IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Oct 25 2009 08:07 PM
I bought the Wilkinson Vintage Tremolo from the Guitar Fetish website six months ago for my blonde MIJ Strat after reading some comments by a few people here (Doug Stormtiger, I think, and somebody else), saying good things about it. Here it is:
Though in many ways it's a good unit, there are several problems with it that I thought I'd bring to the attention of anyone that's interested:
First, the pluses: it stays in tune very well, it sounds good (steel block), it's cheap ($37 new), and it has a push-in arm with tension adjustment, which are cool features.
Next, the minuses, in some detail:
1) the six holes on the front of the trem, where the fulcrum screws go, are not round (as they are in the website photo) - they're oval. As a result, the trem is not very responsive. One reason is that the front of the unit butts up against the body, and the other is that it butts up against the pickguard (I installed it in the previously drilled holes, so it's sitting further forward than the original trem). It takes a pretty hard push on the trem arm to get much response from the trem, and it is not nearly as responsive as a normal Strat trem.
2) the bushing or the plastic sleeve where the pop-in trem arm goes in is making a rattling noise, despite the fact that I like the arm to stay in place and I tightened the tension adjustement a fair amount. The rattling is not audible through the amp, but it's very bothersome when played acoustically.
3) this is a minor quibble, but the pop-in arm only stays put when depressed all the way into its hole - and that means that it sits just slightly above the volume knob, far too low for my taste and for what I'm used to on regular Strat tremolos.
These three problems are really a deal-breaker for me, and I just emailed Guitar Fetish asking if I could get a refund. I'll go with the good old Fender US vintage trem, which is quite a bit more expensive ($100), but it works exactly how I like it.
Anyway, just thought I'd share my experience about this with you.
— Ivan
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Doctor_Morbius
Joined: Oct 26, 2008
Posts: 608
This Planet Earth
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Posted on Oct 25 2009 09:23 PM
I have three of those Wilky units and they all work quite well.
Have you tried tightening up the set screw that snugs up to the plastic retainer piece in the trem arm hole? They need to be fairly snug to keep the arm in place as you've described.
O/T: Do you have any plans to play in Indy in the near future? 
— Cats 'n' Strats, 'cause that's how I roll - I eat reverb for breakfast!
Fenderus Collecticus
Strat Blender Pot Modification HERE
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19335
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Oct 25 2009 09:39 PM
Doctor_Morbius
O/T: Do you have any plans to play in Indy in the near future?
http://themadeira.net/gigs/
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Oct 25 2009 10:10 PM
The trem arm on my Squier sitting right on top of my volume knob (rendering it unuseable) is the main reason I plan on replacing the bridge (it's a normal screw-in arm). I have owned three other Strats and a couple of MIJ Jagmasters with Strat trems and none of the other guitars had this problem. Is this something you've seen in any other Strat trem besides the Wilkinson?
— The Mystery Men?
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Oct 26 2009 10:36 AM
I know Callaham's come at a premium, but I love my bridge, every part down to the screws are 100% quality. (James Wilsey also said he digs them on the Tele forum, I believe.)
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Oct 26 2009 11:05 AM
I'm still very happy with mine, I had little choice but to change the original. I find it very responsive and quiet, I installed it myself so maybe I screwed something up. Mine sits back a bit from the pickguard and clears it by 1/16". My biggest complaint would be that the saddles are radiused for a vintage neck, mine is a little flatter so the grub screws are all the way in to get enough height on the outer strings. I could use a little more ideally but it is playing fine. The arm height is fine, though it did hit the knurled knob I had on there so I changed the knobs back to the originals and it is no problem. I think Ivan got a lemon, it shouldn't rattle. I think Dave Wronski said he puts Wilkinson bridges on all his Strats.
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SURFmole
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
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Posted on Oct 26 2009 01:16 PM
morphball
I know Callaham's come at a premium, but I love my bridge, every part down to the screws are 100% quality. (James Wilsey also said he digs them on the Tele forum, I believe.)
The Callaham absolutely rules over all other trems (vintage or aftermarket)...and I don't think $165 is too expensive to not have to deal with tuning issues, to get great tone, and to have the bar stay in place without wobble or vibration.
— www.apollo4.com
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Oct 26 2009 02:09 PM
SURFmole
The Callaham absolutely rules over all other trems (vintage or aftermarket)...and I don't think $165 is too expensive to not have to deal with tuning issues, to get great tone, and to have the bar stay in place without wobble or vibration.
Agreed. I do still have to teflon the threads to keep the arm in place though, even though Callahams are supposedly immune to this type of thing. (That's how I found out Wilsey used them, because his tech has to do the same thing, but this apparently happens to all blocks with time.)
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Oct 26 2009 02:10 PM
That's the one I got for my partscaster Tele, and will likely go with for my partscaster Strat (which got started 'cause I had a few extra bucks to spare, when I ordered the rest of my Tele parts from Guitar Fetish). When it comes time to assemble the Tele into a playable guitar, I'll be sure to refer to this thread for what to look out for when installing the Wilkinson trem.
Matt
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1278
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Oct 26 2009 02:24 PM
Has anyone tried the Trem-King? I'm thinking of putting one on my Tele.
— Bill S._______
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Oct 27 2009 12:18 PM
Doctor_Morbius
I have three of those Wilky units and they all work quite well.
Well, I would (somewhat) disagree with that!
Have you tried tightening up the set screw that snugs up to the plastic retainer piece in the trem arm hole? They need to be fairly snug to keep the arm in place as you've described.
Yes, I mentioned above that I did exactly that. And it still rattles.
O/T: Do you have any plans to play in Indy in the near future?
Brian already posted the link, but yes - Friday 10/27 - the day after Thanksgiving! Hope to see you there.
Richard
The trem arm on my Squier sitting right on top of my volume knob (rendering it unuseable)... Is this something you've seen in any other Strat trem besides the Wilkinson?
I know this doesn't happen on my US Fender units, where my arm is considerably above the volume knob. But I always use the little spring inside the trem arm cavity, so my arm stays put when you screw it down a bit, and it doesn't strip the threads. I'm addicted to those springs, they work forever without any need to change the teflon tape or anything like that.
Anyway, the low position of the trem arm on the Wilkinson unit is the deal-breaker for me, even if I can get all those other concerns fixed. I contacted Guitar Fetish, and they don't want to give me a refund, but they'll offer a replacement. I'll go ahead and do it, as I would tend to agree with Doug that I got a lemon. Nevertheless, when I get the replacement, I won't install it, but rather will just sell it. If anyone wants a brand new Wilkinson vintage trem at a discount price, let me know.....
— Ivan
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SURFmole
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
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Posted on Oct 27 2009 01:23 PM
morphball
Agreed. I do still have to teflon the threads to keep the arm in place though, even though Callahams are supposedly immune to this type of thing. (That's how I found out Wilsey used them, because his tech has to do the same thing, but this apparently happens to all blocks with time.)
Is that the old style Callaham or the new style "pop-in" Callaham where you can use a threaded or "virtual pop-in" arm? I had problems with my old style Callaham (had to use teflon on the arm and there was still slop present) then I sent my block in and had it upgraded to the new style. I've had no problems since and it's the best Strat trem I've ever used. There's no wobble or play in the arm and it feels really solid and smooth.
— www.apollo4.com
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Oct 27 2009 02:06 PM
SURFmole
Is that the old style Callaham or the new style "pop-in" Callaham where you can use a threaded or "virtual pop-in" arm? I had problems with my old style Callaham (had to use teflon on the arm and there was still slop present) then I sent my block in and had it upgraded to the new style. I've had no problems since and it's the best Strat trem I've ever used. There's no wobble or play in the arm and it feels really solid and smooth.
This is a new one with the pop-in, just got it last January. The arm stayed in place for the first few months, then on one occasion I may have wound it in too tightly (not abusively tight, mind you) and that was the end of the magic. It was recommended not to put a spring in a callaham block for some reason, so I figured I'd add taping to the quarterly restringing/cleaning ritual. Anyway, it's still much sturdier and smoother than the one that was on my HW1, so I'm still a satisfied customer.
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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