Harsh Overtones On Jazzmaster

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:07 pm

Has anybody else had this problem? When I play any combination of the top three strings I get quite harsh ringing, I've tried damping behind the bridge and behind the nut but neither have any effect. Even with the tone and volume down it can still be heard and when just playing acoustically. I'm thinking it could be the bridge causing a lot of sympathetic vibration. I know Jazzmasters are meant to have a lot of ring but as far as I understand that is due to the strings ringing behind the bridge and that isn't the source of the noise.

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:09 pm

If it's the original bridge the saddle heights may be too low, 'causing them to rattle around under the strings when you play.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:11 pm

It's a mustang bridge so I can't make any changes there. I can try putting a thin piece of card under the saddles though and see if that will dampen it.

hwestman · Post by **hwestman** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:15 pm

Sometimes gripping the outer two saddles and pushing them towards the middle can cure this. The purpose being to make sure there is solid contact between all saddles. The improvement in not permanent, though. You have to do it every once in a while.

Harald

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:23 pm

This is the reason I don't rate Mustang bridges over Jag/Jazzmaster ones. I had this problem when I had a Mustang bridge in my Jaguar. I swapped it back for the original and with a proper set up the problem went away. There's basically nothing you can do, set up wise, to cure that with a Mustang bridge.

hwestman · Post by **hwestman** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:59 pm

Yea, I got both my Jag and my JM second hand and both were equipped with Mustang bridges but I am really interested in trying out the original bridges, even if it takes a bit of threadlock, nailpolish or whatever...

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:01 pm

hwestman wrote:Sometimes gripping the outer two saddles and pushing them towards the middle can cure this. The purpose being to make sure there is solid contact between all saddles. The improvement in not permanent, though. You have to do it every once in a while.

Harald

Tried this and tried cardboard, nothing works so far

I sent the original bridge to Mo Rawka so I might have to buy a new one

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:59 pm

I did a bit of reading and apparently the Mustang bridge can add more attack to the sound, which seems to be part of the problem. Would heavier strings be less harsh or is there anything else to try? I doubt everybody who has swapped their stock bridge for a mustang just puts up with the noise.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:02 pm

I have a Mustang bridge on my Jag without this noise.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:18 pm

I think the intonation might be out on the guitar then. I'll put some heavier strings on and set it up again soon. I don't have any more time for messing with it now as I have a bit of coursework to do.

I've rules out most things through experimenting but any further advise is more than welcome.

I blame this Mike guy to be honest, this bridge mod article is what persuaded me to change it in the first place!!

Post by **Mike** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:20 pm

Yeah, it was nice of Warmoth to lift and publish that without my permission.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:26 pm

Mike wrote:Yeah, it was nice of Warmoth to lift and publish that without my permission.

I assumed you posted it on Jag-Stang yourself? Jokes aside, it's the best advice I found before joining any forums and most people seem more than happy with it. Just need to get my setup sorted out. It doesn't help that my Laney VC30 is known to be voiced quite trebly and the stock speaker has a harsh treble spike...

Post by **Mike** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:31 pm

I posted it on jag-stang ages ago but Warmoth had it on their site for ages. I think it went when they redesigned it.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:53 pm

you guys realize there are 2 different kinds of fender mustang bridges right? well 3 really.

1. vintage. big saddles, no buzzing
2. standard japan reissue. smaller saddles, causes buzzing
3. japan 65RI/MG65 reissue. more faithfull to the vintage spec. bigger saddles, no buzzing

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:11 pm

robroe wrote:you guys realize there are 2 different kinds of fender mustang bridges right? well 3 really.

1. vintage. big saddles, no buzzing
2. standard japan reissue. smaller saddles, causes buzzing
3. japan 65RI/MG65 reissue. more faithfull to the vintage spec. bigger saddles, no buzzing

Yeah I'm pretty sure I have a standard one but not had any trouble with buzzing. I'm fairly certain now that it's my intonation that's out after having read a bit more about it. The Buzz Feiten system seems pretty good but not for the price, they even say that a zero fret accomplishes the same thing on their website and that's something a lot of people can do themselves.

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:22 pm

hold up.
just set the intonation on the bridge if you think thats what it is.
yeah, the buzz thing works, BUT! it doesn't like to play well with other instruments, and at times can create problems.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:43 pm

Yeah I am just gonna adjust the bridge, I'm quite happy with the stock plastic nut.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:51 pm

Just to bring this to a close, I re-intonated everything and then tuned using harmonics. Now it has the usual Jazzmaster ringing sound as opposed to a jarring discordant sound.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:59 am

Hooray. Likely a dissonance issue with poor intonation, then?

The middle of the 3 mustang bridge types Rob is talking about are quieter with lighter strings, the '69 Mustang RI and Jag-Stang ones. They're also the only ones you're going to see out there new aftermarket (Allparts and so on).

MIJ/CIJ Jag/Jazzmaster bridges are also designed for lighter strings than the vintage equivalents (the height adjustment screws even known to become stripped from nothing but string tension), but the string angle between the tailpiece and bridge (being more authentic to the '60s guitars) isn't geared towards that as much, hence the slippage of strings in the threaded saddles.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:24 am

robroe wrote:you guys realize there are 2 different kinds of fender mustang bridges right? well 3 really.

1. vintage. big saddles, no buzzing
2. standard japan reissue. smaller saddles, causes buzzing
3. japan 65RI/MG65 reissue. more faithfull to the vintage spec. bigger saddles, no buzzing

True dat. I can verify that my '65 mustang bridge is a solid perfectly machined beauty with no gaps between saddles. harder than a terminators knuckles. not used one in a Jag but i can't see this one making any noise additional. I have seen reissues significant;y less well made and gappy