dirtbag_surfer
Joined: Jun 18, 2006
Posts: 85
The gutters of Ocean Beach, San Diego
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Posted on May 08 2007 10:32 AM
Unfortunatley, I am starting to experience the pitfalls of the stock Jazzmaster bridge on my AVRI.  Now from what I have read, the easiest solution is to replace the bridge with a Mustang bridge. I was checking Mustang bridges out on Warmoth and they offer two versions; one standard and one modified. I am not sure which one to go with and then the next question is Warmoth the best place to buy a Mustang bridge from? OR, is better to have my guitar tech deepen the saddles with a file, add a little bit of loctite and call it a day? FYI I am currently running Fender flatwound 11's but am bumping up to Thomastik flatwound 12's as soon as they get here. Thanks in advance!
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krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
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Posted on May 08 2007 11:03 AM
dirtbagsurfer_
Unfortunatley, I am starting to experience the pitfalls of the stock Jazzmaster bridge on my AVRI. Now from what I have read, the easiest solution is to replace the bridge with a Mustang bridge. I was checking Mustang bridges out on Warmoth and they offer two versions; one standard and one modified. I am not sure which one to go with and then the next question is Warmoth the best place to buy a Mustang bridge from? OR, is better to have my guitar tech deepen the saddles with a file, add a little bit of loctite and call it a day? FYI I am currently running Fender flatwound 11's but am bumping up to Thomastik flatwound 12's as soon as they get here. Thanks in advance!
First off, welcome to the board dirtbag!
The Mustang Bridge is the easiest solution in my opinion and the Warmouth modified bridge would be a good way to go.
The modified is the best of the JM and Mustang bridges together in one.
A standard Mustang bridge doesn't have set screws to adjust the height of the individual stings like the JM Bridge; the Warmouth Modified adds this feature to the Mustang saddles.
— The Thunderchiefs
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2171
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on May 08 2007 11:16 AM
Modified Mustang bridge is an excellent choice, what kind of issues have you been going through with the stock AVRI bridge? personaly I use the stock bridges on my Jaguars & Jazzmaster I have never had any issues with strings popn' off or rattles so far so good over the years.
— -Kyle
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on May 08 2007 11:24 AM
dirtbag:
I use the standard old Mustang Bridge on my CIJ Jazzmaster...I like it a lot.
I had the "string rattle" and "string pop-off" issues with the stock Jazzmaster bridge, the slotted non-adjustable Mustang Bridge did the trick for me.
I am considering trying Graph Tec saddles...
image
-dp
Last edited: May 08, 2007 14:07:34
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dirtbag_surfer
Joined: Jun 18, 2006
Posts: 85
The gutters of Ocean Beach, San Diego
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Posted on May 08 2007 11:36 AM
diceophonic
Modified Mustang bridge is an excellent choice, what kind of issues have you been going through with the stock AVRI bridge? personaly I use the stock bridges on my Jaguars & Jazzmaster I have never had any issues with strings popn' off or rattles so far so good over the years.
Strings popping out of the saddles (not all the way out, maybe moving one or two positions) and some rattling, although not too bad. I also think that on the last set up that the string height was set a bit too low and after settling in a little bit, the intonation has gone a little wacky. This also might be due to the screws wiggling loose from the rattlin', but I am not sure.
I went ahead and ordered the modified Mustang bridge and I'll take her back in for another set up along with the bridge swap.
Thanks everyone for the help!!
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2171
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on May 08 2007 11:37 AM
dp
dirtbag:
I use the standard old Mustang Bridge on my CIJ Jazzmaster...I like it a lot.
I had the "string ratttle" and "string pop-off" issues with the stock bridge, the slotted stock Mustang Bridge did the trick for me.
I am considering trying Graph Tec saddles...
image
-dp
I wish they made those in chrome or nickle.
— -Kyle
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2681
Ventura, CA
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Posted on May 08 2007 11:38 AM
I put those Graphtech saddles on a Jaguar bridge, and they sound good but they are not wide enough so there is a slight gap between saddles, causing them to be pulled towards the center. I use a Buzz Stop on my Jaguar and Jazzmaster and never have a problem, unless you want to strike the strings behind the bridge.
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on May 08 2007 11:44 AM
diceophonic
I wish they made those in chrome or nickle.
If you REALLY care, a little silver nail polish would do the trick. Do it off the guitar with an AVRI. Could be utter carnage if the polish got on nitro finish. Don't know that, but I'm guessin' it would be nasty. Gonna be hard to ever come up with that material in anything beyond a little sparkly gunmetal grey... I personally didn't like the tone on the strats I've played with them. I'm afraid they would suck the life out of a jag. Maybe not so bad on a JM.
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on May 08 2007 12:09 PM
diceophonic
dp
dirtbag:
I use the standard old Mustang Bridge on my CIJ Jazzmaster...I like it a lot.
I had the "string ratttle" and "string pop-off" issues with the stock bridge, the slotted stock Mustang Bridge did the trick for me.
I am considering trying Graph Tec saddles...
image
-dp
I wish they made those in chrome or nickle.
dice:
I hear ya'...lot's of people don't care for the look of the GraphTech (or the Tusq) saddles...
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Redd_Tyde
Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 260
Oceanside, CA
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Posted on May 08 2007 12:12 PM
I threw a Buzz Stop on my MIJ Jaguar and all the problems with slipping and rattling are gone. I didn't notice any increase in tension or loss tone. It is a little harder to lock and unlock the bridge. But I can live with that.
My AVRI Jazzmaster doesn't seem to have any of the problems like the Jag. Same string guage and brand on both. On the AVRI JM, the barrels have coarser threads for the Low E and A and the strings seem to stay seated no matter how much I beat the guitar up.
But the Buzz Stop is a quick cheap solution with minimal set up issues. I am happy with it.
RT
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Rick_Volcano
Joined: Mar 05, 2006
Posts: 289
Detroit
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Posted on May 08 2007 12:39 PM
I've got a CIJ jazzmaster (running .013â.053) and had major trouble with strings bouncing between grooves on the saddles. Sometimes the low E would slip toward the edge of the saddle and the saddle would twist out from under the string. I put a BuzzStop on and that helped, but strings were still moving. I recently put an All Parts Mustang bridge on and I love it. Wish I would have done it sooner. I can play the thing without holding back. The only trade-off is no height adjustment on the saddles, but so far that doesn't seem to be a problem.
I know many people play these things stock without any problem, but for me these mods are a big improvement. YMMV.
— The Volcanos
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PhatTele
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 445
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Posted on May 08 2007 12:54 PM
You can't cover the GraphTechs with another material. The whole idea is that they have a Teflon coating. If you cover them (with nail polish as mentioned above), you eliminate the effectiveness of the Teflon.
The Warmoth modified Mustang bridge has the adjustable saddles on 1, 2, 5, and 6. The middle ones are fixed. I think they designed it this way so you could use the bridge with a flatter radiused neck. If you have a vintage radius (7 1/4"), then the Warmoth bridge might be overkill.
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sidewalksurf
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 243
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Posted on May 08 2007 01:20 PM
I've had a Mustang bridge on my Jaguar for years and when I got my AVRI JM I put one on that guitar too...immediately. I like the modified saddles on the Warmoth bridge, but haven't had any issues with the fixed height of the standard Mustang saddles.
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on May 08 2007 01:57 PM
Here's a pic of the standard Mustang bridge that I'll be fitting to my Jag tomorrow. It only looks bigger 'cos it's stood on the guitar so it's nearer the camera: It's exactly the same size.
I'm not a big fan of the adjustable Allen screws, they have a tendency to move if they are not taking equal tension or if the saddle gets supported by the one next to it, so I opted for this type.
Having said that - the screws never seem to move in the Graphtec saddles that I have on a Tele and a LAG jet. It's just that I didn't fancy either the Buzzstop or the Graphtec option on the Jag for fear of losing....ummm Jagginess...
I've been sitting on this bridge (not literally) for a week, but as my SD SJAG1 p/up should be delivered tomorrow - I can do both jobs at once.
I do rate the graphtec stuff - they do the job on the other guitars I use them on - but there is a change in sound (for the better on my US Tele for sure) and anyway the Jag ones seem pretty impossible to get in the UK.... so after weighing up the options , I went for this. I'll review the results...
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on May 08 2007 02:09 PM
PhatTele
You can't cover the GraphTechs with another material. The whole idea is that they have a Teflon coating. If you cover them (with nail polish as mentioned above), you eliminate the effectiveness of the Teflon.
.
Don't put it where the strings run. Any other questions?! I'm an AmeriCAN not an AmeriCAN'T 
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sinewave78
Joined: Apr 27, 2007
Posts: 4
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Posted on May 08 2007 02:21 PM
With my CIJ JM I first tried the buzzstop, but found that it made doing tremolo dips very awkward. The bar blocks the trem bar from being pushed down unless it is facing almost at your feet. Has anyone else had this problem?
I got rid of that and put an All-Parts Mustang bridge on, problem solved.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19256
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on May 08 2007 02:27 PM
Be advised that the after market Mustang saddles are made for the MIJ/CIJ Jazzmaster/Jaguars...the saddles are not wide enough for an AVRI. I went through this hell a few years ago. I ended up buying a vintage Mustang bridge off eBay. The gaps don't bug some people, but they sure did me. The strings moved around on me. Rubber band chunks worked for a while, but it looked ridiculous and didn't always work.
When I asked the GraphTech people if they were aware their saddles had the same problem they gave me the "who gives a crap" dirty look. I won't do business with them now.
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2769
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on May 08 2007 02:36 PM
I tried the graph tech saddles and hated them. I called the company to make the recomendation that they consider widening the saddles to fill the gaps and was politely told to "stuff it". Keeping that in mind, no graph tech products reside on any of Katcher's guitars.
I was frankly amazed at their arogant attitude.........And the width issue wasn't the only aggravation, the saddles themselves were so slick that the bridge would slide back and forth and drove the intonation nuts. And if all this wasn't enough, it made my Jazzmaster sound kind of like a Strat. Yuck.
Just re-shim the neck, put some low grade loc-tite on the screws, set it up for at least 12's, and go for it.....ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on May 08 2007 03:18 PM
By far the easiest and most economical solution to the Jaguar/Jazzmaster saddle issue is to file a small notch in the stock saddles for the string to ride in, with a jeweler's file. I've been doing this since the 60's and it works like a charm.
I tried one of the adjustable Mustang bridges a couple years ago and didn't care for it at all. But, different strokes...
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on May 08 2007 04:50 PM
eddiekatcher
I tried the graph tech saddles and hated them.
Add me to the list of Graph-tech non-fans. I had them on a Strat for a while - switching back to vintage-style saddles made a WORLD of difference. The sound was dramatically improved.
if all this wasn't enough, it made my Jazzmaster sound kind of like a Strat. Yuck.
And it made my Strat sound like 
Ivan
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