Comparing Wilkinson and Cheap Stock Hardware (close up comparison and a failed bridge swap attempt)
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Today I tried (and failed) to swap the stock bridge on my strat copy, the 'Ratocaster'. I also show the differences between the stock hardware (generic cheap import stuff) and the Wilkinson. Here's what happened...
Documenting for educational purposes. May you learn from my mistakes and incorrect assumptions!
![The Perfect Stratocaster Trem / Vibrato Setup [Floating, Flat Or Blocked?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PjVXWyUGpwc/mqdefault.jpg)
For anyone viewing this and experiencing the same issue with bridge post spacing:
Original bridge appears to be 52.5mm, new bridge is 54-56mm US spec strat spacing.
Musiclily make a PRS style bridge with brass block to suit those dimensions. It's more expensive than the Wilkinson but you might not have to drill holes
If I were to do the same, should i be concerned with the E strings being out of the fretboard?
@@kelvinklauck string spacing is not the same as post spacing, check the measurements (it will likely be fine)
The only issue I experienced was that I ended up close to the end of the intonation adjustment
Also, Wilkinson is shit. I'm not trying to sound elitist or anything. My partscasters are half Ali Express custom shop builds. Wilkinson just makes junk. The one and only time I bought his crap I felt like i'd been scammed. Never again.
@@onlyusernameleft2 reviews of the music lily bridge seemed decent and had a nice block etc, haven’t finished that build yet so not sure on longevity of the pivot surfaces etc. 6 posts so if the material isn’t as hard as a genuine PRS then at least it spreads the load
Haven’t used the Wilkinson so can’t comment on that
Great video, this is how people learn and I enjoyed your enthusiasm!
you should have gootn the wilkinson model BS005 that medol will drop right in with no trouble
I bought a callaham steel trem block for my MIM. Gonna use the sane bridge plate until I can upgrade it.
Option 2 instead of a hairband you could use a flat screwdriver for trem springs this works in reverse when pulling the springs back onto the claw side.
Thanks for sharing this even when it did not work out.
i make the mistakes so you don't have to
You got the PRS model, thats why it doesn't fit well, as i saw there was another model specifically for a Strat
THere are 3 sizes of these trems regarding the screw spacing, worth checking before messing up :)
Thanks for the video, dude! I got a red strat from Harley Benton and I can't seem to find a suitable bridge replacement. I thought that the Wilkinson VSVG would do the trick but after watching your video , I am having second thoughts! Thumbs up for sharing, hero!
thanks for watching dude! yeah don't get caught. look at northwestguitars, maybe their squier imports will fit! it's so annoying when nothing is standard on these things...
Most modern strats are 21/16 screw spacing but Wilkinson only makes Fender wider screw spacing, meaning nothing fits. Why does Wilkinson make narrow space, 95% of strats are narrow.
Think you only need to fit 4 screws and not all 6. The Fender bridge pivots on the 6 screws, but the Wilkerson bridge pivits differently. Not sure.
Simple fix really, here’s what you do
Get some 3mm dowls, drill the six holes in the guitar body with a 3mm drill.
Use any wood glue and fill the holes put in dowls followed by light tap with hammer.
Cut dowls flush with body surface.
Locate your new bridge so both e strings will be the same distance from either edge of the neck, mark new
holes and use centre punch, now redrill.
,
hi there! i ended up taking it to a shop and got the bridge fitted. However i preferred the feel of the old one (narrower string spacing) so i got a trem block and saddles cheap online and will be putting the 'old' (if you can still call it that!) one back and i'll be selling the wilkinson on. nothing wrong with it quality-wise though! thanks for watching :)
I see where you’re coming from. I always like there to be plenty of space between the e strings and the edge of the neck.
Glue a dowel in the last hole. you can buy for less than a dollar at any hardware store. Set the other screws then after it dries drill it out and install the last screw.
You needed to buy the wilkinson vintage. I just put one on my Kramer Barretta Special.
great tremolo for a MIM Strat you want to "modernize"
it's great it it'l fit! thanks for watching :)
The wilkinson bridge has 2-7/32"(from 1st to 6th screw) screw spacing. I think your ratocaster has 2-1/16", that's why it didn't fit.
Yes you're right, mate. got the shop to fit it. having 2nd thoughts now. spacing is a bit too wide i think. doesn't feel as nice as it used to.
did the block stick out of the back with the springs in place? or did it all fit under the back plate
you shouid had measured it, my first was 5.6mm and was too wide, returned it and replaced 5.4mm everything went smoothly
shouldawouldacoulda *shrug*
Year none of them fit I've brought 2 including the 2 pin and do not align with the Strat holes. They should be band from selling
Nah, you just need to measure the spacing. If you have a 52.5mm bridge check out the musiclily version :)
My God, i´m glad it´s not mine guitar :-)
i put the old bridge back haha. I ended up getting it refinished with a new neck etc... thanks for watching!
You should use a proper steak knife to run those screws down.
Why the hell did I watch this?
Why make a video of how you ordered the wrong bridge (without measuring anything) for your Strat...
🤷🏻♂️
Just in the middle of upgrading a $50 garage sale Yamaha EG303 into a superstrat and the first thing I realized was the difference between bridge types and measurements if you don't want to fill and drill. Research saves time and $.
I am really upset that the majority of import strats are 2 1/16 inch string spacing and Wilkinson's does not manufacture a tremolo for this size even though half the imports come with Wilkinson from the factory.
yeah same here! I think the specs of those guitars (neck width) account for the bridge spacing. but yes it's very annoying! Maybe the necks aren't even wider on those guitars because it would be expensive to tool-up for at the factory,. i've no idea.... if it helps northwestguitars do import spaced decent squier spaced (generic import) strat trems, and blackdog music make steel blocks for imports. they're what i use in my strat projects. thanks for watching :)
Im not sure if this is a how to replace your bridge video, or how to unintentionally relic your guitar. At 8:10 why not just simply drill a new hole for that screw on the far left side? From the looks, its not a high dollar guitar. Once the bridge is installed it wont be visible.
Man... i wish i could live my life so care free lmfao.
My friend told me yesterday that your still trying to get this to work? said you had brought a CNC machine and a lathe started a apprenticeship in metal working and should have that saddle and block put together in less then 3 more years. dont forget to update us on how it turns out, still trying to decide if i should buy that same block
na i long gave up lol! don't buy the block cos the wilkinson ones are staggered. they're for wilko bridges only!
Hi There, what is a Ratocaster ? I've searched on google and found nothing. Did you get it fitted in the end ? Because I want to try and fit one on my Starcaster. Thanks
hi, i made it up haha. the guitar came with no logo on it and an 'R' on the neckplate so i bought a fender stratocaster decal online and ditched the first couple of letters ;) thanks for watching
I got it fit at a local shop. the string spacing on the wilkinson is wider than the stock one and i'm not a fan. i got a trem block and saddles online to upgrade the old bridge (well, just the baseplate is original really) and i'm gonna get it swapped back.
Thank you :) Do you happen to know if there was any problem with the Block being too large to freely move in the guitar at all please? because I am thinking of trying to fit a wilkinson trem on my Starcaster and just use less screws to hold it down. And maybe make new holes.
i could't say :/ mine definitely isn't squier, and with strat copies there are so many variables!! tbh you're a lot better off buying a steel trem block for imports, and some stainless steel saddles. block was about £20 and saddles about £11. much less hassle than buying a bridge that doesn't fit!! check forums as well, there's bound to be someone who's measured the parts!
OK I'll look into it a bit more. Thank You very much for getting back to me so quickly. God Bless You
Don't the spring soak up the sustain
Hairband...WRONG! You NEVER remove the springs under that much tension. You back off the trem claw and remove the springs. ALSO, the angled springs is a huge no no! The outer two are under more tension than the middle one, meaning the middle one can fall out. You put the springs straight up and down. You only use the angle if you are using two springs. Also, you can NOT just use any block on any bridge plate. The mounting screw holes that hold them together, as well as the hole for the trem arm, and the holes for the strings all would not line up. Especially with a Wilkinson which uses STAGGERED string holes for tuning stability.
yes i was doing it wrong haha! i've learned a lot about guitars since then! But the trem block comparison is still interesting. thanks for watching!
got a wilkinson one and fitted it ,the two outer hole needed fitting got it fitted then found that the block is flush with the back of the body and with the springs in the cover won't go on, the old block is 35mm the wilkinson one is 42 any suggestion i thought of packing the cover of a couple of mil ??
i wouldn't know what to suggest, i'm afraid :/
The plastic pickguard trem cover thing with 6 holes? To be honest I'd just leave that off, like most guitarists seem to do because whenever I see a strat the springs are visible......Or if it bothers you that much you can buy a good block from guitar fetish . com. They sell the proper size block and they do one called a shorty, made for slightly thinner body. They look good to me, I'll be getting 1 soon as they've got a 10% off sale this month. You'll have to buy 1 of their trem arms because the threads are US size thread. You can buy the whole thing, block, bridge & trem arm for about £25. Plus they have loads of inexpensive pickups, parts etc, it's well worth a look.
ok thats great thank for reply
The block isn't the problem. Not all import guitars are fender spec as in the import bodies aren't as thick as genuine fender. Just leave the cover off, or get a new body
I know not everyone is tool savy, but I have an affinity strat which the body is I believe 4 mil thinner than American or Mexican made strats. I purchased a Wilkinson 2 post bridge and had the same problem. I fixed it by grinding the block back and re-drilling the spring holes. Fits like a champ, no issues yet. Been on there for a year now.
Hope you got yourself some real tools now
I’ve seen some with the two middle screws removed. It’s supposed to help with binding issues
i've not heard of that! i lock them down anyway
Not very helpful but I think the problem lay with with your 'Ratocaster' and it not being either a Squier Affinity/Standard/Classic Vibe or a Mexican Fender :-(
He replaced one 6 screw bridge with another 6 screw bridge that has a name... Way to go champ!
Robert Helmick not quite as it didn’t work! The point of uploading is that other people can learn from my successes and failures haha! It’s all just sharing information
@@BadMotivator66 I'm sorry. I'm a smartass and I forget the internet can't see my reactions. No hard feelings.
@@BadMotivator66 but I gotta say man, don't be afraid to try stuff. Putty the holes and redrill. It's easier than you think. I put the wilkinson 2 post tremelo on an affinity strat I had and the block stuck out the back of the guitar. I cut the bottom of the block to the same depth of the original block and redrilled the spring hole. Works like a champ to this day. Man didn't learn to build walls by being affraid to stack rocks.
WVP6?
not sure, it was an impulse buy off ebay cos it was really cheap. could well be though!
I hate that. You think easy job...no !
yup haha it is/was a steep learning curve!! thanks for watching :)
99% don't line up with most Strat holes. These people are dishonest and scamers
it depends on the 'strat' or strat-type. imports, no cos they're 52mm. mim and usa fender, possibly depending on the model
i am rvsgradio deleated my videos
This was a terrible video. Why would you make a video on how NOT to accomplish something?? 🤔
So you don’t have to. You’re welcome.
Why did he post this video. Surely get the job done and post it properly.
because failure is a good teacher :)
What a hack