Hand drilling 6 Screw Strat Tremolo Bridge (Another bridge question)

[peAk]

Its me and I am back with another bridge question.

This is about a 6 screw vintage strat tremolo. My first late 80s strat had a hideous Kahler tremolo on it that I pretty much hated through the years. I recently removed the Kahler bridge and tried adding a 2 post Fender tremolo which I ended up hating as well. I finally just came to the conclusion that I just hate floating trems. I know you can block them but I don't want to do that either.

So that brings me to my question. I am going to plug up the two holes from the previous bridge and go to a 6 screw bridge which I already know I like cause I have Strats with this style of bridge. The problem is, my drill press isn't large enough to drill these new bridge holes. I wanted to see if anyone of you have had success drilling these by hand and how you went about it. I can drill a fixture on my drill press first and use that as a guide, I suppose. I am not worrying about getting the holes aligned because I have done enough of that with the pedal and synth stuff on our enclosures. I am more worried about drilling perpendicular to the body.

This Strat has sentimental value to me because it was my first guitar but it's beat to hell. So I am not trying to go about this the cleanest way possible.

Anyway, thoughts?

[woolie]

It is dead simple to drill those 6 holes for the 6 screw bridge. They don't need to be exact at all.


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[matmosphere]

These work surprisingly well

https://www.rockler.com/big-gator-v-drill-guide-standard?sid=V9146?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhMyjoOXQ4gIVmoTICh2LyAFsEAQYBiABEgKfXvD_BwE

[Muadzin]

Yeah, you really need something to steady that drill in the absence of a drill press. And if you do have a drill press you need one that's adjustable in both height and width. Because 99% of the commercially available drill presses out there won't allow you to reach certain places on a guitar's body, as they only do height. And some of the places where you want to drill for tremelo studs are out of reach. Depending on the body type of course.

[peAk]

These work surprisingly well

https://www.rockler.com/big-gator-v-drill-guide-standard?sid=V9146?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhMyjoOXQ4gIVmoTICh2LyAFsEAQYBiABEgKfXvD_BwE

you sir, had the winning answer for the tele bridge (Wilkinson) as well as this tool. I bought the smaller one (needed a 3/32 guide ) obviously but it worked perfect. I now have my Strat set up perfect with the new bridge!

These work surprising well to get started. No real need for a center punch when using them https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000TZX1M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I owe you a beer, or two now!