If it's a big deal to fix it, I will just live with it. Spam Formum posts this morning. The Player Jazzmaster is for the player looking for legendary design, all the classic features and most-of-all versatility. Love your enthusiasm. Dont worry, if you tighten them down they shouldnt move, and the threaded end of the screw is just short enough to avoid the strings entirely. -- Jazzmaster floating tremolo and bridge Because that bridge doesnt rock in its thimbles, it provides a far better tuning experience. Very helpful for me, another Jazzmaster tragic Thanks, Why dont you just put a hardtail from a tele or something on a jazzmaster style body?. The string hitting the screw on the plate is common, that's why Wronski recommends counter-boring the holes and using flat head screws, the buzz stop that Dave uses makes it worse. I was going to make four modifications to get the bridge/trem set up working properly: a barrel-shaped string tree, a Staytrem wide bridge for Bass VI, and replace the (Squier) non-locking trem unit with a genuine Fender locking one from a Jaguar (I think theyre the same but what about the spring inside?). It always returns bang in tune when removed from the case but the bridge tends to move slightly. Easy, right? If you're used to a simpler control system, the various features of the classic Jazzmaster might seem overwhelming to take in at first. That means the world! -- Hard-tail string-through-body bridge. The point Im trying to make is, guitars arent so fragile as some might think! Insane yet true! These Phillips screws were lower and flatter on older units, and the anchor itself was negligibly higher, so strings were afforded more room to freely pass over them. I just stumbled over this great series of posts apparently some visitors of your site came over to my site to play with the good ol interactive jag :-)) Im absolutely 100% in agreement with your reply to your friend. New stuff coming from the Men in Gray Suits REALLY SOON! When I compared the feel with that of my 1960 Jazzmaster, the difference was really pronounced, with the older unit feeling much more stiff, requiring more work to gliss notes. I say nay to the above solutions, and instead point to a trick I first learned about on Offset Guitar Forum, a haven for the offset-obsessed. When the Jaguar came out, Fender quickly realized that because the shortened scale length of a Jaguar meant lower string tension, the vibrato felt far too stiff. If you bend a string, use alternate tunings or retune your guitar, youre basically sawing through the string. YES, TOM! You can still use the trem, but only to lower pitch. LHR Thank you. *, The other big problem with this seemingly easy-to-understand system is the fact that its not visible in the way that a Stratocaster bridge or a Bigsby might be those systems are easy to work on, and if problematic, even easier to diagnose. That diagram has the strings much higher than in reality, the bridge would have to be extremely high. Add to it, the place the stings rub is exactly the worst spot for this kind of contact: the closing wrap at the ball end. Pushing that button back turns the trem into a kind of hard-tail! i've given up trying and just close the case on it. And hey, if you need your Jazzmaster or Jaguar expertly set up, look no further! Thanks for the tip on fixing the top E-string trouble! This problem isnt usually as persistent with vintage guitars, but on newer models the collet and arm arent exactly the same size or shape as the old ones, so more often than not there will be extreme amounts of play on the arm. Title is, 5 things you didnt know.. Blah blah, most of it is cool. Truly great articles. On current models, the screws are more rounded and a little taller, providing a sharp edge for your strings to rub against when youre playing even if you dont use the arm all that much. Please visit our friends in the surf music community: Contact Us Strings sometimes just flat-out break on these guitars, and it sometimes seems a futile effort to continually string the thing up when your high E is just going to snap in ten minutes. Does this mean you arent using Mastery bridges anymore? I usually use the Trem-Lock as a guide, especially if the player intends to use it. Its like a regular Mustang bridge, but with individual adjustment screws for each saddle like on the original bridge. Lastly, I am not sure what the original strings are, but Fender after-sales ones bottom E is 0.85, and the La Bella roundwound ones are 0.95 (to 0.26) to de-flop my low E. What do you think? Consequently, they started cutting one coil off the spring, resulting in better tension. Tom, if youre EVER in the area, drinks are on us and you can play as much Stairway to Heaven as you like in our shop. Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bYiSf5vAXg. My new arm is also very difficult to remove so I leave it in rather than risk breaking the collet teeth, I like it better that way than falling out like it used to. This is the method Ive used time and time again, and I couldnt be happier. Its literally the best thing you can do, especially if youre going to use the tension bar he installed. Is there any way to correct this issue without having to take the guitar apart? Where I mention using the Trem-Lock to set the tension properly, you can definitely pull up. Use drop-D, open G or C-minor? The model also featured a warmer, darker-sounding rhythm circuit, with its own separate volume and tone control wheels on the upper horn. At the moment, the trem is virtually unusable (straight out of the box) and I quite fancy having it working properly. The American Pro (as well as others with the screw-in arm) is equipped with a redesigned collet which does include a spring, but thats it. 60 days ago, midwestsurfguy: [Spoiler: I Have NoIdea], Kinman Nasty 90 Noiseless Jazzmaster Pickups: Make Noise without theNoise, Agents of Shielding: A Guide to GuitarShielding. Hi there, -- Hardtail bridge. No Foil magic hat.? As noted, theres one master volume knob and one master tone knob, both located on the lower bout. Home.Provide has always been one of my favorite sites on the web for info on differences between model years and the like, but Higher Evolution is a focused and concise resource on Offset info, so please take that as my personal blue ribbon! -- Two 60s Jazzmaster single-coil pickups Slide that button in and tune at your leisure. Thats why Im never surprised when one of these guitars come in without an e string; this is almost always the culprit. I love what youve done there! While fiddling with the spring something jumped back into place with a clunk noise.. behold everything is a-ok now, absolute luxury! Perfect for players with smaller-sized hands or young guitaristsDo not be fooled by this guitar's small size. Tom. You'll find that the rhythm circuit's neck-only-by-design tone is noticeably darker than the lead circuit's neck-only tone. With the vibrato, its all about finding the right amount of tension for the gauge of string in use, so that when the vibrato is actuated theres an appropriate amount of resistance. There is a reason why nearly every top list of Jazzmaster players on the internt features J Mascis. Surf guitar But why? Privacy Policy btw, it's the spring that hangs down lowest. Because its amazing! Much of the tuning instability folks complain about comes from the bridge, but the vibrato certainly can contribute. So there you have it! (LogOut/ When youre pressing down or lifting up on the bar, you are directly moving that plate, which the spring counteracts with just the right amount of resistance, lowering or raising the pitch of the strings. Yet, because of the secretive nature of this body-mount system, many players are hesitant to take the strings off just to access the vibrato, worried that something about their guitars will change the moment the final screw is loosened. These are hands-down my favorite guitars, and if I can help someone else fully understand how they work, my job is done. How much for that pickup? Fits right into the original thimbles too. -- Dual humbucking pickups And great tips on the floating tremolo! Heres the thing to keep in mind, though: You'll get a different sound from each method. Again, great writing! The trem lock is only there if you break a string and a throw the others out of tune, it doesn't matter how good the strings are. Weve been talking about some of the more widely misunderstood features of our favorite Fender Offsets, the Jazzmaster and Jaguar. music alive. With it's single volume, this Jazzmaster is for the guitarist that wants the simplist playing experience possible. The the floating bar which the strings are threaded had dropped into the slot so far that to thread the strings i had to depress the trem-arm to bring the floaty bar upwards. Are you sure you have it adjusted correctly according to the instructions, so the lock slides into place with just the slightest pressure on the arm. SurfGuitar101.com 2004 - 2018 by Brian Neal. For the record, I have .12-.52 DR Blues on that guitar. Of course you never get it, because Guitar Center and several other stores remove the sticker (see video link) and set the arm aside, due to theft. In other words, that the bar can then be pushed down and pulled up. Some light filing will almost always do the trick here, either with a small round file, or my favorite, Mitchells Abrasive Cord, which is like the Soap on a Rope of sand paper. Hi Mike, I was also wondering about the shim issue too as the bridge is already set low, exacerbating the break angle and rubbing issues. (I think thats bollocks, personally). The standard collet on AVRI, Squier, MIJ/CIJ, etc has never been fitted with a spring, Im sorry to say. https://www.driptones.com/. Maintain control over bends, dive bombs and vibrato better with jumbo frets and a fast 12"-radius. Most of all, Im surprised it took me 20 years to figure this out. Youll be well on your way to finding the right guitar for you. (And of course, last of all, Ill get a luthier to check out the nut!). Where this guitar really shines is it its tone. Im completely sold on the mastery bridge (apart from the huge price), was wondering if youve tried the graphtech jm/mustang bridge saddles, i have had these for years on a custom made jm and they definitely add sustain and are buzz free. If you need more upswing, adjust the trem a little loose and it should do everything you like! To activate the Jazzmaster's rhythm circuitwhich is fully separate from the leadsimply move the upper-bout slider switch to the "up" position (away from the neck). Be the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. I don't know if you can adjust the tension of these springs, but other members can fill me in on this. One more trick to prevent premature string death: solder the strings ball ends through the wrap! It can be found in many woodworking shops or at Stew Mac, and boy, is it a lifesaver! Keeping you in tune as you play is the Adjusto-Matic bridge along with a vintage-style "floating" tremolo tailpiece, granting an added touch of original-era authenticity. Thanks, Thomas! Whos coming to SG101? No Glue ha! The string hitting the screw on the plate is common, that's why Wronski recommends counter-boring the holes and using flat head screws, the buzz stop that Dave uses makes it worse. The lead circuit offered standard controls for a Fender guitar: single master volume and tone control knobs on the lower bout, and a three-position pickup selector toggle switch on the same side of the guitar. Spam Formum posts this morning. Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V29CUKbQDdY?rel=0, Features I own a jazz and two jags. If the unit is properly setup, that little button simply slides between the anchor plate and the Fender plate, stopping the anchor plate from raising, which in turn puts everything back in tune when engaged. Forum member theworkoffire suggests clamping the arm in a vice, with the collet-end exposed. No contests at this time. The Jazzmasters lead circuit is pretty straightforward. If theres something about which I become immensely excited, its the care and upkeep of offset guitars! PatGall: Effectively, it remembers how your guitar was tuned before you lost a string. This guitar is for the player looking for the golden era sound and style that defined the decade. All makes sense now break angle, string tension, strings snagging edge of bridge, screws on base-plate etc. 99 days ago, TheOutpost: Send us photos on Tumblr and well post your new squeeze! Because this system is whats known as a floating vibrato which refers to the trems ability to vary pitch up and down because it isnt resting against the body the string tension is balanced against that of the spring in the vibrato unit. Seriously, man youre right up there with home.provide in my book! Next pic, a 1966 Jaguar.. see how high the strings sit. New stuff coming from the Men in Gray Suits REALLY SOON! This does not fly with me. not sure if theyre as good all round as mastery tho. 63 days ago, jimbones: I love your site! Very cool! Theyll hold the plate secure whether or not the top plate is threaded, and the middle one will do more than enough with regard to holding everything together. Your strings are just going to rub on the screws that way. You can activate the lead circuit by setting the upper horn slide switch in the "down" position (toward the neck). But Ive learned the ALL Fenders with ALL tremolo styles come with a tiny spring that drops into the hole before you thread your tremolo arm! BONUS TIP: Dont do this with the strings at tension; theyll simply unravel, and then youll turn blue phrases the likes of which havent been heard since George Carlins untimely passing. In our last Demystifying article, we gave you some history and pertinent information about the offset bridge, and even a few tips and tricks to keep it in perfect working order. What exactly do you mean by, solder the strings ball ends through the wrap? Im jumping to conclusions, I know, but its really not that far-fetched. Unless youre Thurston Moore, you may not be able to afford a fleet of Jazzmasters to handle every tuning youre likely to use, but with the Trem Lock you may not need them. Mike. That diagram has the strings much higher than in reality, the bridge would have to be extremely high. (LogOut/ ive done the screw flip trick on my 2 of my jms, and it works great. I would just like to thank you for the solder the string end technique. I have a "Q" CIJ Jazzmaster and recently swopped the trem to an American unit and upgraded the strings to 12's flat chromes. The mini version of our most iconic model has every bit of mojo of the full sized version. I even put a little blurb about the Mastery at the end of the article! The rhythm circuit tone control uses a potentiometer with a different electrical value than the one used for the lead circuit, resulting in the differing sonic result you hear. i think that i found really solid solution for this problem. I too am a long-time Jazzmaster fan. is this normal? And thanks to all the fans who care about and keep surf Thing is, that day has likely come; with players ranging from Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine, Thurston and Lee from Sonic Youth, and Wilcos Nels Cline amongst others wringing every lush, wiggly note they can out of the wang bar, its as if a fog has lifted and the guitar-playing populace is more willing to accept this brilliant, but somewhat confusing, design. If youre like me, having the vibrato arm stay in place is a huge plus; when Im on stage absolutely losing my musical mind, its nice to have the arm stay in a dependable spot. No more need for teflon tape. The JR Daemonum pickups capture the range of Jim's tones from warn cleans to high-gain overdrives. Not kidding.. i'm not the kind of guy you'd kick sand in my face but i'm honestly getting a bit of muscle burn in operation! Check out our Lasts forever, too! Vintage Jazzmasters and Jaguars also had different springs! -- Adjusto-Matic bridge with vintage-style "floating" tremolo tailpiece The wheel nearest the slider switch will set your volume. I cant stand playing a brand-new guitar with the arm swinging wildly about like the tail of an excitable puppy. If you like your action the way it is, shim the neck a little. 98 days ago, bigtikidude: (LogOut/ Thats interesting. If fact, this happens so often that when I stroll into Guitar Center and see used Jazzmasters on the wall, theyre almost always missing the high e string, which leads me to believe that this problem was just that frustrating for its former owner. In this clip of Fender Play Live, guitarist Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos, Disheveled Cuss) sits down with the legendary Dinosaur Jr. guitarist/vocalist to talk about how he's developed his unique style over the years with the help of his trustee collection of Fender Jazzmasters. Im now tempted to flip those tremolo screws on my Jazzmaster like you suggest here, but Im going for somewhat of a replica of Robert Smiths old Jazzmaster from The Cures early days. When i bought my jaguar, i broke about 4 top e strings in a matter of weeks, but since i read this and started soldering them i havent broken one in months. The Mini Jazzmaster is for those seeking the full range of Jazzmaster tones, in a reduced size instrument. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Michael James Adams is a guitarist, writer, guitar tech, and Star Trek enthusiast based out of Long Beach, California. Im not a fan of the Graphtech saddles from a tonal perspective, but Im sure theyre a fine option. The Jim Root Signature Jazzmaster looks, feels and sounds like no other instrument in the Fender catalog. You may want to remove the unit and see if there is a mark where the arm hits the body cavity, drill a hole deeper into the body. I spent quite a while setting the spring and i've got it so the lock slides over easy without touching the arm, i think i got it about right because it makes a nice snick noise when i slide the lock. This makes for a tighter feel and greater touch-sensitivity. If you were buying a Mustang-style bridge, Id go Staytrem all the way. I can bend the arm just find, but it's too close to the body. You could also opt to file down the tops of your outer screws, which might at least put your mind at ease. Learn how to use common Jazzmaster controls and then check out our favorite Jazzmaster picks of 2020. Thanks for reading! Soldering the entire finish wrap of the string. I did the same mod to my MIJ Jaguar and used the same page to adjust it for.11 Chromes, there was no real difference in the tension or the arm height. Anyway, Ill no longer have to buy extra E-strings with every new set of strings, so thank you. 98 days ago, ArtS: Theres literally no place for it to rest, given that the collet is just a tube. Colophon. http://www.webrocker.de/jaguar/cms/2007/05/12/setup-the-tremolo-system/. Thank you. Bar-ectile Dysfunction Now that you have a basic grasp of the traditional Jazzmaster's controls, we're sure you'll enjoy figuring out how to incorporate its range into your personal repertoire. Im going to do a full-on treatment of the Mastery and why its the bees knees. All US-made reissue vibratos are the same, but with a Squier body you might have to do some routing to make it fit properly. Tom. Watch Jim Root demo and discuss his signature model below. When the proper tension on the spring is reached, youll be able to slide that little button back with no resistance. The Higher Evolution of Offset-Waist Guitars, http://www.warmoth.com/Modified-Mustang-C716.aspx, An Open[ish] Response to Fender CEO Andy Mooneys Thoughts on OffsetGuitars, Guitars with Issues: Where to Draw The Line? Also taken from The Higher Evolution of Offset-Waist Guitars. I heard Dave Wronski had problems with this too. More than one unaware player has mistaken a Jazzmaster in rhythm mode for one with a faulty bridge pickup! Crumb: Increase the bridge height to keep that string from hitting the screw. Aside from buying an aftermarket bridge, my aim with the last two articles was simply to give players some food for thought when dealing with the stock bridge. The stock bridge is meant to rock back and forth with the actuation of the arm, and in a perfect world it returns to its zero point, no problem. Aside from making weird noises with my Jazzmaster and creative solutions to guitar repair, writing is one of the few things that I truly treasure about myself. Of course, Great article! All comments and user contributed articles are property of the posters. Anything .095 or above is great! Whats more is that, since it seems like everyone and their brother is using a Jazzmaster or Jaguar these days, its hard to make sense of all of this popularity for a guitar that isnt pitch-stable. 18 days ago. i expect those would be hex head and a devil to find. And from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for your kind words about my writing. -- Three-way toggle pickup switch, two-way slide "lead"/"rhythm" switch This is because the Jazzmaster doesnt use identical potentiometers for its two onboard tone controls. Some people wrap tape around the end of the arm (which can be messy and sticky) and others will try to gunk them up, squirting some glue or something in there to cause more friction.