1/8" string spacing make a difference?

[ChickenFingers]

I bought a wilkinson bridge for my yamaha strat, the string spacing is different though, the yamaha is exactly 2" E to E, this wilk is slightly wider, 2 1/8" so... would 1/8" spread over 6 strings be a problem?? I don't think so...??

ALSO, the spacing of the holes to mount the wilk bridge are different as well of course, lmao... someone said you can plug the old holes and redrill... I checked on the web, didn't see any info on doing that, anyone have any tips for me (I'm not paying someone to do this).

I've included pics, the 3rd showing the bridges righ up against each other to show the spacing difference.

 

[ChickenFingers]

Re: 1/8" string spacing make a difference?

I'm a noob at this custom stuff, need some input as I'm doing a number of things to a few guitars that are completly new to me. I don't think the slightly wider string spacing will be an issue but I don't want to screw up my guitar.

Also, the wilk bridge, the block is in a different location then the stock bridge... it's almost in the center of the bridge, the stock bridge has it 1/2" closer to the intonation screw end of it. When I install the wilk bridge, besides drawing a center line from the neck pocket to the bridge to ensure it's centered, should I line up the block in the same spot as the old one (obviously the way it's routered it's more or less going to have to be in the same area, but should I measure the same distance from the neck pocket to the intonation springs where they meet the back of the bridge if that makes sense), thanks.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 1/8" string spacing make a difference?

You are asking for opinions so...

I wouldn't spend 2 seconds before I returned that bridge for one with specs that match your original. My concern would be that your high E string will end up so close to the edge of the fretboard it will be falling off the end of the frets when you try to put some vibrato on the note.

You didn't say why you were relplacing the old Trem unit. Have you considered only replacing the saddles?

Thats my 2 cents.

 

[ChickenFingers]

Re: 1/8" string spacing make a difference?

There is nothing that matches the original, yamaha is slightly different in every way, I picked a lousy choice to change, but meh...can't afford a real strat right now. To mimick the wider spacing, I pulled the e strings to the outer edges of their saddles and did BBK king butterfly vibrato, and it seemed fine, the string wasn't rolling over the edge of the fretboard. But, people think I'm on crack or something so I'll just do it. This bridge is going on a guitar that will have american standard pickups and electronics so I wanted the strings to match the staggered pole pieces.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 1/8" string spacing make a difference?

Don't worry about the strings perfectly matching the pole pieces. I am using 2 humbuckers that are regular spaced where I should have trem-spaced humbuckers. I took the first one (Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF) out of my Les Paul and just stuck it in my strat on a whim and loved it. I really can't tell any difference whatsoever. There is no apparent loss of volume on any string as far as I can tell.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: 1/8" string spacing make a difference?

Speaking unfortunately from experience, don't try to drill the 6 trem holes without a drill press or a drill guide. I tried doing it with a hand drill, and unless you get it perfectly at 90 degrees the trem refuses to stay in tune and work properly.

 

[aleclee]

Re: 1/8" string spacing make a difference?

For me, that sort of difference has a significant impact on my picking. I sold a guitar a few years back because I found it hard to go back and forth between instruments.

 

[ChickenFingers]

Re: 1/8" string spacing make a difference?

For me, that sort of difference has a significant impact on my picking. I sold a guitar a few years back because I found it hard to go back and forth between instruments.

Interesting, well Yamahas are not my main guitars, and many people play lots of different guitars with different spacing, fingerboard radius's, scale lengths, neck thicknesses, etc so I don't think it will be an issue, but the slightly wider strat fingerboard I have noticed I play with less mistakes.


And thanks for the tip about the drill press, Shredaholic....I bought one to drill the holes in my custom pickguards so I'll put it to good use!