what can be used to fill in old bridge holes on guitar body

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Replacng tremolo and filling in old screw holes

• Thread starter Gillison
• Start appointment Nov 22, 2010

• #1

Guys,

I'one thousand replacing my tremolo (wilkinson v+ane). Have bought a new one just to detect that the screw holes are out slightly. Should've checked this before my buy!!!

I need to know the best way to fill the old screw holes strongly plenty as non to effect the performance of my new trem.

The new trem holes are spaced 56ml center to centre, the old ane is simply spaced 52ml centre to centre. Non much in it, but enough to worry me.

Anyones assistance would exist appreciated. I want to go this thing sorted then I can repaint!

• #2

Hey man, this is what I did with my Strat (information technology's obviously not the aforementioned situation but it might merely help):

A couple of dowels. I constitute the perfect object for this (a rarely used cooking spoon /:mrgreen. The wood is really hard, it perfectly matches the holes. I was lucky in finding the right slice of woods.

If you can find something suitable for yourself, I recommend you lot dowel the holes.

BTW, welcome to the forum!

Concluding edited: Nov 23, 2010

thaus

Near Honored Senior Member

• #iii

Dowels are skilful but I take read that glue and some tooth pics works too!! Dowels for those big holes!

• #4

Dowels are good just I have read that glue and some tooth pics works too!! Dowels for those big holes!

It'due south ane thing to make full pickguard screwholes with toothpick and glue (done it...), only I call back the trem screws might desire something more solid. How about bamboo BBQ skewers? Has anyone found other alternatives to toothpicks?

• #5

It's i affair to make full pickguard screwholes with toothpick and gum (done it...), but I think the trem screws might want something more solid. How well-nigh bamboo BBQ skewers? Has anyone found other alternatives to toothpicks?

+ane on the skewers. You tin too find small diameter dowels at some hobby/modelers shops that will work.

• #6

Guys,

I'm replacing my tremolo (wilkinson 5+1). Accept bought a new one only to find that the spiral holes are out slightly. Should've checked this earlier my buy!!!

I need to know the best way to fill the old screw holes strongly enough equally not to outcome the performance of my new trem.

The new trem holes are spaced 56ml center to centre, the onetime i is only spaced 52ml centre to heart. Not much in it, only enough to worry me.

Anyones help would exist appreciated. I want to become this thing sorted so I can repaint!

Ummm, do you not realize that you bought a different and obviously incorrect trem for your guitar? The 5+1 string spacing of 52 mm (not ml) corresponds to the string spacing of ii 1/xvi" used on almost MIM and import Strats. It appears that you bought the Wilkenson "Classic" trem. Its string spacing of 56 mm corresponds to the American built Stratocasters with 2 7/32" string spacing. Yes, the spacing of the strings is the same as the spacing of the screw holes. Unless you are intent on changing the cord spacing on your guitar (the high and low "E" strings will exist closer to the edge of the fretboard), yous should return the "Archetype" and get some other 5+one. Why did you change trems in the first place?

• #eight

Ummm, do you not realize that you bought a different and plainly wrong trem for your guitar? The 5+1 string spacing of 52 mm (not ml) corresponds to the string spacing of two one/16" used on about MIM and import Strats. It appears that you bought the Wilkenson "Archetype" trem. Its string spacing of 56 mm corresponds to the American congenital Stratocasters with two 7/32" string spacing. Yeah, the spacing of the strings is the same as the spacing of the spiral holes. Unless you are intent on irresolute the string spacing on your guitar (the loftier and low "Due east" strings will be closer to the edge of the fretboard), you should return the "Classic" and go another 5+1. Why did you alter trems in the beginning place?

I did such thing to one of my guitars long time ago - filled the holes and put an AmVintage Fender tremolo instead of cheap cast tremolo with narrow spacing. The guitar was playable and everything worked fine.

In my example I took some wood - pino if I'm non mistaken - and glued information technology in each hole with epoxy gum. And then drilled new ones. The construction was solid.

• #9

I did such thing to ane of my guitars long time ago - filled the holes and put an AmVintage Fender tremolo instead of cheap bandage tremolo with narrow spacing. The guitar was playable and everything worked fine.

In my case I took some woods - pine if I'm not mistaken - and glued it in each hole with epoxy glue. Then drilled new ones. The construction was solid.

Yep, it certainly tin be done. I didn't say information technology couldn't. Nevertheless, based on the OPs post, information technology does non appear that he understands why the trem he bought is different from the original trem and the implications of changing from i type to the other.

• #10

You are doin' backwards. You are supposed to fill up the six holes, and drill two new big holes.

The OP never identified which trem he purchased. If he bought a Wilkenson "Classic" trem, that is a 6-pigsty trem like his original v+ane.

• #11

With the Wilkinson 5+ane trems, you will observe that if you lot put the primal 4 screws in they will fit in the slots, and yous volition need to move the ii E holes out by around the diameter of the screw holes. I've glued in bamboo skewers earlier (on three guitars now) and they've held fine, all these trems are floating as well.

Last edited: Nov 22, 2010

• #12

Hither is how I did mine, I used skewers as others have mentioned. Thin zap ca superglue is a very useful matter to use, as it wicks into the skewer and hardens it suitably for the job.

Attachments

• #thirteen

Ummm, practise y'all non realize that you bought a different and apparently incorrect trem for your guitar? The 5+ane string spacing of 52 mm (not ml) corresponds to the string spacing of 2 1/xvi" used on most MIM and import Strats. Information technology appears that you bought the Wilkenson "Archetype" trem. Its cord spacing of 56 mm corresponds to the American congenital Stratocasters with ii 7/32" cord spacing. Yes, the spacing of the strings is the same as the spacing of the screw holes. Unless yous are intent on changing the string spacing on your guitar (the high and low "Due east" strings will be closer to the border of the fretboard), you should return the "Archetype" and go another 5+1. Why did you alter trems in the first place?

Hi Bill,

Okay read over my first post and it didn't really brand sense (i was tired and frustrated), lol.

My guitar (fabricated in korea) has a 6 spiral hole trem in it. It's light and pretty crappy sounding and doesn't match the new paint job I've done. So, I'g wanting to replace it with the Wilkinson 5+1. Even so the screw holes in my old trem are spaced 52.5mm from centre to eye, and the Wilkinson is designed for holes that are 56mm centre to centre (right me if I'k wrong).

What I need to know is, do I need to fill all the holes in and drill new ones to install the new trem? Or as grumpy sometime git explained, can I get it to fit by screwing the eye four screws in, merely does that mean I still demand to drill holes for the 2 Es (didn't quite follow that terminal bit of your mail grumpy old git)

Lamentable for the confusion and cheers for all the quick replies!

• #fourteen

...Or every bit grumpy old git explained, can I get information technology to fit past screwing the middle four screws in, merely does that mean I withal need to drill holes for the two Es (didn't quite follow that last fleck of your post grumpy sometime git)....

Yep, equally the holes for the cardinal holes are slotted you'll be OK, but set the trem so they look symmetrical, and you have to drill the two E strings. You're only going to accept to move them the diameter of the hole or so outwards.

I think I've got a pic on my home PC, if I have I'll mail service it afterward.

• #15

Hi Beak,

Okay read over my starting time postal service and it didn't actually make sense (i was tired and frustrated), lol.

My guitar (made in korea) has a six screw hole trem in it. It's lite and pretty crappy sounding and doesn't match the new paint task I've done. So, I'k wanting to supplant it with the Wilkinson five+1. However the spiral holes in my old trem are spaced 52.5mm from heart to middle, and the Wilkinson is designed for holes that are 56mm center to centre (right me if I'grand wrong).

What I need to know is, do I need to fill up all the holes in and drill new ones to install the new trem? Or every bit grumpy old git explained, can I get it to fit by screwing the eye four screws in, but does that mean I still need to drill holes for the 2 Es (didn't quite follow that last bit of your post grumpy old git)

Deplorable for the defoliation and thanks for all the quick replies!

I can't find the link to the folio I had yesterday, simply obviously Wilkinson does make a trem system that matches the string spacing of your guitar, as do other companies. Why non render (if possible) the trem you bought and buy the correct i to fit your guitar and save yourself a lot of headaches?

• #16

Toothpick and bamboo skewers sound as a pretty fascinating thing to fiddle with... Or you can go 1/8" hardwood dowel rod from woodcraft shop, drill out the hole to a proper size and superglue the small-scale dowels in. It is important to match the hardens of the wood and so while you drilling new holes the drill does not drift towards softer wood. If you are in United States in that location are plenty of places to get the dowel-rods from Rockler, Woodcraft, etc. Y'all do not demand to find exact same wood, just simply similar hardness. Using pine dowels in alder body might not work as well as one would hope unless y'all using a mill to drill new holes. The Rockler also sells these manual detail sending chugalug holders to finish the work

• #18

I stuck my wilky in a test setup without redrilling..information technology worked our pretty well if you lot don't mind a missing screw.

How it lines up. Ignore the ugly pickguard I used it to slap in some test pickups till I get some new ones. I'll employ a white 3 ply and creme pups and controls.

• #19

Yes, information technology certainly can exist done. I didn't say information technology couldn't. All the same, based on the OPs post, information technology does non appear that he understands why the trem he bought is different from the original trem and the implications of changing from one type to the other.

I agree.

And, if the fretboard edges are only a little rolled, or if the cervix is just a little unwilling to stay in perfect alignment, this could exist a disaster in the making. The strings on either border will exist inclined to roll off too readily.

This hasn't been vetted enough.

• #20

I hold.

And, if the fretboard edges are only a petty rolled, or if the neck is simply a little unwilling to stay in perfect alignment, this could exist a disaster in the making. The strings on either edge will be inclined to roll off besides readily.

This hasn't been vetted enough.

I'd exist pretty certain that a Korean [Squier/strat re-create] would have the generous neck dimension and authentic trem placement to allow a Vintage spaced 5+1 wilky to play well. I plopped mine into a Chinese Squier SE, a line I believe notorious for wide build variations, poor trem placement (and or cervix positioning) In fact I took off the original neck and swapped it with another SE cervix whose screw holes were properly drilled! The original cervix would never intonate unless redrilled or the trem relocated.
I bought my Wilkinson trem off ebay cheap with the big cake and all the fixings, it had a no return policy, I did enquiry and knew I may take a trouble converting cord spacing merely couldn't pass it up. I took measurements and specs, it didn't seem like it would work but having things in front of you helps to grok the trouble. I screwed it in and ran old east strings through it to bank check alignment. Perhaps just a lucky happen stance things worked out but only having to redrill one hole or two rather than half-dozen makes it a less daunting chore.

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