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I got a Fender Am. Standard strat. with the tremolo unit that has two posts, instead of the 6 screws. I would like to put a on Schaller unit instead (or a Floyd Rose if this is easier). I would not have it recessed if that makes any difference.

Would this be possible? Or will the holes of the original unit get in the way?

What you want to do is going to mean rebuilding the whole guitar...... And since the American Standard model is not meant for a Floyd it will be a huge undertaking to get it to fit. My best advise is to buy warmoth parts that are meant to fit a floyd bridge and make a guitar that will work great!

If you were really wanting to add a floyd to an American standard strat without the ressed rout it is not easy. You would have to find a Floyd with a TALL block.... Ressed Floyds have a shorter Block as they sit inside the guitar more. First you should plug the old trem holes.... Then try and find out where to drill the new holes for the floyd Bridge... Then you have to rout out the nut area for a floyd. Then the 2 main reasons i can think of more than anything Not to add a Floyd to that guitar is 1/-you will have to really shim the neck as the floyd sitting on top of the body will raise the strings up really high...... 2-You will have to do a major fret dress as the floyds are meant for a slightly flater radius.....

In the end you will have a guitar that is worthless to resell, been hacked apart to fit parts it was not meant to have, I could see adding a ressed Floyd if the guitar needs fret work and you don't mind touching up the paint afterwards.... But your best bet is to get a body and a neck that was made to fit a Floyd..... or better yet buy an older Charvel/Jackson.... They are good for the money!

WhoFan

Whatever. Ignore the fret dress (shim the saddles instead) and the whole recessed issue (my Kramer came with a non recessed, and my recessed Warmoth Floats above the body). The big issue is whether or not the posts will line up. After that, it's the nut, but you could go with a graphite nut and locking tuners.


Originally Posted by MattPeteWhatever. Ignore the fret dress (shim the saddles instead) and the whole recessed issue (my Kramer came with a non recessed, and my recessed Warmoth Floats above the body). The big issue is whether or not the posts will line up. After that, it's the nut, but you could go with a graphite nut and locking tuners.

Wouldn't a Graphite nut and Locking tuners instead of a Floyd be a much better way to go then to mod an American Standard strat, with holes and a huge shim to angle the neck for a top mounted Floyd? Kramers and your Warmoth sound like they came from the factories designed for a Floyd bridge. If a player wants a floyd it is almost always better to design a guitar around a FRO.. not make some stock guitars fit a floyd.

I know you can shim the saddles on a Floyd but you can't do much about the radius of the locking nut..... I have always figured if you have to shim a saddle the neck is not set up right for a Floyd...

WhoFan

The Wilkinson VS-100 is a drop in replacement for an AM Std. Strat 2-point trem. That trem, together with a good nut and locking tuners, and your problems should be solved


Originally Posted by ZerberusThe Wilkinson VS-100 is a drop in replacement for an AM Std. Strat 2-point trem. That trem, together with a good nut and locking tuners, and your problems should be solved

I dont have any trouble with the one that is on there at the moment either. I just want a locking trem like a Floyd or a Schaller. The guitar is already beat up, so i really dont care what it would look like, as long as it would not compromise the functions of the guitar. But if it as much trouble as mentioned above, I'll just get a new guitar with a locking trem.

The Wilkinson trem would be a good option, though. Would it really fit right on?

Yes, it was designed as a direct retrofit from the ground up, I´ve done that swap many times


Originally Posted by ZerberusYes, it was designed as a direct retrofit from the ground up, I´ve done that swap many times

Thanks for the info Zerberus. I didnt know that.

I had a Shaller Floyd installed into my 1998 MIA Strat. Im not sure if the guy that installed it dowelled the holes and re-drilled the body or if he located the new bushing hole over the old ones but it is a seemless install so the old bushing holes do not create any problems.

I went with an LSR roller nut and Sperzal locking tuners. I have had little luck with graphite or composite nuts not hanging up to some degree or another and I can't stand a guitar that floats in and out of tune. I really wasn't in the mood for a locking nut on that guitar. I have locking nut floyd loaded guitars and they are fine but I wanted something a little easier to string on the fly.

I also had the body/trem recessed. Its about a 1/2quot; cut below the bridge tail.

It's an extremely stable guitar.