My Jazzmaster bridge is doing my head in - advice needed!

Philtre

I have a nice American Vintage 65 Jazzmaster, but I spend more time getting rid of the buzz on the bridge than playing it.

The problem is that the hex screws in the bridge saddles work loose when playing it. Usually, one of the pair of hex screws in each saddle works loose and this causes rattle and buzz. Then I make a micro-adjustment to level it back up...until the next time. It's doing my head in! Any advice on how to fix this?

bbill335

Blue loctite is the thing for this. Definitely don't use superglue, and try not to use nail varnish if you can help it

Funkfingers

1) Lock the grub screws with a tiny drop of an adhesive material. (Somebody I know used shellac. Messy but effective.)
2) Change to Mustang saddles. (Fine for 7.25" radius.)
3) Invest - I used this word advisedly - in either a StayTrem or Mastery upgrade.

Lebarque

Staytrem

matt.drink73

Had the exact same problem on my CIJ to the point that the grub screw would ping out mid gig and leave me without a string. I swapped mine for a staytrem one, much cheaper than the masterys and works just as well

meltedbuzzbox

On the cheap clear nail varnish down the grub holes will stop movement fir a while.

Staytrem make a great replacement and it's reasonably priced, kind of. Drop in and minimal fuss.

Or mastery if you want extra sparkle and more umph.
Still requires fucking about with nail varnish/loctite. That seems to be luck of the draw. Some bridges behave better than others.

Babones

Telecaster





  

lewism

Had the same issue on a Tele Bigsby bridge. Read a comment in an article about dropping the bridge low and then raising the saddles back up with the screws. The change in angle holds the screws tight in the saddle and stops them loosening and buzzing - worked for me.

Philtre

Found this -



Might give this a try tomorrow.

Grocer_Jack

Forget the nail varnish or loctite bodges. Get a mustang bridge or a more expensive (£65ish?) Staytrem. I have one of each on my Jazzmaster and Jaguar and both work perfectly - simple, stable and get the job done. 

guitars4you

Funkfingers said:

1) Lock the grub screws with a tiny drop of an adhesive material. (Somebody I know used shellac. Messy but effective.)
2) Change to Mustang saddles. (Fine for 7.25" radius.)
3) Invest - I used this word advisedly - in either a StayTrem or Mastery upgrade.

that is the way many go - especially option 3)

JD50

After pushing 20 years of messing with Jag/Jazzmaster bridges loctite and then the Mustang bridge I went for a Staytrem... never looked back it solves all the issues.

Wazmeister

Honestly mate, dont bother with any remedy... just get a Staytrem

GavRichList

Yep, having had both, I prefer staytrem over Mastery. Not worth the fuss of doing anything else. Order one, love your guitar. Make sure you order the 7.25” radius one. 

Gagaryn

Yup, another recommendation for Staytrem here. Loctite works though if you don't want to be so spendy. You can still have issues with the string jumping grooves with the original though, depending on how hard you play and break angle on your guitar. Staytrem is great! :-)

impmann

I'm sure loctite or nail varnish works for some... (btw - how many male guitar players actually own clear nail varnish? Its always said by those who advocate as though its something we 'all' have...)

But really... just fit a Staytrem or Mastery. Fit, forget and enjoy the experience.

stickyfiddle

Wazmeister said:

Honestly mate, dont bother with any remedy... just get a Staytrem

Yeah, really this. 

Philtre

Thanks for feedback, guys. I put some PTFE thin tape in for now. It might stop the grub screws from loosening but the rattle can still appear if the grub screws are not set up perfectly.

Regarding the Staytrem - obviously you can't adjust individual string heights with this. Is this a problem?

punchesjudy

Staytrem are brilliant! 

And nope, as long as you get the right radius which in your case will be 7.25" you'll have no need for individual string height adjustment. 

Grocer_Jack

With the Staytrem there's an option to get little teflon 'seats' that the bridge posts sit in to keep the bridge upright. I know the floating bridge isn't supposed to work like this, but I've found that it makes the trem more solid and doesn't really affect the travel. 
On my Jazzmaster I've got the cheap solution of mustang bridge + insulating tape for the bridge posts. On my Jag I have the Staytrem + Teflon seats. Both are absolutely rock solid. 

impmann

punchesjudy said:

Staytrem are brilliant! 

And nope, as long as you get the right radius which in your case will be 7.25" you'll have no need for individual string height adjustment. 

This.

In fact, for the vast majority of cases it makes set up easier and more accurate.