Hi guys. I need to rez this thread as I'm now trying to buy replacement steel blocked trem for my Squier project.
I'm looking over the GFS stuff and was pretty much sure I knew what I needed. I don't use the trem arm and am frankly terrified by the thought of setting them up (hence why my other guitars are hardtails) so I'm after a drop in replacement for improved TONE more than bomb dive-ability.
My Squier is an '89 Made in Korea, So I figured the "MiM Import Strat UPGRADE trem- Solid STEEL block D45" was the go. I mean it says "Made in Mexico, Made in China, Made in Korea etc"
But
I pulled my trusty measuring stick out and lo and behold, the grungy old trem in there now appears to have USA Fender spacing, not Korean spacing.
Unless I'm doing this all wrong I'm confused.
All from GFS data, but apparently I'm supposed to be measuring 52.5mm from hole to hole. But I'm getting 56.5mm from centre of the first screw to the centre of the last. According to GFS thats USA Fender territory. It also says the string spacing for the USA version is 11.3mm. Mine kinda vary depending on how centered the string is on the saddle, but 11.3 is about right.
So. I'm thinking I'd better order the USA spaced version but I can't get my head around why my el-cheapo MiK Squier would have a Fender USA trem in it (assuming that's the correct conclusion). I mean I bought this axe used and it already had a dimarzio chopper in the bridge, so it's been modded somewhat already and therefore it's not impossible someone swapped the whole trem assemble from a real strat, but if so, why?
Side question/observation. I'm always knocking the high e off the fretboard past the 9th fret on this guitar and compared to most guitars I've played it's perilously close to the edge of the fretboard and thats why. Maybe 1mm to 1.5mm from the 12th fret down. It kinda hovers .5mm from the edge of the fretwire after the 15th. I'd always assumed my neck was bolted on a little crooked as there is a good 4mm from the low e to the edge of the fret, but maybe someone has replaced the original trem and thats whats mucked it all up. I'd just assumed things like the spacing and width of trems on strats were all the same regardless of where they came from. That myth has been exploded on me, but now I'm wondering if you have to match trems to necks as well!! (Like should I be trying to install the "import" trem with closer spacing to get my little e back on the fretboard instead of re-aligning the neck)
Last question. Assuming it is cool to use a USA strat spaced trem on a Squier, would you go the wilkinson vintage steel block or just the regular one?
Anyway, sorry for the assault of questions, but I'd appreciate your thoughts before I click "go" on my enormous shopping list of bits from GFS.