Drilling a body for tremolo install

guyfidelity · November 14th, 2007, 04:13 PM

I'm in the process of building up a strat clone and have found a nice body the only thing is it has not been pre-drilled to accept tremolo installation. So, I was wondering about resources to do it myself. Anyone have any input on the subject? I'll admit that I am a bit intimidated by the prospect of doing it myself as it needs to be done right the first time. Thanks

mustang_steve · November 15th, 2007, 03:40 PM

I am assuming you are talking about a 6-screw "vintage" tremolo.

I highly reccomend you find access to a drill press. You can hand drill it, but unless your drill has a two-dimensional level on the tail end, and you have a very steady hand...there is just too much chance of messing up.

Measure 10 times, cut once...I mean this....no verification measurements....measure fresh each time, and if it's different, ask yourself why and find out why before continuing.

If you do this, then installation should not be too hard.

For a 2-hole modern tremolo, you will need to drill out holes for the studs, then drive the studs in...this can possibly mess up your paint if there is any on it....in this case, be 200% postitive what you are doing, since those mount studs are press-fit.

Strat-Talk · November 15th, 2007, 06:20 PM

You mean it's a Hardtail body and you're trying to modify it for a a Tremolo? Doesn't that mean you have to route out a big cavity on the back of the guitar?

I think you should build a Hardtail Strat on a Hardtail body.

mustang_steve · November 16th, 2007, 03:13 PM

I was under the impression he may have bought one of those bodies that has the cavity, but no screwholes in it (so it can be usable with a variety of tremolo screw spacings, etc).

If it has no trem cavity at all, it's best to just set it up as a hardtail...having to route out that space can be a real pain in the rump for someone that hasn't done any router work before.

guyfidelity · November 21st, 2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang_steve

I was under the impression he may have bought one of those bodies that has the cavity, but no screwholes in it (so it can be usable with a variety of tremolo screw spacings, etc).

If it has no trem cavity at all, it's best to just set it up as a hardtail...having to route out that space can be a real pain in the rump for someone that hasn't done any router work before.

Yes indeed the body is routed. I am looking at a Gotoh VSVG trem - which is vintage spec I'm pretty sure. The body in question does not have the 6 screw holes drilled for attaching it to the body. I have found a local guitar guy that will do it for $50 CAD. The body in question is a decent deal but if I have to tag on another $50 for install it's not so much of a deal.

mustang_steve · November 26th, 2007, 07:29 AM

You can do it, just use a sharpie to mark the spots to drill (I would drop the bridge in and fidget around with it a little to figure out where it should go, then sharpie it through the screwholes), tap those spots with a punch if you think it won't crack the finish (that will dimple the area so the drill bit doesn't skate around), and then drill, making 100% sure you are dead vertical.

The dead vertical part is the hard part...it's very easy to angle a hole, and all that will do is screw up the action of the trem....so measure 10 times drill once.

nightcaster · May 23rd, 2008, 10:58 AM

is to make a drilling jig from good plywood. You can clamp (or hot glue, or doublestick tape) the bridge to a chunk of plywood, and then (preferably w/ a drill press) drill pilot holes using the bridge itself as the template. Your jig will wind up with perfectly spaced, vertical holes, that you can then use to guide your drill bit into the guitar body. You can tape the back of the jig, to avoid scratching the guitar, and work on the guitar on a well padded workbench, rather than trying to balance the body on the table of a drill press. I hope I'm explaining this right.

I guess the gist is this- do your drilling on a piece of scrap, and try installing the bridge on the scrap- when you're very very happy with the pattern of holes, use the scrap to guide your drill on the guitar body- make your mistakes on the scrap. Drill carefully, those skinny little drills can flex even once they're into the wood.