WVS54 MODERN

The WVS54 Modern fuses the original 1954 vibrato element from our vintage authentic Year One series WVS54 vibrato, and the WLS130 locking saddles developed for our WVS1302P vibrato. Together they create a great combination of traditional vintage tone and feel with tuning stability that an original 1954 vibrato could not achieve.

Whether you are looking to build your own Frankenstein style guitar and recreate rock history or upgrade your vintage unit with tone and stability, then the WVS54 Modern is an essential choice.

THE WVS54 ELEMENT

The classic 1954 vibrato design has remained in many ways unchanged from the original design right up to the present day; however like most industries that produce components for mass production, manufacturers have always sought to either streamline a process by utilising different build methods, or substituting
other materials to reduce overall costs and create greater profit.

While many manufacturing processes and new materials have greatly benefited the guitar industry, guitar players and builders are still drawn to and inspired by the classic electric guitars of the 50’s era and the sounds they created. Pickups are one of the most recreated components that are designed to recapture those iconic tones, but pickups are only one part in the puzzle!

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE

The WVS54 is another part of the puzzle, and one that Trev Wilkinson has been determined to create to be as close as possible to the original in both material’s and production methods. “Short cuts were not an option when we started this project”.

Helped greatly in the creation of the WVS54 was the time Trev spent with one of the true legends of the electric guitar, Leo Fender.

As Trev recalls, “I spent a lot of time talking to Leo about his invention, Leo was very open about all the aspects of the vibrato from construction methods to materials used within its build, as you can imagine talking with Leo was an inspiring and wonderful experience for me”.

SUM OF THE PARTS

As in a recreation of a vintage pickup it is the sum of the parts the construction and the individual nuances that ultimate dictates the sound or tone reproduced by the pickup, in this the WVS54 is no different, and while we would love to reveal all the secrets in this bridge, it’s in many ways much more exciting to keep some mysteries just that and, to tell you simply this is as close as it gets to the original, and in this we mean it will perform as the original and sound as the original.

As Trev says;
“The WVS54 is my recreation of the 50’s classic vibrato, combining this unit with our WLS130 saddles to create the WVS54 Modern fuses both elements for amazing tone and superb performance”.

SPECIFICATION

Model WVS54 Modern
Finish Chrome
Block Material Billet Steel
Saddle Material Hardened Steel Alloy
String Spacing 11.27mm (vintage correct)
Arm 10/32 Threaded, Vintage Bent Steel

BACK