Best tremelo for vintage tone, but with excellent intonation and functionality????

Discussion in 'The Small Company Luthiers' started by patchesprescott, Oct 11, 2005.

  1. Oct 11, 2005 #1
    patchesprescott

    patchesprescott Member

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    i'm looking for a six-screw strat-style tremolo that will give me the best of both worlds...

    vintage late '50s / early '60s bell-like tone, sustain and vibe

    ....but also

    modern whammy functionality (the ability to pull sharp and push flat) returning to perfect intonation and avoiding incessant string breakage

    does such a tremolo unit exist

    i was looking at D'Pergo bridges and they "look" pretty promising...does anyone have any experience with them?

    I will admit Skyway sounds very enticing, but may not be probable because of the inability to acquire, plus how is the tone? - there is no steel block, right? - not sure about the mechanics involved

    Hipshot looks like an option, but i don't like the 2 screw mount, plus i think it is just generic steel - not specially-milled alloy-steel mix for tone

    I liked the tone of the Gotoh on my last Suhr, but it seemed unstable and was hard to keep "floating" and properly intonated at the same time especially with the ability to pull notes and chords sharp

    Give me some of your opinions and experiences if you would as i am trying to decide on the bridge on my next fiddle
     
    patchesprescott, Oct 11, 2005
    patchesprescott, Oct 11, 2005
    #1
  2. Oct 11, 2005 #2
    JDouglee

    JDouglee Member

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    The new Wilkinson vintage might be what you need.

    I was blown away at how nice it is. Push in arm, saddles
    that don't move...:cool:
     
    JDouglee, Oct 11, 2005
    JDouglee, Oct 11, 2005
    #2
  3. Oct 12, 2005 #3
    Glowing Tubes

    Glowing Tubes Gold Supporting Member

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    the website is very vague, with only one picture of a red trem on a s-type guitar. Its dosent look very appealing from that picture.
    Wouldnt mind seeing a bit more of it.
     
    Glowing Tubes, Oct 12, 2005
    Glowing Tubes, Oct 12, 2005
    #3
  4. Oct 12, 2005 #4
    danbomb

    danbomb Member

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    I have the new wilky on 2 strats and love it. Steel block, looks stock, and I love the push in arm. It also stays in tune great.
     
    danbomb, Oct 12, 2005
    danbomb, Oct 12, 2005
    #4
  5. Oct 12, 2005 #5
    Glowing Tubes

    Glowing Tubes Gold Supporting Member

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    :AOK
     
    Glowing Tubes, Oct 12, 2005
    Glowing Tubes, Oct 12, 2005
    #5
  6. Oct 17, 2005 #6
    tWreCK

    tWreCK Member

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    Where can I see pictures/specs of the new wilkinson vintage bridge? What is the string spacing in mm? Where can I buy them?
     
    tWreCK, Oct 17, 2005
    tWreCK, Oct 17, 2005
    #6
  7. Oct 17, 2005 #7
    Myron Stratis

    Myron Stratis Member

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    NEW- stunning and perfect in every way- the new genuine Wilkinson vintage trem combines everything vintage fans are looking for- Full Sized STEEL Inertia Block, Bent Steel saddles, Nickel plated- engraved with perfect vintage repro "WILKINSON STAMPED", Solid steel plate with six case hardened steel trem screws, Non-threaded push in arm with tension adjust but retains exact vintage look and feel, Stagerred block string spacing adjust for intonation- now every string has the same saddle-to-ball-end length![/
     
    Myron Stratis, Oct 17, 2005
    Myron Stratis, Oct 17, 2005
    #7
  8. Oct 17, 2005 #8
    PlexiBreath

    PlexiBreath Member

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    It really depends on what which vintage Strat tone you are refering to. There's the old hardtail Strats where the bridge is screwed to the face of the guitar body where the bridge is making contact with the body over it's entire bottom surface, or the tremolo where there is a cavernous area routed out of the tone wood from the back of the body for the springs with a through body route for the block and the small contact patch where the bridge contacts the body at a tilt pressing against some of the six screws. The Skyway's tone will most closely resemble the former. And they are now available, I'm having a Suhr built with one. Regarding the site, the picture of the red one is an older Skyway bridge design, the production model is smaller and very sleak looking.
     
    PlexiBreath, Oct 17, 2005
    PlexiBreath, Oct 17, 2005
    #8
  9. Oct 17, 2005 #9
    Ted Witcher

    Ted Witcher Member

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    What is the model number of that Wilkinson?
     
    Ted Witcher, Oct 17, 2005
    Ted Witcher, Oct 17, 2005
    #9
  10. Oct 18, 2005 #10
    Myron Stratis

    Myron Stratis Member

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    SB_5316-010 :)
     
    Myron Stratis, Oct 18, 2005
    Myron Stratis, Oct 18, 2005
    #10
  11. Oct 18, 2005 #11
    Ted Witcher

    Ted Witcher Member

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    Thanks, but I meant the designation that begins with V-something.
     
    Ted Witcher, Oct 18, 2005
    Ted Witcher, Oct 18, 2005
    #11
  12. Oct 18, 2005 #12
    Myron Stratis

    Myron Stratis Member

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    You mean something like VG300 or VSV? It doesn't have such a designation, it is just the newer vintage spec Wilkie:)
     
    Myron Stratis, Oct 18, 2005
    Myron Stratis, Oct 18, 2005
    #12
  13. Oct 18, 2005 #13
    Bloozcat

    Bloozcat Member

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    Does the inertia block have the deep holes at the ball end of the string, or are they shallow (where you can see the ball end of the string) like the real vintage Strats and the Callaham?

    I have a VSVG and it has the staggered string holes like this one, but it has the deep holes in the inertia block unlike the vintage trems.
     
    Bloozcat, Oct 18, 2005
    Bloozcat, Oct 18, 2005
    #13

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