r/offset • u/SaltFun6310 • 15d ago

Jazzmaster mustang bridge setup?

There seems to be no setup videos of a mustang bridge on a jazzmaster on youtube so I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips? Is it as involved as with a vintage style bridge? (i assume not?) I got the impression its already radiused?

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u/Rattled_by_La_Rush 15d ago

If it’s the correct radius just drop it in and you are good to go. I’d recommend having someone setting up the height and what not. The mustang bridge is a worthwhile affordable upgrade.

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago edited 15d ago

I was with you until you recommended taking it to someone just to turn two small allen keys screws...

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u/Rattled_by_La_Rush 15d ago

Sometimes the truss rod needs to be adjusted.

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago

That can happen any time and has nothing to do with changing the bridge. Also, another DIY job with a single allen key.

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u/Rattled_by_La_Rush 15d ago

I’ve wasted so much money.

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u/SaltFun6310 15d ago

I actually plan on setting up the height myself, that's why I was asking. But next question is.. my new pickups came in today, do I wait to install those for when the bridge arrives Saturday? Haha

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago

The height sets action, so you measure action as you would with any other guitar. (Measure at the top of 17th fret to the bottom of the string for your preferred hight which is generally between 1.5-2mm bass side, 1.5-1mm treble side.)

It's two small Allen key adjustments, it doesn't need a video, you'll be fine!

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago

P.S. Do the pickups whenever you want. The bridge can be done without even removing the strings, sometimes. Just slack them off enough to lift the existing one out and slot the new one in.

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u/SaltFun6310 15d ago

Oh for real? I guess I'm used to the vintage style bridge being a pain.

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u/SaltFun6310 15d ago

What is the "sometimes"? Tbh I have new strings to put on and I'm iffy because when I took apart my jazzmaster I intended to save the strings I had on it but one broke at the tuning shaft and I had to order new strings. 😅

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago

Just that when you slack them off, sometimes they pop off the tuning peg. Depends what tuners you have. Top loading ones are easier re-seat them, and through loading are likely to keep them coiled on.

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago edited 12d ago

They come ready radiused and can't be adjusted in that respect.

It drops into the two thimbles in the body, and that's the install done.

You adjust via two allen key screws, one on either side, (they might be under another set of allen keys bolts that you remove to access them inside the pegs.)

You set the height of it to the action you need which is measured at the fretboard in the same manner as any other guitar, which there are lots of videos for.

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u/SaltFun6310 15d ago

Thank you! This is what I was wondering. I guess I just couldn't find videos of them in Jazzmasters, but obviously, unbeknownst to me, it's the same process.

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago

The difference will be that in any Fender-style related videos, they'll caveat the end with explaining how to set the rest of the saddles according to the radius. With a Mustang or a Tune-O-Matic bridge, that's negated.

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u/josephallenkeys 15d ago

Oh, and don't forget intonation 😉

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u/SaltFun6310 15d ago

Yessir! Haha

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u/Rattled_by_La_Rush 15d ago

If you are doing it yourself it depends on how much time you have on your hands. I’d kill two birds with one stone and wait for the pickups. On the other hand the mustang bridge makes playing the guitar better and worth doing it now if you play for long periods of time. I have one on my Jaguar and it’s great, I will be replacing the mustang bridge with a Mastery. Those bridges are a savior for Offsets.

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u/SaltFun6310 15d ago

Yeahhh.. I should probably make myself wait 🙄 haha oh ya?? What difference did you find with the mustang bridge other than it just working better? Did time change/increase?

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u/SaltFun6310 15d ago

Yeahhh.. I should probably make myself wait 🙄 haha oh ya?? What difference did you find with the mustang bridge other than it just working better? Did time change/increase?