Warmoth's "Gold" Wilkinson Tremolos are FAR from (glossy) gold.

[vikingred]

Man, what a disappointment.  In the middle of a weekend build and I open the hardware pack on the "Gotoh Wilkinson Tremolo VS100, Gold", and this far from gloss "Gold", far from the picture on the website, far from other glossy "Gold" hardware such as Schaller Locking Tuners, Schaller locking strap buttons.  This is more like flat bronze.  Totally pissed off.  And I guess I needed something to be pissed about because it's really smokin' my ass.  WTF Warmoth?  Mine don't look nothin' like in the picture.  Totally clashes with all the other hardware on the build.  I'm gonna finish the build anyway and look around elsewhere to see what I can find.  Anyone else experience this? 

EDIT:  In their defense, it does say in the description "All the plating features a satin finish."  Man, I gotta read before I buy.

So help me, is there a "GLOSSY GOLD" Wilkinson VS100 out there somewhere?

 

[vikingred]

Ok here are some options:

The Wilkinson WVS 50K (from China no less):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilkinson-WVS-50K-stratocaster-guitar-tremolo-bridge-kit-Gold-brand-new-/271348830113

Seems legit.  $20 shipping.  Prolly take a year to get here.    :help:

 

[pabloman]

Check out the Hipshot Contour bridge. The Mann-Made is sexy too. The biggest drawback is they ain't cheap. I hate the Wilkinson mismatch, no offense to anybody rockin it, just isn't for me.

 

[vikingred]

Check out the Hipshot Contour bridge. The Mann-Made is sexy too. The biggest drawback is they ain't cheap. I hate the Wilkinson mismatch, no offense to anybody rockin it, just isn't for me.

Pablo, my man!  Problem is I got a spalted maple body ALREADY ROUTED for the Wilkinson VS100.  The two bridges you happen to mention probably won't fit the existing rout, would they?  And filler or re-routing isn't an option on this body.  Man the more I think about it the more pissed off I get. 

 

[pabloman]

Check the specs of your route versus those terms. I'm not sure.

 

[vikingred]

I need solutions.  Anyone else got any?  (Besides ordering a Glossy Gold Wilkinson from China?)

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I think this is the exact same dimensions but shiny gold.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/360772860688?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

Here is one from allparts too. Dam spendy though.

https://www.allparts.com/SB-5318-002-Wilkinson-Licensed-by-Gotoh-VG300-Tremolo-Gold_p_3306.html


Here is the cheapest I found but from japan.

http://g-jax.com/510/wilkinson-by-gotoh/vg300.html

 

[musicispeace]

Yes, not shiny. I remember being a bit bummed when my chrome Wilkinson was very matte as I held it in hand but I still like the design and the look. But if you are after a brighter finish you do need to investigate other options.

 

[bagman67]

Allparts is a ripoff.  They have a very complete line, but they make you pay as much as you can stand, and then some.


Vision Guitars has the shiny gold VG300 at $129 vs. $200 for Allparts.


http://visionguitar.com/shop/new-wilkinson-licensed-by-gotoh-vg-300-strat-tremolo-gold-2-18-spacing/


Someone's selling them for $138 on ebay:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/360772860688?item=360772860688&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true

 

[vikingred]

Thanks fellas, those look nice.  I wonder if the dimensions are the same relative to the bridge post.  I can deal with the narrower spacing 2 1/8, but I don't know how that'll sit over the top of my set of Bare Knuckle Warpigs.  It would be bad to order one and find out it doesn't fit the bridge posts.  Seems like it would.  Can anyone confirm?

 

[Cagey]

Allparts is a ripoff.  They have a very complete line, but they make you pay as much as you can stand, and then some.

I'm just speculating, but I think they don't really want to deal with the general public. They'd rather be the wholesaler that serves retail outlets. You see well-stocked music stores with heathy parts selections, and they're almost always Allparts packaged. So, if you're anyman John Doe on the internet, you pay the outrageous MSRP. If you're authorized distributor Joe's Music Emporium, you get proper pricing so you can resell at whatever profit point suits your business plan.

Many (if not most) wholesalers simply refuse to sell to the public, rather than compete with their distributors, present an unreasonable face or deal with sales tax accounting. I don't know why Allparts bothers, given the bad name it gets them, but perhaps they figure they can fill in where their distributors aren't stocking as thoroughly as they could.

 

[vikingred]

Here we go:

The Wilkinson VS401 Gold. 

This looks nice, wondering again if it will fit the existing bridge studs/inserts for the VS100.

 

[stratamania]

Just compare the diagrams for sizes. If you look at the site g-jax that SurfNMusic posted a link to they should have them all there.

 

[vikingred]

I can't read diagrams.  Will it work with the existing rout and stud dimensions or no?  ???

There is an old thread on this here but I never saw final answer as to if it would fit the existing VS100 rout.  Looks like the block is a little thicker.

 

[stratamania]

From the dimensions I can see it would work but that may not be the whole story.

Note the curves at the sides of the 401 narrow in. I don't know if that would cover the sides of the body rout.

There was a thread a couple of months or so ago where some of these trems were discussed and I think it was doubleA who mentioned he had one of them. As he is Warmoth staff he may not be on here over the weekend. I'll see if I can find the thread. [edit I think that discussion was probably about 510 variants]

If it was me I would be going for the VG300 from g-jax which will fit and its Gotohs own store.

 

[vikingred]

Yah, nevermind.  Just purchased the VG300 off fleabay for $129.  Sending this flat gold ugly mess VS100 back to Warmoth.

 

[stratamania]

Ok, look forward to seeing it on your new build.

 

[sixstringsamurai]

Allparts is a ripoff.  They have a very complete line, but they make you pay as much as you can stand, and then some.

I'm just speculating, but I think they don't really want to deal with the general public. They'd rather be the wholesaler that serves retail outlets. You see well-stocked music stores with heathy parts selections, and they're almost always Allparts packaged. So, if you're anyman John Doe on the internet, you pay the outrageous MSRP. If you're authorized distributor Joe's Music Emporium, you get proper pricing so you can resell at whatever profit point suits your business plan.

THIS...

I use either WD (who will in certain cases allow high volume discounts if you register with them as a luthier.)
Guitar parts Resource, or Reverb.

 

[vikingred]

Wow, check out the difference between the VS100 and the VG300:

Hoosier Daddy?