Replace 6 hole Tremolo for 2 post Tremolo bridge ?

[microtonal]

I currently have a Charvel Charvette with the standard/stock 6 hole tremolo and want to install a Wilkinson 2 post tremolo.

The reason I'm doing this is that when the factory installed the 6 hole bridge, it's a little off centered and the high E is further from the edge of the fretboard than the low E, which is near the edge of the fretboard.

If I install another 6 hole tremolo, it will most likely be the same/off centered.
So, I'm trying to correct this with a 2 post style tremolo since there's no room to make 6 new holes.

Q:
I've been looking at some direct Strat style tremolo replacements and was wondering if it will require routing out the body for the tremolo or will I just need to mount the 2 posts for the tremolo and be done.

This is the type I've been looking at.

Wilkinson/Gotoh VS-100N Tremolo


If anyone has any other recommendations, please let me know.

.

[JACKSONFREAK]

Before yougo doin that. make sure the neck is straight in the pocket. If theres any kind of room for the neck to move it will. And will look like the bridge is off. Just loosen the neck screws a turn or turn and try to even the string spacing on the 1st and 6th strings. Then tighten the screws back down. And see if that helps. If you still have them same problem then it could be the bridge.
Gil

[microtonal]

I checked the screws and they seemed to be seated.

One thing I noticed is that my RR1T, SL3, Dinky and Wolfgang are the same.
Meaning, they are not quite centered. Some are closer than others but none are perfectly centered except my DV8.

I never really looked that the strings being aligned/centered until recently when I finshed from fretboard work.
I'm starting to wonder if this is a tolerance that is acceptable with guitar manufacturers ?

[dg]

It doesn't matter if the screws look seated. They can be perfectly seated & tight, but there is usually enough wiggle room on any bolt-on guitar for you to do what Gil suggested. Give it a try! I bet it will solve the issue for all of your guitars. It is true that sometimes bridges or nuts are installed wrong, but most of the time a tweak of the neck alignment solves this type of problem.

[microtonal]

I'll try removing the neck and bolt it back on.

For my Jackson SL3 & RR1T, there's nothing I can do since they are neck-thru construction.

I even went to the guitar store today and notice a lot of guitars are like this. Even between the same models, they seem to be slightly different.
And I'm talking about USA made Jacksons, Fender Strats and Gibsons.

Not sure if people just don't pay attention or maybe don't care.
This could be the reason why one guitar out of 4 of the same type at a music store may be your personal favorite due to the string location/spacing on the neck.
I mean, I never noticed until now and I have over 14 guitars.

[slash]

You don't have to remove the neck unless you want to. All you have to do is loosen the bolts a little and pull the headstock towards the ceiling to center the strings. Tighten the screws back up while keeping the neck in place. This should do the trick.

As far as your question about the wilkinson.... you should be able to swap trems without routing. Just be sure to drill the post holes in the right place or the stings may be farther off the neck after the swap

[kelly user]

I'll try removing the neck and bolt it back on.

For my Jackson SL3 & RR1T, there's nothing I can do since they are neck-thru construction.

I even went to the guitar store today and notice a lot of guitars are like this. Even between the same models, they seem to be slightly different.
And I'm talking about USA made Jacksons, Fender Strats and Gibsons.

Not sure if people just don't pay attention or maybe don't care.
This could be the reason why one guitar out of 4 of the same type at a music store may be your personal favorite due to the string location/spacing on the neck.
I mean, I never noticed until now and I have over 14 guitars.

dude what they are telling you, is completely going over your head.
the neck is seated in a pocket, alright. the neck may or may not be able to shift side to side. right to left in other words.
they are telling you to loosen the bolts to the neck and try and shift the neck to a side to see if that solves your problem.

[microtonal]

Oh, ok.
I'll give that a shot instead of removing the neck completely.

Thanks for the suggestions and feedback.

[microtonal]

dude what they are telling you, is completely going over your head.
the neck is seated in a pocket, alright. the neck may or may not be able to shift side to side. right to left in other words.
they are telling you to loosen the bolts to the neck and try and shift the neck to a side to see if that solves your problem.

That fixed the issue.

I'll probably still get the Wilkinson tremolo but glad to find out my neck was just a little out of alignment instead of the bridge being misaligned.

Thanks for the help/info.

[kelly user]

That fixed the issue.

I'll probably still get the Wilkinson tremolo but glad to find out my neck was just a little out of alignment instead of the bridge being misaligned.

Thanks for the help/info.

your very welcome........now

[microtonal]

First pic is with the strings/neck mis-aligned.
You can see that the high E is pretty far in toward the fretboard compared to the low E.



AFTER:



Other Pics.

[JACKSONFREAK]

Cool glad thats all it was. 9 out of 10 times that solves the problem of mis-aligned strings. Unless you're really good with a drill. I would suggest having a guitar tech drill the holes for the Wilkinson if you still want to do it.
Gil