Anyone got any experience with Wilkinson USA Multi-Adjustable Bass Bridges?

[binky_bass]

Bought a Cort A6 from eBay the other day, it has a single non-original bridge saddle... I was looking for a Hipshot replacement but with shipping they are not cheap! So, scouring eBay I found a Wilkinson USA Multi-Adjustable Bass Bridge that I got for a mere £20. Seems like a good deal...

 

It looks robust, from the late 80's I believe? Anyone got any experience with these? Are they decent? Have I just thrown away £20? 

 

[Hellzero]

Yes, yes, yes and no.

[kodiakblair]

9 hours ago, binky_bass said:

Are they decent?

Peavey's B-Quad was most technically advanced bass they ever built. They went OTT with electronic, designed new pickups for it, bought the necks from Modulus.

Had a $2k price tag and that was 30 years ago.

 

B-Quads, both 4 and 5 string models, were fitted with the Wilkinson bridge.

 

£20 !!!

 

You won a watch 😎

[Gizmo]

Super Bridge units, the ability to alter the spacing without any grooves/inserts getting in the way is one of it's best features (but if you don't get on with it gives a shout )

 

Here one on my B-Quad (i have a spare 4 unit kicking around which i think im going to throw on a B-Quad all wood fretless "tribute" build later in the year)

 

[binky_bass]

It arrived this afternoon. It's immaculate, unused, boxed with original screws, Allan keys and instructions. Might donate it to a museum! 😆

[Hellzero]

Donate? 🤔😂

 

The Allen keys may belong to Allan, so they can be Allan's Allen keys... 😉

[itu]

That bridge is very flexible and technical: if you want you can use only two saddles. But what I didn't like was the adjustments. Take care of the Allen keys, any mismatch with sizes may result in a worn screw. I am pretty sure that the parts are not metric. 

 

The plate is aluminium. It is relatively soft. Tighten the sideway adjustment screws only after you have found exact places for individual saddles. 

 

Strings can be put to two different slots. String angle and length are different, if that helps. 

 

I messed with one bass' bridge position, and had to remove springs. One of those strange screws on top of the saddles anchor the intonation adjustments. 

 

All in all the bridge is functional and very flexible, but not my favourite. Nowadays I like Hipshot A style bridge better (19 mm, top loader, no sharp corners). 

[binky_bass]

Well, it's all now pointless as the screw holes on the Cort A6 don't quite align with the holes on this bridge, so I can't use it as I'm not willing to re-drill the Cort. The holes are far enough apart to not fit, but close enough that re-drilling would just widen the existing holes...

 

So, anyone want a bridge! 😆

[Hellzero]

Over troubled water?

[itu]

The plate can be easily drilled... 

[BigRedX]

Or the old holes in the body of the bass filled and new pilot holes for the screws made in the right place.

 

Quite why anyone would assume one piece of hardware is going to have the fixing holes in exactly the same place as the item it is replacing when they are of different designs is beyond me.

[binky_bass]

15 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Or the old holes in the body of the bass filled and new pilot holes for the screws made in the right place.

 

Quite why anyone would assume one piece of hardware is going to have the fixing holes in exactly the same place as the item it is replacing when they are of different designs is beyond me.

Because it was cheap, the bass in question hadn't arrived and I took a punt. 100% my risk to take. At £20 for the bridge, I'd happily take a similar punt in a similar scenario. I'm not going to loose money or sleep over it! 

[binky_bass]

1 hour ago, itu said:

The plate can be easily drilled... 

Honestly, its not worth the effort! The odd saddle on the A6 works fine, just looks mildly out of place. I may replace it at some point, but doing anything to alter either the bass or the bridge isn't worth it. To me. 

[Gizmo]

5 hours ago, binky_bass said:

Well, it's all now pointless as the screw holes on the Cort A6 don't quite align with the holes on this bridge, so I can't use it as I'm not willing to re-drill the Cort. The holes are far enough apart to not fit, but close enough that re-drilling would just widen the existing holes...

 

So, anyone want a bridge! 😆

 

it was worth a shot id say, I saw the cort in question on the bay but id just bought a sire z7 5 so it was off the shopping list  

 

Guyker like ripping off HS hardware, might be worth seeing if they have something with the same layout mount spacing ?

 

 

 

I'll take the 6 Wilko bridge (i can use it on my 5 build) if you want the £20 & a few quid postage back for it? just fire me a message.

 

[binky_bass]

1 hour ago, Gizmo said:

 

it was worth a shot id say, I saw the cort in question on the bay but id just bought a sire z7 5 so it was off the shopping list  

 

Guyker like ripping off HS hardware, might be worth seeing if they have something with the same layout mount spacing ?

 

 

 

I'll take the 6 Wilko bridge (i can use it on my 5 build) if you want the £20 & a few quid postage back for it? just fire me a message.

 

They don't have any suitable 6 string bridges (barely any...) and don't seem to sell individual saddles for bass. 

 

Let me think about the Wilko bridge, I have no real use for it, so you'll probably get a message later on! It may as well go to use and not get lost in the doom-void that is my parts box.