Wilkinson trem in fender standard rout

[robaato86]

Hi folks, first time posting here and soon to be a new warmoth owner (well in a few months anyway). I did a search but couldn't find a solid answer on here or any other forum. I'm looking to get a jazzmaster body with a fender standard 2pt trem rout.

The trem I'm going to get is the Wilkinson VS401, which is made to fit the fender standard trem rout so that part is fine. What I'm worried about is that the Wilkinson studs are coming in at 10mm diameter, but warmoth lists the standard fender stud measurements at 9.5mm. I was hoping to put the wilkinson studs in myself, and just wanted to make sure I won't be splitting the wood when I drive the studs in. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

 

[Cagey]

First off, welcome to the forum! It's a fun place!

Secondly, half a mm doesn't sound like much, but you're dealing with hardwoods which are not as compressible as the stuff they make houses and garages out of. Fortunately, the hole you're describing is smaller than the hole you need, so it's just a matter of opening it up. Buy a 10mm bit, find a drill press, and give those holes a chase (be sure to set a depth stop or mark the bit with a piece of tape so you don't drill all the way through the body). Only takes a few seconds. Then, as long as you have a drill press to play with, you can pull the bit out and use the chuck to press in the mounting bushings for your bridge studs.

 

[robaato86]

Thanks for the welcome and an even bigger thanks for the reply! Been lurking around this forum for ages and pretty much decided on what I wanted to put together after reading all of the helpful suggestions you & others have been posting on a whole range of subjects. Now all I need to do is try not to lose my mind while I wait for the body & neck to come in. Thanks again for the help Cagey

 

[Cagey]

If you haven't bought anything yet, you might want to give some serious thought to the choice of a VS401 bridge. Not that there's anything wrong with them - they're a lovely device - but they're a discontinued product and the prices have been unusually high traditionally due to manufacturing difficulties and now due to scarcity. They don't really have any performance advantage over the VS100, although they're slightly more attractive. Still, from a performance/comfort/cost standpoint, the VS100 kicks its ass. Plus, you enter into "standard" territory, where Warmoth will route the mount for you so you don't have to mess around with it. They'll even punch the bushings in for $10 if you buy the bridge from them, where it's only between $92 and $104, depending on the finish you choose.

No need to work hard if you don't have to.

 

[robaato86]

Thanks for the advice. I'm actually getting the VS401 from a friend who's decided he prefers hardtails to trems, so the cost isn't a factor for me. Just out of curiosity, do you know if the 401 would fit the VS100 rout without showing any gaps/having any fit issues? The only reason I'm going with the fender trem rout is because I already have the VS401 (pretty much), but I wouldn't mind having a guitar that could switch back and forth between the 401 & 100 if need be.

 

[stratamania]

The VS401 in a VS100 rout would probably show a gap. But another way to look at this is if you really want to use the VS401 is get the American standard route, and then get the Fender bushings and pivot pins. The VS401 would then fit on them with the choice to use a Fender two point tremelo as an alternative.

Bushings and pivot pins can be found online.

Or another idea get an American two point fender trem from Warmoth with the bushings fitted to the body and you can use that or the VS401

 

[robaato86]

The VS401 in a VS100 rout would probably show a gap. But another way to look at this is if you really want to use the VS401 is get the American standard route, and then get the Fender bushings and pivot pins. The VS401 would then fit on them with the choice to use a Fender two point tremelo as an alternative.

Bushings and pivot pins can be found online.

Or another idea get an American two point fender trem from Warmoth with the bushings fitted to the body and you can use that or the VS401

Very good point. I don't mind drilling out the holes to fit the VS401 studs since I'll be using a drill press to push the studs in anyway, but I suppose the less work I do the less chance I have of doing something stupid and turning my guitar into swiss cheese. Appreciate all the help guys, thanks again.