Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

jrbowen81

jrbowen81

New member
Hey guys,

I'm really needing to do something about the bridge on my Strat. The trem arm hole is slightly stripped and the height adjustment screw holes on most of the saddles are pretty worn out as well. I'm not sure if it would be a better idea (and more cost effective) to replace the saddles and the block, or just replace the whole bridge with a higher quality one. I know the stock ones aren't exactly the best.

If I were to just buy a new bridge, I'd rather have a bigger block and I'd want the pop-in arm instead of the threaded one.

Babicz seems to make a cool one, even though it doesn't really retain that vintage look.

I can't ever remember what the screw spacing is for the MIM Strats though, so it's hard for me to keep up with what's going to be compatible.

I know the Wilkinson VSVG has several features I like, including being easier to match up with the screw spacing, so I could possibly go with that one, but I'm just curious what else you guys may have tried.


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Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

jrbowen81 said:
Babicz seems to make a cool one, even though it doesn't really retain that vintage look.

I can't ever remember what the screw spacing is for the MIM Strats though, so it's hard for me to keep up with what's going to be compatible.
Click to expand...

Babicz is a drop in replacement for the MIM Strat. I have Babicz bridges on 2 Strats and 2 Teles and swear by them.

Here is a review I did on the Babicz if you want some info on the bridges.

http://www.tmrzoo.com/2014/64226/guitar-gear-review-babicz-full-contact-stratocaster-bridge
 
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

After reading that review, I'm very interested in the Babicz!


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Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

IMO:

Callaham is the best performing and the best looking, but it's pricey. This is the only truly high performance option that looks basically stock. Screw-in arm.

Hipshot is the best that's mass produced, but it's still over $100, and looks aftermarket (if that matters to you). Adjustable tension press-in arm.

Wilkinson makes some decent ones. They are probably the best bang for the buck, but I would fork out the dough for one of the above instead. Also, I don't recall if they are available in Mexican spacing, but I would assume so. I believe they have some press-in and some screw-in models. It's hard for me to keep track of all their different models.

Gotoh has well built versions of the classic design. But the design itself is not really improved like the Hipshot or Callaham. I would put them alongside the Wilkinsons in terms of quality and price.

Haven't tried Wudtone. Looks interesting to me. But with all the other perfectly fine options for just as much or less money, I'll likely never buy one myself.

Tried Super Vee Bladerunner. It's crap, and expensive. If you're gonna spend that much anyhow, just get the Callaham or Hipshot. I feel burned on this product.

Babicz: Haven't tried the Strat one, only the bass one. It was good, but I was not terribly impressed, i.e. I wouldn't pay big bucks for one. It didn't seem that terribly well built, it seemed unnecessarily over-engineered, and it was ugly. For the same money, you could get the Hipshot, a vibrato that is extremely well built, simply engineered, performs just as well where it counts and is much more attractive. I do like the adjustable string spacing, though. If one of these came on a guitar, I would probably keep it (if I could find a way to remove the ridiculous logo), but I don't think I would go out of my way to buy one.

If your Strat is a Mexican vintage reissue (Classic Series), it will have the wider USA screw spacing of 2-3/16". If it's a Mexican Standard, it's narrow spaced, and your screw spacing will be 2-1/16".

Over all, I would say the Hipshot is the best all around upgrade without going into the Callaham price range. Here it is in narrow spacing at the dealer through which I normally order Hipshot stuff: http://www.sporthitech.com/hipshot-strat-trem-bridge-6-point-2-1-16-narrow-spacing-stainless-40500m/.
 
Last edited:
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

wilkerson isnt that expensive and has a pop in arm
I believe the GFS ones are wilkersons

I prefer the bent steel saddles

big brass block is nice too
 
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

Gosh, I must have had my notifications turned off for this thread. Oops! Thanks for all the advice so far, everybody. This is helpful.
 
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

ItsaBass said:
IMO:

Callaham is the best performing and the best looking, but it's pricey. This is the only truly high performance option that looks basically stock. Screw-in arm.

Hipshot is the best that's mass produced, but it's still over $100, and looks aftermarket (if that matters to you). Adjustable tension press-in arm.

Wilkinson makes some decent ones. They are probably the best bang for the buck, but I would fork out the dough for one of the above instead. Also, I don't recall if they are available in Mexican spacing, but I would assume so. I believe they have some press-in and some screw-in models. It's hard for me to keep track of all their different models.

Gotoh has well built versions of the classic design. But the design itself is not really improved like the Hipshot or Callaham. I would put them alongside the Wilkinsons in terms of quality and price.

Haven't tried Wudtone. Looks interesting to me. But with all the other perfectly fine options for just as much or less money, I'll likely never buy one myself.

Tried Super Vee Bladerunner. It's crap, and expensive. If you're gonna spend that much anyhow, just get the Callaham or Hipshot. I feel burned on this product.

Babicz: Haven't tried the Strat one, only the bass one. It was good, but I was not terribly impressed, i.e. I wouldn't pay big bucks for one. It didn't seem that terribly well built, it seemed unnecessarily over-engineered, and it was ugly. For the same money, you could get the Hipshot, a vibrato that is extremely well built, simply engineered, performs just as well where it counts and is much more attractive. I do like the adjustable string spacing, though. If one of these came on a guitar, I would probably keep it (if I could find a way to remove the ridiculous logo), but I don't think I would go out of my way to buy one.

If your Strat is a Mexican vintage reissue (Classic Series), it will have the wider USA screw spacing of 2-3/16". If it's a Mexican Standard, it's narrow spaced, and your screw spacing will be 2-1/16".

Over all, I would say the Hipshot is the best all around upgrade without going into the Callaham price range. Here it is in narrow spacing at the dealer through which I normally order Hipshot stuff: http://www.sporthitech.com/hipshot-strat-trem-bridge-6-point-2-1-16-narrow-spacing-stainless-40500m/.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link to the Hipshot bridge. I haven't ever used any of their stuff, so they didn't really come to mind when I was thinking about different companies. I will look into this one for sure! Looks like it's pretty good quality.

I don't mind the look of the Babicz that fits my guitar, but Hipshot does do a good job as far as retaining the vintage look. I could probably go with either one of these. I'm mainly interested in the Babicz for the prospect of tone enhancement that it seems like it would provide, but the Hipshot looks really good too, and is a bit more affordable, like you said.
 
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

**********Old tread alert*********

I'm thinking about the Callaham bridge for my Roadhouse.
 
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

I've got a couple of callaham bridges, and a couple of Fender 2-points with Callaham saddles. I cannot vouch for any upgrade tonal shift as they were both all done on scratch builds, but I have no cause to complain about the tonal spectrum or balance from any of the guitars.
 
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

I love the Super Vee Blade Runner, with Graph Tech saddles. It solves the problems with a normal Strat bridge, and it is so ingenious, I am surprised no one thought of it sooner. It stays in tune, and it is super smooth. The arm stays where you want it, too.
 
Re: Fender MIM Strat bridge upgrades?

Mincer said:
I love the Super Vee Blade Runner, with Graph Tech saddles. It solves the problems with a normal Strat bridge, and it is so ingenious, I am surprised no one thought of it sooner. It stays in tune, and it is super smooth. The arm stays where you want it, too.
Click to expand...

I agree, my Super V blade runner was top quality. I think in the early production of this unit they may have had a few issues. I read a few people had quirky little design flaws but anything in the last few years is excellent. Eric Johnson is on Youtube endorsing the same unit. I put one on my strat and it really was a significant improvement. It stayed in key almost as well as a locking unit and the tone really improved. It was a lot more clear and and the distortion on the top of notes was more defined and sustained several seconds longer.
 
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