It’s not a perfect one – Jazzmaster and Mustang bridges are known to rattle, and if you don’t get your neck angle right, the strings can buzz against the rear plate of the bridge. Mastery’s bridge design features swivelling low friction saddles, global height adjustment, radius setting and a cutaway back plate for clear string path. Almost gone. I'm not knocking Mustang bridges or the staytrem, which makes all the improvement that people in the know have made to that bridge, but those guys have all gone to Masterys (except Marr, I guess) for a bunch of good reasons that have to do with sound and performance. Another well-documented issue involves the action height adjustment screws. Same threaded bridge saddles, same complicated tremolo system, same rhythm circuit, same bottom of the neck truss rod access (requiring the neck's removal to adjust), same proprietary "soap bar" pickups on the Jazzmaster (and custom pickups on … Offset body and the black color looks great. The pickup selector switch’s solder tags must be splayed before you start soldering to prevent shorting out. You can always unsubscribe (so you won't receive any more e-mails) by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each e-mail. Notable updates/improvements are: Adjusto-Matic Bridge (somewhat like a tune-o-matic) 9.5″ fretboard radius (compared to the 7.25″ radius previously) AU $41.39. Offset body, nice pickups! However there are some oversized holes around the tone circuit switch and controls, so I add some copper foil patches and cut out the holes using a craft knife. I was skeptical of the upgrade, especially costing around $170 (USD). The Mastery will be worth it in the long run. I can't imagine any bridge based on the old Fender Mustang design being that great. However, I finally just pulled the trigger when I broke a string at a gig, and watching 4/6 of my saddles shoot off into the crowd. The latest guitar news, reviews and features delivered to your inbox. To position the pickups properly, I first fit the loaded pickguard onto the body and screw it down. © 2020 Guitar.com is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies. Best of all it resolves the sometimes incorrect string spacing for the stock bridge. The man behind Derek Smalls and a hatfull of iconic The Simpsons characters shares some of the highs and lows of his musical life. I would prefer something with adjustable saddles. The September 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now. While referring to a schematic and photos of Jazzmaster wiring, I connect up the main control pots and the three-way switch. This modernised the Jag, but took away some of the ‘Jaguar-ness’. I have a '60 JM on which the bridge is OK-suggests gunk build-up over the years must stabilize it; as such, would not some type of artificial gunk on the parts (clear nail polish, etc) help? Title. The posts went straight into the thimbles, so I re-tightened the base screws and then retracted the post grub screws to lower the bridge height. Once I have the thimbles installed, I adjust the post grub screws to extend beyond the posts to ensure they contact the base of the thimbles. The Staytrem maintains the look of the vintage Mustang bridge but is an improvement in pretty much every way. As a consequence, the action becomes lower and strings will begin choking out and even stop ringing altogether. Fast forward to now, and as I sit here at the computer, I have one of Fender’s new Classic Player Jazzmaster Specials in my hands. The process of lining the cavities begins with laying the foil over the cavities – with the backing still on the foil – and pressing around the edges of the routs to transfer the shapes onto the foil. They’re solid shaft 16mm pots rather than the full-sized 22mm split shaft pots and Allparts UK provided the roller wheels, as well as the pots. The Northern Irish bluesman’s kinetic style fused blues and rock with a virtuosity that inspired scores of guitar players – here are the fundamentals of his technique. However, it never really caught on with jazzers, and the surfers, garage-rockers and noiseniks who took the instrument to heart have generally had to retro-fit a Mustang bridge as a drop-in replacement. When browsing used Jazzmaster listings on Reverb, you'll often find models with the Mustang bridge already installed. (Fender) Jazzmaster Wiring Harness, Treble Bleed, Upgrade --- FREE DELIVERY AUSTRALIA WIDE --- Hand wired, point to point, replacement or upgrade wiring harness for a Fender Jazzmaster electric guitar with Volume , Tone, and Input Jack. This wouldn’t have been an issue for jazz players with heavy flatwound strings, which as the name suggests were the target audience for the Jazzmaster. The tags are used for the ground wires connected to the bridge and the output jack. In regard to the Mastery Bridge, it can add better sustain and tone. The November 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! 42awg wire with alnico 5 magnets. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. However, I finally just pulled the trigger when I broke a string at a gig, and watching 4/6 of my saddles shoot off into the crowd. We provide insight and opinion about gear, artists, technique and the guitar industry for all genres and skill levels. In addition I have found that some of the Mastery changes actually remove some of the signature Jazzmaster and Jaguar tone. I will agree that the Jazzmaster bridge isn't as bad as you'll usually hear, and what is really most needed with using it is a proper shim. These resolve two issues that are as old as the Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar guitars. I got the Mastery and it automatically: The main reason is that the Staytrem bridge is fairly new as an aftermarket part so for years and years the Mastery was the only great option out there. With foil cutouts made for the bases of the control cavity routs and both pickups, I set them aside while applying foil to the sides of the routs. A multimeter set on ‘continuity’ was used to check that the shield was properly connected up and then it was time to move onto assembling the pickguard. My Johnny Marr Jag has the Mustang bridge, but if you hit a string too hard it will spin the barrels which is very annoying. Transfer the cavity shape onto the foil by pressing the edges with your finger then cut them out with scissors. Includes two mounting posts (that fit into the "thimble" on the body of the guitar). A popular modern solution is the Mastery Bridge. Bill Frisell uses a Mastery bridge with a Bigsby on a JW Black T-style. With the wiring finally completed, the wires are held in place using nylon cable ties. The pickguard is then flipped and the pickups dropped into their covers then soldered into the circuit. High quality steel pivoting bridge and spring-action tremolo, as originally designed for Jaguar ® and Jazzmaster ® solidbody guitars.. The second circuit volume and tone pots are mounted on an ‘L’ plate so they’re at 90 degrees to the pickguard. Many Jazzmaster players regard the stock bridge as a cause of tuning instability because it doesn’t always return to position correctly. I'd like to upgrade the bridge on it. Free shipping . The grub screws are also fairly tight, although they do move freely enough for adjustments. Genuine Fender Classic Player Jaguar/Jazzmaster Tremolo Arm, 007-7422-049. The radius is only 7.25 and the width of the barrels are not wide enough on some versions, which is annoying, so they sway back and forth. From upstart beginnings in the early 60s, Eric Clapton soon established himself as one of the decades’ most lauded players. They sell for about $200 and if you're familiar with the pr For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It's the first time the guitar virtuoso has collaborated with the rising Canadian singer. The posts are inserted into cups or ‘thimbles’ that are pressed into the body and a long Allen key can be directed through the centre of the post to set the bridge height at each end. But there's a lot of room for improvement. Inserts (thimbles) also included. Not a drop in but possible without too much trouble. About This Item. Lots of style and tone. FPicker, Feb 7, 2013 #36. Chrome-plated bridge assembly with six fully adjustable threaded saddles. Many players will swap the stock bridge for a Fender Mustang bridge, which is similar in design but has deeper grooves and is less prone to rattling (though not immune). "U" shaped channel bridge design. In part two of our look at the chord shapes and sequences which define Paul Simon’s sound, we focus on his early years as a solo artist. The December 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! From eye-catching straps to dual-function pedals that both look the part and free up pedalboard real estate, there’s something for every type of guitar player this festive season. Once the sides are done I lay in the bases and patch up a couple of areas where I can see green paint. The Classic Player Jazzmaster guitar's tremolo is closer to the bridge to increase break angle and sustain. A lot of guys love the Mastery aftermarket bridge too, but it indeed comes with a hefty $200 price tag. The Mastery posts and thimbles are made to such fine tolerances that when you press a post into a thimble, it forms a vacuum. They're definitely one of the best options. Are they worth breaking out the bubbly for? Seymour Duncan SJM-3 Quarter-Pound Jazzmaster Pickup Black Bridge Heading back over to the Seymour Duncan pickups, and we’ve opted for the … However take care when unwrapping the components, because the shrink-wrap is hard to remove and you may damage delicate switch and pot solder tags if you’re not careful and patient. In addition, saddle heights can be set at each end to conform to various fingerboard radiuses. Padding, packing and protection – how to ensure your prized guitars stay safe in a big move. One clue you've found an American unit (though definitely not a foolproof one) is the price - a USA tremolo should be around $60 just for the unit, and $10-$15 more if it comes with the arm. The solder tags connect the bridge ground wire to the shield and the shield to the negative terminal of the output jack. I covered the process of installing bridge thimbles in our November 2015 Telecaster revamp feature. Fitting a TOM to JM's like J.Mascis, Cobain and other players did was a very commonplace "upgrade" so Fender went with that. Discussion in 'Guitars in General' started by civtrx, Feb 5, 2013. Full specification. A client of mine recently dropped one of these off (looking very much like the guitar above in stock form) in hopes of heavily modifying it to be a bit more “vintage correct”. The most common worry for those of us tackling Jazzmaster restorations and repairs is the bridge, but it doesn’t have to be. I was skeptical of the upgrade, especially costing around $170 (USD). Here’s a Part 1 guide to the man jokingly dubbed Slowhand. I have had my Classic Player for about 2 years now; it is a solid guitar but I have never really been "over the moon" about it (although I think that is mainly due to me just liking my telecaster better overall). In the first of a series looking at the chord shapes and sequences used by the Beatles, we get inside the head of John Lennon and find a solid rhythm guitarist with an ear for original chord changes. Here's a pretty good thread on it: LanceM71 nailed it. The shield is aligned with the scratchplate and held in position with the switch and jack socket. J Mascis Jazzmaster or Classic Player Jazzmaster? Real Deal Style. Close. Ben Ford is the guitarist for The Apache Relay. Its screw-in tremolo arm increases stability and control when "twang-dipping." In 1958, Fender began using threaded saddles on some of their guitars – Telecasters got them, along with the new Jazzmaster model. Before dropping the bridge in, I very slightly slacken the screws connecting the posts to the bridge base because the Mastery allows you some leeway to compensate for thimble spacing discrepancies. The Mastery dimensions are 9.3mm wide and 2.05mm long compared to 8.545mm and 1.95mm. You must log in or register to reply here. This can also be used for Squier or other Asian made Jazzmaster … Next we’re moving on to shielding the main control cavity. Converting to a standard JM/Jag bridge or Staytrem isn't too tough, but it's not a straight drop-in. You also have to mount the pots onto the bracket and loosely fit the rollers before screwing the bracket onto the pickguard. This is a 2015 Fender Classic Player Jaguar in black finish. The bridge features two saddles, each with two pivot points allowing both trios of strings to be intonated accurately. £8.78. Other tweaks to the guitar include the replacement of its rhythm/lead slider with a toggle switch and the use of a Mustang bridge with the Jazzmaster tailpiece. For shielding Allparts UK supplied a Fender aluminium plate and adhesive backed copper foil. The guitar is very striking. In our final part of our look at the stylings of the legendary Three Kings, we tackle the searing style of Freddie King. I tried a CP model the ither day and loved it. Get it right the first time; nothing beats the Mastery. The most dangerous time of year for your wallets is here. It’s also interesting to discover that the Jazzmaster circuit has a 1meg linear pot for volume and a 1meg audio pot for tone. I left my guitar to my tech for Trem Stabilizer installation, this happened. It’s worth the perspiration though, as a few well-chosen upgrades can make all the difference. Thanks guys for your input! I am looking for a roller bridge for a classic player jazzmaster. That's cool, but it's also of more limited practical value, I think, than what is accomplished with the mastery design, which is what caused (some) people to leave mustang bridges behind as a solution. It’s a “sister record” to this year’s Folklore, Meet the genre-smashing two piece giving a shot in the arm to a heavy scene, who absolutely will not tell you what’s going on with their pedalboards…. The first Jazzmaster pickguard was aluminium, which also provided shielding, so when Fender changed to a celluloid nitrate guard, he placed a thinner aluminium shield under the pickguard. I've read that a lot of guys upgrade to either a genuine Mustang or AVRI bridge. --Squier VM has Duncan Designed hot variant of Jazzmaster pickups, CP like the JMascis uses a P90 pickup instead to please those who want a more rocking tone instead of the JM jangle/glassy chime pickup tone.--Classic Player has a Strat-style screw-in tremolo arm & tremolo lock, Squier doesn't and uses a normal pop-in trem arm. The whole raison d'etre of the Classic Player series is to hot rod or update existing models. The maker of affordable guitars comes of age with three commemorative limited editions in a distinctive Silverburst finish. ... but with a slightly overwound bridge. Fender Mustang Bridge with Height Adjustable Saddles 0081239049 $ 25.00 Add to cart; Fender Classic Player Jaguar Jazzmaster Tune-o-Matic Bridge 0076230049 $ 36.00 Add to cart; Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar Bridge Assy 7712971000 $ 119.00 Add to cart; Fender American Vintage Jaguar Jazzmaster Mustang Bridge Post Thimbles 0054447049 $ 15.00 Out of stock A 2012 Fender Classic Player Jaguar in black finish. I guess for me I found that the Staytrem fixes all of the issues of the original bridge but does so in a way that is more true to the original design which I like. The Classic Player Jazzmaster comes with a deluxe gig back, but do the right thing and buy a hard case for this guy. Solder joints ensure electrical continuity across the screening. The Mustang bridge is a cheap improvement over the AVRI bridges, but it doesn't solve all problems. With our guitar’s 9.5-inch radius neck, a 7.25-inch Mustang bridge was never going to be a workable solution without under-saddle shims. I ploughed through a bunch of different Jazzmaster wiring diagrams online until I found one I trusted at Rothstein Guitars (www.guitar-mod.com). After the sides are done you can lay in the base and the second circuit rout is now completed. My Johnny Marr Jag has the Mustang bridge, but if you hit a string too hard it will spin the barrels which is very annoying. In practice the grub screws can be too loose and prolonged vibration and whammy bar action can cause them to retract within the posts. J Mascis Jazzmaster or Classic Player Jazzmaster? It’s important for there to be electrical connectivity across every section of foil. Used on Classic Player Series Jaguar/Jazzmaster (Mexico) guitars. We tackle the installation of a Mastery unit and show you how to wire up your controls to keep hum to a minimum. If it’s your first time working on a Jazzmaster, you’ll notice that it’s much more complicated than most other Fender solidbodies. I swapped the MIM tremolo for an Pure Vintage (American Vintage) tremolo. The Mastery isn't perfect but it has worked well for me over the years and I've never regretted paying the purchase price. I tried pretty much every bridge available and the roller was superb on the CP, The other issue that often plagues Jazzmasters, and single-coil guitars in general, is hum – so we’re also going to look at how to shield your internals to keep the noise down, and also how to wire up the controls themselves. The outward differences between the Strat and the Jazzmaster are obvious, but one of Jazzmaster’s groundbreaking features hides under the cover. JavaScript is disabled. Free P&P. We agreed that it was too bad Fender hadn’t come up with a more rugged bridge design. Are they both straight drop-in? I have ordered a Mastery Bridge and a Staytrem tremolo upgrade. Allparts UK sells a complete Jazzmaster wiring kit, which comes with helpful diagrams. Curiously, J Mascis prefers a tune-o-matic. The first stage of the wiring is complete – don’t forget to insulate the legs of the tone capacitors. $33.99 He went down the shielding route and lined the control cavities with form fitting brass. £22.56. We tackle the installation of a Mastery unit and show you how to wire up your controls to keep hum to a minimum. The Mastery bridge I have on my Japanese made model really does offer a great deal of improvement over a Jazzmaster or a Mustang bridge. Offset b Fender Jaguar in black. The Classic Player Jaguar and Jazzmaster are Mexican made with some very nice updates and improvements. The fiddliest part is connecting up the pots and switch on the second circuit then running all the longer wires between the two circuits. Unlike a regular Jazzmaster bridge, which is designed to rock back and forth with the vibrato, Mastery bridges are fixed in place. Happily, the Mastery bridge is everything it’s cracked up to be. Page 2 of 4 < Prev 1 2 3 ... 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Nylon cable ties these resolve two issues that are as old as the bridge and the second rout... Have noticed that the pickups dropped into their covers then soldered classic player jazzmaster bridge upgrade the `` thimble on. For adjustments fairly complex wiring job to increase break angle and sustain the control with! Reduce noise without deviating from single-coil pickups when used with modern strings in cavities... On Reverb, you can buy a Fender-branded repro of the upgrade, especially costing around $ (!