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Post subject: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:52 am
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'99 'Nashville' Telecaster Deluxe (modded). The action was always very high, the intonation was way off... never could get it right. :?

Picked up a Wilkinson 3-saddle compensated bridge on closeout from a Ma & Pa store for $15, hoping this would fix the intonation issue and also because I like the vintage 3-saddle look. Got the guitar used and it had 11 ga. strings which were OK until I got my Empress Tele w/ 9 ga. - love those 9s ! So, I decided to swap strings when I did the bridge.

This Wilkinson Bridge is a nice bit of kit, well made, nicely plated and lined up perfectly.
Cleaned & oiled the rosewood, installed the new strings, lowered the string action to 0.078"-E / 0.061"-High E (had been 0.083"/0.071") without any buzzing, got the intonation PEFECT !! :D

It's a whole different guitar. Plays better, sounds better, way better sustain. 8)

Requisite Before and After pics:

Image

Image

Image

Image

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


Last edited by Lightnin MN on Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:34 am
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You write you had intonation issue with 6 saddles before ! How come ? This is the easyest way to intonate guitar .


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:54 am
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stratele52 wrote:
You write you had intonation issue with 6 saddles before ! How come ? This is the easyest way to intonate guitar .


Yep, agreed. But no matter what I did could not get it right.

In retrospect, especially since the intonation is now spot on after swapping in 9 ga. strings (from 11s - it came w/ 11s from the PO, so I also replaced 2 sets of the same gauge), I wonder if there wasn't a problem with the Nut not being properly filed (if filed at all) for the heavy strings. The issue was really bad on the low E and D strings (wound). Once lighter strings were installed, the issue went away. That's the only explanation which makes any sense. :?

But, no matter, I like the more Vintage look of the 3-saddle bridge anyway. :D

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 11:51 am
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Nice job.

Different strings can put different tension on the neck, and may require a truss rod adjustment to get intonation right. If it's too bowed, it may sound right at both high and low frets, but be too sharp in the middle. And if the action is high as you said, you may not even notice.
Going from 10s to 9s might have straightened the neck just a tiny bit, so it's back to doing well.

Does the '99 nash have a microtilt adjuster? It might help with the action without adding a bow that affects intonation.

But anyhow, the 3-saddle bridge looks just awesome. Good work.


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 12:52 pm
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arth1 wrote:
Nice job.

Different strings can put different tension on the neck, and may require a truss rod adjustment to get intonation right. If it's too bowed, it may sound right at both high and low frets, but be too sharp in the middle. And if the action is high as you said, you may not even notice.
Going from 10s to 9s might have straightened the neck just a tiny bit, so it's back to doing well.

Does the '99 nash have a microtilt adjuster? It might help with the action without adding a bow that affects intonation.

But anyhow, the 3-saddle bridge looks just awesome. Good work.



That is my answer too


Last edited by stratele52 on Thu Oct 03, 2013 2:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:36 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
arth1 wrote:
Nice job.

Different strings can put different tension on the neck, and may require a truss rod adjustment to get intonation right. If it's too bowed, it may sound right at both high and low frets, but be too sharp in the middle. And if the action is high as you said, you may not even notice.
Going from 10s to 9s might have straightened the neck just a tiny bit, so it's back to doing well.

Does the '99 nash have a microtilt adjuster? It might help with the action without adding a bow that affects intonation.

But anyhow, the 3-saddle bridge looks just awesome. Good work.



That is my answer too ; neck have too much bow for sure.

With too much bow ,your intonnation could not be right all the neck even with the Wilkinson saddles.


Nope... no micro-tilt adjustment.

Nope... not the neck. First thing I checked when starting the setup and it had the proper amount of relief.

Btw, went from 11s, not 10s, to 9s.

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 2:26 pm
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I erase my last and wrong answer. I undestant you go from 9 to 11.

Going from 11 to 9 must give a ( too ) straight neck . But if you check truss rod adjustment you and it is good you must be able to do a proper intonation with your 6 saddles , no need Wilkinson .

For sure you do some mystake somewhere in the set up or the reading.

How do you do intonnation ? By ears ? By "standard " guitar tuner ?

Standard guitar Tuner could read good one day and wrong hour after for intonnation . I used them before and and I bought the professionnal Perteson VS II Strobotuner. Day and night.


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 5:21 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
I erase my last and wrong answer. I undestant you go from 9 to 11.

Going from 11 to 9 must give a ( too ) straight neck . But if you check truss rod adjustment you and it is good you must be able to do a proper intonation with your 6 saddles , no need Wilkinson .

For sure you do some mystake somewhere in the set up or the reading.

How do you do intonnation ? By ears ? By "standard " guitar tuner ?

Standard guitar Tuner could read good one day and wrong hour after for intonnation . I used them before and and I bought the professionnal Perteson VS II Strobotuner. Day and night.


Neck relief was correct and I used the Peterson Strobotuner.

Spent 2 hrs. before trying to get the 6-saddle right, low E and D strings were always out at the 12th.

Still say the problem was the Nut.

Put the Wilkinson on and had the string action and intonation done in 20 mion. and it's correct.

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:17 am
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First time I heard you can't do intonnation with 6 saddles and IMO it is impossible.


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:45 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
First time I heard you can't do intonnation with 6 saddles and IMO it is impossible.


Uh... OK...

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 3:50 am
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hi , i put one of these bridges onto my squier standard about a month ago , a great upgrade and as you say sounds better and great sustain , if i had another tele it would get a wilkinson unit as well 8) , cheers
Alan

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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:07 am
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alanssaab wrote:
hi , i put one of these bridges onto my squier standard about a month ago , a great upgrade and as you say sounds better and great sustain , if i had another tele it would get a wilkinson unit as well 8) , cheers
Alan


Any quality replacement parts on Squier would be better than original .

Best thing you may do before good sadlles , is good pickups.


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:34 am
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hi stratele52 , the first thing i done to the squier is install a SD QP in the bridge and the rythm 3 in the neck , i also replaced the wiring pots and switch , this guitar sings 8) it gets used solely as my electric slide guitar , fitted with 11's with a 13 high E and somewhat high action it plays many a rory gallagher slide tune in my band . It's one of the older walnut squier standards made from agathis afaik , sound wise and playability i would put it well above a mim std anyday 8) , i do get some funny looks when i bring it out of it's case but once it's plugged into the ac15 or jcm800 the squier decal s of no importance :mrgreen: , cheers
Alan

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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 6:13 am
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alanssaab wrote:
8) , i do get some funny looks when i bring it out of it's case but once it's plugged into the ac15 or jcm800 the squier decal s of no importance :mrgreen: , cheers
Alan



+1

It is the amps more than the guitar make the sound


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Post subject: Re: Wilkinson 3-saddle Compensated Bridge swap...
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:42 pm
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I've got the Wilkinson unit on my 62 RI Tele.

Excellent piece of hardware, unbeatable at the price and the intonation is just fine. Those brass saddles and the thin base plate just seem to make the guitar ring and twang the way a Telecaster should.

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