Tune-O-Matic (9.5") on Squier VM offsets?

[Dylan Ai]

I know the Squier VM Jags and JMs have a 9.5" fretboard radius and most tune-o-matic bridges don't come that way; however, I noticed that the Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster has a 9.5" fretboard radius and comes stock with a tune-o-matic bridge. Would one of these bridges work on a Vintage Modified Jaguar or Jazzmaster? Would they fit into the existing routing for the stock bridges?

[TWood]

I think the tune o matic on the squier JMJM isn't 9.5" radius. Also as it's a tune o matic I'm pretty sure you'll have to route the bridge post holes larger.

[dinosaurkale->]

it wouldnt fit
the squier jmascis has different spacing for the post holes

[Dylan Ai]

Thanks for the responses. That was my main concern when considering this as an alternative to the Warmoth Modified Mustang bridge as an affordable solution to the stock bridge issues (the Staytrem and Mastery are both out of my price range, and I consider it a bit excessive to put a $100-200 bridge on a guitar that costs $300).

The closest thing I've come to a bargain bridge is the Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster bridge ($20) which has the correct spacing, post size, and radius for the Squier VM Jags and JMs, and it's similar to the Mustang bridge in that each bridge saddle has a single groove for its string, significantly reducing buzz and slippage. It has some issues that take a bit of work to iron out, and the Warmoth alternative is superior, but for 20 bucks it can't be beat as a cheap, quick solution. I asked my Squier VM Jaguar how it liked it and it told me that it doesn't like it when I anthropomorphize it, so I can only say from my experience that the Blacktop bridge is quite sufficient and works well on it.

[Spoike]

Wouldn't a CP tune-o-matic bridge be fine? Those offsets have a 9.5 radius so it follows that the TOM that comes stock with those would fit a VM too.

[Kiso]

Wouldn't a CP tune-o-matic bridge be fine? Those offsets have a 9.5 radius so it follows that the TOM that comes stock with those would fit a VM too.

The CP TOM doesn't have a 9,5 radius, I'm pretty sure that there aren't any TOMs that have a 9,5 radius.

[Spoike]

The CP TOM doesn't have a 9,5 radius, I'm pretty sure that there aren't any TOMs that have a 9,5 radius.

What? But... the CP guitars have a 9.5 fretboard raidus, no? Why would they deliberately package those guitars with a mismatched bridge? That seems incredibly strange to me.

[andy_tchp]

Aside from the radius (Fender 'Adjustomatic' is 12" IIRC, and yes it's 'mismatched', but in the right direction (flatter)), the bridge post holes and thimbles are different as previously mentioned.

Anyway, I don't believe the Tune-o-matic bridge to be an 'upgrade' on anything, unless you find yourself with a guitar that has no bridge at all and only have a TOM lying around.


Buy a decade's supply of Loc-tite blue or purple for $10, apply to the threads of the grub screws (don't just dump it on top of the screw heads), set the bridge up, and enjoy playing your guitar.

[pantone247]

Hey, longtime lurker first time poster...

I bought a Gotoh TOM bridge for my VMJM.. model name Gotoh GE103B-T Chrome.. After much forum trawling and soul searching, the bridge arrived and dropped straight into the existing thimbles. The downside is that the bridge sits really tall, like 5-6mm taller. With a result the action is very very high. There's two solutions, that I can see, one is to grind the bridge posts down 5-6mm on a grindstone.

The other (crazier) solution, is what I've done, which is add a 5-6mm shim to the neck. Part of me feels that's too much shimming, but it's actually working out great and it's allowed me to try all this out in a completely reversible way. A side effect is that I actually quite like the high bridge, the increased string angle to the trem block and space and air around the strings at the strumming area is great.

In terms of feel I'm 100% happier with this mod. I had the guitar for six months with the original bridge and felt it was lacking something. The instrument felt flimsy and delicate, nothing too "dig into". It was as if a lot of the energy from a strum was dissipated though the bridges many moving parts and it's own posts loose fit in the the thimbles. The TOM felt like a huge improvement straight away, a much more solid feel, more response from the plucked strings and notably more sustain. A friend who has picked up the guitar occasionally commented on it straight away too.

Now full disclosure, I'm a Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, noise-y alt rock sort of player. So it's no surprise that this mod worked out for me, TOM bridged JMs were a big part of why I went for this type of guitar. I'm sure there's some subtlety lost in the guitar since I made the change, and a sense of a finely balanced instrument (not that I could ever find that perfect balance!) but what I have in return is a solid lively guitar that I'm playing way way more often. At the end of the day that swings it for me.

The bridge only cost 26 euro so it's worth trying out imho! Oh and the radius is different, you can see it straight away though not as much as you'd think.. I don't even think about it when playing.

[601210]

IIRC, J Mascis pretty much asked for the bridge - neck radius mismatch. Heaven knows why, but I'm not about to question it .

[lunaticjaguar]

Thanks for that info pantone... I have a warmoth bridge on my vmjm and the strings pop out... Been considering a TOM... Have one on my mij jaguar and love it.. Radius be damned!

[chadd]

If you're handy with some small files and have the patience, the outer 4 saddles of a 12" radius TOM can be filed lower to match a 9.5" radius. I did this to a Guitar Fetish TOM with un-notched brass saddles on my SQJMJM and I'm happy with the outcome. It also allowed me to customize the string spacing a little wider than the stock bridge, which it my preference for playing fingerstyle.

[Harrison]

You can get away with a traditional mustang bridge and either live with the mismatched radius (which isn't such a big deal) or you can put some washers under the outermost saddles to get to the 9.5 radius.

[veryredtomatoes]

Just use a file and some blue loctite on the stock bridge, and you're good to go. Besides, the stock bridges look cooler than anything else out there. This is the one area that I think the JMJM can use help. I'm eyeing the compton pretty hard these days.