A word about the new Wilkinson bridges

[3rdworlder]

I got a lovely standard white MiM from 2006. My previous Tele was a 50s Road Worn. Anyway, I absolutely fell in love with the whitey guitar, except for that looong and ugly modern six-saddle bridge. I immediately got a vintage type as a replacement. In the past I used Wilkinson bridges on Squier teles without any issues. So I got another one for the MiM. I was curious about the "by Sung-Li" under the Wilkinson logo. Didn't care much, then decided against the intonated side of the saddles and turned them over for the looks. I thought "Well, The Hag nor Tito Jackson ever needed intonated saddles why should I care" Lol. ANYWAY, I've been using it without any problems but it's been bugging me the fact that it is SO darn thin! Recently I took a used one off of a cheap Vintage V20 Telecaster (which as far as I understand was also made by Wilkinson) and side by side it happens to be much thicker. I would just call it "regular" dimensions. So I got a set of vintage saddles for it and now waiting for them to arrive to change the one I am using on my Telecaster nowadays.

Anybody looking for optional bridges for your guitar, check these comparison pictures to see what you're buying if choosing the new bridges made by Wilkinson.

Y'all have a good Friday!

 

[Antoon]

I would consider the availability of a particularly thin Tele bridge a big plus. Thin has sonic advantages to some players and there is plenty supply of thick(er) bridge plates.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

I’m not a fan of Wilkinson bridges anymore. I prefer the ones made by Philadelphia Luthier Tools.

 

[Peegoo]

It's no thinner than the Fender bridges from the 1950s, and it's made better than what comes on most Fender Teles today.

 

[unixfish]

You don't want grooved or compensated saddles? I don't get that, but to each their own.

 

[DanteNHK]

I have this same bridge on one of my teles. It's been there since the guitar was builded (2019).Nothing to complain about. Great and with a fair price.

I don't really understand how Wilkinson's business works, but it is by Gotoh, Sung Il would be from Korea. I think there is also a Chinese versions from Muscilily.

 

[archetype]

I would consider the availability of a particularly thin Tele bridge a big plus. Thin has sonic advantages to some players and there is plenty supply of thick(er) bridge plates.

This. IMO the thin stamped steel bridge plate is an essential ingredient in the Tele tone recipe.

The new Wilkenson looks the same as OEM Fender plates.

 

[ben smith]

I'm taking the wilkinson bridge off my tele, I just don't want my bridge to say wilkinson on it. Not snobby, I just think the base of them is plated pot metal garbage. It scuffs up easy showing a purple type metal underneath. I wanted to be more elaborate than that, but I really spaced out...

 

[boris bubbanov]

Not sure what Sung Il does that's different than the others, but if you like to flatter the underside of the plate (sand it down smooth) you're likely to have corrosion problems - one of mine even began delaminating.

I like an AV52 style plate from Fender, and some Fender compensated saddles. Only if it doesn't gel, do I install one of the premium products like Marc Rutters or Bill Callaham.

 

[gwjensen]

Not sure what Sung Il does that's different than the others, but if you like to flatter the underside of the plate (sand it down smooth) you're likely to have corrosion problems - one of mine even began delaminating.

I like an AV52 style plate from Fender, and some Fender compensated saddles. Only if it doesn't gel, do I install one of the premium products like Marc Rutters or Bill Callaham.

I went through some saddle recently from Callaham, PL, MCB, Fender RSD, and settled on the Fender's plain barrel compensated saddles... Good tone, good intonation, and I like the clean look of the plain barrels.

Interesting that the Callahams work great on another Tele with a Callaham bridge, but flat out didn't like them at all with the Fender bridge... Worst of the bunch with the Fender bridge plate...

 

[fender4life]

I went through some saddle recently from Callaham, PL, MCB, Fender RSD, and settled on the Fender's plain barrel compensated saddles... Good tone, good intonation, and I like the clean look of the plain barrels.

Interesting that the Callahams work great on another Tele with a Callaham bridge, but flat out didn't like them at all with the Fender bridge... Worst of the bunch with the Fender bridge plate...

I always seem to come back to fender AVRI plate and fender brass. (compensated) Something about the tone is just better then anything i've tried and I've done a ridiculous amount of A/B'ing tele bridge and saddles. I have a set of callaham brass that has never sounded quite right and now u have me wondering if its because they chose the particular alloy for it's tone WITH the callaham plate. Makes total sense. But the fender saddles on a fender plate just sound more balanced and right than anything else to me.

 

[arlum]

Wilkinson Telecaster bridges are still the default for multiple boutique guitar builders. These folks tend to take the quality of guitar parts seriously. Callaham does seem to be considered an upgrade. I understand why guitarists consider the the tone produced by a Callaham bridge being better but they're also noticeably heavier. Much heavier. If they were priced the same as a Wilkinson I'd probably choose the Callaham in spite of the weight difference but that's not the case. Two of my three T-style guitars have Wilkinson bridges and I'm more than happy with their tone.

 

[dollycaster]

My only takeaway is that the newer bridge plate looks higher-quality: flatter, nicer plating. Would be interesting to see it side by side with a Fender, but I see someone else commented it’s the same thickness.

 

[3rdworlder]

My only takeaway is that the newer bridge plate looks higher-quality: flatter, nicer plating. Would be interesting to see it side by side with a Fender, but I see someone else commented it’s the same thickness.

No. Compared with the one in the 50s Fender Road Worn, it is way thinner. The Fender is much more like the vintage one on the left in the picture. Also, the Wilkinson bridge is actually new, therefore the looks. The v20 one is old. This Wilkinson bridge looks fantastic anyway you look at it. But it is almost as if it was made out of coffee can-incredibly thin.

 

[Gary in Boston]

It's already been said but.... thin bridge plates are better for that Tele sound. I have an older (15+ years ) Wilkinson and its' worked so well that I don't want to mess around with changing things.

 

[Jazzy-Will]

Trying to understand the problem with the original bridge.

 

[3rdworlder]

Trying to understand the problem with the original bridge.

Aesthetics.

 

[Git Mohair]

Not all "Wilkinson" stuff is the same quality. Some's great, some not so (at all).

 

[3rdworlder]

Not all "Wilkinson" stuff is the same quality. Some's great, some not so (at all).

That seems to be a fact.

 

[PakalaHawaii]

I like collecting knives made all over the world. I've noticed that the type of steel used in the blade varies greatly in classifications. Examples are Bohler M390MK, 440A, D2, etc. The type of steel used may have a significant effect on its resonance and, therefore the sound.