Upgrades on a Fender Strat

[The Norwegian Guy]

My uncle has an american Fender Strat that he wanted me to do some upgrades on.
He asked me what I thought would raise the playability and the tuning stability. I said that I could see if a Wilkinson VS100 fitted in the guitar, and replace the vintage tuners with Schaller Locking tuners.

Will a VS100 fit in a 2 point standard strat tremolo route?
Will the Schaller tuners fit without modification to the peghead? (I have replaced tuners on a MIM strat before, by drilling the tuner hole bigger)

I also told him to pay a luthier to set up the guitar and replace the original nut with a well cut out graphite nut.

 

[drewfx]

I wouldn't bother replacing a 2-point Fender trem. How does he use the tremolo and what are the tuning problems? Just more spring tension, or a tremsetter, along with the nut and locking tuners should help (or even cure) tremolo tuning problems. My Fender 2-point + tremsetter + LSR nut + locking tuners works perfectly, but I'm not usually a "tremaniac".

Not sure about which tuners fit.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Man, you've to see which tuners are in this guitar... if it's vintage style or something...

One of the things you can do to better the tunning stability is change the nut for one of Graphtech ones...

Do you have a pic of the guitar?

 

[reinhold]

In my MIM Strat, I also replaced the saddles, nut, and string tree with graphtech ones and it really helps with the tuning a lot.  I rarely sticks on the nut anymore when doing mild vibrato effects, stays in tune for hours of playing time, and keeps strings from breaking.

 

[Cagey]

Schaller or Sperzel locking tuners, new nut, professional setup. Keep the bridge. Thing will play like a dream.

 

[Superlizard]

:icon_scratch: I don't see how a Wilkinson is an "upgrade".

Here's what you want:

Callaham American Standard Premium Upgrade Kit

http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm

(scroll down page before halfway)

Includes:

    * Callaham American Standard Tremolo Block
      2006 enhanced
      with 3 stainless steel top plate screws
    * Callaham "64" Virtual Pop-in stainless steel trem arm with tip comes stock.
      Our other 2 length arms can be substituted at no additional cost but you must specify at time of order.)
      (Please specify mint green or parchment
      white tip otherwise parchment will be sent.)
    * Callaham Vintage styled "CG" saddles
      for American Standard bridges nickel
      (offset intonation screws)
    * 4 Tremolo Springs
    * allen wrench

Those poopy Am Std Strat block saddles & trem block are made of cheap pot metal (contains zinc, which sucks tone).

 

[erogenousjones17]

Hate to say it, but I'm with SL.  :laughing7:

 

[Superlizard]

Also, if going this route, make sure of:

Note:

Comes with offset intonation screw saddles.

If ordering for 2008 and later Am. Std,
you must tell us,
so center intonation screw saddles
can be shipped and we will change the height adjustment screws to the correct lengths.

 

[tfarny]

I agree with SL, amazingly. But if tuning stability is really the issue, it's more likely that the nut is screwed up. Get the nut and tuners sorted out and get it properly set up and you should be fine with an American standard bridge. But if you want to do the bridge too, Callaham is probably the way to go.

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

Well, Think I'd rather go for the GraphTech saddles, GraphTech nut and the Schaller tuners. - OR the wilkinson (if it fits), GraphTech nut and Schaller tuners

 

[tangent]

FWIW.. I have a 2009 USA strat and wilkinson VS100 does fit its posts. 

As was mentioned earlier in this thread though.. they changed the trem in 2008 so I am not sure if the spacing is the same on earlier ones

Well, Think I'd rather go for the GraphTech saddles, GraphTech nut and the Schaller tuners. - OR the wilkinson (if it fits), GraphTech nut and Schaller tuners