[Silverface]

"But honestly both do the same thing."

Not really.

They both bend the "B" string via the shoulder strap - but that's where the similarity ends. The mechanisms are totally different, and the hubs even pull in different ways. The PW is a more finely-machined and precision-made unit. It also has less tendency to go out of adjustment, and unless you have someone working with you that REALLY knows their way around a Parsons Green they all have a slight "hitch" in the pull where the tension increases near the middle of the throw - it can be really disconcerting and make it difficult to do smooth, slow bends. That being said, IF you have the right installer and IF the unit is set up properly it can be pretty good for the money.

After playing Hishots quite a bit over a two-year period, I have to say they don't feel nearly as smooth or natural *to me* as a PW or even PG-type. Even with extra holes drilled in the end of the guitar and Hipshot to stablize it, it just had a "loose" feel and a very light tension I didn't care for. And with those two holes drilled, your guitar is anything BUT "back to normal" if you remove the unit. Try to sell a drilled '52 reissue or vintage Tele on eBay...those holes will affect the value significantly (maybe not justifiably, but that's the way it is!)

If I stumbled on one again the first thing I'd do is try to develop sometype of "reverse helper" spring to increase the tension a bit. It's something we often do on vintage Fender pedal steels (mainly the 1964 and later short-scale models), where string raises can have a weirdly light feel on the pedal(s). A spring pulling against it gives it a much more solid feel...that's something I think might work for me on a Hipshot. But as far as I'm concerned, the shoulder-strap types feel far more comfortable and natural.

As far as installation in Great Britain, a good luthier should be able to handle the installation, although the major British players I know of all had theirs done stateside. You could check with BrianF about a contact for parts and if there's not yet a local installer you might be able to get one going.