Wilkinson trem; to recess or not to recess?

[anorakDan]

The Gibson announcement has impacted the timeline of my intended Brutal Legend V project. If I can get my finances together in time to score the only top routed V body in the Showcase, I am forced into a trem. I would rather have a hardtail, but that's the way it is.

I believe the trem I want is a Wilky. Does anyone have any input regarding a recessed Wilkinson versus a non-recessed one?

 

[AutoBat]

If you aren't planning on using it much just go with the non-recessed.  You can still set it up to pull back a bit without the extra routing.

 

[line6man]

Non-recessed trems are pointless unless you have the neck angle to get the bridge tilted up so you can pull up sufficiently. Then again, most people don't use theirs trems heavily in both directions, like I do.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

That's true. I really like the Fender American Standard trem, which I've never seen recessed. But I'm used to only pulling up about a semitone on the top E string, which works out at somewhere between a semitone and a tone on the bottom string.

 

[anorakDan]

Thanks for the input. I'm not planning on using it much at all, but I've never had a guitar with one before, so you never know. I might take to a trem.

I was actually toying with the idea of replacing the springs with turnbuckle fasteners...

 

[Steve_Karl]

5 springs makes my Wilk Vs-100 play almost as tight as a hard tail.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I use a Tremol-no.

I can lock it in hard-tail mode, which I always do when in the case or just sitting around.  Maintains constant tuning, especially when going from one environment to another.

I can also lock it in Dive only, or freely floating.

Locking in Hard Tail or Dive only is really cool for detuning for dropped D tuning.

I usually only have it in freely floating when playing solos while recording, or for songs that feature floating trem work live.

 

[MikeW]

If you aren't planning on using it much just go with the non-recessed.  You can still set it up to pull back a bit without the extra routing.

+1 to this. Since you have an affinity for hardtail bridges, I'd say set the Wilkinson up so it sits flush on the face of the guitar with enough tension on the springs to hold it there. You'll still be able to push it down, but it will sit solidly on the top like a hardtail bridge would.

I went with a non-recessed Wilkinson on my latest Strat and have set it up so that I can pull up 1 to 1.25 steps. But I could easily have gone the other way and had it flush on the top.

 

[anorakDan]

Thanks a million for all the input! Non recessed it will be. I must admit, I like the look of the Wilky bridge but I just don't forsee needing to pull up on the trem arm. If anything, it will be a little bit of wobble here and there. But who knows. Having the trem bridge just might bring some different techniques to my playing. I might have to learn some new things! -gasp-