Tell me about wilkinson trems
- Thread starter regan
- Start date
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
Over recent decades, the Wilkinson name has been applied to several vibrato bridge designs. Which one(s) did you have in mind?
Over recent decades, the Wilkinson name has been applied to several vibrato bridge designs. Which one(s) did you have in mind?
regan
New member
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
In all honesty I dont know, I hear good things about them and I'd like to try one on my strat.
Is there one that requires little no modifications that substantially improves tone and/or performance?
I love the feel of a bigsby but strat trems I find meh, maybe a change/upgrade is the way forward.
Sorry for being so ambiguous maybe a better title would have been 'talk to me about aftermarket strat trems'?
In all honesty I dont know, I hear good things about them and I'd like to try one on my strat.
Is there one that requires little no modifications that substantially improves tone and/or performance?
I love the feel of a bigsby but strat trems I find meh, maybe a change/upgrade is the way forward.
Sorry for being so ambiguous maybe a better title would have been 'talk to me about aftermarket strat trems'?
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
Some of the Wilkinson range are direct replacements for the traditional, six screw, fulcrum vibrato. Some are two-point variations of approximately the same dimensions as the traditional Fender design. The VS series is something of a departure. Its pivot post stud inserts are at a different spacing to any common Fender bridge.
The sustain block on a Wilkinson vibrato will probably be too tall to fit into a Squier Affinity STRAT.
Some of the Wilkinson range are direct replacements for the traditional, six screw, fulcrum vibrato. Some are two-point variations of approximately the same dimensions as the traditional Fender design. The VS series is something of a departure. Its pivot post stud inserts are at a different spacing to any common Fender bridge.
The sustain block on a Wilkinson vibrato will probably be too tall to fit into a Squier Affinity STRAT.
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
In my experience---they lack feel and ultimate stability. If you really want heavy trem action, the Original Floyd is still king---it feels fantastic and is ultra stable. For more subtle/vintage accents, I'd look beyond the Wilkinson. Sorry, can't name a better vintage style trem, as I stopped looking after I concluded that Floyds were the way for me.
The Jeff Beck Strat approach seems to work well with the LSR roller nut...
In my experience---they lack feel and ultimate stability. If you really want heavy trem action, the Original Floyd is still king---it feels fantastic and is ultra stable. For more subtle/vintage accents, I'd look beyond the Wilkinson. Sorry, can't name a better vintage style trem, as I stopped looking after I concluded that Floyds were the way for me.
The Jeff Beck Strat approach seems to work well with the LSR roller nut...
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
I prefer the Fender American 2 point tremolo to any Wilkinson I've tried but I think the best is a non-locking Floyd/Shaller–much more stable and better feeling for tremolo use.
View attachment 71256
View attachment 71255
I prefer the Fender American 2 point tremolo to any Wilkinson I've tried but I think the best is a non-locking Floyd/Shaller–much more stable and better feeling for tremolo use.
View attachment 71256
View attachment 71255
regan
New member
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
I don't really want to go down the route of a roller nut or locking trems.
Just a superior trem than the stock fender one without having to take a router and chisel to the guitar
I don't suppose I could get a link to the non-locking Floyd/Shaller(s) please?
I don't really want to go down the route of a roller nut or locking trems.
Just a superior trem than the stock fender one without having to take a router and chisel to the guitar
I don't suppose I could get a link to the non-locking Floyd/Shaller(s) please?
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
Done!
Schaller 3801
Non-Locking Floyd
These both retain the feel of a Floyd Rose but you don't have to worry about the whole locking tremolo system which, IMO, is not needed after a complete and well-done setup.
Done!
Schaller 3801
Non-Locking Floyd
These both retain the feel of a Floyd Rose but you don't have to worry about the whole locking tremolo system which, IMO, is not needed after a complete and well-done setup.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
Which "stock Fender trem" are you talking about? The American 2-point trem? American 6 screw? MIM or Asian trem? Unfortunately the American and Asian versions have different spacing, that is one of the good points of the Wilkinsons, they are made to accomodate either, at least most of their designs.
I recently sold a bunch of guitars and picked up an Allparts strat with Hipshot locking tuners and a Hipshot Contour trem on it. It pivots on bearing surfaces instead of knife edges and is super smooth. It is a direct replacement for 2-pivot point American trems, won't fit on an import. You can just switch out the pivot screws without changing the bushings. Is it an upgrade over the Fender 2-point trem? I don't know, I don't have currently have one to try it against.
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=181
Which "stock Fender trem" are you talking about? The American 2-point trem? American 6 screw? MIM or Asian trem? Unfortunately the American and Asian versions have different spacing, that is one of the good points of the Wilkinsons, they are made to accomodate either, at least most of their designs.
I recently sold a bunch of guitars and picked up an Allparts strat with Hipshot locking tuners and a Hipshot Contour trem on it. It pivots on bearing surfaces instead of knife edges and is super smooth. It is a direct replacement for 2-pivot point American trems, won't fit on an import. You can just switch out the pivot screws without changing the bushings. Is it an upgrade over the Fender 2-point trem? I don't know, I don't have currently have one to try it against.
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=181
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
Tuning stability for any halfway decent bridge has more to do with the setup than the make of the bridge. I had a MIM Strat years ago with the stock bridge and currently have an older MIA with the two point. After setting them up properly, both hold tuning very well. The two point is better, and can be abused like a Floyd.
Make sure you have everything setup well before you spend any more money.
Tuning stability for any halfway decent bridge has more to do with the setup than the make of the bridge. I had a MIM Strat years ago with the stock bridge and currently have an older MIA with the two point. After setting them up properly, both hold tuning very well. The two point is better, and can be abused like a Floyd.
Make sure you have everything setup well before you spend any more money.
Re: Tell me about wilkinson trems
I use both a Wilkinson and a Bladerunner. The Wilkinson I use uses 2 posts, so yeah, you'd have to route for that one. The Bladerunner, which doesn't pivot on screws, can be used on both a 6-screw and 2-screw American or Mexi Fender bridge.
I use both a Wilkinson and a Bladerunner. The Wilkinson I use uses 2 posts, so yeah, you'd have to route for that one. The Bladerunner, which doesn't pivot on screws, can be used on both a 6-screw and 2-screw American or Mexi Fender bridge.
