Wilkinson VS 401

[mindology]

Hey guys,

It looks like the Wilkinson answer to the "wobble" is the VS 401. I am thinking about trying this in place of the VS 100 and  was wondering if anyone has any experience with it?

Does anyone know if it is a quick replacement for the VS 100 without any mods?

Thanks
Jason

 

[m4rk0]

looks like it. I will definetely try it on my next project if Warmoth will let me

from WD music:

Gotoh,/Wilkinson VS401 Tremolo System.

This is similar to the VS100 Gotoh/Wilkinson unit but with the added advantage of having a re-designed sustain block so that it retrofits an American Standard Fender Stratocaster or similar without any modification to the guitar body. The saddles are locked down to the baseplate, allowing the full transfer of the string vibrations into the whole bridge and increasing sustain. Even the steel sustain block string holes are positioned to help provide a more consistent angle over the saddles intonation point. Arm, mounting posts, springs, claw, screws and allen keys are all included.

The trem arm screws in but there is a small grub screw in the sustain block that is used to create the desired amount of tension - giving you the option of of an arm that will fall away after use or stay exactly where you want it.

Not to be confused with the Wilkinson, budget line - the man himself, Trev Wilkinson, considers the Gotoh, Wilkinson, units to be his highest quality range.

 

[mindology]

Thanks man... that is helpful!

I was actually looking at the 501Ts-FE1 but It looks like there may be some more mod for it.

 

[taez555]

Haven't tried it, but when I was researching my fixes for the wobble, I came across the VS401.   The dimmensions and stud spacing seem to be identical to the VS100, so it should work, of course nothing is ever certain with those things.

On a side note, an update..

After 2 weeks, my fix for the wobble with the VS100 is still holding tight.   Not a budge or wobble.  Yeah!!!!!



erik

 

[mindology]

That video is a hoot!  in fact I almost got the VS100 and retro fit a Floyd arm... but I am sure that the height of the arm would drive me crazy. Well I am hoping there won't be any issues..

Plus I am going to try the Tremol-no...

 

[mindology]

UPDATE!!!

Got the 401 in... it is amazing! I highly recommend it over the traditional VS100. The block is thicker and the arm is flush with no wobble movement whatsoever....

good work Gotoh!

J

 

[CouchSpud]

So I take it that it worked perfectly with the old studs?

 

[karhariasgr]

Can I use Gotoh/Wilkinson VS401 with saddles of Graphteck String Savers (http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?SubCategoryID=56). I mean that the saddles fit in the Wilkinson tremolo?

 

[NLD09]

I ended up using a floyd tremolo arm and honestly I like it better than I liked the old arm even before the wobble. It's worth a try for anybody else that has wobble problems.

 

[Steve_Karl]

I ended up using a floyd tremolo arm and honestly I like it better than I liked the old arm even before the wobble. It's worth a try for anybody else that has wobble problems.

Which arm did you replace with and did you also replace the part that mounts the arm?

I'm not wild about the shape / angle of the bend in the vs-100 arm. I'm looking for something that is straighter and lays a bit lower to the body.

The vs-100 arm is "stainless steel" but is it tempered? I wonder if they're bendable?
Has anyone ever tried to bend one?

 

[NLD09]

I used a fender floyd replacement arm. It was a tight fit but with some pressure i got it in... that's what she said.

It isn't closer to the body though. It's a bit higher.

 

[Steve_Karl]

Thanks for the info.

I think I'll get an other vs-100 arm and try bending it.

 

[B3Guy]

anybody looked at the VSVG? it looks way more awesomer IMO . . . but will it have the same wobble problems?

 

[pabloman]

I have a VS100 without the arm. I replaced everything with a floyd setup. I didn't like the floyd bar so I the Wilky parts back on and found that a PRS bar fits extremely well. Nice and tight with a real low profile. :dontknow:

 

[clewnii]

Hmm,  I want this instead of the VS 100 i ordered with my body and neck.. hehe, just based on looks!

It seems to me after checking the drawings of these two trems that,

So I take it that it worked perfectly with the old studs?

The answer to this Q should be yes? 

And you dont have to do any "kitchensinksurgery" style adjustments to the body?   I mean, in order to fit the bigger block?

If not, I'll just let W install the studs from my VS 100 on order while I go a head and order a VS 401 (!!  ), then i can either sell or keep the VS100 as a "backup" or whatever.

 

[Steve_Karl]

Thanks for the info.

I think I'll get an other vs-100 arm and try bending it.

I got an other arm and bent it and it feels more comfortable for me than the higher bar.
I used a vice and some thin tightly pressed cardboard from the back of a writing tablet to keep from scratching the bar.

I bent the almost 90 degree angle to as close to 90 as I could get it by just holding the long part of the arm and bending it.

I also straightened out the bend in the longer handle part by putting it in the vice and tightening the jaws on it as tight as I could.
Of course it was cushioned with cardboard also. It's not perfectly straight but much better for me than the original design.

There are now some stretch marks in the metal where the bends were made which can be felt as not smooth areas.
No big deal on the stretch marks. I might buff the ones out of the long part of the handle with a Dremel brush if they bother me later on.