I've got one on my late 70's MIJ El Degas strat and I absolutely love it. Most comfortable bridge I ever rested my palm on with those rollers. No little screws sticking up poking my hand. Mine stays in tune very well with a locking nut. And it looks absolutely killer. Mine is chrome. Reminds me of a blower sticking out of a 69 Camaro.
Honestly, I think if you could find some flush mounted screws that fit where the stop bar used to be, you’d get less of that feeling like it’s going to snap off. It feels like that because it’s not really mounted as intended. That said, your other concerns wouldn’t change, so maybe it’s best that it stays off. Thanks for sharing!
I think it and especially the playing, sound great! Just from a listening standpoint as I scroll through the comments. Very throaty! The whammied chords sound different, is it because they bend the same? All whammy at the same time? I found this video because I'm installing one on a strat for a customer right at this moment and wanted to know what I was in for. It's an aftermarket neck and I chiseled the nut in behind the shelf for the front screws. It feels very similar to the Kahler system working on it, and those systems stay in tune very well with accurate nut installation. Have you considered having that double cut body style made custom with the Wonderbar built in, nut and all?
I don't see anyone talking about the main reason for the Wonderbar trem system....dropping and raising pitch on chords in tune. You adjust those first little saddles on the movable part of the tremolo so that each string will drop(or raise) pitch by the correct amount to keep a chord in tune when dropping or raising it...just like VH did with the Steinberger TransTrem on GetUp. I have owned one of these since it was released in the 80's. They stay in tune. And BTW, the new Floyd Rose FRX (surface mount) tremolo systems also use a behind the nut string lock. It works. You do have to tinker with the Wonderbar tremolo to learn how to make use of all its capabilities. Happy playing
There are two versions, the one you have here is my favorite, the arm is secured better than the other version. I've been using these since '85 so I know how to set them up. The behind the nut locking mechanism was a way to avoid Floyd Rose patent. I actually think it was Kahler that sued them hard(roller design). A Floyd style nut or locking tuners is a better way to go. The string angle at the headstock of a SG will be a problem. The original arm is very long an gives a smoother feel, so you can play with that. I've found that it doesn't work well with thicker strings, past 10-46, the spring tension can only be adjusted a little. On Strats you'll mikely need to shim the neck, and the screws holes at the front doesn't intonate, it need to be 2-2,5mm. further back.All that said I still find it one of the best trems in existence. FWIW
Have had one on my Les Paul since the 80s. No issues at all. I can really recomend it. You need to learn how to set it up properly. I get you are bummed about it, but that is due to user error. Grind down the mounting screws and install it as supposed to. You can't expect it to work wonders when you hack it like that. When done right, it stays in tune like no other trem i have tried over the years. In my experience it does not suck tone, the sustain is great and all over an upgrade that has stayed on my main guitar for close to 40 years.
I used to work as the resident house guitar tech in one of Europe’s most renowned music stores. I did every kind of modding you can imagine. On my own time, for fun, I would build my own fantasy electrics, with all kinds of wild wiring experiments. I only had one Washburn Wonderbar, so it got installed on every one of my guitar prototypes/experiments. I never had ANY of the problems Jake talks about. I had kind of a wild playing style onstage at the time, and I used to beat the living snot out of my guitars. I had/have a nice collection of all different brands, models, etc. If a guitar couldn’t take what I was doing to it, then it couldn’t be my guitar. The Wonderbar gracefully put up with all of it, on each successive banger that I put together. I tried out every different locking nut you can think of, and I hated all of them. Brian May once said, “If you wind your strings correctly, you won’t need to use a locking nut.” I tried it, and he’s right. But I did use a Graphtec self-lubricating graphite nut and the best tuners I could find (I forget the brand), that had a really wide tuning ratio, so that a big turn on the tuner would make a smaller difference on the tuning post itself. Made super precision tuning easy, and I’m a real bitch about having my guitar absolutely, positively in correct tune. This strict insistence of mine placed severe demands on ANY whammy bar that I was using. The Wonderbar took it all without a whimper, and always stayed in tune, even without any kind of locking nut. Amazing. Also, I made a point of always keeping the Wonderbar well-oiled and clean, and always made sure that those rollers had a good free spin to them. I’m planning on putting it on my ‘75 SG Special. As you’ve probably noticed by now, I have nothing but good things to say about the Wonderbar, and feel very proud and fortunate to have been able to get one while they were still in production. I definitely think they should be reissued. Why mess with success? With peace, my friends.
That trem bridge deff adds some WOW! I am using a power amp with a pair of P. A. speakers w/12" woofers and large horns with my computer. On this sound system I have, it sounds REALLY great!
The best thing about the Wonderbar can also be one of its main weaknesses, and that's its complexity. There are so many ways of making adjustments that it can take a very long time to find a setup that works well for you There is a screw that adjust the centre point and I think there might be a screw underneath that varies the tension. That one is easy to miss. It can also be worth trying out different string gauges as you might find that you get a much more satisfactory feel and tone with a gauge that you wouldn't normally consider on your other guitars. Also, you will probably need strings with reinforced windings at the ball end. Regular strings can tend to go out of tune as the winding at the ball end usually isn't strong enough to keep the ball end tied on, resulting in it slipping off eventually. I could hear that happening to your top E string already. Lastly, I would recommend not bothering with their standard string lock. It always breaks eventually. I use a Kahler one instead, but a standard Floyd one can work, too. With a lot of patience and experimenting, you might fall in love with this tremolo again, but not everyone would want to do that, which is understandable. Personally, I think it's the best trem unit ever designed, but it's an acquired taste. If you're still interested in a tremolo system for your SG which mounts flat, it can be worth trying the Floyd Rose FRX. That, too, can sometimes be a bit fussy when it comes to getting it to install correctly, but when it works, it's not bad at all.
I’ve never been able to antonate a guitar in my life. Either my tuners aren’t precise enough (Korg chromatic, cellphone app) or all my guitars are close enough to where it doesn’t need any more adjusting. I always just give up. 😂
I've got one on my late 70's MIJ El Degas strat and I absolutely love it. Most comfortable bridge I ever rested my palm on with those rollers. No little screws sticking up poking my hand. Mine stays in tune very well with a locking nut. And it looks absolutely killer. Mine is chrome. Reminds me of a blower sticking out of a 69 Camaro.
Honestly, I think if you could find some flush mounted screws that fit where the stop bar used to be, you’d get less of that feeling like it’s going to snap off. It feels like that because it’s not really mounted as intended. That said, your other concerns wouldn’t change, so maybe it’s best that it stays off. Thanks for sharing!
Haha that little ain't talking bout love part still gets me
I think it and especially the playing, sound great! Just from a listening standpoint as I scroll through the comments. Very throaty! The whammied chords sound different, is it because they bend the same? All whammy at the same time?
I found this video because I'm installing one on a strat for a customer right at this moment and wanted to know what I was in for.
It's an aftermarket neck and I chiseled the nut in behind the shelf for the front screws. It feels very similar to the Kahler system working on it, and those systems stay in tune very well with accurate nut installation.
Have you considered having that double cut body style made custom with the Wonderbar built in, nut and all?
I don't see anyone talking about the main reason for the Wonderbar trem system....dropping and raising pitch on chords in tune. You adjust those first little saddles on the movable part of the tremolo so that each string will drop(or raise) pitch by the correct amount to keep a chord in tune when dropping or raising it...just like VH did with the Steinberger TransTrem on GetUp. I have owned one of these since it was released in the 80's. They stay in tune. And BTW, the new Floyd Rose FRX (surface mount) tremolo systems also use a behind the nut string lock. It works. You do have to tinker with the Wonderbar tremolo to learn how to make use of all its capabilities. Happy playing
There are two versions, the one you have here is my favorite, the arm is secured better than the other version. I've been using these since '85 so I know how to set them up. The behind the nut locking mechanism was a way to avoid Floyd Rose patent. I actually think it was Kahler that sued them hard(roller design). A Floyd style nut or locking tuners is a better way to go. The string angle at the headstock of a SG will be a problem. The original arm is very long an gives a smoother feel, so you can play with that. I've found that it doesn't work well with thicker strings, past 10-46, the spring tension can only be adjusted a little. On Strats you'll mikely need to shim the neck, and the screws holes at the front doesn't intonate, it need to be 2-2,5mm. further back.All that said I still find it one of the best trems in existence. FWIW
Have had one on my Les Paul since the 80s. No issues at all. I can really recomend it. You need to learn how to set it up properly.
I get you are bummed about it, but that is due to user error. Grind down the mounting screws and install it as supposed to. You can't expect it to work wonders when you hack it like that.
When done right, it stays in tune like no other trem i have tried over the years. In my experience it does not suck tone, the sustain is great and all over an upgrade that has stayed on my main guitar for close to 40 years.
If you could mount it without the metal plate it would play at the right height. It would have to be a permanent mount.
I used to work as the resident house guitar tech in one of Europe’s most renowned music stores. I did every kind of modding you can imagine. On my own time, for fun, I would build my own fantasy electrics, with all kinds of wild wiring experiments. I only had one Washburn Wonderbar, so it got installed on every one of my guitar prototypes/experiments. I never had ANY of the problems Jake talks about. I had kind of a wild playing style onstage at the time, and I used to beat the living snot out of my guitars. I had/have a nice collection of all different brands, models, etc. If a guitar couldn’t take what I was doing to it, then it couldn’t be my guitar. The Wonderbar gracefully put up with all of it, on each successive banger that I put together. I tried out every different locking nut you can think of, and I hated all of them. Brian May once said, “If you wind your strings correctly, you won’t need to use a locking nut.” I tried it, and he’s right. But I did use a Graphtec self-lubricating graphite nut and the best tuners I could find (I forget the brand), that had a really wide tuning ratio, so that a big turn on the tuner would make a smaller difference on the tuning post itself. Made super precision tuning easy, and I’m a real bitch about having my guitar absolutely, positively in correct tune. This strict insistence of mine placed severe demands on ANY whammy bar that I was using. The Wonderbar took it all without a whimper, and always stayed in tune, even without any kind of locking nut. Amazing. Also, I made a point of always keeping the Wonderbar well-oiled and clean, and always made sure that those rollers had a good free spin to them. I’m planning on putting it on my ‘75 SG Special. As you’ve probably noticed by now, I have nothing but good things to say about the Wonderbar, and feel very proud and fortunate to have been able to get one while they were still in production. I definitely think they should be reissued. Why mess with success? With peace, my friends.
I love these types of videos Jake; thank you.
That trem bridge deff adds some WOW! I am using a power amp with a pair of P. A. speakers w/12" woofers and large horns with my computer. On this sound system I have, it sounds REALLY great!
The best thing about the Wonderbar can also be one of its main weaknesses, and that's its complexity. There are so many ways of making adjustments that it can take a very long time to find a setup that works well for you
There is a screw that adjust the centre point and I think there might be a screw underneath that varies the tension. That one is easy to miss.
It can also be worth trying out different string gauges as you might find that you get a much more satisfactory feel and tone with a gauge that you wouldn't normally consider on your other guitars.
Also, you will probably need strings with reinforced windings at the ball end. Regular strings can tend to go out of tune as the winding at the ball end usually isn't strong enough to keep the ball end tied on, resulting in it slipping off eventually. I could hear that happening to your top E string already.
Lastly, I would recommend not bothering with their standard string lock. It always breaks eventually. I use a Kahler one instead, but a standard Floyd one can work, too.
With a lot of patience and experimenting, you might fall in love with this tremolo again, but not everyone would want to do that, which is understandable. Personally, I think it's the best trem unit ever designed, but it's an acquired taste.
If you're still interested in a tremolo system for your SG which mounts flat, it can be worth trying the Floyd Rose FRX. That, too, can sometimes be a bit fussy when it comes to getting it to install correctly, but when it works, it's not bad at all.
Let me buy the a plate!
I’ve never been able to antonate a guitar in my life. Either my tuners aren’t precise enough (Korg chromatic, cellphone app) or all my guitars are close enough to where it doesn’t need any more adjusting. I always just give up. 😂
Stayed in tune with no locking nut?
I had a Washburn G5V back in the day with the Wonderbar, there was nothing "wonder"ful about it. It was soooo stiff. Ditch it my friend.
"The Clash Hardware"