Mastery or not to Mastery

[BK Verbs]

I have an AVRI 62 Jaguar that I've had for about 18 months. When I purchased it, the saddles had already been swapped for Mustangs. I took it in for a setup with 11s just after buying it and its been a fantastic player ever since. No issues, stays in tune, no intonation issues, etc. Zero complaints. Last fall, I scored a great deal on a M1 Mastery bridge off CL and its been sitting in its little pouch ever since. It took me a long time to bond with this guitar, but finally over this summer we came to an understanding and its been my main player ever since.

So do I leave well enough alone or do go for the swap?

[August]

Not worth the risk I say. I'll buy that Mastery from you and let you know how it sounds.

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Sounds to me like you don't need it. Why bother changing if you've just got the guitar where you want it?

[Chippertheripper]

Ill take another approach: Clearly you need another guitar to put that bridge on. Leave your current player as is for now, and buy/build something else.

[Lock]

Obviously buy another guitar. I wouldn't mess with it. I'm enjoying the characteristics of the standard bridge on a Jag I got recently. Sustain is overrated.

[Larry Mal]

Absolutely use it.

[zip73]

Leave well enough alone.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

as the mastery is a drop in without the need of any modifications (except maybe a intonation check/set up - but directly on the bridge so it won't affect your mustang bridge) you may just give it a try the next time you change your strings.
my stock bridge did also work for me with some adjustments... but I didn't miss it ever since.
the mastery gives me so much sustain and stability!

and if you don't like it - change it back (within minutes) and sell it!

the only bad thing that could happen - is that you would want to have a mastery on every single one of your electric guitars...

[BK Verbs]

If I was going to use it, I would consider going to 10s. I went with 11s in the beginning since my research told me that it should stabilize everything. What does a Mastery offer me beyond tuning stability and intonation? I'm currently good in that department.

[Embenny]

If I was going to use it, I would consider going to 10s. I went with 11s in the beginning since my research told me that it should stabilize everything. What does a Mastery offer me beyond tuning stability and intonation? I'm currently good in that department.

It alters the acoustic tone and resonance of the guitar. I once considered this an automatically good thing, since notes rang out more clearly and with more sustain. Then I realized that I prefer the traditional Offset bridge tone sometimes. I still have one Jag and one JM with a Mastery, but it's not the automatic improvement I once thought it was.

[andy_tchp]

It alters the acoustic tone and resonance of the guitar. I once considered this an automatically good thing, since notes rang out more clearly and with more sustain. Then I realized that I prefer the traditional Offset bridge tone sometimes. I still have one Jag and one JM with a Mastery, but it's not the automatic improvement I once thought it was.

+1. After using them since 2009, I sold both my Mastery Bridges to a fellow OSG-er a couple of years ago due to the change in sound/character when compared with the stock bridge.

The flipside to that is that you might really enjoy the change the Mastery brings. All for about 5-10 minutes extra effort during your next string change. Or conversely you can just slacken the strings, lift the bridge out and drop the Mastery in, then bring the strings back to tension/pitch.

[dmin77]

Not worth the risk I say. I'll buy that Mastery from you and let you know how it sounds.

LOL !!!

"i think i want to try me some of that mastery bridge.." -dewey cox

[thisisnickpaige]

Everyone’s nailed it. Stability is one thing, and string hopping is another, but the two main things I notice is it makes my jag play, sound, and feel as solid and acoustically loud as my 60s Tele, but with the ability to use a trem. And it makes my jag’s sustain increase to neck thru like status.

My jaguar is plunky and jangly enough for me, it’s not a thing to be feared but it’s not all gains, as they said. Do like what’s been said; loosen the strings, and swap it in. Can’t hurt to try it for a day or two, and get your own opinions. If you don’t like it you can swap back to your old bridge, and sell it.

[JVG]

If the mastery doesn't work out for you, sell it and get a Staytrem bridge - this will retain the offset look and sound, and will happily let you use 10s without any problem.

Cheers!
J

[repoman]

I wouldn't mess with it if the Mustang Bridge matches your fretboard radius and it working well. I have a Mastery and the thing still rattles. Its a step down from the Staytrem I had before despite being a lot more expensive.