Is it Worth Modding An Expensive Guitar? Pt1 Bridge

In today's video, Im looking to see if it is worth modding an expensive guitar.
I own a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster that in whole is a fantastic guitar, the only real issue I have with it is the Fender vintage style tremolo system.
In todays video I take off the Fender Vintage trem and replace it with a Wilkinson R Series Strat Bridge.

Here is a link to the R series bridges

Here is what Wilkinson say about the R Series Strat Bridge
The Wilkinson R series is our most comprehensive range of
Vibrato bridges. The R series offers many of the upgrades that Trev Wilkinson has conceived to give you the best possible performance in a modern vibrato unit, while still retaining the essence of the original vibrato bridge created in the 1950’s.

R SERIES KEY FEATURES
5 saddle types, Brass, Stainless Steel, Threaded bar, Bent Steel, Wilkinson.
3 different knife edges, VS 2 pivot, Wave 2 pivot, 5+1 knife edge.
Billet steel block with stagger pattern and deep drill.
Total control vibrato arm system.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[frantisca]

Hey Paul, Trev produces some remarkable hardware. It’s got undoubtedly advantages vs. the classic Fender trem, like the push-in handle and the positioning of the arm. Tonewise, I’d say the traditional trem sounds more Stratty and the Wilkinson more modern. I have put a spring in the cavity where the arm screws in and I set the floating in a way I don’t have tuning issues. The spring also holds the arm in position. I have a Wilkinson on another Strat: it’s very smooth and stays well in tune, even without the locking screws. Cheers

[fordhammie]

I love these shows on youtube for keeping me distracted away from other media I avoid at all cost; keep em comming! My take is that if anyone buys a custom shop to then upgrade, they really should have gotten a squier classic vibe to play guitar, instead of the boojee boojee of things! 😂

[allanflippin]

Paul,
Thanks, this is a great video. I've listened carefully but have to admit I can't tell the difference in sound. No matter though. You had a great sound to start with, got a much more useful whammy and didn't hurt anything else. Likewise, you didn't hurt potential resale value with this direct screw-in replacement. Well done! I appreciate the effort you put into making the before/after comparison fair.

[austinhealey]

Get plumbers Teflon tape and rap it around the threads of the arm ...
Works great cheap fix ..
Teflon tape costs $ one dollar...
I have been doing this for decades..

[toneydavis]

I put that system on my MIJ Aerodyne Strat - a little tricky because of the way the body is carved but it stays in tune and the arm stays where I want it. I have adjusted the float and intonation twice just to fine tune it but it is aces now. I have the Vega trem on my other strats and would recommend the Vega over any others.

[what]

the wilkinson bridge sounded shinier to me ....

[MickeyMousehouse]

The difference to me sounded like new strings, bit more crisp and brighter.
I have a killer partscaster that came with a Wilkinson bridge, it’s far superior to OEM, and performance wise it’s on par with the Callaham bridge. The finish on the Callaham looked superior, but feel and performance were equal. Once you’ve played a vibrato arm that has no play in it, you can’t go back. Really nice control over subtle, voice like vibrato in the way Dave gilmour does

[MattsGAP]

I can't hear any significant difference between the two. However, if it is functioning better than before it was well worth it in my opinion! I may have to consider changing my Eric Johnson Strat to one of those as I'm not enjoying the feel of the stock trem.

[jamesjr]

Hi Paul, thanks for the video. I hope to see more of your modding videos. Do you need locking tuners to keep tremolo system in tune?

[Fret-knot]

I have a 1999 American Traditional Strat. I swapped the trem out a number of years back to a Callaham bridge, put some new pups in and new blended wiring electrics which utilise the lower tone pot for blending any combination of pups. Anyway, the Callaham trem & bridge is far superior to the stock bridge I had in the guitar. The stability is way better and so is the tone and sustain.... The latter could be the pups & wiring as well of course, along with a bit of placebo effect maybe... Whenever you spend money on upgrading, you convince yourself it's far superior to the original, whether it is or isn't. The quality of Callaham stuff is undeniable, though.🙂

[GuitarAnthony]

If its a player grade I've no problem changing whatever needs changing. Really great condition aside of refrets I'd probably leave it be.

[andrewbecker]

For me it's all about the mods. What's the fun in having the same old wore out crap everyone else has? I don't fix things that aren't broken, but my tolerance for inferior parts has become increasingly slight. I very rarely keep anything I own stock after it fails or needs maintenance. Having hot rodded gear divides the men from the boys. I've spent the majority of my life figuring ways to make just about anything "better" with a little extra money, and a lot of extra time.

[Tonetwisters]

I presume that to be a Daphne Blue. Boy. That is pretty.

[maxpeck]

The push-in arm keeps the arm rotated where you want it but after repeated back and forth rotation does it slowly work its way out? I've had 2 offsets with the Jazzmaster style vibrato. The original push-in one SUCKED and kept falling out. I replaced it with a Mastery which has a notch in the end of the arm that sort of pops into place, and then you can adjust the collet tightness for the rotation resistance. It looked like that arm was completely smooth and I personally would shy away from any vibrato arm that doesn't pop into place like a Mastery.

[davidlavin]

Most of the tone would come from the saddles, I would think. Could you use the Fender sandals on the Wilkinson?

[TeleCaster]

If you have to upgrade a Fender Custom Shop guitar then I don't know what to say.

[ReasonableAssumption]

Are you sure you didn't change anything else but the bridges ? The first was much brighter but not really "Straty" if that is a word, It almost sounded like a PRS. I prefer the second (original) much more but I am really picky about Strat tone.

[Alanoffer]

If I could afford it I would get the vega term, it seems to be the dogs .

[maximumguitarage]

Without watching the video and to insert my internet opinion - Sure do what you feel is best for you! 🙌 😅

[MrUmandMrEr]

The first clean comparison levels sound different, and I actually prefer the fender tone. Wilkinson is brighter, but the Fender is more balanced and classic sounding. I've got a Wilkinson knife edge on an old Yamaha with Texas Specials however - sounds great with CTS pots.