A model name is not a spec. Whether a replacement tremolo drops in comes down to four measurements: post spacing (centre to centre), stud diameter, block depth against your body thickness, and string spacing at the saddles. Measure them before you shop — the same guitar model can change all four between years, factories and markets.
- Gate 1Post spacing
- Gate 2Stud diameter
- Gate 3Block depth
- Gate 4String spacing
"Will this fit my guitar?" is the question we answer most, and the honest answer is that the headstock tells you almost nothing. Fit is decided by measurements. Here they are, in the order they disqualify a part.
Post spacing is the first gate
Measure centre to centre between the two bridge posts. If that doesn't match, nothing else matters — you're into plugging and re-drilling the body, which is a repair, not an upgrade.
Stud diameter and insert type
Posts thread into inserts pressed into the body, and manufacturers use different diameters and thread pitches. A bridge whose posts don't match your inserts needs new inserts pressed in. Doable — but bench work, not a drop-in.
Block depth against body thickness
The sustain block hangs into a routed cavity. Too long for a thin body and it bottoms out before you finish a dive. Blocks come in different lengths, and swapping one is often cheaper than swapping the bridge.
String spacing at the saddles
Saddle-to-saddle spacing has to suit your neck width and string alignment. Close-but-wrong puts the outer strings near the fretboard edge, and they'll slip off under bends.
Original, Special, licensed — what actually differs
Past the branding, the difference that matters is materials and hardening. Softer baseplates and knife edges round off faster, and a rounded knife edge is what stops a trem returning to pitch. That's the real cost difference, and it shows up in year three.
FAQ
What if I can't find my guitar's specs?
Send us the brand, model and year. If the year is ambiguous we'll tell you which single measurement to take to settle it.
Can I fit a Floyd to a hardtail guitar?
Only with routing — a tremolo needs a cavity and post holes the guitar doesn't have. That's a luthier job, not a parts swap.
Do I need a locking nut too?
For a double-locking system, yes — and it has to match your neck's nut width and radius, or it will buzz.
Is a bigger sustain block an upgrade?
It changes feel and resonance, but only if it physically clears your cavity. Measure depth first.
Send us your guitar and we'll confirm the fit.
Ask before you buy