Mastery Bridge and Trem on a Squire Bass VI

[vjf1968]

Has anybody replaced the stock trem and bridge on a Squire Bass VI with a Mastery one. If you have, did you have to do any modifications or was it an easy swap?

 

[SuprHtr]

I've not tried the Mastery but I did a StayTrem bridge and trem arm upgrade and it was very easy. Mastery can't be any worse.

 

[Mekhem]

trem is easy but switching to a Mastery Bridge will require a set up. Since they are non rocking they will sit lower so it may take a while to get Bridge/Neck aligned* the way you like it.

* Meaning - with a lower bridge the neck or neck shim may have to be adjusted. The stock and staytrem bridge are rocking they sit a little higher

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I put a Mastery on my Squier VMJM (not sure how the relevant aspects compare to the Bass VI but it’s what I’ve got), and all it needed from me was to widen the thimble holes in the body just a touch for the Mastery thimbles.

It was a very slight difference (like when a metric measurement and an imperial one are practically the same but not quite) but it was necessary.

A quick in-and-out with the smallest drill bit that met the slightest resistance and a little mild persuading with a rubber mallet and all is well.

 

[vjf1968]

I put a Mastery on my Squier VMJM (not sure how the relevant aspects compare to the Bass VI but it’s what I’ve got), and all it needed from me was to widen the thimble holes in the body just a touch for the Mastery thimbles.

It was a very slight difference (like when a metric measurement and an imperial one are practically the same but not quite) but it was necessary.

A quick in-and-out with the smallest drill bit that met the slightest resistance and a little mild persuading with a rubber mallet and all is well.

So using a stepper drill bit would probably be the right tool to widen the hole. Or would a reamer be the better option.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

So using a stepper drill bit would probably be the right tool to widen the hole. Or would a reamer be the better option.

I don’t know what a stopper bit is, and I don’t know if a reamer would be better (though I suppose it would at least work).

I used the same kind of drill bit I’d use to make a new hole. I chose the smallest one that was too big for the current hole. I turned on the drill and gave it a quick-but-controlled in and out, pulling the drill back out the moment I felt the bottom of the hole.

It really was just the barest widening that was necessary. I probably could have gotten the Mastery thimbles into the original holes with the rubber mallet, but I would have risked cracking the finish around the holes, and the thimbles would never come back out.

 

[BorderRadio]

I put a wide Bass VI Staytrem in my Squier VM, it was great. I put a couple Mastery's in several guitars, it's a piece of cake if the thimbles are standard size. Yes, a setup is required just like any other bridge swap.

Here's the problem, or why I didn't use a Mastery on my Bass VI. They are not supposed to rock, they are designed to encourage string slip when using the trem. The increased tension of a Bass VI and the fact all the strings are wound, means its a friction trap. But the bridge is locked/non-rocking, right? Strings are gonna get hung up, not 'slip n slide'. If it's just light use, the bridge or saddle will rock anyways, so maybe a moot point. YMMV.

Another thing I heard from a player I trust, is the collapse of the Mastery saddle from heavy gauge strings. Like 13s/14s. One time occurrence? Maybe, but again this was why I'm glad I went Bass VI Staytrem.

At this point, I realize Masterys are made for light gauge, plain G strings (or all wound), with very low break angles behind the bridge (2 to 4 degrees?). Nothing says it won't work for you though...just my 2 cents.