Modding my VM Jazzmaster

JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Mar 15 2015 10:21 AM

If the height adjustment screws were digging into your hand, you had a really bad setup. So, the bridge made a huge difference. I'm a big fan of the original bridge design and am a complete apologist for the bridge, but the one place where it fails is there is too much space to rock.

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1288
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Mar 15 2015 12:18 PM

Only the low E stuck out just enough to know it's there. And I only have myself to blame for any bad setup. I really think ease of setup made the biggest difference. I'm not going to start any of that extra mass of the bridge helps the body resonate more junk. It's made well, works similar to the original design, no string jumping, and easier to adjust.
I also need to pick on you Jake about your comment about being a fan of the original design. Mastery Man!

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Mar 15 2015 12:58 PM

I only recently went all Mastery! The vintage ones I've had never really had any problems(save for the bridge posts having too much space). The reissues I've all had have been not particularly great. Fender made the mistake of plating the saddles on the reissues, which led to serious tolerance issues.

But the Mastery... Not worth the cost, honestly. But having the bridge not move around makes a huge difference. Either because the bridge posts fitting snuggly with the body or the saddle material, there is just a little more resonance. Just a strong more solid tone, but the same timbre of a Jag/Jazz bridge.

I will also say, I don't buy into Mass = more tone. After roller bridges, my least favorite bridges are bar bridges and mustang bridges. Just way too much mass and it kills the tone(I think that is what is happening). With the original design and the mastery, also note at where the saddles make contact with the bridge plate. The saddle screws transfer all of the tone, instead of the saddles sitting directly on the plate(which sounds terrible when you do so with the stock Jag/Jazz bridge.

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cheeg

Joined: Jun 06, 2017
Posts: 3

Posted on Jun 06 2017 10:20 AM

Reviving a pretty old thread to see if anyone can identify the brand of mint green pickguard surf skater used in that pic (or if surf skater himself could help me out supposing he's still around).

There seem to be a few different shades of mint green pickguard available, most have a slight blueish hue to them but surf skater's is more of a pale tannish green. I love it and want to put one on my white road worn 60s JM. Add an amber switch tip and I'm good to go.

Any help is appreciated, thanks guys

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1288
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Jun 06 2017 05:43 PM

Hey Cheeg, Welcome to the site. The pick guard was from a random ebay seller. The first one I put on didn't fit right and I wasn't happy with the color. So I ended up getting another off eBay that fit better and it still wasn't the shade of green I was hoping for.
Unfortunately the pictures online are deceptive as to what it will look like in person.
If you are only replacing the pick guard make sure you get one for a vintage modified. The rythm circuit spacing is different than American Standard.

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cheeg

Joined: Jun 06, 2017
Posts: 3

Posted on Jun 07 2017 08:27 AM

Surf_Skater wrote:

Hey Cheeg, Welcome to the site. The pick guard was from a random ebay seller. The first one I put on didn't fit right and I wasn't happy with the color. So I ended up getting another off eBay that fit better and it still wasn't the shade of green I was hoping for.
Unfortunately the pictures online are deceptive as to what it will look like in person.
If you are only replacing the pick guard make sure you get one for a vintage modified. The rythm circuit spacing is different than American Standard.

Thanks for the response. Do you remember which eBay seller you got it from? Do you think that pic on the last page accurately represents it or is it just a certain lighting in the photo that gives it the pale tan-green effect? Hopefully I can get to a shop that sells a bunch of mint pickguards so I can pick one out in person but I'm not optimistic that this particular shade of green will be there.

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1288
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Jun 07 2017 06:40 PM

Here's the address from the shipping label. Hope this is of some help.

If you end up finding one that has that vintage green look I'd be happy to trade.

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cheeg

Joined: Jun 06, 2017
Posts: 3

Posted on Jun 07 2017 10:02 PM

Thanks buddy. I'll let you know if I can find something.

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Jun 09 2017 06:09 AM

JakeDobner wrote:

If the height adjustment screws were digging into your hand, you had a really bad setup. So, the bridge made a huge difference. I'm a big fan of the original bridge design and am a complete apologist for the bridge, but the one place where it fails is there is too much space to rock.

We need those off-set thimbles to incorporate 3D printable programmable magnets. New magnetic technology which is programmed to attract and repel at the same time, both north and south together. See Here

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JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Mar 15 2015 10:21 AM If the height adjustment screws were digging into your hand, you had a really bad setup. So, the bridge made a huge difference. I'm a big fan of the original bridge design and am a complete apologist for the bridge, but the one place where it fails is there is too much space to rock. Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1288 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Mar 15 2015 12:18 PM Only the low E stuck out just enough to know it's there. And I only have myself to blame for any bad setup. I really think ease of setup made the biggest difference. I'm not going to start any of that extra mass of the bridge helps the body resonate more junk. It's made well, works similar to the original design, no string jumping, and easier to adjust. I also need to pick on you Jake about your comment about being a fan of the original design. Mastery Man! Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Mar 15 2015 12:58 PM I only recently went all Mastery! The vintage ones I've had never really had any problems(save for the bridge posts having too much space). The reissues I've all had have been not particularly great. Fender made the mistake of plating the saddles on the reissues, which led to serious tolerance issues. But the Mastery... Not worth the cost, honestly. But having the bridge not move around makes a huge difference. Either because the bridge posts fitting snuggly with the body or the saddle material, there is just a little more resonance. Just a strong more solid tone, but the same timbre of a Jag/Jazz bridge. I will also say, I don't buy into Mass = more tone. After roller bridges, my least favorite bridges are bar bridges and mustang bridges. Just way too much mass and it kills the tone(I think that is what is happening). With the original design and the mastery, also note at where the saddles make contact with the bridge plate. The saddle screws transfer all of the tone, instead of the saddles sitting directly on the plate(which sounds terrible when you do so with the stock Jag/Jazz bridge. Top
cheeg Joined: Jun 06, 2017 Posts: 3	Posted on Jun 06 2017 10:20 AM Reviving a pretty old thread to see if anyone can identify the brand of mint green pickguard surf skater used in that pic (or if surf skater himself could help me out supposing he's still around). There seem to be a few different shades of mint green pickguard available, most have a slight blueish hue to them but surf skater's is more of a pale tannish green. I love it and want to put one on my white road worn 60s JM. Add an amber switch tip and I'm good to go. Any help is appreciated, thanks guys Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1288 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Jun 06 2017 05:43 PM Hey Cheeg, Welcome to the site. The pick guard was from a random ebay seller. The first one I put on didn't fit right and I wasn't happy with the color. So I ended up getting another off eBay that fit better and it still wasn't the shade of green I was hoping for. Unfortunately the pictures online are deceptive as to what it will look like in person. If you are only replacing the pick guard make sure you get one for a vintage modified. The rythm circuit spacing is different than American Standard. Top
cheeg Joined: Jun 06, 2017 Posts: 3	Posted on Jun 07 2017 08:27 AM Surf_Skater wrote: Hey Cheeg, Welcome to the site. The pick guard was from a random ebay seller. The first one I put on didn't fit right and I wasn't happy with the color. So I ended up getting another off eBay that fit better and it still wasn't the shade of green I was hoping for. Unfortunately the pictures online are deceptive as to what it will look like in person. If you are only replacing the pick guard make sure you get one for a vintage modified. The rythm circuit spacing is different than American Standard. Thanks for the response. Do you remember which eBay seller you got it from? Do you think that pic on the last page accurately represents it or is it just a certain lighting in the photo that gives it the pale tan-green effect? Hopefully I can get to a shop that sells a bunch of mint pickguards so I can pick one out in person but I'm not optimistic that this particular shade of green will be there. Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1288 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Jun 07 2017 06:40 PM Here's the address from the shipping label. Hope this is of some help. If you end up finding one that has that vintage green look I'd be happy to trade. Top
cheeg Joined: Jun 06, 2017 Posts: 3	Posted on Jun 07 2017 10:02 PM Thanks buddy. I'll let you know if I can find something. Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Jun 09 2017 06:09 AM JakeDobner wrote: If the height adjustment screws were digging into your hand, you had a really bad setup. So, the bridge made a huge difference. I'm a big fan of the original bridge design and am a complete apologist for the bridge, but the one place where it fails is there is too much space to rock. We need those off-set thimbles to incorporate 3D printable programmable magnets. New magnetic technology which is programmed to attract and repel at the same time, both north and south together. See Here Top

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Modding my VM Jazzmaster