Jazzmaster Bridge

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:56 pm

so I have the Blacktop Jazzmaster and have been fighting the bridge... It seems the height adjustment screws on the Saddles keep loosening and dropping the saddles..... so I am thinking of doig a tune-o-matic to fix the issue....

I see you can pick up a Fender TOM that they use on the Classic player JM or the TOM Fender uses on the J Masics JM for $40..... Lank

Which is right for my axe?... or is there a better affordable option?.....

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:04 pm

set the heights and stick a spot of clear nail varnish or loctite glue on the screws. it's a bit of a daft-sounding fix but it does work, and the bond's easily breakable if you want to readjust..

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:14 pm

stewart wrote:set the heights and stick a spot of clear nail varnish or loctite glue on the screws. it's a bit of a daft-sounding fix but it does work, and the bond's easily breakable if you want to readjust..

I thought of this or even using a bit of teflon tape on the threads but wanted a more permanent fix so I do not have to mess with it again..... thanx thou

also, will sweat eat away the glue?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:16 pm

Yep - exactly what Stewart says (or buy some Loctite if you want to use the proper gear) - don't switch the bridge out; I'd never have believed it 'til I tried it (in fact, I took the piss out of Hurb for it a while back - sorry Hurb) but the Jazzmaster bridge is a considerable part of the sound.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:21 pm

benecol wrote:Yep - exactly what Stewart says (or buy some Loctite if you want to use the proper gear) - don't switch the bridge out; I'd never have believed it 'til I tried it (in fact, I took the piss out of Hurb for it a while back - sorry Hurb) but the Jazzmaster bridge is a considerable part of the sound.

This bridge is definitely not your standard jazzmaster bridge, wonder if it changes the sound much.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:25 pm

yeah, do what stew said.

personally, i wouldn't bother with an adjust-o-matic, especially the Mascis item, which may be a real tune-o-matic. i don't even think you can use your original post cup holes for it, since the spacing is different. you'd probably have to dowel the holes, and drill new ones like a 1/16th out from those.

just get a fuckin' mustang bridge if it's bothering you that much.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:29 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:yeah, do what stew said.

personally, i wouldn't bother with an adjust-o-matic, especially the Mascis item, which may be a real tune-o-matic. i don't even think you can use your original post cup holes for it, since the spacing is different. you'd probably have to dowel the holes, and drill new ones like a 1/16th out from those.

just get a fuckin' mustang bridge if it's bothering you that much.

this is more the info I was looking for....so they are different spacing and I cannot use the same holes?

I was hoping I could use the stock holes with the Classic player one

It is not a huge deal for me but the gash on my hand from one popping up last night says different.... I do not like that my guitar can kick my arse during a Weezer song.....

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:36 pm

it is your guitar fighting your sense of taste. happens all the time when i'm playing the likes of weezer, creed, or Harvey Danger.

the CP one may work, but i have no clue. the mascis one will not work out the box, i can 99.9% guarantee that.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:41 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:it is your guitar fighting your sense of taste. happens all the time when i'm playing the likes of weezer, creed, or Harvey Danger.

the CP one may work, but i have no clue. the mascis one will not work out the box, i can 99.9% guarantee that.

Creed is not allowed within 3 blocks of my house...FACT

Weezer Blue Album kicked tons of arse....FACT

J Masics bridge will not work...FACT

Classic Player will work without modification.....? Need fact checker

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:08 am

The tune-o-matic I had on my old Classic Player JM made the string spacing closer together than a regular JM bridge - I didn't like it.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:22 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:just get a fuckin' mustang bridge if it's bothering you that much.

this is an option.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:32 pm

See, I didn't like the Mustang bridge on my Jazzmaster - stick with the stock.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:32 pm

Maybe with the original Jazz bridge, as even if you locked the grubs then you have to file the slots deeper to stop string slipping.

These blacktop ones seem to have a single deeper groove in each saddle though which is nice.

Also:

Blacktop Jazzmaster = 9.5" radius
Mustang bridge = 7.25" radius.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:34 pm

benecol wrote:See, I didn't like the Mustang bridge on my Jazzmaster - stick with the stock.

same here with my jag, i must admit. switched it back a day later.

Mike wrote:Blacktop Jazzmaster = 9.5" radius
Mustang bridge = 7.25" radius.

ah, forgot about the radius difference, well spotted miguel.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:51 pm

I stuck with the 70s Mustang bridge I bought from vincel on my Jaguar. I likes it. Maybe I'll try to "fix up" the original bridge at some point though.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:56 pm

mine was a CIJ jobby and was a bit crappy, i think the vintage ones are a bit more solid generally.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:00 pm

It's true - there is no saddle-to-saddle jiggle on this old one, nor the Compstang for that matter.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:49 pm

benecol wrote:See, I didn't like the Mustang bridge on my Jazzmaster - stick with the stock.

I have Mustang saddles on both my JM's, they were set up with some little plastic shims under a couple of the saddles and i've never had issue with them.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 4:13 pm

at this point I am just gonna locktite it like Stewart suggested.....I do not currently have time to mess with all of this nor could I find anything on the interwebs about an adjustomatic fitting normal JM spacing...... thnx for the info guys

JAZZMASTERS RULE!!!

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:04 pm

Mike wrote:Also:

Blacktop Jazzmaster = 9.5" radius
Mustang bridge = 7.25" radius.

FUUUUUUUUUUU

DO IT ANYWAY