New bridge needed

MazzaG

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to completely replace the bridge on my left hand mex strat as I am fed up with strings constantly breaking at the bridge. I have filed down the burs, applied lubricant etc and it is still happening. I'm sure if i keep trying I'll fix whatever the issue is, but I am at the point now where I think I should just buy a replacement.

Now the problem is being a left handed mexican strat the choice  is extremely limited. I can't seem to find any direct Fender replacements so was looking at Wilkinson, which costs £39.99. The thing is I'm not even sure if these will fit my Strat.

http://www.jhs.co.uk/wilkinson.html

Could any of you be so kind as to point me in other directions, or perhaps even make any recommendations? Obviously I'd like to spend as little as possible.

Thanks

DrBob

You see the six screws that act as pivot points ?
As long as you get one of the Wilkinson Trems which have one round screw hole on and five slightly oblong shaped holes you should be OK.
The point of having the five semi slotted holes is to allow for the trem to fit bodies with different screw spacings.

GSPBASSES

Why not just change the saddles http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/graph-tech-string-saver-saddles-for-usa-std-strat--tele-2820-p.asp

gavin_axecaster

DrBob said:

You see the six screws that act as pivot points ?
As long as you get one of the Wilkinson Trems which have one round screw hole on and five slightly oblong shaped holes you should be OK.
The point of having the five semi slotted holes is to allow for the trem to fit bodies with different screw spacings.

There will still be a little bit of tinkering involved as you will need to plug and redrill the E string screw holes.
Pics in this thread

ThePrettyDamned

Either change saddles, or if it's the bridge itself, get a wudtone bridge. Your guitar will thank you.

Callaham saddles are excellent, or there are other modern block shaped ones, depending on your fancy.

DrBob

gavin_axecaster said:

DrBob said:

You see the six screws that act as pivot points ?
As long as you get one of the Wilkinson Trems which have one round screw hole on and five slightly oblong shaped holes you should be OK.
The point of having the five semi slotted holes is to allow for the trem to fit bodies with different screw spacings.

There will still be a little bit of tinkering involved as you will need to plug and redrill the E string screw holes.
Pics in this thread

Ah, that further muddies the water then as I did build a Bitsa with a MIM body and the WV6 SB trem went straight on it as was....

Maybe it wasn't a Std..

Adam_MD

I fitted one of those wilkinsons to a mex standard a few years ago and everything lined up just fine. Weird.

MazzaG

Thanks a lot for the advice and suggestions so far guys, sometimes I really wish I played righty.

MazzaG

Trying to find something suitable on Amazon as I have a gift voucher but not having much luck.

gavin_axecaster

DrBob said:

Ah, that further muddies the water then as I did build a Bitsa with a MIM body and the WV6 SB trem went straight on it as was....

Maybe it wasn't a Std..

The Std spacing is 52.5mm string and screw and the Wilkinsons are all 56mm screw and 54mm string - why I have no idea! It is not that easy to find a drop in replacement for the Std due to the narrow spacing.
To the OP - assuming the strings keep breaking at the saddle it has to be worth trying a different set before switching the entire trem.

gavin_axecaster

Adam_MD said:

I fitted one of those wilkinsons to a mex standard a few years ago and everything lined up just fine. Weird.

Could Wilkinson have changed the mount screw spacing?

paisleysoul

I've fitted Wilkinson replacement bridges to a few Tele copies at the shop I work in over the years, they usually go in without a problem. They are designed as drop in replacements.