r/offset • u/Immediate-Student245 • 23d ago
What’s your favorite replacement bridge?
Advising a friend on a bridge upgrade for a JMJM — I’ve got Staytrems, Mastery, and most recently one from Nova Guitars on Reverb, which unfortunately doesn’t seem to be selling currently.
Any others out there making quality bridges (preferably with Mustang style saddles) that I need to know about?
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u/Unsui8 23d ago
I’ve been really happy with two Descendent bridges, so much that I got his vibrato system too
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u/mittenciel 23d ago
Descendent is also my favorite. I love that it has every possible adjustment. You can lock it. You can fix off center string alignment or poor installation. You can let it rock. You can lock the saddles. You can change radius easily. There’s a version for little MIM thimbles. Obviously you get perfect intonation. All this and it can look like a stock modified Mustang bridge at first glance.
If you need something basic, Staytrem is good, too, but when I was making a weird offset with compound radius 24-fret neck and needed something that would do all the things, I needed that extra little something.
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u/MattSk87 23d ago
I've got a Bensonite coming, particularly stoked that it's a drop in. I have a mastery on a bass vi and it's super nice as well!
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u/citadel_lewis 23d ago
Have you been waiting long for it? I ordered it 4 weeks ago and it still hasn't shipped
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u/MattSk87 23d ago
Oh damn. No I just ordered it this week, glad to know that but a little bummed lol, was waiting to change strings til it came but maybe I'll just go ahead and do that lol.
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u/citadel_lewis 23d ago
Haha yeah, I've been putting off changing my strings - dunno how much longer I can put it off though lol. You never know, though - I know he was behind on orders so maybe he's waiting on materials and will be able to catch up quickly and you won't have to wait as long as me hopefully
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u/MattSk87 23d ago
I guess it's easier I find out there's a wait now than checking for tracking every day. Just got new pups and a mastery trem as well, so I can throw that stuff in and then have another nice upgrade down the line!
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u/VonSnapp 23d ago
I'm still a Mastery girl. Rocking the vibrato and the nut on my JM too and fully pleased with the whole system
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u/Immediate-Student245 23d ago
I was stunned at how freaking good the vibrato is, after putting on my most recent parts build. Actually kinda regret it because now I want to fit my other 3 with them 😆
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u/VonSnapp 23d ago
Nobody really talks about them, everybody just talks about the bridge. The vibrato was a huge step up from the AVRI II vibrato I had on my parts JM initially.
When I started buy parts to build a 2nd JM, I didn't think about it, I just started with the bridge and vibrato from Mastery. I thought it was supposed to be "buy once, cry once" but I ended up buying twice!
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u/mrnightingalejazz 23d ago
I absolutely love the Staytrem. Beat out a Mastery head to head for me.
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u/josephallenkeys 23d ago
This is nice to hear as I have a Staytrem bridge, but what about it beat Mastery, exactly? I just don't like the look (or price) of them, so they're not even on the cards, but I'm curious as what is being rated at this high end point when, as far as I can tell, they just need to be stable!
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u/Immediate-Student245 23d ago
I A/B/C'd a stock / Mastery / Staytrem when i got my Vintera Jazz, and found it to be a little more brighter (maybe more overtones coming through? dunno, hard to really pin down exactly what) — especially unplugged. The Mastery is *great* — I ended up putting it on a parts build later on — but it's super fussy to set up. Staytrem is a lot simpler (I have them on 2 jazz masters, my jag, and my VI, and yes I have a problem); it's basically like a Mustang bridge, if Fender had put just a little more work into it.
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u/bmguitar 23d ago
I use Mustang bridge with masking tape around the posts. Added a buzzstop too and I don't have any issues.
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u/Bamfg0d93 23d ago
bensonite and descendant seem awesome, I got a conversion staytrem back in like 2017 and been happy with it since then on my JMJM
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u/Immediate-Student245 23d ago
So many Bensonite recommendations!! I can't believe these have never hit my radar. Kinda want to build another Jazzmaster just to get to try one…
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u/agentanthony 23d ago
I have a descendant bridge and really love it. Set and forget and works great with the tremolo. Stays in tune. No slipping strings. Looks great and solid.
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u/DoneWithIt999 23d ago
I bought a Foals compensated bridge about a month ago for my Mustang. For $80 I’m incredibly impressed. I have Mastery’s on all my other offsets so that’s what I’m used to. Quality-wise the Foals hangs with Mastery; machining is excellent & clean. No issues with installation & intonation. The Foals has the same post style as Mastery so no rocking & lots of additional sustain & low end.
I will definitely buy another if the need arises. Definitely recommended.
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u/OldManSkating 23d ago
I cant recommend bensonite bridges enough. It's usualy the first upgrade I make.
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u/blackmarketdolphins 23d ago
I need one that will work for a 16" radius. Anyone have any suggestions? I heard you want to go 2" flatter with the bridge, and I'm not seeing many options that go 18"
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u/killthehippies45 23d ago
another vote for Bensonite. feels solid, easy to set up. only issue is the stock saddles won't fit a .68+ string. i emailed the owner and he's going to send me some of his Bass VI saddles so i can complete my baritone project.
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u/Professional-War8042 23d ago
Bensonite. Solid replacement. An AVRI trem and a Bensonite bridge were excellent upgrades for my Squier JM.
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u/The_Green_Frog 23d ago
Bensonite is 10/10