of 0.1mm in spacing I suppose should probably possibly perhaps not be a problem. But the diameter I'm sure is. Those few instructions I saw around the web suggested it's a tight fit so surely that calls for some redrilling. I'm not OK with that. Yet. Had there been an option for routing then I'm absolutely sure I'd be going for the 2000. It's not cheap though (depending on the color). I even located a local Schaller distributor (not that they have anything like that on stock, but one can always order).

 

[Cagey]

I really like the Tremolo 2000 also and that tremolo calls for  a 56.0mm spacing.  Pretty close to the 55.9mm spacing of the american strat routing and the wilkinson. Again though the hole diameter calls for 10.2 mm, a bit bigger than the fender diameter of 9.53mm and the wilkinson 9.7mm.  I'm wondering if you could just get the wilkinson routing and just bore the holes to size?

Mounting post bushings are a press-fit. If the hole for the bushing is on the smaller side of the right size, you run the risk of splitting the wood if you manage to force the thing in there. So, yeah. You need to open the hole up a bit.

As for whether the Wilkinson routing will work, you'd need to compare the drawings of the opening for the sustain block as well as its relationship to the mounting posts.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I really like the Tremolo 2000 also and that tremolo calls for  a 56.0mm spacing.  Pretty close to the 55.9mm spacing of the american strat routing and the wilkinson. Again though the hole diameter calls for 10.2 mm, a bit bigger than the fender diameter of 9.53mm and the wilkinson 9.7mm.  I'm wondering if you could just get the wilkinson routing and just bore the holes to size?

Mounting post bushings are a press-fit. If the hole for the bushing is on the smaller side of the right size, you run the risk of splitting the wood if you manage to force the thing in there. So, yeah. You need to open the hole up a bit.

As for whether the Wilkinson routing will work, you'd need to compare the drawings of the opening for the sustain block as well as its relationship to the mounting posts.

That shouldn't be a problem. Just a drill press and the proper bit should do, I'd think. On the vintage tremolo the posts at 10.2mm are equal to the Floyd according to their drawings so I'm thinking the 9.91mm that Warmoth drills must be adequate. Both the 2000 and vintage are dam beautiful.

 

[john_p_wi]

I just picked up this Gotoh and it is a killer trem, and oh by the way, Warmoth will route for the Gotoh, just ask.

http://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bridge-and-tailpieces/tremolos/gotoh-ev510ts-bs-premium-non-locking-2-point-tremolo-bridge-chrome/

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

Your stoked!! That Gotoh is a beautiful piece of work!! I've been eying that one in cosmo black. You better post a pic of that installed! I'm jealous  :laughing7:

 

[john_p_wi]

Will do when done, right now it is a work in progress...  BTW, Philadelphia Luthier tools was a great place to deal with.