So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

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Lame Pseudonym
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So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by Lame Pseudonym » Wed Apr 15, 2020 11:42 pm

Hello.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I locate the strings on my 1960 Jazzmaster so that the strings aren't falling off the edges of the neck, the strings are just on the holes for the height adjustment screws on the barrels. This is not optimal.

Stupidly, I bought Mustang barrels, and they force me to put the strings in their centers, which is to say, falling off the neck. And they were brass, too, which kind of un-Jazzmastered the sound.

But what do I know, the last time I looked at this was years ago. Is there anything now that's like the original parts, chunks of threaded steel rod, but spaced closer so that the strings might be both over the neck and in the middle of the barrels?

Yes I searched. No I didn't find.

Thank you kindly.

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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by zhivago » Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:16 am

How strange, ???

I have a 1/61 neck on my Jazzmaster, and I've used an Allparts Mustang bridge on there for over a decade with no problems at all...is it a narrower spacing mustang bridge (or saddles) that you have on there? Maybe for an A width neck?

Here's some photos of my guitar:

Nut:

Image

all good down the neck:

Image

Mustang bridge:

Image
Resident Spartan.

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timtam
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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by timtam » Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:29 am

Lame Pseudonym wrote:
Wed Apr 15, 2020 11:42 pm
I don't know about anyone else, but if I locate the strings on my 1960 Jazzmaster so that the strings aren't falling off the edges of the neck, the strings are just on the holes for the height adjustment screws on the barrels. This is not optimal.
Measure your E-E spacing when the strings are sitting correctly spaced for your neck. That should tell you what your best bridge options are. Many Mustang style bridges are around 56mm; if yours is like that then you obviously need to go narrower. The Mustang-style bridge on the more recent Marr jaguars has ~52mm E-E spacing. It's out of stock now with the only store that had it, but he's good at telling people when stuff should be back in ...
https://darrenriley.com/store/fender-jo ... 712971000/

Otherwise if you're in the UK, or can afford the current ebay prices, the Staytrem has similar 52mm spacing.
"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.

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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by Lame Pseudonym » Thu Apr 16, 2020 7:46 am

Thanks, 52 is indeed the correct number.

I can actually drive to Darren's shop, he's a fine fellow. Except he's not doing walk-in trade during the pandemic and I don't blame him one bit. Kung Flu is kind of an ugly way to die.

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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by Lame Pseudonym » Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:55 pm

I'm fixin' to buy one of Darren's 52mm Jazzmaster bridges. But I suspect that the saddles are going to be brass and I don't think I want brass.

Take a look at this:

Image

That's an Allparts offset saddle, and it looks kind of stubby, doesn't it? I mean a little shorter than a conventional Jazzmaster part? I mean like it might fit a 52mm bridge? And threaded saddles are usually steel, right?

Whattaya think?


PS I asked them and they didn't reply, which I don't blame them considering the complicated nature of all this stuff.

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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by adamrobertt » Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:57 pm

This one also has the narrower 52mm spacing https://darrenriley.com/store/fender-am ... 709942000/

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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by timtam » Thu Apr 23, 2020 5:01 pm

Lame Pseudonym wrote:
Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:55 pm
I'm fixin' to buy one of Darren's 52mm Jazzmaster bridges. But I suspect that the saddles are going to be brass and I don't think I want brass.

Take a look at this:

Image

That's an Allparts offset saddle, and it looks kind of stubby, doesn't it? I mean a little shorter than a conventional Jazzmaster part? I mean like it might fit a 52mm bridge? And threaded saddles are usually steel, right?

Whattaya think?


PS I asked them and they didn't reply, which I don't blame them considering the complicated nature of all this stuff.
A 52mm bridge has the intonation screw holes drilled 10.4mm apart (52mm/5 gaps) in the bridge plate. The saddles should thus be 10.4mm wide or less in order to maintain the 52mm spacing between the strings. If they are wider than that, the centres of the saddles will obviously be pushed further apart than 10.4mm.

Allparts don't appear to specify their saddle width. As long as the bridge plate you get is drilled for 52mm E-E, in a pinch wider saddles can be filed down a tad on each end until they fit.

In recent years the Mustang bridges coming out of SE Asia have been ~56mm E-E (usually 7.25" radius) but often with more of a gap between saddles than was usual. Those saddles are ~10mm wide. So finding one of those inexpensive bridges and scavenging the saddles would be another option if you have a 52mm plate but need narrower saddles to maintain that spacing.

Fender's 52mm bridge/saddle options are the later-generation Marr (7.25" radius) and later-generation Am Pro (9.5" radius) Mustang-style bridges.
"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.

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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by Lame Pseudonym » Fri Apr 24, 2020 12:41 pm

Oh, poo, I ordered the American Pro bridge, not realizing that the tighter radius is what I probably need.

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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by andy_tchp » Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:42 pm

Aside from the strings not being 'centred' in the threaded saddles, is there any actual issue with the stock bridge?

My AVRI is the same, stock bridge. E strings sit right next to the height adjust holes in the saddles. I think every stock style bridge I've encountered has been like this, vintage or otherwise.

Total non-issue. I certainly wouldn't be removing a vintage bridge because of this.
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Re: So about that string spacing (1960 Jazzmaster)

Post by jorri » Sat Apr 25, 2020 2:47 am

I'd agree it's non issue unless there's an issue produced by it, like buzzes. If it's over the screw it's not ideal. But if it's over one string only then a better idea is to just align the neck: losen bolts quarter turn and push the neck then tighten.

Side note: anyone actually prefer 56mm? I think I've always used but it's possibly a little narrower. Must be neck width. I have 9.5" so I'd love an am pro bridge but in wider spacing, no gaps.

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