Narrow spaced tremolos with steel block. What's out there !

SnazzyGeezer

Besides the Wilkinson vintage trem,which I really like a lot,are there any other brands making 54mm spaced tremolo,especially with a nickel finish.
Wilkinson used to make them in nickel,but as far as I know they are only available in chrome.
Any suggestions would be great.

robinbowes

Sorry I'm not directly answering your question, but I have a Wilkinson WV6 for sale:



I bought it off here for a Yamaha Pacifica but it doesn't fit (the Pacifica is even narrower!) so I am moving it on as it's no use to me.

Yours for £25.

Danielsguitars

The only one i found that's vintage style with 54mm spacing is a diego from rockinger in Germany, looks good for the money

Thats what I'll be trying anyway 

FelineGuitars

Gotoh's NS510T-FE is really nice if you can find one - 2 point mount 

https://g-gotoh.com/international/product/ns510t-fe1.html

streethawk

Nickel finish trem plates were never standard on Fenders, iirc, only the saddles. So maybe they didn't catch on with the aftermarket crowd. I think Callaham do Nickel trems but not in 54mm. 

Kluson do a 54mm spaced all nickel unit but the all important trem mount screws are spaced 56.5mm
https://www.wdmusic.co.uk/hardware-parts-c1/bridges-tailpieces-c2/tremolos-c3/kluson-vintage-style-stratocaster-replacement-tremolo-bridge-narrow-string-spacing-steel-sustain-block-p13498

I have these which do not have a steel block and are both 54mm (10.8) trem screw mount and saddle width in chrome.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/126776/fs-vintage-strat-trems-full-sized-blocks-for-new-builds-cheap#latest

Danielsguitars

streethawk said:

Nickel finish trem plates were never standard on Fenders, iirc, only the saddles. So maybe they didn't catch on with the aftermarket crowd. I think Callaham do Nickel trems but not in 54mm. 

Kluson do a 54mm spaced all nickel unit but the all important trem mount screws are spaced 56.5mm
https://www.wdmusic.co.uk/hardware-parts-c1/bridges-tailpieces-c2/tremolos-c3/kluson-vintage-style-stratocaster-replacement-tremolo-bridge-narrow-string-spacing-steel-sustain-block-p13498

I have these which do not have a steel block and are both 54mm (10.8) trem screw mount and saddle width in chrome.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/126776/fs-vintage-strat-trems-full-sized-blocks-for-new-builds-cheap#latest

Thanks for showing the Kluson one, i didn't know they did them

CasperCaster

I'll bite, and say Wudtone, either as a complete trem or just the bridge plate (e.g. if upgrading). The 54mm variant uses a 52.5mm spaced block.

There are a number of trems with vintage mounting (56.3mm) but 'modern' 52.5mm string spacing, such as the Callaham vintage modern, Wudtone again, and the trem on second generation Fender Highway One guitars and the outgoing American Special (not sure about the new Performers) - they occasionally appear 2nd hand, but the baseplate is chrome (with nickel saddles). I think the block on these is leaded steel (like the Wilkinson), but definitely a significant step up from zinc, if not quite as fantastic as Callaham, Hurley or Wudtone.

There are also the ABM 5050 series trems in various mounting styles (52.5mm, 56.3mm, and two post) which have 53mm string spacing. Again, the baseplates are chrome with nickel saddles.

If you have a 54mm spaced trem and want to change the saddles there are limited options. Wilkinson, Wudtone and Highwood for vintage stamped steel. Quite a few places do stainless block saddles and Rockinger sell some brass block saddles, but that's about it. If you think you might want to mess with saddles, or blocks, you would be better off with a trem with a string spacing of either 52.5mm or the vintage 56.3mm. And of course, it should go  without saying that you should check what mounting spacing you need - I've assumed you need a vintage mounting of approx 56.3mm