any significant difference between Jazzmaster and Mustang bridges?

Outside of the saddles, that is?

Well, this is part of the saddle, so I'm not sure if you know it or not... but the Jazzmaster has individually adjustable saddles regarding height. The Mustang saddle is fixed at a radius of 7.25" (although Warmoth sells a version that is capable of being different). You could get a 9.5" radius out of a Jazzmaster if you wanted to I'm sure, but I don't know if you can get much more, I've never tried.

That's one of the reasons why I went with a Mustang bridge on my Jazzmaster... two screws for height, and that's that.

Otherwise, as far as I can tell, they are exactly the same. I own both and some use different sized Allen wrenches, but that's hardly much of an issue.

Ooh, good catch on the radius! Thanks. My neck will not have a 7.25" radius (right now I'm thinking 10"), and the bridge I was looking at is non-adjustable.

I was thinking to use the Mustang bridge because lots of people complain about buzz, string-jumping, etc. with the JM bridge. But I'm doing a custom build, with a GFS vintage trem or a bigsby, and the vibrato unit will have to be mounted quite close to the bridge due to lack of space, so I reckon the break angle over the bridge will be considerably sharper than is typical (maybe too sharp, actually :neutral:), SO, maybe those JM saddles will be fine.

You might be OK... it sounds kind of like you would have the equivalent of a Buzz Stop on there, which is said to help with Jazzmaster bridges. But here is the Mustang Bridge that Warmoth makes, if you think that might work:

http://www.warmoth.com/Modified-Mustang-Bridge-Chrome-P616.aspx

Good luck!

You might be OK... it sounds kind of like you would have the equivalent of a Buzz Stop on there, which is said to help with Jazzmaster bridges. But here is the Mustang Bridge that Warmoth makes, if you think that might work:

http://www.warmoth.com/Modified-Mustang-Bridge-Chrome-P616.aspx

Good luck!

Thanks,
I checked it out, and realized I'm too cheap to pay 47 bucks plus shipping to Japan. :razz:

I have a VERY sharp string angle from Bigsby to JM-saddle on my partscaster that's almost finished, and it doesn't help enough. I had to order the Warmoth bridge myself. The threaded saddles of the JM don't seem to do well with with any angle.

mastery bridge you can't get anything better

Outside of the saddles, that is?

IMHO, both are the same to this extent, both are crap :lol:. Some of the reissues have pretty good ones however with a broader fretboard radius
As an aside, it's interesting that you bring up Mustangs :twisted:. There is no place on earth that there are finer reissues (color selection, hardware,etc) of the Mustang than those Fender produces in Japan, for the Japan market only. They are not for export at any price, and it's a HUGE hassle going over there, buying one and trying to return to the States with it. Japan is the holy grail for decent Mustangs :roll:. Kinda ironic isn't it? :lol:


Dave

IMHO, both are the same to this extent, both are crap :lol:. Some of the reissues have pretty good ones however with a broader fretboard radius
As an aside, it's interesting that you bring up Mustangs :twisted:. There is no place on earth that there are finer reissues (color selection, hardware,etc) of the Mustang than those Fender produces in Japan, for the Japan market only. They are not for export at any price, and it's a HUGE hassle going over there, buying one and trying to return to the States with it. Japan is the holy grail for decent Mustangs :roll:. Kinda ironic isn't it? :lol:


Dave

Oh, those old things? Yeah, you can't swing a cat around here without hitting one.:cool: The small size and short scale suits Japanese players, and apparently there's a popular anime character who plays one, so. . . .

Hmm, I'm kinda stuck for a bridge. My build's an offset, but doesn't particularly look like a Jazzmaster (or even a Mustang). I'm not using a JM trem, but I am using JM pickups. I'm NOT spending $165 for a mastery bridge. (:roll: Gees, what do they make 'em out of?)

Allparts Japan has a JM bridge for like 30 bucks, and the MG one is about the same price. Lots of guys say that the JM bridge works fine if you set it up right and stuff, but I dunno; I'm not really experienced with it. I played MIJ JMs a couple of times in the store and the strings never popped out of place, but I wasn't really wailing on 'em either.

Unless I can come up with a cooler, inexpensive alternative, I think I'll go for the JM bridge and hope the sharp break angle from having the vibrato closer to the bridge keeps the strings in place.

My point, maybe poorly made, was if there are that many Mustangs there, there are parts for them as well :wink:
Also, if you haven't yet, check out these two ebay sellers, Eden Mart (http://stores.ebay.com/EDEN-Mart/Guitar-Bridge-/_i.html?_fsub=909108012&_sid=205098242&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322) and Bezdez (http://stores.ebay.com/bezdez/BRIDGES-TAILPIECES-/_i.html?_fsub=2878401&_sid=11557664&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322). I think all of Eden Mart and some of Bezdez stock comes from Hong Kong and Taiwan. That would be mighty fast shipping to you and the prices speak for themselves.
Me? I'd probably use a tuneomatic or Badass wrap around style, but then that's me. Repro versions of that stuff are closer to you than you think :wink: (as a matter of fact, at those two links I gave you :wink:)



Dave

Thanks Dave! Those look like some good options. I'll browse through them. Maybe a roller bridge....

I'm interested in those badass style bridges too, for the DC LPJr-type thing that's banging around in my head. :-)

Thanks Dave!
No worries my man :grin:, I have a friend who lives in Guam, takes him about a year per build :shock:


Dave

No worries my man :grin:, I have a friend who lives in Guam, takes him about a year per build :shock:


Dave

Well, my goal is to finish before 2013. I probably won't be able to tackle the neck until Fall.