Is mustang bridge REALLY worth it?

laamaposse · Post by **laamaposse** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:49 am

If I get one will my jag be moar kurdtz? Is there any other point than to get rid of the grub screw rattle (and acquiring the magics of autoradius)?

Are the slots REALLY deeper and will they help me with some occasional string hops?

What would be the best replacement bridge brand? I've heard some of them come with lousy not-too-wide saddles that sail across the bridge unit (ie. string saver saddles?)

MattK · Post by **MattK** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:37 am

Slots are deeper; properly set up Jag with heavier strings (11s or 12s) doesn't need a Mustang bridge or a buzzstop. Mine doesn't buzz and it's absolutely stock MIJ.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:45 am

I have to admit since I replaced my '66 Jag's bridge (I know, Heresy!) with a late 60s/early 70s Mustang bridge I bought from Vincel it's been a much more stable beast and just felt more solid. The difference is there as far as I'm concerned.

MattK · Post by **MattK** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:51 am

It's a common enough mod that there must be something to it - maybe I should take some closeups of my bridge to see if I'm doing anything different to y'all.

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:11 am

American jazzy bridges (whether vintage or reissue) have deeper slots than CIJ jazzies. You can get away with either with a proper setup. Of course, a mustang bridge makes everything easier to deal with. I love and prefer the sound of the stock bridge personally.

Shaguar · Post by **Shaguar** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:37 am

laamaposse wrote:If I get one will my jag be moar kurdtz?

Seeing as Kurdtz had a TOM in his Jag, I'd say the answer is no.

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:43 am

Do this.
[youtube][/youtube]

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:43 am

Yes. It's the MASTERY bridge that isn't worth it... AMIRITE?!

JordanD · Post by **JordanD** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:21 pm

My friend Jim has a Mastery bridge on his vinatge Jaguar, they're good, but not Â£150 good.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:55 pm

I've never had any trouble with my stock bridge tho everytime my friend Mike uses it he's prone to pop a string. He can be a bit heavy handed so it's probably more to do with your playing style than the setup. Some peeps still have string pop with the Mex TOM bridges.

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:07 pm

I don't have a Jag, but a MIJ Jazzmaster, so I speak for that - different scale, same construction. You don't get a much different sound from a Mustang bridge in my opinion. You get deeper slots and less adjustment options.

If you want more sustain, put a tune-o-matic on your guitar. it usually won't have the correct radius (I changed to a Mustang bridge because of that), but it adds a little more sustain.

I think the best idea for a MIJ Jag / JM is to file out the slots in the stock bridge a little bit. I never did this while I used the stock bridge, which was only replaced because it had become too rusty, with some of the adjustment screws not moving at all anymore.

laamaposse · Post by **laamaposse** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:49 pm

Any opinions on different bridge brands? aka manufacturers

James · Post by **James** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:36 pm

Supposedly a vintage one is better in terms of the saddles being a tighter fit. There are gaps between them on the Japanese ones. I don't know if that's true but I remember someone (I think Mike) mentioning it to me once.

laamaposse · Post by **laamaposse** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:43 pm

I think I wont find one here (finland) so I think I'll have to cope with some asian import shit.
Any 'gapless' manufacturers?

Pacafeliz · Post by **Pacafeliz** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:14 pm

Mike wrote:I have to admit since I replaced my '66 Jag's bridge (I know, Heresy!) with a late 60s/early 70s Mustang bridge I bought from Vincel it's been a much more stable beast and just felt more solid. The difference is there as far as I'm concerned.

+1
i do it on all my originals too.

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:01 am

Not worth it imo, but if the vintage spec saddles are actually less rattley, then I suppose it would make life easier 'cause you wouldn't have to set the radius. Japanese Mustang bridges on Jaguars can 'cause problems of their own with sustain sapping buzz.

aen · Post by **aen** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:32 am

I have experience only with a 69 jaguar bridge and stock CIJ bridge.

Both of these bridges could handle about a 4 on the rock scale. Like, third eye blind.
A mustang bridge allowed these guitars to handle about a 7.5 or 8 on the rock scale, like Pearl Jam.
A mustang bridge and a Buzz stop, now that'll handle the 11 or 12 that AEN puts out on the Rock scale.
I have a TOM on my CP jazzmaster which has held up fine so far, although I haven't had a chance to really punish it yet.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:27 am

Gavin wrote:Not worth it imo, but if the vintage spec saddles are actually less rattley, then I suppose it would make life easier 'cause you wouldn't have to set the radius. Japanese Mustang bridges on Jaguars can 'cause problems of their own with sustain sapping buzz.

the vintage ones are solid, they don't have any rattle, from my experience.

i was playing about with your jag when it was here and the low E was popping about like mad, and i wasn't even strumming that hard. i dropped the guitar a few times though, maybe that didn't help.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:14 pm

Gavin just lies all the time about his Jag.

The Mustang bridge I got from Vince (vintage) is definitely miles better than the RI ones on the Jag-Stang (miles better) and a little better than the 65RI.

The saddles are much more snug, they're going NOWHERE

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:21 pm

stewart wrote:
Gavin wrote:Not worth it imo, but if the vintage spec saddles are actually less rattley, then I suppose it would make life easier 'cause you wouldn't have to set the radius. Japanese Mustang bridges on Jaguars can 'cause problems of their own with sustain sapping buzz.
the vintage ones are solid, they don't have any rattle, from my experience.

i was playing about with your jag when it was here and the low E was popping about like mad, and i wasn't even strumming that hard.

Seriously? You must strum with The Ham Fist technique 'cause I've never managed to knock any of the strings out. Actually no you must be taking the piss 'cause the Coronado has a really, really similar bridge.

Is mustang bridge REALLY worth it?

Is mustang bridge REALLY worth it?

Re: Is mustang bridge REALLY worth it?