Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2682
Ventura, CA
|
Posted on Dec 10 2007 11:16 AM
RumorsofsurF: I liked the Jaguar bridge too. In theory. But the grub screws were constantly needing attention as well. A few in particular seemed to want to spontaneously lower themselves.
Buy a new bridge, you have a lemon. It happens but I don't believe it is a rampant problem. I have three guitars with the stock bridge and I've never had that trouble, although I've seen it on an AVRI Jaguar.
|
planish
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 473
Sackville, New Brunswick
|
Posted on Jan 20 2008 02:29 AM
SGF
Man at store: "Some rubber band and some vaseline please."
"It's for my Jaguar."
If he thinks it's for a big cat instead of a car, he'll really look at you funny.
LHR
My choices were to file a slot on the back of the bridge or dispense with the Buzz Stop. So I took off the Buzz Stop.
Okay. I'm no rocket surgeon, but...
Looking at the pix on http://www.northcoastmusic.com/buzzstop/ it seems pretty symmetrical. Would it still work if you simply mounted it backwards? (ie the roller is closer to the tail) That would reduce the slope of the strings to something part way between the Buzz Stop installed normally and with no Buzz Stop at all.
Or would that interfere with the tremolo arm or the lock knob?
Also, reducing that angle would be partially defeating it's intended purpose, I guess.
— I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing.
|
Dane_Brammage
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 203
|
Posted on Jan 20 2008 08:23 AM
I think if you reverse the Buzz Stop it will hit the trem arm. But you could raise it a bit higher with shim stock or washers between the BS (:D) and the trem plate.
|
rocknroll
Joined: Apr 22, 2006
Posts: 58
|
Posted on Mar 31 2008 08:08 AM
I changed the bridge to my 65 jaguar to a mustang style bridge,not 4 the string movin,but 'couse the saddles springs lowered the bridge as you play.Then nail glue +attention---mustang bridge-problems gone!
cheers Bruno Wet-Tones
|
brock
Joined: May 06, 2008
Posts: 4
|
Posted on May 06 2008 11:00 PM
I have had the buzzstop and TUSQ saddles on a beat up '63 jaguar. The guitar was rather dark, and I liked what they did to the tone and overall playability. My trem seemed to stay in tune better.
I have a 64 jazzmaster that was perfect, and I had my luthier put the TUSQ saddles and buzzstop anyway just to check it out. I'm still loving it! I think a high quality setup is the most important thing though.
|
dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
|
Posted on May 07 2008 11:15 AM
brock
I think a high quality setup is the most important thing though...
I agree...when my Jazzmaster was returned from the luthier...man, it was absolutely smooth sounding, and played ike magic....same for my p-bass...
a trip to the luthier can really make all the difference in the world...
|
dsurkis
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 11
|
Posted on Sep 07 2008 07:19 AM
I love talking about jaguars!
I had a lot of string breakage with my buzz-stop / Jag setup, but I found the following tweaks helped tremendously.
- Graph-tech saddles (jacked up to help clearance)
- spacer washers under the Buzz-stop to reduce the tension (~1/4" higher seems about right for 11-50 strings)
- String lube at the bridge saddles
I also push some grease into the Buzz-stop where the roller bar spins in the bracket - this keeps it in tune after using the whammy.
best
Dano Clam
|
HallmarkSweptWinger
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: 1284
Berlinesia, Germanifornia
|
Posted on Feb 09 2009 12:41 PM
I also sold my three buzz-stops two years ago... For me they killed the sexy design of Jag or Jazz. And, yes, with a buzz-stop its like an other guitar. I didn t like the unnatural tension of the strings... And, yes, sometimes I couldnt use the trem arm in the way I liked ?cause of the buzz-stop. So you can call it buzz&trem-stop!? ![Smile](/media/smiley/images/smile.gif "Smile")
I played old Jags and Jazz s with original bridge and it was perfect as it should be. Even every Jag or Jazz is a little different. Therefore this nice threads here will never end I guess.
Twang cheers to everybody!
Ralf Kilauea
— Twang cheers!
Ralf Kilauea
www.kilaueas.de
https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien
|
BLeacH
Joined: Feb 17, 2009
Posts: 1
|
Posted on Feb 17 2009 12:20 AM
I read that seran wrap works great to keep the screws from moving, just take the screws out then trim of the tip of the screw so it's hidden, im not sure how many ply. BTW does anyone know how to install (or how it connects) a bridge cover on a stock MIJ lefty (looks symmetrical to a righty) jag?
|
LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
|
Posted on Feb 17 2009 07:16 AM
BLeacH
I read that seran wrap works great to keep the screws from moving, just take the screws out then trim of the tip of the screw so it's hidden, im not sure how many ply.
While that might work, it sounds like a colossal pain in the butt. Some super glue gel (or Loc-Tite) to mess up the threads would do fine.
BLeacH
BTW does anyone know how to install (or how it connects) a bridge cover on a stock MIJ lefty (looks symmetrical to a righty) jag?
It snaps on and stays by way of a friction fit. However, you will not be able to palm mute with it in place! This is surf guitar you are playing, no?
— SSIV
|
PlinkThwunk
Joined: Mar 18, 2009
Posts: 2
|
Posted on Mar 18 2009 08:13 AM
For saddle screw vibrational movement, a simple, cheap and effective fix is a couple coats of clear nail polish (allowed to dry each time) from the dollar store.
Still adjustable, yet with enough friction to hold them where you want them.
|
Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
|
Posted on Aug 03 2009 05:02 PM
I also took the Buzz Stop off my Jazzmaster. Altered the tone drastically and messed with the normally great Trem action. Put on a mustang bridge but still not happy with that, any suggestions
www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
|
crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
|
Posted on Aug 03 2009 05:11 PM
Thunderhead
I also took the Buzz Stop off my Jazzmaster. Altered the tone drastically and messed with the normally great Trem action. Put on a mustang bridge but still not happy with that, any suggestions
www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
I read something about using American cups and bridge together, that is if you are upgrading a Japanese model. I can't remember where i heard it though.
|
Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
|
Posted on Aug 03 2009 06:16 PM
It is an American '62 Reisssue in Sunburst. I added the Gold Guard to Replicate a '59. I always loved the Burst and Gold Combo! If I could just get this bridge issue squared away.
www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
|
Sandy
Joined: May 02, 2009
Posts: 58
Colorado
|
Posted on Aug 03 2009 08:43 PM
|
elreydlp
Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
|
Posted on Sep 27 2009 11:14 PM
Put the Buzz Stop back on! There's a reason they've sold thousands of them!
|
JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
|
Posted on Sep 27 2009 11:42 PM
elreydlp
Put the Buzz Stop back on! There's a reason they've sold thousands of them!
Because people can't set up their guitars.
|
Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
|
Posted on Sep 28 2009 09:17 AM
I'll never use the Buzz Stop again. I put heat shrink around the original bridge post and now it's great. Once the stock bridge was stabilized it all came together for me. I use .011 DR's for Surf and Instro. and the original bridge w/ the long string length behind it is what I'm after in an Offset Guitar. No rattles, string jumps or other issues.
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
|
rotnroby
Joined: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 877
Santa Barbara Ca... in the 805
|
Posted on Apr 02 2010 12:41 PM
Great topic!!! I have both a Jag and Jazzmaster.. I also have a Buzzstop however, I'm not using the buzzstop for many reasons! It take's the original sound of the guitars away! It really dosent work on a Jag because of the short scale.. Puts way to much un-natural tension on the Jazzmaster... I think if you are having problems with buzz change out the saddles and that should do it!
|
WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
|
Posted on Apr 02 2010 02:48 PM
JakeDobner
elreydlp
Put the Buzz Stop back on! There's a reason they've sold thousands of them!
Because people can't set up their guitars.
Excellent response, Jake!
FWIW, I concur 100%
Jags and Jazzmasters are VERY responsive to a good setup and it takes some time and effort to set one up properly and get the intonation spot on. I like the Eddie Katcher trick of adding a .75-1.0 mm neck shim and slightly raising the bridge to compensate. This increases the string tension over the bridge without affecting the tone like a buzz stop does and the action can still set as low as you like, if that is your thing. I seem to get a better sound with a slightly higher than usual action.
Also, slightly notching the bridge saddles (vintage or AVRI...the Japanese saddles are total crap) with a triangular jeweler's file keeps the strings in place just fine regardless of how heavy-handed a player you are. I much prefer the adjustability of the stock bridge over a Mustang, but a lot of you guys seem to like them. Different strokes, and all that.
Bottom line: Whatever works for you is cool...even though a buzzstop is, IMO, just a band-aid for a problem that can be easily solved in other (and less expensive) ways.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
|