Mustang Trem Mods - Tuning Stability

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:27 am

Dice wrote:The wrap under on my tailpiece isn't 100% "tight" against the bar where the strings come through the bar. I pulled them as tight as I could when I strung it, but am assuming that it takes a couple of days for the strings to fully settle?

the string ends should sit more snugly around the bar once they're stretched in properly.

also, i seem to remember you posting something elsewhere about the selector switches getting in the way on your mustang- have a look at this thread james posted, you might find it quite helpful:

http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20102

Dice · Post by **Dice** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:34 pm

Thanks a lot Stewart - that switch mod is a great idea - I'm sure that I'll be doing it in the very near future. I appreciate the link.

Dice · Post by **Dice** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:16 pm

Well, I went ahead and did the stop tail mod. 1/4" x 28 thread bolts - a couple of washers under the stop bar, with the strings wrapping under. I did verify that there isn't enough break angle if fed from the back, unfortunately. I also lowered the neck switch, as that was the one getting in my way - and it is the one that I'm concerned with turning off - as it is the only one I use.

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate the tips.

Dice · Post by **Dice** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:35 pm

iCEByTes · Post by **iCEByTes** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:57 am

get Mad-Mike bible about setting mustang bridge

and never more will goes out tune

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:49 am

hotrodperlmutter wrote:anyone have pics? or are we supposed to imagine it? i guess it's not hard, but i'm american a visual learner.

Ask and you shall recieve. SRB is right, it's my Jag-Stang. I'm actually shipping it to a guy in Florida tomorrow though. It's getting traded for a Martin DX1 with a flight case.

Josh wrote:I thought he had a stoptail and re added the mustang tailpiece?

At one point the trem routes were filled and it was mounted on the body. Now they are no longer filled and it is mounted on an altered Mustang bridge plate(new holes drilled in it because the mounting posts for the stop bar tailpiece are farther apart than the posts for a stock Mustang tailpiece). There's a little filler left in the routes but there is enough space to drop a Mustang trem right in should the new owner want to.

Edited for extra pics.

Dice · Post by **Dice** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:38 pm

Thanks Ice - I'll look in to it (I'm sure I'll have more Mustangs in the future).

Richard - that looks great! If mine wasn't a vintage piece, I would have thought about going that route.

Anyways, everything is stable, I'm liking the hard tail mod - and it has even been kid tested:

Official verdict? He likes it.

This guitar is currently in the care of my luthier, getting a fret level and nut work (along w/ a setup) done.

Ty · Post by Ty » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:07 am

That mustang looks huge compared to that kid! Are you gonna flip the tail piece around so you don't have to feed the strings under?
(I read the thread and saw nothing about that being said, so sorry just in case it has been)

Dice · Post by **Dice** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:39 am

There isn't enough break angle over the saddles w/ the TP reversed - gotta do the wrap under...

My son tests all of my guitars - even the big ones!

Ty · Post by Ty » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:18 am

Weird I have my tailpiece flipped, it's also propped up a little. I have no trem springs attached, this is just what happened when I tuned the strings.

► Show Spoiler

Is your son following in your footsteps of guitar playing?

Dice · Post by **Dice** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:18 am

Jordan plays my guitars, whether I let him or not! I try and keep the Gibsons locked up cases all the time, since they're more prone to breaking. The Fenders are tough. He does have his own guitars (an acoustic, and a Les Paul "PeeWee") - but he does occasionally decide to play one of the Fenders. He just strums along. I usually tune his guitars to an open chord so that it isn't so painful to listen to!

As for your setup - you're looking dangerously close to not having enough break angle over your saddles. If you're using heavy attack, you never lose strings out of the saddle slots? What gauge are you using? That is a common problem on Jaguars as well (mine was bad, for sure - I added a Buzzstop and fixed the problem. Some people rag on Buzzstops, but they're either playing like pussies or using insanely heavy strings - my 11's w/ the Buzzstop are a winning combo!). I had the same problem on my Les Pauls as well when I "top wrapped" over the tailpiece. That is another "forum fad" that is overhyped and one which doesn't work out for me at all (again, losing strings from saddle slots - not enough break angle over the saddles).

As a side note, I have major GAS at the moment for a 24" pre-68 MusicMaster... The Jag needs a sidekick!

Ty · Post by Ty » Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:47 am

I hit my strings with quite some force, they never pop out, I can pick it up by the strings, they don't budge, however I only did that once out of frustration at practice. I'm using 9's or 10's, can't quite remember right off the top of my head. It works mighty fine, my action is perfect for my hands, and the few friends who attempt to play my upside down guitars.

Dice · Post by **Dice** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:33 pm

Interesting - you must have "just enough" break to keep things in place.

That is particularly surprising considering the string gauge you're using as well.

Hell, whatever works! Its too close for me - but I'm over paranoid w/ preventative maintenance stuff (always have 2 amps at a gig, 2 guitars, spare cables, etc. The recessed neck switch, stop tail, and wrap under are just more examples of that!).