P/UPs, trem block - where's the problem?

[rmfrance]

Thought you might like an update on my quest for a better sound on the Simon Neil Strat via a new trem unit. We'll after much angst and procrastination, I plumped for a Wilkinson 'ST-Model' unit - technically a T-WVCS-C. This has the heavy, full-sized steel inertia block and US string-spacing, so isn't a direct drop-in replacement, but it made sense for me as I now have both guitars with the same spacing, so swapping between them is much more straightforward.
Fitting the new unit: this involved drilling the existing mounting-screw holes to 6mm, then gluing in 6mm oak dowels. I then simply drilled new screw-holes holes in the new spacing and fitted the bridge - a 1hr job, with no problems (as long as you use some masking tape on the drill bit as a depth-gauge to prevent drilling too deep).
Okay, result-time: immediately fuller, more balanced sound, both acoustically and through the amp. The top strings are now more 'balanced' in tone. The unit also uses a drop-in trem arm, which has now cured any slop - once you've adjusted the tiny Allen-headed grub-screw adjuster which takes up the slack.
So, success at last (and I think the P/Us are in the clear after all)... and a highly recommended mod for all those of you with the cast 'import-spec' blocks.

[JimN]

Hi, Roger,

That's good to hear.

Coincidentally, I fitted a Wilkinson steel-blocked replacement trem unit (circa £27 from axes'r'us) into my SquierJagmaster, which is also fitted with much-improved pickups. The Squier did originally have a Strat type bridge of the correct shape and dimensions, but with a Mazak block - with the inevitable wearing-out, in short order, of the thread for the arm. No such problems with the pop-in version on the Wilkinson, and since I fitted a custom-shaped trem arm, that relatively cheap guitar (only a little bit dearer than a Biffy Clyro Strat) has come alive.

JN

[RUSSET]

Hi Roger,
Glad you managed to sort out the upgrade on your Squier 'Biffy' Strat. It must give you great satisfaction to know that you have a giggable Strat in F.Red for a very reasonable price, even with the upgrades, & that if some toerag decides to take a fancy to it, you haven't lost a valuable vintage guitar.

Cheers, Tony.

[rmfrance]

Yes, indeed - and I have to say that I'm really impressed with the playability. Although the '62 is a beauty, with a narrow C-section bird's-eye maple neck (rosewood fretboard, of course), somehow the Squier just feels more instantly playable - probably a combination of the flatter camber and heavier frets. Not surprisingly, the oldie has the edge on tone, and I suspect that the Squier's visually flawless but thicker paint finish is partly to blame. But then it's also nearly 50 years younger, so time will tell!