Best Non-Locking Tremolo System

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

In terms of tuning stability. Every non locking trem I've ever used never stays in tune. I see people on YouTube doing bar dives with a non locking trem and they appear to stay in tune.

Also anyone ever used a guitar nutbuster?

 

[Freddy G]

Floyd Rose non-fine tuner bridge, a slippery (graphite, Tusq XL etc) properly cut nut (or roller nut), locking tuners.

I build guitars in that config and you can do anything you want on the whammy bar from dreamy vibrato to all out strings hanging off the neck dive bombs. The guitars stay in tune.

 

[NotScott]

Isn't that video by the same guy that claimed that Floyd's were impossible to keep in tune?

Have a good tech properly cut your nut, use minimum winds on your tuners or use locking tuners properly and then place a touch of Chapstick or other lube in the nut slots and you can make damn near any trem reliable.

 

[Freddy G]

Isn't that video by the same guy that claimed that Floyd's were impossible to keep in tune?

Have a good tech properly cut your nut, use minimum winds on your tuners or use locking tuners properly and then place a touch of Chapstick or other lube in the nut slots and you can make damn near any trem reliable.

True all that. The reason I mentioned the Floyd Rose non-fine tuner bridge is because it has one property that most other bridges don't have. No moving parts in the string path. None. Everything is locked in, The string ball is cut off and locked into the saddle. That is what separates the wheat from the chaff. Look at a typical strat bridge....even if it's a two post pivot type, the saddles have play, backwards, forwards and laterally....not stable. The string's anchor point has play....where the ball meets the stop in the trem block. They can shift around with aggressive whammy action. Not stable.

 

[OldBenKenobi]

I get good results with the Gotoh 510 trem + Tusq XL nut + Gotoh locking tuners.

My next project is gonna use the NFT Floyd Rose though. Besides the advantage of the locking saddles, I prefer the height of a Floyd Rose.

 

[NotScott]

True all that. The reason I mentioned the Floyd Rose non-fine tuner bridge is because it has one property that most other bridges don't have. No moving parts in the string path. None. Everything is locked in, The string ball is cut off and locked into the saddle. That is what separates the wheat from the chaff. Look at a typical strat bridge....even if it's a two post pivot type, the saddles have play, backwards, forwards and laterally....not stable. The string's anchor point has play....where the ball meets the stop in the trem block. They can shift around with aggressive whammy action. Not stable.

Very true. However, the PRS trems use the old Fender stringing method and I find them to be just as stable as my Floyd guitars. Granted, PRS uses slick nuts, locking tuners, no string trees and the bridge is machined in such a way to minimize play in the saddles. I also still use vintage Strat trems with no tuning issues but then again, I am not swinging my Strats all over the stage by the whammy bar.

It all comes down to proper care and maintenance of your tools and using the right tool for the job.

 

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Isn't that video by the same guy that claimed that Floyd's were impossible to keep in tune?

Have a good tech properly cut your nut, use minimum winds on your tuners or use locking tuners properly and then place a touch of Chapstick or other lube in the nut slots and you can make damn near any trem reliable.

I had a graphite nut installed on a PRS SE Santana but it didn't help much...maybe locking tuners would help.

 

[NotScott]

I had a graphite nut installed on a PRS SE Santana but it didn't help much...maybe locking tuners would help.

When I speak about PRS, I mean the US models. I am woefully ignorant of the SEs. That being said, I have a US Santana that came from the factory with locking tuners, graphite nut and PRS' top line trem. It stays in tune as well as any of my Floyds.

As for your guitar in particular, I am certain a good tech who understands the subtleties of trems could make it work for you.

 

[SlingBlader]

I'm not sure what your budget is, but the Gotoh Wilkinson VS100N 2 point trem is a really great unit for the price. (under $100)

As has been mentioned, a properly cut nut and locking tuners are essential in my opinion. I built a couple of Strat styled guitars recently with these units and couldn't be happier. If you want to dive bomb all day long, then yeah, get a Floyd... locking saddles are the best solution to long term stability.

 

[cmjohnson]

I think I'm about to learn a lot about this for myself. Finally after all these years I ended up with a guitar with a Floyd on it. First thing to do is to take the two stripped saddles and have helicoils put in the back of them. The guitar is an 80s Charvette in otherwise pristine condition. It fills a niche in my collection.

If it'll fit, I'll replace the licensed Floyd Rose bridge with a genuine one. And install locking tuners.

 

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Anyone have any experience with the new Trevor Wilkinson bridge system that is a drop in replacement for the classic Gotoh 510 two-post bridge system?

I've been only able to find the locking saddles and not the total system.

https://www.gearnews.com/pete-thorn-previews-new-wilkinson-locking-trem-system-on-youtube/

 

[lee1964]

The new Wilkinson bridge on the Pete thorn video is great, i installed the saddles onto a charvel DK 22 which uses a. Gotoh 510 with a slippery nut and locking tuners it’s great and stays in the territory of looking vintage’ish if you don’t like Floyd’s.
I’m currently building a strat with the “super v blade runner” fitted with the Wilkinson saddles, after my experience with the saddles on the Gotoh 510 I’m expecting a more than stellar result on the blade runner which is also a great bridge in itself, without the locking saddles

Lee

 

[lee1964]

Here’s some pics of the Charvel the client loves it

Lee

 

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Here’s some pics of the Charvel the client loves it
View attachment 537810View attachment 537811View attachment 537812
Lee

B

Here’s some pics of the Charvel the client loves it
View attachment 537810View attachment 537811View attachment 537812
Lee

Beautiful guitar!

Can you purchase the whole Wilkinson bridge system with locking saddles or only the locking saddles. My PRS Santana SE has a 6 point bridge and I want to change it to a 2 point.

 

[lee1964]

You can buy just the saddles or the whole bridge from the Wilkinson direct reverb shop, they are quite helpful if you message them they should be able to guide you as to what would be your best option.

this is really nit Picking but I do think the Gotoh 510 base assembly is actually better made than the Wilkinson, this is based on having both in hand and looking at the pivot points and folds on the base plate. I’m sure the Wilkinson will function just fine.

Lee

 

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

You can buy just the saddles or the whole bridge from the Wilkinson direct reverb shop, they are quite helpful if you message them they should be able to guide you as to what would be your best option.

this is really nit Picking but I do think the Gotoh 510 base assembly is actually better made than the Wilkinson, this is based on having both in hand and looking at the pivot points and folds on the base plate. I’m sure the Wilkinson will function just fine.

Lee

Thanks for the information!

 

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

otoh 510

You can buy just the saddles or the whole bridge from the Wilkinson direct reverb shop, they are quite helpful if you message them they should be able to guide you as to what would be your best option.

this is really nit Picking but I do think the Gotoh 510 base assembly is actually better made than the Wilkinson, this is based on having both in hand and looking at the pivot points and folds on the base plate. I’m sure the Wilkinson will function just fine.

Lee

Can I install a 2 point Gotoh 510 base assembly on this 6 point PRS trem?

 

[lee1964]

Anything is possible, but I doubt things will line up and it will probably need a luthier to do the job, holes will need filling and re drilling, there may be issues with height from the body that may require it to be partially recessed.
I would just try the saddles first

Lee

 

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Anything is possible, but I doubt things will line up and it will probably need a luthier to do the job, holes will need filling and re drilling, there may be issues with height from the body that may require it to be partially recessed.
I would just try the saddles first

Lee

I asked a luthier and he said "The offset saddles will not work on the PRS you would have to have the whole bridge system" so I'll probably go with the whole system.

https://reverb.com/item/36124854-wilkinson-wvs1302p-compact-chrome

 

[lee1964]

They also offer centred (non offset) saddles which I mounted on the Gotoh 510 equiped charvel, but for some reason they seem to regularly run out of these.

Message them and ask when they’ll be back in stock

I’ve also heard on other forums where they have been able to get them from “Suhr”

Lee