Stratcaster replacement bridge

[dave robinson]

Mine isn't loose fitting,a little PTFE tape applied sees to that (as it has done on all of my Strats since the 70s) if folk are messing them up it has to be they who are responsible, mine is now in the custody of another owner, but it still works as good as any of my others, including my Eric Johnson one Stuart.

If it was so good, why didn't you kept it ?

Didier

Simple, because I already have seven real ones and I can buy another anytime I choose as they are cheap and plentiful. I did what I needed to do with it and moved it on.

[ecca]

The Wilkinson trems are better than Fender's.
My V100 dips the bottom E string down 6 semitones and still comes back in tune.
The push-in trem is a delight after all the screw in nuisance.
Hardened steel sustain block. ( not that I've ever noticed any difference in tone or sustain between steel or Mazak )
Variable string spacing.
Wonderful value.

Blossom.

[hernando]

The Wilkinson trems are better than Fender's.
My V100 dips the bottom E string down 6 semitones and still comes back in tune.
The push-in trem is a delight after all the screw in nuisance.
Hardened steel sustain block. ( not that I've ever noticed any difference in tone or sustain between steel or Mazak )
Variable string spacing.
Wonderful value.

Blossom.

Totally agree, and certainly better than imported copies of Fenders.
I posted earlier to a thread about Floating Trems as I had recently used a Wilkinson to replace an awful single die-cast unit on a '57 copy. The original die-cast unit looked the business but had never worked properly - mainly due to a poorly finished casting, which was not apparent until the unit was removed from the guitar.

Back in the day when I was an engineering apprentice, zinc alloy die-casting metal [Mazak] was aptly named sh*t-metal.

[anniv 63]

There is no doubt when you pay around £300 for a Squier you would expect a
better quality block and threading to have been introduced at some stage over
the years.
Taking a similar priced guitar i.e. Burns Marquee you get a push in trem arm
that pivots and holds in position as required, and after ten years no wobble at all!!
I rest my case.

Mike

[Gatwick1946]

Thank you guys for your views, which are very helpfull.

Dave, I take your point entirely, "if it works, don't fix it".

I have considered the matter again, as follows:-

For over 30 years I only played strats and I got used to their characteristics. Then 8 years ago I tried a Burns Marvin and I liked its robust, solid feel. 3 years ago I sold my Strat.

2 months ago, prompted by the reviews on this forum, I had a play of a Classic Vibe Strat, liked it and bought one. My only criticism is that it feels a bit light. The masak block under the bridge feels a bit cheap and nasty, even when compared with a 25 year old Squier bridge. But, considering the guitar was £282, I realise that there must be some economies to retail it at that price. 2 new car tyres have just cost me £250.

I have always used 10-46 strings and 3 trem springs. But since 1st Sept I have switched to 11-49's with a wound third and 4 trem springs. There is now a definite,albeit slight, improvement in sound and playability. I will see if I can manage 12-50's and 5 trem springs. I can see that with thicker strings I may have to file out the nut a bit.

kind regards
Chris

[dave robinson]

Thank you guys for your views, which are very helpfull.

Dave, I take your point entirely, "if it works, don't fix it".

I have considered the matter again, as follows:-

For over 30 years I only played strats and I got used to their characteristics. Then 8 years ago I tried a Burns Marvin and I liked its robust, solid feel. 3 years ago I sold my Strat.

2 months ago, prompted by the reviews on this forum, I had a play of a Classic Vibe Strat, liked it and bought one. My only criticism is that it feels a bit light. The masak block under the bridge feels a bit cheap and nasty, even when compared with a 25 year old Squier bridge. But, considering the guitar was £282, I realise that there must be some economies to retail it at that price. 2 new car tyres have just cost me £250.

I have always used 10-46 strings and 3 trem springs. But since 1st Sept I have switched to 11-49's with a wound third and 4 trem springs. There is now a definite,albeit slight, improvement in sound and playability. I will see if I can manage 12-50's and 5 trem springs. I can see that with thicker strings I may have to file out the nut a bit.

kind regards
Chris

I do realise that I may have been fortunate and had an example that didn't need any attention, but the sound of the guitar was spot on, the only thing I did was to add two extra springs on the trem - making it five as on all of my Strats and set it up for 10/46 Ernie ball strings, it still works a treat !

[RUSSET]

There is no doubt when you pay around £300 for a Squier you would expect a
better quality block and threading to have been introduced at some stage over
the years.
Taking a similar priced guitar i.e. Burns Marquee you get a push in trem arm
that pivots and holds in position as required, and after ten years no wobble at all!!
I rest my case.

Mike

Hi Mike,
I too found that the block in my F.Red 'Biffy Clyro' Squier Strat was disappointingly slim & the arm worked loose within three weeks. I believe these cheap blocks are normal for all Squier 'Made in China' instruments. Soon corrected it with a steel block & a normal sized Trem arm, & I am more than happy with the guitar itself. I also have a Squier CV Tele & P.Bass, so apart from this trem block aberration, I would recommend them, happily.
I also had one of the first issue Burns Marquees, with the Point Technologies Trem/Bridge. Unlike many owners here, I had absolutely no trouble with it, & was very pleased with the push-in arm. I wan't quite so happy with the chunky 'log' neck, though, & eventually sold it on. A friend bought one of the later versions with a new Burns model Trem/Bridge & found that they now have screw-in arms, like Fender & Squier.

Tony.

[anniv 63]

Hi Tony, think I read somewhere this week of factory workers going on strike in
China because bosses were kicking their backsides for poor quality!!!
Hope It was the Biffy Trem Men !!!
As I haven't seen any Biffy Models on E bay, I guess us buyers are happy chappies
otherwise!!

Mike

[Bluesnote]

Thanks for the advice on here in regard to the Wilkinson trems

I checked out their site on monday night and found the one I needed for my Squier Bullet. I got it in the post this morning and fitted it right away. I have to say for the paltry sum of 35 quid it works a treat. Its a steel block and I could'nt believe the weight difference between it and the original. It fitted the original six-hole setup just fine, I only had to cut a slight bit off the edge of the trem cavity with a knife which was catching slightly and a small sliver off the scratchplate. I dont know if I got lucky or not but as soon as I tensioned the strings, it balanced almost perfectly and only required a slight unscrewing of the claw to get the correct amount of movement.
I've been playing it on and off for most of the day and it has stayed in tune most of the time, just the usual amount of adjustment due to the new set of strings. It does'nt go off pitch like the original one did when I let it go after using it, which eventually made me hard-tail the bridge for a while in order to keep my sanity such as it is
There is definately a big difference to the sustain and tone on my instrument now compared to the cheap and nasty Squier block.
I'd strongly recommend this item to anybody wishing to upgrade the likes of a Squier although I'm not sure about the Fender trems, I do remember when I had a Japanese Fender in the eighties, having to replace the trem with a Kailer? unit of the time, which cost me over £100 all these years ago, it was a great unit but I really dont think it was that much better than this Wilkinson one I've now got.
So my other Bullet is getting the same unit too as soon as
Hugh.

P.S. The model I got was this one..........Axesrus 54mm Spaced Tremolo - Steel Block