Wilkinson/Gotoh VS-100N Tremolo: Will it fit an American Deluxe Strat?

[Christian Jones]

Hey . I have an American Deluxe from around '05 and currently it has a Hipshot US Contour Tremolo bridge on it. The Hipshot is beautiful actually *but*, the saddles have sharp pointy edges that poke into my hand every time I palm mute, and I palm mute a lot and it's very uncomfortable with this bridge. I'd like to put the Wilkinson vs-100n on it like I have on my Warmoth strat. The Wilkinson specs say it will fit "American Standard" strat w/o mods, but does anyone know if that includes the American Deluxe as well? Thank you

 

[Rick]

Is it the grub screws or the actual saddles?

 

[Cagey]

I don't know that I'd call this "definitive" information, but it's pretty encouraging. Based on that, I'd do it, but I'm not afraid to get out the routerbeast if it came to that.

 

[spe111]

If it's the 2-point trem I'm thinking of they did have the same bridge. I had something from that time frame that was upgraded from an american standard (hot rodded deluxe? something like that) and it had the same bridge as the american standard.

 

[AirCap]

It's the studs you have to worry about...

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/All_Hardware_and_Parts_by_Instrument/Electric_Guitar_Parts/Electric_Guitar_Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Electric_Guitar_Tremolos/Wilkinson_Gotoh_VS-100N_Tremolo.html

By the way, the VS-100 is an excellent choice. I've installed them on a number of guitars, and they work flawlessly. I installed one on my Vintage Icon V6M24 with locking Grover tuners, and it never fails me.

https://imgur.com/aLZp4Id

 

[stultzies9]

The VS100 and the American Standard Trem are ALMOST compatible. The stud spacing is just barely different (I can't remember offhand which one is wider), but you can make it work. The other part I can't remember is which studs are bigger and which ones are smaller. I THINK the Wilk studs are smaller, but in theory, if you leave those in, you might be able to get a Wilk to work. 

 

[Christian Jones]

Is it the grub screws or the actual saddles?

It's the pointy outer corner edges of the saddles themselves. On a Wilkinson and other bridges the corners of the saddles are contoured or at least not sharp and pointy.

 

[Christian Jones]

The VS100 and the American Standard Trem are ALMOST compatible. The stud spacing is just barely different (I can't remember offhand which one is wider), but you can make it work. The other part I can't remember is which studs are bigger and which ones are smaller. I THINK the Wilk studs are smaller, but in theory, if you leave those in, you might be able to get a Wilk to work.

Hmm well I don't want to have to route anything or pay to have that done. Maybe I'll just look for a different bridge

 

[Rick]

It might be easier to just swap saddles.  Sting saver makes nice ones, as well as Gotoh.

 

[rgand]

Could you take a file or sandpaper to the sharp edges of the saddles? Might save you a lot of hassle.

If you want new saddles, there are a lot of good ones available. Gotoh makes nice compensated ones in brass and titanium. I have both and they're good. Titanium sounds a bit brighter if that's what you are after.

For palm muting, Gotoh makes bridges with cut down sides that are great! I have these and really like them. For the whole thing with the saddles, you only pay about $10 more.

 

[ragamuffin]

Could you take a file or sandpaper to the sharp edges of the saddles? Might save you a lot of hassle.

If you want new saddles, there are a lot of good ones available. Gotoh makes nice compensated ones in brass and titanium. I have both and they're good. Titanium sounds a bit brighter if that's what you are after.

For palm muting, Gotoh makes bridges with cut down sides that are great! I have these and really like them. For the whole thing with the saddles, you only pay about $10 more.

I think he's talking about the Hipshot tremolo bridge, but the same thing applies: just swap the saddles or sand down the corner edge.

 

[Rick]

I like that sanding idea.  Nothing to lose, and all you need is to pay for is sand paper.

 

[rgand]

Could you take a file or sandpaper to the sharp edges of the saddles? Might save you a lot of hassle.

If you want new saddles, there are a lot of good ones available. Gotoh makes nice compensated ones in brass and titanium. I have both and they're good. Titanium sounds a bit brighter if that's what you are after.

For palm muting, Gotoh makes bridges with cut down sides that are great! I have these and really like them. For the whole thing with the saddles, you only pay about $10 more.

I think he's talking about the Hipshot tremolo bridge, but the same thing applies: just swap the saddles or sand down the corner edge.

Well, hell. I got part of it right, eh? :laughing11:

 

[Christian Jones]

Right on guys, I'm liking where you're all going w/ this saddle swap thing. The Hipshot has these fancy looking saddles as seen here https://hipshotproducts.com/products/6-String-US-Contour-Tremolo-Bridge where the back of the saddles are rounded. I sort of thought maybe the saddles where proprietary and not necessarily swappable, not because they're rounded in the back, but I just haven't thought much about swapping them. But yeah man if the saddles can simply be swapped that'd be the way to go because then I wouldn't have to worry about yanking the bushings/studs out and actually I love the feel of this Hipshot tremolo except for the saddles. I can shop smart but just curious, can I put just about any saddles I want on there for this type of bridge, or do I need to worry about special measurements etc? Man it would make my day if this whole deal could be as simple as a saddle swap.

As far as sanding down the corners of the saddles... Well these saddles are chromed so if I were to sand them I'd sand that smooth liquid chorme away exposing the main material and it'd just look like crap I think. I also didn't want to hurt anything on this Hipshot bridge as I'd seek to sell it if I replaced it. Thanks for the help everyone!

How about these?

https://www.wdmusic.com/replacement-solid-steel-tremolo-saddle-set-details.html

 

[Rick]

You could probably work out a swap with someone because those hipshot are nice.  I might have a set of gotohs but it will take me a couple of days to check.

 

[Christian Jones]

Thanks man but as it turns out I found out tonight that I actually already have what I need. Back around '05 I bought a Hipshot tremolo bridge and had it installed on my guitar for a few years before I realized it was actually defective. The tremolo arm would always fall out as there was no set screw to hold it in place. But then one day I looked on the back underside of the bridge and I saw a partially drilled hole for a set screw that wasn't drilled all the way through so no set screw could actually be put in. Some luthier online then told me to email hipshot and that they would send me a brand new bridge for free and he seemed pretty positive enough to tell me that. But I had already had that bridge for several years on my guitar so I didn't think they would do that but then I sent hipshot a picture of the defect on the bridge and they totally sent me a brand new one for free w/o me even asking outright. But the new bridge came with those new fancy back-rounded saddles whereas the previous bridge had regular brushed steel saddles and those did not poke into my hand. I happened to save the defective bridge and tonight I found it in my closet and I can see the saddles on it will fit perfectly on the new hipshot bridge so I'll swap them later. These fancy saddles, I don't know what I'll do with those, they're gorgeous but man the pointy edges are too distracting. You can even see on hipshot's site https://hipshotproducts.com/collections/saddle-sets/products/stainless-steel-guitar-saddle  the edges are pointy.

But I owe you guys here a big thanks for suggesting that I simply swap the saddles because I hadn't thought of that and I was getting ready to buy a whole new bridge, yank out the bridge and bushings, worry about whether the new bushings fit and just that whole hassle and potential nightmare - and I already had what I needed the whole time so I don't even have to buy anything.

 

[Cagey]

 

[Rick]

That’s awesome!  ccasion14:

 

[rgand]

Glad to hear you have an excellent solution. Without even having to buy any parts.  :icon_thumright:

 

[musicispeace]

I have changed strings on all my guitars in the past week or so and have a couple Wilkinson's and a couple traditional strat bridges. I was just thinking last night how much I like the Wilkinson bridge. Super happy with it.