Mastery Hardtail?

For help with setups and other technical issues.
Post Reply
User avatar
minimumnishe
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:00 am

Mastery Hardtail?

Post by minimumnishe » Thu Oct 04, 2018 10:54 am

I know opinions on the mastery bridge are pretty divided here, but what are your thoughts on their hardtail offerings?

I recently picked up a reissue telecaster deluxe over the summer and the stock bridge really blows. I've enjoyed the mastery on my main JM enough to warrant the cost, so I've been looking at the hardtail versions that they make for telecasters.

The model I would have to get is the M9 model, with the chromed saddles and 3-screw footprint. It's 20 dollars less than a regular M1 which is good.

Has anyone else retrofitted a mastery hardtail onto one of their guitars? Or bought a guitar from a custom builder with one already installed?

User avatar
Larry Mal
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 19673
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:25 pm
Location: Saint Louis, MO

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by Larry Mal » Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:46 am

Well, I have a Mastery bridge on a Telecaster, so it's an M4.2 is what I have... I had to look it up.

I didn't really want to have to pay that much for a bridge on this AVRI Telecaster, I went from the stock bridge to a Joe Barden bridge, hated both of those, got a Callaham bridge for it, liked the way it sounded but never liked the playability of the guitar. For some reason the strings always felt too "loose", I have no idea why or how exactly to describe it. I love vintage Fender specs, I use a shim on my guitars, but it just felt too loose somehow. I didn't always like playing it- it sounded great, though, with the Callaham.

So, for whatever reason, I took a Hail Mary and got a Mastery for it. My way of thinking was maybe the three strings per saddle would help the string tension in some way, I don't know. It worked, though. It went from being a guitar I didn't like playing much to my #1 which is what is always was designed to be.

I still don't know if it is placebo or what.

Anyway, I can say that if you like the say your other guitars sound with Masterys, if you like that sonic structure, it'll be present with the other bridges. I have a Rickenbacker with a Mastery and the same thing happens to the sound of the strings with that. I guess those saddles and the plating adds a sonic quality to it that I like and not everyone else does.

Long story short, if you like it, you'll like this.

Frankly I thought the Callaham bridge with the stainless steel saddles sounded "better" in some ways, or maybe more interesting. I was sad to sell that on. It added a ghostly quality to the guitar, a resonance, that the Mastery didn't.

But the Mastery sounds great like Masterys do.

Hope this helps. I would recommend a Mastery in your case if you think you would like it. I have a Fender Lead 2, though, which could use that bridge that you are thinking about I think. I have a Callaham bridge on that and feel no need to replace it with a Mastery, though.

So I guess I will say that you probably would like the Mastery bridge if you like Mastery shit, if you wanted a super high quality and more traditional bridge, maybe look into Callaham. Those rule and only cost about $90 or so.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

User avatar
Shadoweclipse13
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 12435
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:22 pm
Location: Stuck in the dimension of imagination

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:17 am

I have never tried one of the Mastery bridges, but if you're looking for another option for a Tele bridge (or anything else), don't discount the Hipshot. My #1 has a Hipshot Tele bridge on it and it's great. Don't remember the bridge model number though.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

User avatar
minimumnishe
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:00 am

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by minimumnishe » Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:00 am

I am aware of Callaham stuff, if I decided to try and be a stickler for vintage, I would absolutely go for their bridges. Its a shame they don't make offset parts, as the stock bridge does have its merits. However I really like what you said here:
Larry Mal wrote:
Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:46 am
Anyway, I can say that if you like the say your other guitars sound with Masterys, if you like that sonic structure, it'll be present with the other bridges. I have a Rickenbacker with a Mastery and the same thing happens to the sound of the strings with that. I guess those saddles and the plating adds a sonic quality to it that I like and not everyone else does.
I really enjoy the sustain the mastery brings to the jazzmaster, and if I can get the same effect with the telecaster bridge that would be awesome.

As for Hipshot stuff, their aesthetic rubs me the wrong way, like their stuff just screams "metal guitar". If I ever decide to upgrade my p-bass tuners I would totally go with an x-tender and a a set of vintage-style pegs.

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by Maggieo » Fri Oct 05, 2018 11:00 am

If you're looking for a new Tele bridge, I highly recommend Chihoe Hahn's. It's so badass and harmonically rich.

Here's the shorty, with saddles.
Image

Here's the full plate, sans saddles:
Image


Here it the full bridge on my Hahn Model C:

Image
Hahn Jim Campilongo Model C Bridge, May 12, 2018 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
minimumnishe
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:00 am

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by minimumnishe » Fri Oct 05, 2018 1:44 pm

I guess I should have made it clear that I'm looking for a 3-screw hardtail style bridge. My bad :whistle:

User avatar
kgbAttack
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 225
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:30 am
Location: Europe

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by kgbAttack » Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:10 am

minimumnishe wrote:
Fri Oct 05, 2018 1:44 pm
I guess I should have made it clear that I'm looking for a 3-screw hardtail style bridge. My bad :whistle:
Isn't the 3-screw the AM Standard bridge? If so I don't think you could get a Mastery. I have the Callaham bridge for American Standard, I think it's great.

User avatar
clef051
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:39 am

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by clef051 » Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:25 pm

I have the m4.1 on a esquire build i did but i put a jazz master trem on it. I started with a american vintage trem that i cut notch's out in the back with a dremel. the saddles on that still let the strings slide around. Then I added callaham saddles, they helped a little but still had strings slipping. Finally I gave in and bought a mastery and have been happy since.

User avatar
MechaBulletBill
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2813
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:16 am
Location: UK

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by MechaBulletBill » Mon Oct 08, 2018 4:22 am

Maggieo wrote:
Fri Oct 05, 2018 11:00 am
If you're looking for a new Tele bridge, I highly recommend Chihoe Hahn's. It's so badass and harmonically rich.

Here's the shorty, with saddles.
Image
gonna check these ooouuuut, thanks for the tip!

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by Maggieo » Mon Oct 08, 2018 8:41 am

You won't be sorry!
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
minimumnishe
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:00 am

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by minimumnishe » Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:01 am

clef051 wrote:
Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:25 pm
I have the m4.1 on a esquire build i did but i put a jazz master trem on it.
Got any pictures? :?

User avatar
clef051
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:39 am

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by clef051 » Tue Oct 09, 2018 7:11 pm

minimumnishe wrote:
Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:01 am
clef051 wrote:
Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:25 pm
I have the m4.1 on a esquire build i did but i put a jazz master trem on it.
Got any pictures? :?
This is it
Image

User avatar
minimumnishe
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:00 am

Re: Mastery Hardtail?

Post by minimumnishe » Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:32 am

clef051 wrote:
Tue Oct 09, 2018 7:11 pm
minimumnishe wrote:
Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:01 am
clef051 wrote:
Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:25 pm
I have the m4.1 on a esquire build i did but i put a jazz master trem on it.
Got any pictures? :?
This is it
Image
Super tasty! ;D

Post Reply