Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

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dune736
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Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by dune736 » Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:09 pm

Need to upgrade the tremolos on both my Squier VM Jazzmaster and Jaguar. I"m wondering if the Stew Mac tremolo replacement is any better then the stock one. I know people complained that the lock does not work, but I don't care about that. I'm more interested in its stability and feel. Is it as good as a Fender AVRI Trem?
Thanks
Last edited by dune736 on Sat Jul 20, 2019 7:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

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jorri
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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by jorri » Fri Jul 19, 2019 3:53 pm

As good as the AVRI trem?

Looking at it it seems to have the tighter string spacing. never liked that myself.
And at twice the price the AVRI trem looks pretty well machined and with superior metals.
But saying that, the one trem system where the arm actually stays put is on my squier.

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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by Danley » Fri Jul 19, 2019 7:43 pm

I think I had one of these (judging by pictures.) IIRC it was an MIJ (or identical) vibrato without the logo. Not the worst, but sort of meh. Nowhere near AVRI quality, nice if you only want the lock button.
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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by ThePearDream » Sat Jul 20, 2019 7:23 am

I have a few. The locks do work (when set up properly). They are definitely an improvement over the Squier units, but nowhere near as good as an AVRI. I'd say they're worth what StewMac charges for them. I also have an Allparts unit with the lock, but I think the StewMac is better.
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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Jul 20, 2019 7:27 am

I think the AVRI is basically the base level of quality, personally. It's nowhere to save a buck.
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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by Chillysalsa » Sat Jul 20, 2019 10:40 am

It was ok, looked Per pretty much exactly as the Japanese reissue one. Never mounted it though since i had both and rather have the logo on.

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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by Danley » Sat Jul 20, 2019 10:51 am

Larry Mal wrote:
Sat Jul 20, 2019 7:27 am
I think the AVRI is basically the base level of quality, personally. It's nowhere to save a buck.
After my headaches with other vibratos (recent MIJ are terrible) I’m only going AVRI or vintage.
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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by dune736 » Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:35 am

I was figuring that was the case, but hoping the Stew Mac trems were decent so I did not have to dish out $100 for a AVRI trem and arm.
Oh well. Thanks for the input everybody.

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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by Kwyjibo » Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:46 am

dune736 wrote:
Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:35 am
I was figuring that was the case, but hoping the Stew Mac trems were decent so I did not have to dish out $100 for a AVRI trem and arm.
Oh well. Thanks for the input everybody.
It's really not THAT bad...I put one on a project guitar because I didn't want to spend the money for an avri or staytrem, at the moment. I'll save some dough and upgrade in the future, but the stew mac trem works just fine for the time being. I'd only say just make sure you spend the time actually getting it setup properly and it'll do you well. I wouldn't stick one on an expensive JM or anything, but it's a solid place holder and the price is right

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Re: Anyone try the Stew Mac/Golden Age Jazzmaster Tremolo?

Post by Kwyjibo » Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:48 am

Get one and install it on one of your guitars...If you like it, get another. If not, you didn't blow a lot of money and you can always use it for a project or if you're in a bind. Really no money lost

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