Here’s a healthy tip for anyone who is thinking about replacing a guitar’s vibrato bridge: before you start, for your own sake check the dimensions of the trem block, string spacing and positions of bolt/screw holes. Not all companies’ parts are made to the same specs which I’m sure is obvious but even bridges made by the same company can vary. That’s right: my “All Fender’s parts are standard size and shape, from guitar necks to cutlery in the factory canteen” assumption was a bit optimistic. It’s a simple enough design but they can’t resist making variations on the theme…

The positions of the six screws that hold the bridge plate in place on my Squier Strat are actually a tiny bit closer together than the replacement, which I’m guessing is made to fit the bona fide Fender instruments. This made fitting the bridge plate a nerve-wracking experience, which I hope won’t affect the sound or tuning stability; fortunately everything else went (more or less) JUST AS PLANNED but it’s something I’m quite annoyed at myself about.