Wilkinson 50S bridge

I've co-opted the guitar category to write about this, which is actually a guitar 'part'. Seems appropriate to me, since upgrading existing axes is an vital part of owning guitars...some of us just need to tweek an axe into our ultimate whatever.

Specifically, I'm reviewing the Wilkinson 50S Tremolo Bridge, which is a drop-in replacement for modern Stratocasters. Its a two-point knife edge fulcrum type tremolo, and I have used it as a replacement for the stock bridge on a 1995 American Deluxe Roadhouse Strat.

The bridge was a drop in replacement for the stock bridge, with no clearance issues relating to the way the axe was routed. I didn't use the included stud inserts, claw or studs and simply dropped the new bridge in with the standard Fender parts in place. The bridge came as a kit with body inserts, studs, claw, return springs, claw mounting screws and Allen wrenches for all.

The saddles were tricky to adjust, due in part to the locking function that they have, but overall, it was a relatively simple process. Set the height/radius and intonation and then lock it in place with the Allen locking screws, for which all Allen wrenches are provided. The return springs included with the bridge were shorter than the stock Fender springs, and I found that the shorter springs caused the bridge to smack the top of the axe with an audible thunk when the tremolo arm was released. I am instead using the longer stock springs, but the included springs might be used with an adjustment of the claw extension.

The first thing I noticed was that the guitar was WAY the hell louder and snappier when played un-amplified...just what you want with a Strat. Some years back, I had replaced the saddles on the stock Fender bridge with Graph-Tec "String Saver" Graphite/teflon saddles. They worked fine until they started to wear, and then they just made the axe sound muddy, and would not stay in tune...caveat emptor. Now, with the Wilkinson installed, this thing rings like a bell, and is MUCH louder and snappier. The difference is very noticeable with the axe un-amplified, and also with it plugged in...just reaches a lot more than it did.

With all of this, the thing that really impresses me is that when I really punish this thing...drive it really hard, dive bomb into F.Rose territory, it snaps right back into tune. Really amazing for a non-locking trem.

Its also very quiet...no little 'pings' or glitches while tuning or using the trem. It operates very smoothly at all times.

Stellar manufacturing and materials. Machined like a mother*******.

Having had a chance to try this out in rehearsal, and having had my reservations, I'm sold. This bridge is the nazz.

Never expect to need it. They'll probably dig this up in an archeological find 100,000 years from now and find that it works just fine...

After having struggled with many a Stratocaster over the years, in terms of getting it to stay in tune, getting the intonation set up, getting the action just right, and then to find THIS...I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these bridges to anyone who has suffered with this stuff as I have..screw 'vintage original' or whatever. If it don't play right its just a boat anchor. If you're having issues with regard to tuning your Strat, and you believe as I do that Floyd Rose bridges just flat suck, this is the answer.