Wilkinson Locking Saddles for Fender

[smitty_p]

I just installed these new saddles by Wilkinson on the Strat I bought a couple weeks ago.

As a bit of backstory, this American Deluxe Strat came stock with locking machine heads and an LSR roller nut.

However, even with that, the low E string would still not return reliably to pitch after anything more than very light vibrato use. The other strings were fine. I even replaced the nut with a new LSR nut. (I also replaced the machine heads, but not because of this. The originals were a little sticky and the new Fender locking tuners have a slightly shallower break angle on the wound strings than the originals. There was also a bit of play I did not like in the original tuners.)

Anyway, back to these saddles....

They have an ingenious little locking head that clamps the string on the saddle, effectively eliminating any movement of the string along the saddle, similar to a Floyd Rose bridge, except you don't clip the string. These fit PERFECTLY onto the stock two-point Fender trem installed on American Deluxe Strats.

The performance of the guitar is now very, very close to a Floyd.


Here's what they look like on my guitar:







Here's a link to the Wilkinson site where you can read more:

WLS130/F Model - Wilkinson

The WLS130/F locking saddle for vibrato is designed specifically for Fender Vibrato's that feature solid saddles with offset intonation screw

wilkinsondirect.com

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Nice.how do they lock to the trem plate there Smitty ? Is there a slotted route under those so you can intonate ?

 

[jtcnj]

That is a great idea. I like that a lot.
On the site they don't list the string spacing.
I would consider them for my 2 cheapy import strats but they are pricey for these guitars.

 

[C-Grin]

I’ve been wanting to buy these but I can’t find any, where did you get them?

 

[smitty_p]

Nice.how do they lock to the trem plate there Smitty ? Is there a slotted route under those so you can intonate ?

The saddles don't actually lock to the trem plate. The strings lock to the saddles. The intonation screws hold the saddles in place, just like the stock saddles.

Mind you, I would prefer a bridge where the saddles also lock in place, but even this has been a vast improvement.

 

[smitty_p]

I’ve been wanting to buy these but I can’t find any, where did you get them?

I got them on Reverb. Wilkinson has a store on Reverb called Wilkinson Direct. I searched for "Wilkinson Saddles WLS130/F" on Reverb. These are brand new, direct from Wilkinson in England. So, coming from the UK, it does take a little while to arrive. But, even then, it only took eight days. I'm on the east coast, though. It may take longer for those further inland or on the west coast of the US.

Keep in mind, Wilkinson makes these in straight and offset versions. I needed the offset for my bridge.

I messaged the seller before I bought and had a very nice, friendly exchange to be sure I was getting the right ones. Wilkinson was very responsive to my Reverb messages.

Here's a link:

Wilkinson WLS130/S "F" For OFF SET Intonation | Reverb

Please visit Wilkinsondirect .com for further stock options.These WLS130/S "F" saddles are a direct retro fit for your OFF SET intonation screws on your Fender Modern Bridge!! We couldn't leave you hundreds and thousands of Fender lovers out there out and we think you deserve the same tuning stab...

reverb.com

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Ahhhhh i see now Smitty.Pretty cool.Good idea.

 

[C-Grin]

I got them on Reverb. Wilkinson has a store on Reverb called Wilkinson Direct. I searched for "Wilkinson Saddles WLS130/F" on Reverb. These are brand new, direct from Wilkinson in England. So, coming from the UK, it does take a little while to arrive. But, even then, it only took eight days.

Keep in mind, Wilkinson makes these in straight and offset versions. I needed the offset for my bridge.

Here's a link:

Wilkinson WLS130/S "F" For OFF SET Intonation | Reverb

Please visit Wilkinsondirect .com for further stock options.These WLS130/S "F" saddles are a direct retro fit for your OFF SET intonation screws on your Fender Modern Bridge!! We couldn't leave you hundreds and thousands of Fender lovers out there out and we think you deserve the same tuning stab...

reverb.com

I need the straight ones and they are out of stock, I’ll just be patient I guess

 

[smitty_p]

I need the straight ones and they are out of stock, I’ll just be patient I guess

Here are the straight ones at the Wilkinson Direct Reverb store (link below).

This listing shows 10+ in stock.

When I bought mine, the Wilkinson website said they were out of stock on the ones I needed, too. But, there were some at the Reverb store.

If you don't have a Reverb account, create one and message Wilkinson Direct. They may be able to get some right out to you. You can also ask them about application to be sure they will work for you.

Wilkinson WLS130/S Locking Steel Saddles | Reverb

Please visit Wilkinsondirect .com for further stock options.Designed to replace the saddles on virtually every Vibrato bridge since 1954, this is the answer to all your tuning stability problems without even removing the existing bridge from your guitar, keeping the instrument completely stock wi...

reverb.com

 

[Thatbastarddon]

I just installed these new saddles by Wilkinson on the Strat I bought a couple weeks ago.

As a bit of backstory, this American Deluxe Strat came stock with locking machine heads and an LSR roller nut.

However, even with that, the low E string would still not return reliably to pitch after anything more than very light vibrato use. The other strings were fine. I even replaced the nut with a new LSR nut. (I also replaced the machine heads, but not because of this. The originals were a little sticky and the new Fender locking tuners have a slightly shallower break angle on the wound strings than the originals. There was also a bit of play I did not like in the original tuners.)

Anyway, back to these saddles....

They have an ingenious little locking head that clamps the string on the saddle, effectively eliminating any movement of the string along the saddle, similar to a Floyd Rose bridge, except you don't clip the string. These fit PERFECTLY onto the stock two-point Fender trem installed on American Deluxe Strats.

The performance of the guitar is now very, very close to a Floyd.
View attachment 97060

Here's what they look like on my guitar:

View attachment 97061


View attachment 97062


Here's a link to the Wilkinson site where you can read more:

WLS130/F Model - Wilkinson

The WLS130/F locking saddle for vibrato is designed specifically for Fender Vibrato's that feature solid saddles with offset intonation screw

wilkinsondirect.com

That looks like a great piece of the puzzle @smitty_p ! Thanks for sharing that!

 

[smitty_p]

That looks like a great piece of the puzzle @smitty_p ! Thanks for sharing that!

Thanks, Don! Yes, this was very puzzling to me! Before buying these I even used a small rat tail file and wet-sanded with 1000 grit sandpaper to round off the string through-hole in the trem plate just in case the string was catching there. I even used 3-1 oil on the saddle. These actions only marginally helped.

These saddles made all the difference.

 

[C-Grin]

I’ll be re-looking at that tonight .
How do you like the feel of the saddles on your palm, and does the locking nut feel obtrusive?

 

[Session 5]

I’ve been wanting to buy these but I can’t find any, where did you get them?

 

[Session 5]

I need the straight ones and they are out of stock, I’ll just be patient I guess

Try Amazon C-Grin..They have some there, not sure if the ones you want..

 

[Session 5]

Try this website, say they have 19 in stock..

WLS130/P Model - Wilkinson

The WLS130/P is the alternative of our Standard model, designed to suit the vibrato bridge found on PRS style guitars, giving superb tuning stability

wilkinsondirect.com

 

[Don O]

I just bought 2 sets on Reverb this morning. Still 10 sets in stock.

Wilkinson WLS130/S Locking Steel Saddles | Reverb

Please visit Wilkinsondirect .com for further stock options.Designed to replace the saddles on virtually every Vibrato bridge since 1954, this is the answer to all your tuning stability problems without even removing the existing bridge from your guitar, keeping the instrument completely stock wi...

reverb.com

 

[Session 5]

I just bought 2 sets on Reverb this morning. Still 10 sets in stock.

Wilkinson WLS130/S Locking Steel Saddles | Reverb

Please visit Wilkinsondirect .com for further stock options.Designed to replace the saddles on virtually every Vibrato bridge since 1954, this is the answer to all your tuning stability problems without even removing the existing bridge from your guitar, keeping the instrument completely stock wi...

reverb.com

smitty_p​

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I’ve been wanting to buy these but I can’t find any, where did you get them?

I got them on Reverb. Wilkinson has a store on Reverb called Wilkinson Direct. I searched for "Wilkinson Saddles WLS130/F" on Reverb. These are brand new, direct from Wilkinson in England. So, coming from the UK, it does take a little while to arrive. But, even then, it only took eight days. I'm on the east coast, though. It may take longer for those further inland or on the west coast of the US.

Keep in mind, Wilkinson makes these in straight and offset versions. I needed the offset for my bridge.

I messaged the seller before I bought and had a very nice, friendly exchange to be sure I was getting the right ones. Wilkinson was very responsive to my Reverb messages.

 

[smitty_p]

I’ll be re-looking at that tonight .
How do you like the feel of the saddles on your palm, and does the locking nut feel obtrusive?

No, I don't find it to be obtrusive. The "lock" is really just the head of a round-head machine screw, so it doesn't protrude into your hand at all. The rest of the saddle is pretty much like any other of Fender's cast saddles that they've put on their two-point bridges for their Pro and Deluxe series guitars.

 

[67plexi]

After 62 years still working fine

 

[C-Grin]

No, I don't find it to be obtrusive. The "lock" is really just the head of a round-head machine screw, so it doesn't protrude into your hand at all. The rest of the saddle is pretty much like any other of Fender's cast saddles that they've put on their two-point bridges for their Pro and Deluxe series guitars.

Awesome, I have block saddles on a Strat or two and like them. I have been eyeballing these Wilkinson for a while now. I use the trem quite a bit and although it’s not a huge problem I would love not to have to have better tuning stability, I see no downside to something being actually better. And I will not be swapping out saddles on a vintage guitar. My Strats are all millennials or younger