Question Anyone have experience with the older style Wilkinson Trems??

[TonyEVH5150]

I'm giving some thought to the Purple Silo Special on eBay

Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special-EX- Early Model - eBay (item 130288001134 end time Feb-20-09 07:32:18 PST)

I've never used one of the older Wilkinson trems. Based on your experience, how good are they?

Also, has anyone ever replaced one with the newer EBMM vintage trem? Any issues with that (other than the bridge posts)?

 

[wolfbone07]

I've owned an AL and a Silhouette Special with the Wilkinson trem. I liked it both times. It stayed in tune quite well for me. Good luck with the auction.

 

[DrGonzo5150]

They are good...
In my opinion/experience, not quite as good as the new ones... But still good

Only issue I had: I wanted to replace the saddles at one point and couldn't find a readily available replacements/substitutes here in Aus, not saying they don't exist or anything, just didn't see any in my travels. They are quite different to the current ones.

Besides that Great axe... I miss mine a bit.

let us know how you go

 

[kneeoh]

My SS is almost identical to the one you're thinking of picking up. The Wilkinson is a pretty good trem...stays in tune pretty well, though I prefer the EBMM trem overall. I did send mine to EBMM CS for a refit of the saddles on mine cuz they were pretty corroded... CS is THE BEST btw! Dan MacPherson (5Stringer) also upgraded the locking tuners to the current ones cuz the original ones are kind of a pain to use. As a side note, my SS is labeled as a Silhouette (no Special designation)...apparently the first run SS's are like that.

 

[guertzi]

When I had an EC Signature Str*t, I installed the Wilkinson right away, because as opposed to Mr Slowhand, I like to use the vibrato a lot.

I think it is one of the best you can get, it stays in tune really well, sounds good and I would prefer it over a vintage trem anytime!

One of the really cool features is the shape of the bridges: they don't have any sharp edges or screws sticking out but still sound really vintage. Plus you don't need to screw in the vibrato bar, you just stick it in the vibrato block and use a small screw to fasten it.
There must have been a reason why BP decided to use it on EBMM guitars for a while!