Guide to
Modern Tremolo Bridges
A fine selection of more modern style tremolos. Can i say that ALL of these are re-engineered from the vintage tremolo design of Leo Fender? Well. These are offering better, smoother action, better tuning stabilitiy and other technical improvements like arm mounting systems.
6-Screw and 2-Point are presented. Let me know if i should look into other makers.
HIPSHOT
The Hipshot company has been around since 1982. Their tremolo units are easily recognized for their oval saddles. They are the go-to for 7, 8 and 9 strings as well as well as their tuners for many.
Overall, its a design bridge with little to offer on the 6-Screw, Once used to be offered with oval saddles. now standard block saddles. The 2-point is more patent oriented, with two studs to offer stability. Price around $180 and offered in Black, Chrome and Gold.
VEGA-TREM
The Vega tremolo is a very minimal and sleek but undeniably the most flexible of them. Its small size contains it within the borders of the tremolo route itself which means it can not be decked without a trem-stopper. It can be flexed both ways to the more extreme. It features a skeleton block which helps make it more flexible. You can get this for 2-point or 6-screw. Although the 6 Screw only features 4 Screws. The saddles reminds slightly of Hipshots. It also leaves a slight gap at the back in the tremolo route due to its size.
Many people love this tremolo, but it is a costly affair at $300 to get it. Features in chrome, black and Gold, and they make em for lefty´s to. They also made a Telecaster tremolo recently.
SUPER-VEE BLADERUNNER
The Bladerunner is a very nice tremolo that keeps the look of a usual Fender units. I usually see it as the bigger brother of the Vega for some reason, although they are two different companies and tremolo's. Its system is such that it is installed into a elastic metal blade that it pivots on. So no friction to speak off. Creating a nice smooth operation. Other than that its the same basic block and saddles that can be changed out for any other desirable ones. Featured in Chrome, Black and gold. They also have Relic versions and has shown love for lefty payers too. Also for Squiers they offer Shorty blocks versions. The Super-Vee goes for around a tolerable $180. They do offer a $500 dollar locking unit that Floyds your tremolo too.
BABICZ GUITARS
Babicz are more known for their unusual acoustics and their "Spider" patent. But they make high-end tremolo´s too. Their FCH looks futuristic and they are building on the PRS / John Mann system of fenced saddles. Most noteworthy is their eCAM saddles that raise and lowers action with one screw. This also makes the tremolo quite tall in size. They do offer a classic vintage style with their saddles.
$150 for the vintage style and $250 for the modern version. Comes in gold, chrome, nickel and black and covers any mount type and spacing and shows love for Lefty´s too.
MANNMADE
The John Mann bridges is the original offspring of the Fenced Saddle system. By that i mean the saddles are enclosed not to move around because it is machined out like a neck pocket with a"fence of metal" to enclose them in.
John Mann is the inventor of these, and a good friend of Paul Reed Smith of PRS, and it was for his guitars he designed these.
To me, they are just that. A standard 6-screw classic trem with a "fence of metal" around the saddles. Nothing in terms of locking or fancy patented systems to find. They are stable tremolo´s though and since invention, has offered this to all styles of guitars. Although he has retained the Key-hole saddles to be a PRS featured product only. All others tremolo models features Block saddles. Mannmade retails for $250 each no matter model
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Wilkinson has many bridges to select from. Their most famous one is the VS100 bridge which i myself once owned. But they offer a great deal of models to choose from.
Now "Wilkinson Direct" must not be mistaken from the cheap asian bridges you see for $30. The products from their WilkinsonDirect site is a whole different class and price level and are better machined.
They also have had a long collaboration with Gotoh to make their bridges as well. These are simply labeled "Wilkinson by Gotoh" stamped on their bridges. These are all good stuff. Stable and well machined bridges.
WILKINSON DIRECT
SCHALLER
Schaller has a long collaboration rep with Fender. The Standard tuners you find on their guitars today is originally designed by them. For Tremolo's, they actually call these their "Vintage line". But with block saddles and screw-on arms i refuse to say that it is. Their Block saddles are marvelous with rollerball on it for smoother action. A well machined tremolo.
Schaller are more focused on Floyd Rose units which they sell more off but these units are great bridges. One cool thing they offer is length on their blocks. Which is unusual. If you struggle with Sustain, changing the block length can help or if you want these on a Squier.
They offer nothing for 6-screws but offer up to 5 different finishes on these.
Price is $160 which i believe are OK for what you get.