Strat tremolo spacing: 2-7/32 vs 2-1/16 inch, and 2-point vs 6-screw
Strat tremolos all look alike from a few feet away, which is exactly why people buy the wrong one. Two measurements decide whether a replacement bolts straight in: how the bridge mounts to the body, and how far apart the strings sit. Fender have used both vintage and modern figures for each, and they mix them more than you'd expect.
The two numbers that matter
- 2-7/32" (about 56.4mm): the vintage figure. Fender use it for the spacing of the mounting screws or posts, and on its American Vintage series bridges for the strings too.
- 2-1/16" (about 52.4mm): the modern string spacing, measured from the centre of the low E to the centre of the high E at the saddles.
You'll also see these rounded to 56mm and 52mm, for example on Callaham's compatibility chart. They're the same two figures.
2-point or 6-screw?
Look at the front edge of the bridge plate, the side nearest the pickups.
- Six small screws in a row: a vintage-style 6-screw bridge. It pivots on all six screws.
- Two large studs, one at each end: a 2-point bridge. It pivots on two posts set into the body.
Fender's spec pages say which one a guitar has. The American Vintage II '57 Stratocaster is listed with a 6-screw vintage-style tremolo, and the American Professional II Stratocaster with a 2-point one. Swapping between the two types means filling holes and drilling new ones, so it's a job for a tech.
Vintage-style doesn't mean vintage spacing
This is the trap. A bridge that looks vintage, with six screws and bent steel saddles, can still have modern string spacing. Fender's own replacement bridges show the combinations:
| Fender assembly | Mounting | Mounting spacing | String spacing | Fender say it's for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Vintage Series Strat Tremolo (0992049000) | 6-screw | 2-7/32" | 2-7/32" | American Vintage series Strats |
| Vintage/Narrow Strat Tremolo (0992070000) | 6-screw | 2-7/32" | 2-1/16" | Any Strat routed for a 6-screw vintage trem with 2-7/32" mounting spacing |
| American Professional Strat Bridge Assembly | 2-point | 2-7/32" | 2-1/16" | Most American Professional and American Standard Strats from 2008 on |
| Deluxe Series 2-Point Tremolo (0992079000) | 2-point | 2-7/32" | 2-1/16" | Most Player, Deluxe, Classic Player and Vintera Modified Strats |
The Vintage/Narrow row is the one that catches people out. Fender describe it as vintage mounting with modern string spacing, which leaves a little more room between the E strings and the edges of the neck. The American Performer Stratocaster is a real example: its service manual lists a "Vintage Narrow" bridge (part 0072290000), and retailers selling 0992070000 list it as the American Performer's bridge. So it has six screws like a vintage Strat, but modern string spacing.
The Player Stratocaster is a modern 2-point: Fender's parts layout lists a 2-point tremolo, and Fender's Deluxe Series 2-point assembly, made for most Player Strats, has 2-7/32" post spacing and 2-1/16" string spacing, the same figures as the American Professional one.
And 6-screw doesn't always mean 2-7/32"
Not every 6-screw bridge uses the vintage mounting spacing. Callaham's compatibility chart lists Mexican Standard Strats and Squier's Classic Vibe range with a 6-screw bridge at 2-1/16" for both mounting and strings. A bridge drilled for 2-7/32" won't line up with those screw holes. Callaham don't say which Classic Vibe models or years they mean, so measure yours rather than assuming.
How to measure your own
- Mounting spacing: on a 6-screw bridge, measure from the centre of the first screw to the centre of the last. On a 2-point, measure centre to centre between the two studs. Around 56mm is the 2-7/32" figure, around 52mm is 2-1/16".
- String spacing: measure from the centre of the low E to the centre of the high E where they cross the saddles. Again, around 56mm is vintage and around 52mm is modern.
- Write both numbers down. You need a replacement that matches on both, plus the same mounting type.
Some aftermarket bridges use other figures. Gotoh's standard 510 tremolos, for example, have 54mm string spacing and their NS models 52.5mm. Our guide to reading Gotoh 510 model names explains which is which.
Before you buy
- Mounting type and spacing must match, or you're filling and drilling the body.
- String spacing should match what you have now, or the outer strings sit closer to, or further from, the fingerboard edges than they do now.
- Check the block and cavity. A deeper block can hit the back of the trem cavity, so compare the block height with your current one.
Not sure what your Strat has? Find your guitar to see the bridge details and tremolos we've matched to it, or get in touch.