Wilkinson tremolo saddles - Need setup info

[ventolino]

Hi, i'm almost done with my project, but need some help.
I installed wilkinson tremolo flat on body and, in order to have right string height, i had to raise saddles (obvious) but at a point that they're very high over tremolo plate.
Instructions says that i need to lock saddle screw but saddles are very angled and intonation setting is a little difficult because when i open the lock screw the sadlle raise the bottom and change string tune.
I have this situation:

I also found a site suggesting to set saddles parallel to tremolo plate.
In this situation saddles will be very high and not locked but intonation setting will be easier.
Alternative setting:

Please help me find right setting, thanks.  :help:

 

[spauldingrules]

Dude - you gotsa raise the big bolts/anchors on the sides first.  Then fine-tune with the saddles.  Put them all the way down and then raise the bolts, then adjust the arc with the saddles.

 

[taez555]

The neck is sitting too high in the pocket.  If you sand down the neck pocket, or the back of the neck a little it will allow you to have the strings lower without having to have your bridge saddles super high.

 

[bpmorton777]

I think in this case a photograph might be a little more useful than the diagrams. Is the goal to have the bridge flat agaist the body so you cannot bend upwards in pitch?

Brian

 

[m4rk0]

What Spaulding said!
the trem should float a little bit!

 

[spauldingrules]

I think you are the first person to ever agree with me on this board.  I love you.

 

[guitlouie]

I agree...I love m4rko too!

 

[m4rk0]

AWWWW I love y'all right back  :icon_biggrin:
for a change people agree with me agreeing with others!

 

[spauldingrules]

I respectfully disagree. arty07: :guitarplayer2: :doh: :headbang1: :redflag: :rock-on: arty07: :cool01: :kewlpics: arty07: arty07: arty07: :kewlpics: :rock-on: :guitarplayer2: :guitarplayer2:

 

[RLW]

Harumph!

 

[ventolino]

Dude - you gotsa raise the big bolts/anchors on the sides first.  Then fine-tune with the saddles.  Put them all the way down and then raise the bolts, then adjust the arc with the saddles.

Spaulding, i know how to set studs, but i'd like to mantain tremolo plate touching body!  :toothy11:

The neck is sitting too high in the pocket.  If you sand down the neck pocket, or the back of the neck a little it will allow you to have the strings lower without having to have your bridge saddles super high.

Ok, this can resolve.

I think in this case a photograph might be a little more useful than the diagrams. Is the goal to have the bridge flat agaist the body so you cannot bend upwards in pitch?
Brian

I'll post a picture.
I know i can't bend upwards (i'd love to have this feature) but the goal to have the bridge flat is that if a string break others stay in tune, double stop bendings (is this right?) can't go out of tune and maybe a little more sustain due to more transfer of string vibration. For my tastes i think there're more advantages than disadvantages. 

BTW i think I'll also try it floating, as suggested by Spaulding and M4rko, then i'll decide for the best.

This is a great forum, thanks for your support!  :hello2: 

 

[bpmorton777]

hey

try this:

http://www.tremol-no.com/

dont sand your neck pocket before you check it out first

Brian

 

[spauldingrules]

You can still have the back of the bridge touching the body.  If it's perfectly flat it can't go up or down!  It's not meant to be that way - I hate to imagine how hard it would be to keep in tune with those little screws completely extended, not to mention the effect on the sound.

I have 3 wilks in 3 guitars, and I really like them.  Trust me on this.  Mine are all set for down only.

 

[ventolino]

You can still have the back of the bridge touching the body.  If it's perfectly flat it can't go up or down!  It's not meant to be that way - I hate to imagine how hard it would be to keep in tune with those little screws completely extended, not to mention the effect on the sound.

Spaulding, this is a great idea! Simply i havent' thought about this setting.

I have 3 wilks in 3 guitars, and I really like them.  Trust me on this.  Mine are all set for down only.

So, if i understand, you have saddles flat (adapted to neck radius) on tremolo plate and tremolo tilted backwards touching body, am i right?
Can you post a pic to see your setting?

Thanks.

 

[spauldingrules]

That's exactly right.  That's how my three are.  Here's one I just completed:  http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=2622.0

Also, the bridge might rest against the wood in the inside of the bridge route as the springs pull it tight, which is ok too.

 

[spauldingrules]

http://evhgear.com/frankenstein/

He doesn't need it anymore, but he shoved a quarter under there so the back of the bridge would hold steady and not allow him to raise the pitch - down only.

 

[DiMitriR33]

you can raise the front of the neck with a shim.

 

[ventolino]

you can raise the front of the neck with a shim.

Thanks DiMitri33, another great idea.  :headbang: