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I'd only have to add that you need to try a Wilkinson first. The
general consensus is that the "vintage" Strat trem needs special
supporting setup mods and inordinate care applied in order for it to
be somewhat stable and usable; it doesn't just "work" out of the box.
Tuning problems are a well-documented and universally accepted
idiosyncrasy of the stock Fender unit. All that friction on the 6
pivot screws doesn't bode well for tuning stability, and the
side-to-side shifting of the spring-loaded saddles doesn't give the
strings a consistent zero return point. If the vintage Fender trem was
half as good as you say, Floyd Rose would have been out of business 25
years ago. Most elements of the original Strat design are timeless;
unfortunately, the trem isn't one of them.
I've played a gazillion Strats, from Mexis all the way to Custom Shop
beauties, and 95% of them with the stock trem have gone out of tune
with mild use. And frankly, I've yet to pick up a Strat right off the
dealer's wall that didn't have a major problem with the tuning after
testing the trem.
Bang for the buck, I believe the Wilkinson upgrade mod wins hands
down. It's an inexpensive drop-in mod that a competent luthier can
setup with ease. It's not finicky, it's rugged, nice-looking, and
actually benefits the sustain. My recommendation is for people to
simply try it.
