Wilkinson vintage bridge replacement

[sedawk]

I currently have a vintage 6-hole bridge installed in my Warmoth Strat. The first string is very close to the edge of the fretboard and occasionally falls off when using vibrato or doing a pull-off.
After some reading I discovered the cure would be to install a bridge with a 2 1/8" string spacing (the current bridge has a 2 7/32" spacing).
There are a couple Wilkinson/Gotoh bridges with vintage spaced mounting holes, but with the narrower string spacing... the VSVG and VSV400P models.
My concern is this...
The saddle for the 6th string on the Wilky looks set back, and with my current bridge the 6th string saddle is moved quite a bit forward to intonate correctly. I'm afraid I won't be able to adjust the saddle on the new bridge far enough forward.
Would it be unreasonable to plug the current mounting holes and re-drill new mounting holes? I only use the trem to dive... no pull-ups. Looks like there might be room to move the bridge forward 1/8 - 3/16" or so (3 single coils, so there is a little meat between the pickups and bridge).

Thanks much!

 

[tfarny]

Get the Wilkinson VSVG, it's a very nice bridge, fits perfectly in the Warmoth route, and I can't imagine why you would not be able to move the 6th string up far enough - never heard of that one and didn't have a problem with mine.

 

[sedawk]

Get the Wilkinson VSVG, it's a very nice bridge, fits perfectly in the Warmoth route, and I can't imagine why you would not be able to move the 6th string up far enough - never heard of that one and didn't have a problem with mine.

I'm really leaning toward the VSVG. I'll attach a pic of my current bridge. As you can see, the saddle is pretty far forward for the 6th string. I noticed on both the VSVG and the VSV400P that the saddle for the 6th string is set back in the block and doesn't look like it can be adjusted that far forward.
Having the VSVG, what do you think?

 

[tfarny]

Looks to me like your intonation is out - why is your G even with your low E? You sure your nut is in good shape?
The VSVG is a fine bridge, you'll like it a lot. I also set it up for dive only and it worked great, I'm just a hardtail guy in general.

 

[sedawk]

Intonation is dead nuts. I've got the Buzz Feiten Tuning System installed (love it!). I'm not sure if the saddles are normally more forward than with a standard nut?  I think I'll give the VSVG a try. If I can't get the low E to intonate... I'll worry about it then.

 

[TBurst Std]

I currently have a vintage 6-hole bridge installed in my Warmoth Strat. The first string is very close to the edge of the fretboard and occasionally falls off when using vibrato or doing a pull-off.
After some reading I discovered the cure would be to install a bridge with a 2 1/8" string spacing (the current bridge has a 2 7/32" spacing).
There are a couple Wilkinson/Gotoh bridges with vintage spaced mounting holes, but with the narrower string spacing... the VSVG and VSV400P models.
My concern is this...
The saddle for the 6th string on the Wilky looks set back, and with my current bridge the 6th string saddle is moved quite a bit forward to intonate correctly. I'm afraid I won't be able to adjust the saddle on the new bridge far enough forward.
Would it be unreasonable to plug the current mounting holes and re-drill new mounting holes? I only use the trem to dive... no pull-ups. Looks like there might be room to move the bridge forward 1/8 - 3/16" or so (3 single coils, so there is a little meat between the pickups and bridge).

Thanks much!

Callaham makes exactly what you are looking for, no mods. Have one on mine and it works quite well. I'm even set with some pull-up ability.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm

look for
Limited Production Callaham
Narrow Strat Bridge Assemblies

 

[sedawk]

I started googling and I found a place called Killer Guitar Components. I called there and spoke to Sandy. I told him the problem I was having and he told me it's pretty common and that they have a bridge they're calling 'the  convertible' with vintage mount spacing and narrow string spacing. As a bonus, their bridge has a brass block  I ordered one last week and it arrived today. I've already got it installed on my Strat and I'm loving it. It's polished brass (both the plate and the block). I opted for Graph Tech saddles to go along with it. Good stuff!

 

[Unwound G]

After reading your original post, I suspect there is a slight deflection with your neck mounting.  If the neck heel sits squarely in the neck pocket, you should not have problems with the first string falling off the fretboard to begin with.  This problem is again translated to intonating the new bridge saddles.  Since the neck is leaning more to the right off-center, the distance from the nut to the bridge saddle at the low E string is even longer.  This may be the reason why you are running out of forward travel for the low E string saddle.  I would check the neck positioning at the neck pocket to make sure.  Hope this helps.

 

[sedawk]

That makes sense. When I intalled the new bridge I had the neck off to adjust the truss rod a bit (too much relief) and it may be better positioned now. Now that I have the new bridge installed, the E strings seem better positioned on the fretboard, and the low E string is intonated and the saddle doesn't seem so far forward. Too many things changed to say what the real culprit was. The narrower string spacing does seem to help though.

 

[Unwound G]

That makes sense. When I intalled the new bridge I had the neck off to adjust the truss rod a bit (too much relief) and it may be better positioned now. Now that I have the new bridge installed, the E strings seem better positioned on the fretboard, and the low E string is intonated and the saddle doesn't seem so far forward. Too many things changed to say what the real culprit was. The narrower string spacing does seem to help though.

Good to know.  The narrow saddle spacing will also line up your strings to pickup polepieces better.

 

[Steve_Karl]

If you suspect your neck is not square in the pocket then let me tell you my story.

My first Warmoth strat was assembled for me by a local guitar technician who, rather than informing me my bridge choice was a bit odd and didn't fit correctly, opted to route the neck pocket deeper to compensate.
I have ever since had an extreme amount of back and forth play because he also ended up hitting the sides of the pocket on both sides.

If I happen to have to take the neck off for some reason, last time being to refinish it, when putting it back on, it takes a few tries to get it back to the angle that works for me.
I just loosen the strings down, loosen the 4 bolts attaching the neck, just enough to be able to pull it into place, and then when it looks right, re tighten the screws, re tune and test. It will then stay where I put it until next time the neck needs to be removed.

Good luck.

 

[sedawk]

Ouch... no, nothing that bad. The neck and body are both Warmoth and are actually a snug fit. I think the issue with my guitar was more with the string spacing. Sorry to hear about your guitar.