Differences between MIJ/Vintage Mustang Trems/Control Plates

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:46 pm

Hi guys,

Sporadic poster here with a Mustang question: is there a difference between vintage Mustang trems and the Japanese reissue parts which are widely available for less Â£Â£Â£s?

Same question for the control plates....

Thanks!

Earth · Post by **Earth** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:17 pm

Mechanically? No.
Aesthetically, to a nit picking mustang fan, Yes.
The Vintage bridge is superior to the reissues in general. It looks different slightly also.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Japanese reissue stuff to put on my vintage mustang as replacement parts if something broke, its fine stuff.

Fender Japan makes far better and more accurate Mustangs and their parts than they do Jaguars and Jazzmasters which have so many differences to their US counterpart its a joke.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:20 am

Word say earth. Done do Jenkins so.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:37 am

the japanese trem is all in metric. so yes, every measurement and specification is in fact different than the vintage bridge. the threading on the posts are different. the size of the trem bars are different. the allen wrenches needed to adjust the post height and bridge height are different. also I think the japanese trem has three spring notches on the posts and the vintage only has two.

also, the vintage trem bar is held in place by a screw pushing against a small plastic insert that puts pressure on the bar. now I'm not entirely sure but I think I remember reading some discussion on here about getting the trem bar to stay in better in the japanese trem that led me to believe that it worked slightly different in this regard. in my experience the vintage trem bar requires no messing about to get the bar to stay in place. it stays in perfect.

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:29 pm

Mages wrote:the japanese trem is all in metric. so yes, every measurement and specification is in fact different than the vintage bridge. the threading on the posts are different. the size of the trem bars are different. the allen wrenches needed to adjust the post height and bridge height are different. also I think the japanese trem has three spring notches on the posts and the vintage only has two.

also, the vintage trem bar is held in place by a screw pushing against a small plastic insert that puts pressure on the bar. now I'm not entirely sure but I think I remember reading some discussion on here about getting the trem bar to stay in better in the japanese trem that led me to believe that it worked slightly different in this regard. in my experience the vintage trem bar requires no messing about to get the bar to stay in place. it stays in perfect.

Thanks - this is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

If anyone has a vintage one for sale at a good price please feel free to PM me (not enough posts to see the classifieds).

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:32 pm

Presumably the same applies to the control plate (i.e. it's metric rather than imperial)?

Am I right in thinking the Jap ones have smaller holes so you can't use full-size pots? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

Does anyone have any experience with Tricked out Guitars' Mustang control plates? Are they vintage spec?

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:26 pm

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:Presumably the same applies to the control plate (i.e. it's metric rather than imperial)?

Am I right in thinking the Jap ones have smaller holes so you can't use full-size pots? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

Does anyone have any experience with Tricked out Guitars' Mustang control plates? Are they vintage spec?

My experience is ith the jag but it should be the same. The control plated are fitted out for little metric pots. It is easy enough to filed out though.