It's time.
I've had a Staytrem on my JM for years, but always wondered how the Mastery compares. My upcoming Jag build has given me a good opportunity to try one, so here we are. I'm impressed with the general quality from an engineering perspective; it's a really nice bit of kit.
I'm wondering whether to chuck it on my JM for the next month or so just to see how it sounds on a guitar I already know well (not to mention learning how to adjust it)
Nicely packaged as well, though I must admit the hamster bedding went EVERYWHERE when I opened the tin. A bit of crush up crepe paper would have been better. Anyway, no big deal...
Comments
Anyway, very much looking forward to trying the bridge
Get that bridge on the JM
tried the ST.
Though a little drop of Loctite was required on the two JMs as vibrations from the strings were causing the saddle height screws to drop. Only had to be done once as the residue seems to be enough tk prevent it happening again.
The JM is less "plinky" and notes definitely feel like they ring longer, with more (I think) lower mid content - basically it sounds a bit fatter and that fatness remains right through the decay envelope of a note. I did a quick noodle vid with the ST before I switched, so will do another later and see if the difference it audible there - will post if so. But to the player it's definitely made a difference.
No issues with tuning & trem usage. I feel like the same amount of trem wobble makes the pitch move slightly less because the bridge isn't floating, but that's a subtle thing and I'm not 100% convinced it's true and it might be my brain hearing things that aren't there because I understand that's what happens in theory (I think).
Anyway, despite having been cynical for literally years, I'm quite impressed. Now I might need to buy another one...
Can I call dibs on the hamster bedding?
I don't dislike the look of it. My guitar is an MJT partscaster anyway, so has a mix of hardware from all over - the only actual Fender parts are the trem (with ST collar and arm) and a vintage pickguard. Honestly I've seen so many guys with these in bands I like over the last decade they've become fairly normal. Incidentally it was spotting one on TWOD's Adam Granduciel's Jaguar in their recent promo sets that picqued my interest, coinciding with a Jag build that I'd already had on the backburner for a couple of years.
I find the stock bridge now looks odd.
Glad to see @stickyfiddle is seeing first hand the level of difference. It is a bit of a head fuck at first, but in a good way
The only slight I have on the mastery bridge is that they can be inconsistent.
I have owned 5 or more over the years and some have been rock solid others have been rattly and prone to post drop. I had one that was literally buried in loctite and it still rattled and went wrong.
When it's right it unbelievably right. It gives you more of everything.
As much as I like the staytrem and I think it's a huge improvement over the stock bridge and the Mustang bridge I do think the mastery is king.
Interestingly, the listing that pops up when you google it is this one on Reverb, which is very obviously in a Mastery tin
https://reverb.com/item/33661311-fender-custom-shop-rsd-bridge-jazzmaster-jaguar-offset