Mod a Mustang bridge
- bjornsynneby
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Joined: Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:20 pm
Mod a Mustang bridge
Hello
I’m thinking of modding a Mustang bridge in order to decrease its E-E distance from 55,6 mm to 52mm. My plan is to drill new holes on the neck side of the bridge and put the saddles in these holes (after turning the bridge around and sanding the sides of the saddles a bit). Has anyone here done this mod before?
I know, I can just buy a Staytrem... call a friend in the UK and so forth. But I want to try this instead!
I’m thinking of modding a Mustang bridge in order to decrease its E-E distance from 55,6 mm to 52mm. My plan is to drill new holes on the neck side of the bridge and put the saddles in these holes (after turning the bridge around and sanding the sides of the saddles a bit). Has anyone here done this mod before?
I know, I can just buy a Staytrem... call a friend in the UK and so forth. But I want to try this instead!
- BrendanP
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:05 pm
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
I have. I used a bare mustang bridge to help make a paper template.
I marked the locations of the existing holes on the template ( with pencil lead) and measuring carefully, I drew in new hole locations with the changes in width. I taped this template to the mustang bridge and drilled the new holes.
I used stainless Allen head screws and replaced the springs with tiny nylon washers that are on the screws and keep things from moving. I had spare large mustang saddles, so I used large saddles in all positions. Radius achieved by grinding the bottom of the middle two barrels. Got it right the first time. I would love to see a 3D printed template you could snap on the end and drill away.
I’m really happy with it.
I marked the locations of the existing holes on the template ( with pencil lead) and measuring carefully, I drew in new hole locations with the changes in width. I taped this template to the mustang bridge and drilled the new holes.
I used stainless Allen head screws and replaced the springs with tiny nylon washers that are on the screws and keep things from moving. I had spare large mustang saddles, so I used large saddles in all positions. Radius achieved by grinding the bottom of the middle two barrels. Got it right the first time. I would love to see a 3D printed template you could snap on the end and drill away.
I’m really happy with it.
- timtam
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Location: Melbourne
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
If you want you can buy a blank bridge plate cheaply to work on, with just the standard width holes ...
https://www.guitarpartsfactory.us/index ... uct_id=914
Or an entire bridge can also be had cheaply ...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-bridge- ... 3773145258
Note that if you go with the Mustang saddles in the above import bridge they have small gaps between them. So they may not need much filing of the sides to get them down to 52mm E-E spacing when the new screw holes are drilled.
https://www.guitarpartsfactory.us/index ... uct_id=914
Or an entire bridge can also be had cheaply ...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-bridge- ... 3773145258
Note that if you go with the Mustang saddles in the above import bridge they have small gaps between them. So they may not need much filing of the sides to get them down to 52mm E-E spacing when the new screw holes are drilled.
"I just knew I wanted to make a sound that was the complete opposite of a Les Paul, and that’s pretty much a Jaguar." Rowland S. Howard.
- bjornsynneby
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Joined: Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:20 pm
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Thank you gentlemen! So I will go for an import bridge and grind the two middle saddles as a start. I guess I don’t have to grind more than one mm (1/25”) in order to achieve the radius?
Good idea with the template.
Good idea with the template.
- bjornsynneby
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:20 pm
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Ok, so I did a paper template and marked the new holes with 10,5mm string spacing and drilled the 3mm holes.
Then I sanded the barrel sides so that they would fit the string spacing.
Since the string spacing were altered the radius of the bridge had to be aligned back to the 7,25" radius. This was done by sanding the bottom of the saddles that deviated from the 7,25" curve.
The intonation springs were replaced by nylon washers. The washers were cut out of my daughters Hawa Beads.
The modded bridge sounds great and feels really good. IMO an option to the Staytrem bridge import hustle.
Then I sanded the barrel sides so that they would fit the string spacing.
Since the string spacing were altered the radius of the bridge had to be aligned back to the 7,25" radius. This was done by sanding the bottom of the saddles that deviated from the 7,25" curve.
The intonation springs were replaced by nylon washers. The washers were cut out of my daughters Hawa Beads.
The modded bridge sounds great and feels really good. IMO an option to the Staytrem bridge import hustle.
- BrendanP
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:05 pm
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Nice! Was it easy drilling the new holes? Mine was made from some pretty soft metal.
- Debaser
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Location: Phoenix AZ
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Nice work there. This is a good way to make a 9.5" radius Mustang bridge as well. How are the nylon washers holding up, no ringing or buzzing?
50,000 watts out of Mexico, this is the BorderRadio...
- bjornsynneby
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:20 pm
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Thanks! Yes and no. The holes were hard to centre but the drilling part was easy. One of the holes was centered a bit bad and the hole was drilled closer to the edge than the others as you can see above.
Last edited by bjornsynneby on Sun Jun 16, 2019 12:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- bjornsynneby
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:20 pm
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Thank you. Yes it should be fairly easy to make a 9,5” radius with this method. The nylon washers are working quite well. I secured the intonation screws with loctite and there was no buzz or ringing.
However the tone is a bit damped and since I have set up every detail between tuners and tremolo I came to the conclusion I wanted to try if I could open up the tone by re finishing my guitar body. So I want to take away the linseed oil varnish and put on some nitro.
- aliendawg
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Location: brazil
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
I'm thinking of trying this method! Did you print the template or did you do it by hand? What mods should I make to turn it into a 9.5 radius?
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- Embenny
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Just FYI for those of us who are less handy but don't want to go to the trouble of smuggling Staytrem bridges, Fender now offers stock barrel saddle ("Mustang") bridges with 52mm (2 1/16") spacing as standard parts.
The Johnny Marr bridge, part number 7712971000, has a 7.25" radius, and the American Professional Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridge, part number 7709942000, has a 9.5" radius. You can get them for about $79.
The Johnny Marr bridge, part number 7712971000, has a 7.25" radius, and the American Professional Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridge, part number 7709942000, has a 9.5" radius. You can get them for about $79.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.
- aliendawg
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Location: brazil
Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
Oh the new CV Squiers' right? Where can we get them though?
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- niksureal
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Re: Mod a Mustang bridge
i know i have seen the new classic vibe bridges sold as a stand alone part but am having some difficulty finding it again. stratosphere has a classic vibe bridge/vibrato set for $40. i purchased one and it was indeed 9.5 radius with 52mm spacing and now i have a spare vibrato lying around in case of emergency haha.
https://stratosphereparts.com/fender-sq ... ge-nickel/