Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
- Tele295
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:05 am
- Location: Ventura, CA
- Contact:
Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
1. Does the bridge mount differently than a standard 2-point Jazzmaster bridge?
2. Do I understand that the tremolo is moved closer to the bridge, as compared to standard Jazzmaster placement?
Thanks in advance
2. Do I understand that the tremolo is moved closer to the bridge, as compared to standard Jazzmaster placement?
Thanks in advance
Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads - all aloha, all the time
- beatcomber
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 12:31 pm
- Location: Lexington, Mass.
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
1. Does the bridge mount differently than a standard 2-point Jazzmaster bridge?
A standard JM bridge will not drop in.
2. Do I understand that the tremolo is moved closer to the bridge, as compared to standard Jazzmaster placement?
It has the tailpiece moved closer to the bridge compared to a traditional, vintage-spec JM.
A standard JM bridge will not drop in.
2. Do I understand that the tremolo is moved closer to the bridge, as compared to standard Jazzmaster placement?
It has the tailpiece moved closer to the bridge compared to a traditional, vintage-spec JM.
-
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2989
- Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:07 pm
- Location: illadelph halflife
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
1. yes. it is different spacing, it uses the spacing for a TOM bridge
for both the squier and the fender mascis JMs
for both the squier and the fender mascis JMs
- superficial
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2022 2:00 am
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
I believe Staytrem do a rocker-style bridge that will fit the JMJM. Also there are roller TOM bridge options.
Yes, but that's also seen on some other Jazzmasters with traditional bridges E.g. the Vintera Mod Jazzmaster and the Player series IIRC. It's not necessarily a bad thing, and doesn't mean you can't use a different bridge piece.2. Do I understand that the tremolo is moved closer to the bridge, as compared to standard Jazzmaster placement?
- Lost In Autumn
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 886
- Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2020 3:01 am
- Location: Philadelphia
- Contact:
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
yes and yes. Both are ultimately the reasons that I never got on with my J Mascis Jazzmaster. I tried all manner of bridges and found some that worked acceptably well, however, there's no getting past the tremolo tailpiece placement. IMO, it chokes the harmonics from behind the bridge and deadens the sound. No matter which mods I did to the guitar, which bridge or pickups I used, it just felt dead to me, which is a shame, because my JMJM had one of the best playing necks I've ever had on a guitar. Lots of people think these guitars are the cat's pajamas, but I just couldn't bond with it. I tried a Standard Series HH with a number of different pickup combinations that had worked well for me on other guitars and came to the same conclusion: the tremolo placement killed the feel for me. YMMV.
- beatcomber
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2014 12:31 pm
- Location: Lexington, Mass.
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
If you want a traditional Jazzmaster, the Squier Vintage Modified is a great budget choice, and the more expensive (but still affordable) Fender Vintera '60s is also a great option.
- alexpigment
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 846
- Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2018 3:02 pm
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
I see that you have a Buzzstop in your profile picture. The bridge being moved forward is essentially just recreating a Buzzstop without introducing an additional point of contact where tuning issues "can" occur. The break angle over the bridge is increased, and I welcome this. The Adjust-o-matic bridge is not my favorite, but there are several ways to retrofit either a traditional or Mustang-type/Staytrem bridge. Lastly, the neck on the Mascis is worth the price of admission. I'd recommend the Mascis over the Classic Vibe, and if you don't like the bridge, go down the rabbit hole of addressing a replacement.
- Tele295
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:05 am
- Location: Ventura, CA
- Contact:
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
Thank you all for this very useful information!
Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads - all aloha, all the time
- skeletonpower
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2017 9:24 pm
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
So, to piggyback off this thread, I just installed a roller bridge on my JMJM, and I'm wondering the best way to deal with the radius difference. Any tips? I've never shimmed bridge saddles before, obviously.
- bessieboporbach
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 283
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:40 am
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
Vintera Mod JM uses a tune-o-matic bridge like the Mascis.superficial wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 12:03 amI believe Staytrem do a rocker-style bridge that will fit the JMJM. Also there are roller TOM bridge options.
Yes, but that's also seen on some other Jazzmasters with traditional bridges E.g. the Vintera Mod Jazzmaster and the Player series IIRC. It's not necessarily a bad thing, and doesn't mean you can't use a different bridge piece.2. Do I understand that the tremolo is moved closer to the bridge, as compared to standard Jazzmaster placement?
- bipedal2
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:04 am
- Location: WMass, USA
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
Depends on the roller bridge you're using, of course. I have a Wilkinson roller bridge on my JMJM and I shimmed individual saddles 2-5 with a few layers of aluminum snipped from soda cans. It's a bit rough and ready as I chose the # of shim layers based on feel and my eyes rather than formal measurement, but it's worked for my needs. (I'm pretty sure I got this suggestion from somewhere else on OSG years ago, so idea credit goes to that person.)So, to piggyback off this thread, I just installed a roller bridge on my JMJM, and I'm wondering the best way to deal with the radius difference. Any tips? I've never shimmed bridge saddles before, obviously.
- Duffy
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:34 pm
Re: Questions about the Mascis Jazzmaster
bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Mon Aug 22, 2022 5:58 pmVintera Mod JM uses a tune-o-matic bridge like the Mascis.superficial wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 12:03 amI believe Staytrem do a rocker-style bridge that will fit the JMJM. Also there are roller TOM bridge options.
Yes, but that's also seen on some other Jazzmasters with traditional bridges E.g. the Vintera Mod Jazzmaster and the Player series IIRC. It's not necessarily a bad thing, and doesn't mean you can't use a different bridge piece.2. Do I understand that the tremolo is moved closer to the bridge, as compared to standard Jazzmaster placement?
I am not an expert but it looks like it is definitely not simple to put an ordinary Tom or generic roller bridge on a player jag because the post bore holes for the bridge studs that are bored into the wood of the body are not properly distanced apart and this results in a situation where you can't find a roller bridge that will fit over posts that far apart. Because of this it seems like you would need to carefully plug the bore holes with pieces of dowel rod. Then drill new holes for the Tom or roller bridge of the correct radius as well as stud spacing. This is a big job requiring precision and artistic skill because it may be easy to mess up the area/paint around the new bore holes. A drop in roller Bridge would be great, but that's not the way it looks.
"I don't know why nobody told you how to unfold your love," George Harrison ... 'guitar gently weeps'.