maxtheaxe
02-12-2008, 04:32 AM
OK, I finally got down to replacing the stock bridge on my '95 American Deluxe Roadhouse Strat...still trying to shake loose the time and the nerve to replace the neck.
I replaced the stock Fender trem with a Wilkinson V-100; it's a standard 2-point knife-blade style bridge. I had some anxiety about this too, having never done it before, but the replacement was a direct drop-in, and pretty easy to do. I did not try to replace the existing bridge posts or inserts, or the return-spring claw...just used the existing ones and it seems fine.
Advantages: the Wilkinson is much more solidly built and the locking saddles are much more positive than the Fender-style saddles (I'd put in graphite/teflon saddles some years back); the guitar stays in tune much better when using (even abusing) the trem; the transferrance of tone to the body is MUCH better...this puppy is now much louder and more resonant when played unplugged...has much more snap and sustain than it had before.
Disadvantages: these saddles are a bit more difficult to adjust action/intonation/radius; also, I'm having a problem with the tension adjustment...the back end of this bridge has a tendency to hit the top of the guitar with a noticable "THWOK" sound when I release the trem. I think I may have to install longer return springs, or possibly use just two springs instead of three. Any other suggestions?
It was my intention to have this trem be dive-only, with the at-rest bridge being as close to a hard-tail as possible, however, I noticed that with it set up this way, the bridge plate is not parallel with the top of the guitar...tilts down at the back slightly. I could adjust so that the plate is parallel, but then I would have to add quite a bit of height at the saddles...not sure that's a good thing.
I think I could use some guidance on these issues...any Strat guys out there?
Thanks
I replaced the stock Fender trem with a Wilkinson V-100; it's a standard 2-point knife-blade style bridge. I had some anxiety about this too, having never done it before, but the replacement was a direct drop-in, and pretty easy to do. I did not try to replace the existing bridge posts or inserts, or the return-spring claw...just used the existing ones and it seems fine.
Advantages: the Wilkinson is much more solidly built and the locking saddles are much more positive than the Fender-style saddles (I'd put in graphite/teflon saddles some years back); the guitar stays in tune much better when using (even abusing) the trem; the transferrance of tone to the body is MUCH better...this puppy is now much louder and more resonant when played unplugged...has much more snap and sustain than it had before.
Disadvantages: these saddles are a bit more difficult to adjust action/intonation/radius; also, I'm having a problem with the tension adjustment...the back end of this bridge has a tendency to hit the top of the guitar with a noticable "THWOK" sound when I release the trem. I think I may have to install longer return springs, or possibly use just two springs instead of three. Any other suggestions?
It was my intention to have this trem be dive-only, with the at-rest bridge being as close to a hard-tail as possible, however, I noticed that with it set up this way, the bridge plate is not parallel with the top of the guitar...tilts down at the back slightly. I could adjust so that the plate is parallel, but then I would have to add quite a bit of height at the saddles...not sure that's a good thing.
I think I could use some guidance on these issues...any Strat guys out there?
Thanks