Casterbridge : a Mastery contender?

[Gordon]

At least that's hat this video claims: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buK8qkbg9tE



The video popped up on my YouTube suggestions, but I don't think I've seen the bridge discussed here.

[efiug]

yeah this video popped up for me a couple days ago, I thought it was a little interesting but it seems like a lot of work to fit one of those in at the moment, would have to see what the guy comes up with if he made a specific one for offsets.

It seems like it kinda has the vibe of a wraparound bridge and I like those though so I'll probably keep an eye out for it.

[Jan Deal]

This is interesting. I will watch the video when I get home from work. The less moving parts the better in my opinion!

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Seems broadly similar to a Compton. Not exactly a reinvention of the wheel?

[BoringPostcards]

It’s ugly as sin, but seems to work well. I wish the YouTuber did the comparison without telling us what we are hearing throughout the entire video.

[Gordon]

Seems broadly similar to a Compton. Not exactly a reinvention of the wheel?

Well, yes and no. I'd rather liken it to Ron Thorn's Brassknuckle, made for Teles, which was made in small batches and is impossible to find now:



All three are compensated one-saddle bridges (as are/were a few others), but the Casterbridge wasn't meant to be mounted on posts, and will need a special version (or some work done, like on the video). Potatoes/potaytoes, I admit.

But I've been trying to get a Brassknuckle for years, so I'm really interested with this one. I've messaged the maker to see if the width would fit my Aluminati bridge, but I also might get one for my Tele. We'll see.

[Gordon]

Dietrich's shop, by the way: https://www.string-butler.com/shops/casterbridge/

[Chippertheripper]

I don’t hate the look of it, but it’s hard to find applicable with a wound G.

[Dr Tony Balls]

it’s hard to find applicable with a wound G.

LOL EXACTLY. Another piece of modern garbage that ignores full-function intonation. Throw it in the bin with the Mastery.

[Larry Mal]

I bet well over 90% of strings that are sold come with an unwound G these days, so whatever on that.

I like the looks of it to a degree. As has been pointed out, the less moving parts the better in my opinion. Then again, I use plain medium gauge strings and I don't need my bridge to accommodate something I don't use.

[Chippertheripper]

it’s hard to find applicable with a wound G.

LOL EXACTLY. Another piece of modern garbage that ignores full-function intonation. Throw it in the bin with the Mastery.

Eh, my mastery(s) intonate well enough, conversely.
Going forward, for the $, I’m on team Marr bridge, though. Maybe I’ve softened in maturity, but I’ve yet to jump a string with it.

[Embenny]

The video should be marked as a paid promotion. YouTube has a system for labeling videos like this. The guy got the bridge for free.

Other than that, I won't begrudge people their endless attempts to make or try out something new on their guitar. Personally, Mustang style bridges (including Staytrem and AmPro) do everything I could ever want out of my Offsets. They intonate properly, they float properly with vibrato use, they have no string retention problems, they don't have finicky screws that work loose, and they're available in the two radii that cover 100% of my Offsets that have vibratos. They're also readily available and reasonably priced.

But people will always look for funkier, more expensive and less convenient things that give them TeH t0nEz. This might have appealed to me 10 years ago, when I was still looking for ways to turn my Jaguar into something it's not. I tried to make a Jag into a Gretsch. I tried to make a Jag into a Les Paul Special (seriously, I had a buzzstop and P90s on there like 15 years ago). I tried all sorts of silly things before I just let my Jags be Jags.

[BoringPostcards]

Yeah, I’m on team Mustang bridge. I used to be on team Original bridge, but the grub screws loosening finally got to me.
I play pretty hard sometimes and have never skipped a string off the saddle, even when I was using the Original bridges.
Maybe it’s my strings, maybe it’s my set-up, but I’ve never done it.
I’d probably consider a stay trem, but I never got the hype or necessity of any of the other ‘improved’ offset bridges over the years.

[JSett]

I can live with a Mustang bridge but I do prefer the sound, stability and reliability of the Mastery. Never had any intonation issues either, or screws working loose. And you can have them nice and low without string-jumping.. I hate having to shim and the bridge being up in the clouds

[andare]

it’s hard to find applicable with a wound G.

LOL EXACTLY. Another piece of modern garbage that ignores full-function intonation. Throw it in the bin with the Mastery.

Then throw away every single Jazzmaster/Jaguar/Mustang pickup out there because with their flat pole pieces they completely ignore any fretboard radius, let alone the vintage 7.25" radius and wound Gs.
Only Stratocaster pickups have correctly staggered pole pieces, most of the time. Mine has the vintage stagger so if I dare use a plain G it will be louder.