stratocaster bridge question?

[robharries13]

Hi everyone 
im in the midst of a custom guitar project. Im going to purchase a warmoth Vintage Modern, CBS headstock, 1 5/8 width nut, maple neck to be fitted to a black alder body, which i will recieve in the next few days. (http://www.themusicking.co.uk/strat-style-body-black). it says on the site that its drilled for the standard vintage tremolo. Im looking at some tremolos, but am confused by the string spacing options and all the other measurement specs. any helpful information i should know? like what measurements i need before buying the bridge?
many thanks  :icon_thumright:

 

[Nando Vallart]

Be aware that can it's possible to need some changes to make an Warmoth neck fit another body than the Warmoth/Fender (as well as other neck to W body)... I think I've heard a guy having trouble even with a Squier body...

I was going to tell you to buy a bridge from that Music King site, but as it's only £7, I believe it's not the same standard as the one from Warmoth... So I would buy it from Warmoth or the WIlkinson or the one with steel block in this store or a Callaham if you're not going to save money on the project...

So where is the doubt about measures? Specially if it's a vintage strat, it's supposed to have the same measures :dontknow:

 

[robharries13]

cheers again nonsensetele  :icon_thumright:
i think as soon as i recieve the body ill get the ruler out to double check. theres always a 7 day return policy.
ive seen a couple like 2 3/16 string spacing and 2 1/8 string spacing. wondering what all these will mean? hether they'll affect the playability etc if there the wrong size

 

[tfarny]

Cheap body! Hope it works out. "Standard vintage tremolo" probably means the 6-hole american, I think that''s the best assumption, the other assumption being that somebody selling a body for the price of a fish and chips and a couple pints has actually made a product that fits standard specs.
Warmoth's 6-hole vintage trem should work, also Callaham parts are supposed to be the best around though may be too expensive. Here are two more from stew mac that should work: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolos/Gotoh_Traditional_Tremolo_for_Strat.html
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolos/Wilkinson_Gotoh_VSVG_Vintage_Tremolo.html
I have that VSVG and it is really nice, but expensive.

String spacing isn't that big a deal, don't worry about it if it's your first time, it'll be fine.
I'd get whichever of those looks the best and is in your budget. Better to get a quality tremolo, and not try to fit some Mexican-spec junk on there. Because if you frequent this site, you'll soon be buying a better body from Warmoth that will definitely fit one of those tremolos.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Well FIsh & Chips are sold between £5 and £10 about a year ago... this body is £50  :laughing7:
But I agree with you Tfarny, that is why I wrote that above  :icon_thumright: Doesn't look like a top notch body... But you know, there is people who puts good pickups in the Squier Afinnity Serie (one of the cheapest guitars on world) and get a good tone with it(of course they're not using Marshall MG series)... So get it, measure the bridge route, the neck pocket route ( http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/necks.cfm?fuseaction=faq2 ) if you think it's not matching as you want or it doesn't look good, give it back....
Here in Brazil people say: "sometimes buying cheap things is the worse way of saving money", because when it's too cheap, usually you'll have to spend some $$$ to get it good...

 

[Superlizard]

cheers again nonsensetele  :icon_thumright:
i think as soon as i recieve the body ill get the ruler out to double check. theres always a 7 day return policy.
ive seen a couple like 2 3/16 string spacing and 2 1/8 string spacing. wondering what all these will mean? hether they'll affect the playability etc if there the wrong size

2 1/16" string spacing is for *some* (all 2008 I believe) Fender American Standard Strat & *all* "Mexican" Standard Strat trem saddles.  (narrower spacing)

2 7/32" string spacing is for *some* (all 2007 and previous I believe) Fender American Standard Strat & *all* Fender "vintage" 6-hole trem saddles.  (slightly wider spacing)

More than likely, you'll be dealing with 2 7/32" ("it says on the site that its drilled for the standard vintage tremolo")... but don't quote me on that.

Always wise to measure yourself to be sure.

===

BTW, 2.2" is equivalent to 2 7/32".  (2 7/32  = 2.21875 or 2.2 rounded off)

2.2" is also the bridge rout for Warmoth's 6 hole vintage trem as seen here at the top:

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_guitar_bridge_routing.cfm

 

[tfarny]

Hey, just to be clear, OP: A body doesn't have "string spacing" - that's an aspect of the bridge. All you need to worry about is what kind of bridge is going to fit in that body.
SO: if it has six holes, measure the distance between the two outermost ones, and match that with the bridge you intend to buy. If it has two holes, likewise.

Vintage string spacing gives you a hair more finger wiggle room, and puts the strings a bit closer to the edge on the higher frets. Closer does the opposite, it's not something to get hung up on though with a $100 USD body.

 

[robharries13]

cheers for the help guys  :icon_thumright:
one last thing, the pickups that are going to be fitted are HSS, and have 53mm pole spacing. this affect it in any way?

 

[blue313]

Probably going to an F-spaced pickup and yours sounds like it'll work

For more on F-Spacing check out the pics towards the end of this thread - http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=3192.0

 

[robharries13]

you measure from the Centre of each hole, dont you? (not the edges)

 

[tfarny]

Correct!

 

[robharries13]

thanks  :icon_thumright:
i realise that was probably a bit of a newbie question  :binkybaby:

 

[robharries13]

well just had the body delivered. have to say,although i obviously wont get an idea of whats its like until i plug it in, the body is very nice for the price. ready routed for humbuckers, and more importantly, no holes drilled for the bridge or pickguard, therefore no risk of shoddy drilling by the factory  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[dbw]

FYI, Warmoth doesn't do shoddy drilling.  :headbang1:

 

[robharries13]

i know, i meant the music king people  :icon_thumright: