Squier Mustang Bridge

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 4:49 pm

Hi I simply cannot resist getting a squier mustang for only $246.60 from now till dec 31st.
Should I be worried about the bridge that comes on them? Ive got TEH KURDTZ mustang with adjust-o-matic; is the regular style mustang bridge anything to worry about? I'll probably lock the trem like I did to the Kurdtz.

If the regular mustang bridge sucks, can I order a standard tune-o-matic bridge for it? Will it fit? Or do I need to jump through a bunch of hoops. Any tuning stability/intonation issues or anything I should worry about with the regular bridge?
Someone who knows please explain, thank you much.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 4:52 pm

$246? where?

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:01 pm

Theyre 299, fender has the $25 off sale till dec 31st, and musiciansfriend gives you 10% off anything $249+, so that means 246.60

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:29 pm

Cymbaline wrote:Theyre 299, fender has the $25 off sale till dec 31st, and musiciansfriend gives you 10% off anything $249+, so that means 246.60

Doesn't apply to Fender.. just tried it

Mack93 · Post by **Mack93** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:14 pm

mkt3000 wrote:
Cymbaline wrote:Theyre 299, fender has the $25 off sale till dec 31st, and musiciansfriend gives you 10% off anything $249+, so that means 246.60
Doesn't apply to Fender.. just tried it

+1

Still not a bad deal though. I ordered last weekend and it should come any day now.

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:18 pm

ANYWAY:

Anyone: can I swap the old-style mustang bridge out for a tune-o-matic? Or would I have to drill new holes, get an entirely new trem plate, etc.

bradzeera · Post by **bradzeera** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:23 pm

The only way you wouldn't have to drill new holes (but really it will be better if you do) would be if you put in a 4mm post TOM, you can alway put electrical tape around the post to make it fit.

gofive · Post by **gofive** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:24 pm

mkt3000 wrote:
Cymbaline wrote:Theyre 299, fender has the $25 off sale till dec 31st, and musiciansfriend gives you 10% off anything $249+, so that means 246.60
Doesn't apply to Fender.. just tried it

Go to guitar center directly and they'll give it to you for $250 if you ask. They'll probably have to order it since I've never actually seen one of these in stock anywhere.

It's what I recently did. Of course, I didn't end up actually getting the guitar I order. Got something way way way better.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:14 pm

Yeh, I've heard this a few times before if you push GC they will come through if you go in person. They may have em in stock, my GC has kept up with the Jags and JM line up...

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 6:14 pm

If I put good and fat strings on this Mustang with its infamous bridge, should the lil devil stay in tune? I mean some people are saying the mofo is totally out of whack within 10 minutes.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:26 pm

madmike did a great youtube video of setting up the tremolo, look it up. With a proper set up it's possible, I can't speak for the quality of the Squier tremolo and tuners though.

Basically, pull and stretch the strings when you install them to get all the slack out of them, lube the nut and bridge saddle with graphite and adjust the springs on the tremolo. madmike was a madman with his tremolo

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:43 pm

Right, Ive already been through that routine and I want to lock the trem anyway, I'm just hoping the standard mustang bridge, after the trem is locked, is not vastly inferior to the tune-o-matic.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:20 pm

The Mustang bridge has never been that bad.

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:39 pm

Well, I'm gonna have my Duo-Sonic set up with a 6-saddle musicmaster string-thru-body bridge. I currently have the permanently intonated 3-saddle compensated setup on it, which is impeccable for standard tuning, but the reason I got it was to have a guitar for alternate tunings. So I guess for now I'll spend $80 on having the Duo-sonic modified rather than buying one of the squier mustangs.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:49 pm

Infamous Mustang bridge? I've always seen it as an improvement over stock Jag/Jazz bridges with their multiple grooves. The Mustang bridge is solid and the strings stay in their grooves just fine. Even with the radius difference, it's ideal in my Bigsby'd Telecaster, way better than the Jag/Jazz-esque bridge that came with the B5 kit.

However, it really comes down to the setup. I wouldn't try to address a problem you don't know exists yet.

BoringPostcards · Post by **BoringPostcards** » Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:46 pm

the bridge on the Squier mustang is not a standard mustang bridge. It has much smaller saddles and they have height adjustment screws in them. Why they did this I have no idea.

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:15 pm

Probably the same reason they gave the Squier Duo-Sonic a bridge that cannot be interchanged with a better one without drilling new holes in the guitar.
INFINITE WISDUMB

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Dec 07, 2012 11:54 pm

ZenJenga wrote:the bridge on the Squier mustang is not a standard mustang bridge. It has much smaller saddles and they have height adjustment screws in them. Why they did this I have no idea.

Neck has different radius.

xrleroyx · Post by **xrleroyx** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:57 am

I straight up hated my VM 'Stang bridge/trem. It's the reason I sold mine. The arm was stuck in, no matter what I did it wouldn't come out.

It kept slipping in and out as well.

Maybe mine was just a dud, but that's my experience.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 6:47 am

honeyiscool wrote:
ZenJenga wrote:the bridge on the Squier mustang is not a standard mustang bridge. It has much smaller saddles and they have height adjustment screws in them. Why they did this I have no idea.
Neck has different radius.

Yeah it's the off-brand bridge they used on the MIM Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster, and for the same reason (9.5" radius). It's usuable, but it's also probably the worst bridge offered on an official Mustang. Heavier strings might cause new problems like the height screws slipping Ã la RI Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridges.

A Warmoth modified Mustang bridge would be nice but whether or not it's worth going to one of those over the stock unit I doubt.
An import style large post TOM (like on Epis) would drop into the Stang cups directly but would not be height adjustable and probably too high to begin with, so you'd have to shim the neck. This will make it way less Mustangy as well, if you already have teh Kurdtz model I don't see the point of doing the same thing to a more vintage-spec one, viva variety, embrace the plink, etc...