Tonefiend Forum

I'm thinking of putting a WVS-50 II K on my Fernandes Strat, but the things don't come with installation instructions. Do you just drill a couple of the existing holes from the six-screw mount to sink the studs for the new screws? Or do you have to do something more involved/annoying.

Both the II K version of the Wilkinson and my stock bridge (super-thin crappy alloy block) are nominally 10.5mm string spacing. Normally, that works out to 53mm or so from first to last screw on a six-screw. The Wilkinson has a 56mm post spacing, which may make the use of the existing holes as guides dicey. Filling and re-drilling could happen, I suppose.

The 10.8mm space one has a bigger 63mm post spacing that could at minimum allow starting the holes for the studs without being thrown off by the original screw holes. I've seen conversions where the strings end up right at the edge of the fretboard, though, so no thanks.

The only easy looking swap is to something that is supposed to be an upgrade is GFS's import model bridges with brass or steel inertia block. I'm a bit dubious, although reports tend to be good.

Looking at my current spacing, I think that there's actually room to go to 10.8mm spacing and that things might be better spaced that way. (In word processing terms, the strings are right-aligned instead of centered.) I might look at the six-screw Wilkinson bridge with 10.8mm spacing and the ovals on all the holes but the low E. If I run just the two outer screws, I might not even have to drill the high E screw if it's inside the oval.

Quote from Oinkus on October 29, 2013, 03:57
I shy away from the GHS stuff but it is affordable.

I've used quite a few GFS parts and they all were as well made as any other brand I've used. The Mean 90 humbucker sized P90 clones are very quiet due to the metal enclosure and sound quite good tho' they are higher output than my favorite P90s. I've also used their controls, switches, bridges and tuners all first rate IMHO. They also have a bunch of stuff they buy as manufacturer closeouts, I got a super strat neck for $12 bucks I cut down to use as a headstock on my electric cello it was just what I needed. The only GFS guitar I have is a travel sized single pickup that was a black Friday special that came with gig bag, tuner/headphone amp, headphones and cable for $100 great deal very fun to play and it has a 24" scale like my Jaguars (but no tone control). I've yet to buy a guitar from them but it is only a matter of time. I wish they made a stop tailpiece with tuners as I buy a lot of them.