Fretbuzz on my new JM MIJ with Graphtech saddles - I'm considering changes

[andy_tchp]

Blue loctite was the cure in my case.

FWIW this might be a Bad Idea(™) given the Graphtech saddles are made from some type of plastic polymer and could be damaged by the use of incompatible solvents within Loctite 'Blue'.

These products rely on the presence of metal (and absence of oxygen) to properly cure/function and do not play nicely with certain plastics, as stated on the bottle:

MAY ATTACK SOME PLASTICS

Vibratite VC-3 claims some level of plastic compatibility but can be difficult to find/expensive.


Regardless; just find a better bridge as alexpigment suggests. My experience with those saddles on a Telecaster was that they sounded shithouse anyway. They removed all character/interest and gave it a really 'generic electric guitar' sound.

[B.T.]

^My thought was the bridge post screw on the high strings side coming down (aka a little Loctite and Bob’s yer uncle) . The whole scenario is weird as to why it just started making these plingy fret noises at a specific section of the fretboard shortly after it was brought home.

[alexpigment]

BT, I still think you've missed the issue somehow. These are not *fret* noises, and they're not in a specific section on the fretboard. They're vibration noises triggered by specific notes on the fretboard (i.e. fret 3 on the G string, fret 11 on the B string, and fret 7 on the E string are all A#). If you've ever sat on a bass amp and wondered why certain notes make your butt feel funny, it's *that* sort of thing. As for why it started happening when he got home, who knows, but if the saddles don't have a natural resting place on the bridge, things will be shifting even if you just do a big bend. I also assume this is "fixable" by tinkering with the existing parts, but it's going to be a temporary band-aid.

Look at the gaps in the G/B/E saddles in the video:

[Franz the Stampede]

Hello!

Excuse the awkwardness here but I'm sharing 4 photos of me measuring the radius (as a video). I take it it's indeed 7.25, but I find the difference really minimal. I could have lived all my ife thinking this was the same as my 9.5 Teles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU5A11mS0-o

Meanwhile, the guitar seems to have just settled and the issue seems mostly gone, but I agree that the saddles are not wide enough for the bridge. I'll try and investigate and play a bit more.

What is the recommended bridge width for a 7.25 JM? The 55 or 52?

[bipedal2]

+1 to a few of the earlier responses in this thread: most of that when playing lower frets sounds like something else vibrating on the guitar rather than buzzy frets. I occasionlly get a sound on my AVRI62 JM (w/Mastery bridge) very similar to what's in the OPs video, and I'm pretty certain it's coming from my guitar's trem mechanism, maybe rattling springs or in the interface between the trem bar and the collet.

[alexpigment]

What is the recommended bridge width for a 7.25 JM? The 55 or 52?

55mm is OK, but the E strings will be close to the edge of the fretboard and may slide off the edge when fretting, especially if the neck is not perfectly straight (which isn’t uncommon). 52mm is better imho.

The only 52mm 7.25” bridge Fender sells is the Johnny Marr Jaguar bridge. There are others as well, but they’re going to be more expensive.

The standard Mustang bridge Fender sells (see link on previous page) is quite a bit cheaper but it’s 55mm.

[Franz the Stampede]

Thanks. Should I assueme the bridge on this JM MIJ is NOT the original one, because it would have been a 52mm bridge?

[alexpigment]

I actually think it’s more likely that it came with a vintage style bridge with the threaded saddles, so it would have been 55”. The threaded saddles allow you to choose your own string spacing to some degree, though they’re an imperfect design in my opinion, and several other things need to be right about your guitar for them to work well. Mustang style bridges are just more forgiving.

To be clear, it’s likely that the bridge is original and someone replaced the saddles because they were not getting along with them.

[Franz the Stampede]

Thanks, I do have the original saddles, too.

Sounds like it's gonna be the Johnny Marr bridge, but maybe part of it might come from selling the Graphtech saddles and the original ones?

But I'll try and understand better how well I can I live with the 55 bridge, first.

[alexpigment]

I didn't realize you had the original saddles too. I assume they're the vintage threaded typed, right? Either way, definitely worth giving them a try.

As for the Johnny Marr bridge, some places list them as the "American Professional 7.25 radius" bridge, which is factually inaccurate, but whatever. Here's an Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Fender-American- ... 09SJMJDFW/

The American Professional guitars have never used a 7.25" radius, just to be clear. This bridge has only ever been used on the Johnny Marr Jaguar to my knowledge.

EDIT: Just to clarify, the link above is the *correct* part, it's just 'named' incorrectly. I didn't want to inadvertently make you think that the part has the wrong radius listed.

[Franz the Stampede]

My bad for not saying I had them. Yes, they are the threaded ones. They are wider than the graphtech ones, so I believe would not have the spacing issue. But basically, am I correct in thinking that Fender Japan was shipping a 7.25" radius guitar with a 55mm bridge?

Amazon UK (where I live) has the bridge too... the US version would be 25% cheaper, but kinda the same with shipping

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fender-America ... B09SJMJDFW

What do you think about having that bridge with the graphtech saddles that allow height adjustment? Should be the best possible solution? I'm not took keen on the look of the Mustang saddles...

[alexpigment]

Yeah, that would be typical Fender Japan - vintage bridge with 55mm spacing; the radius doesn't really apply to the threaded saddles though since they have individual height adjustments. Also, as mentioned, the spacing is a bit ambiguous because you can kinda choose which thread you want to rest your string on, though it's not always convenient to do so (there may be a height adjustment screw interfering).

Honestly, I've never tried those Graphtech saddles before. Not many people here were big fans of them, and I can't say that it was due to the actual construction, tone, or the simple fact that they don't transfer grounding from the thimbles to the strings. That last bit is not really an issue for your guitar since it's most likely grounded at the tremolo. They might fit or they might not on the Johnny Marr. I am inclined to think that the stock saddles on the newer bridge are higher quality, but who knows.

Ultimately I respect your decision on what you think looks best, and I do get that there may a benefit to individually adjustable saddles, but I think it's worth trying the Johnny Marr bridge as-is before you decide to swap the saddles out.

[eternal learner]

I have two Japanese Jazzmasters, I fitted both with the UK made Staytrem bridge, 7.25 radius and E to E spacing of 52mm, not cheap but excellent. I have just acquired a "60's Traditional Jazzmaster" mij and have ordered from EY guitars in the US a bridge that is basically a copy of the UK Staytrem but made of chrome plated steel rather than stainless steel, it is 9.5 radius and the important 52mm e to e spacing, it's much cheaper the UK Staytrem but still good quality, I modded one to fit my Mascis Jazzmaster.

[alexpigment]

I have just acquired a "60's Traditional Jazzmaster" mij and have ordered from EY guitars in the US a bridge that is basically a copy of the UK Staytrem but made of chrome plated steel rather than stainless steel, it is 9.5 radius and the important 52mm e to e spacing, it's much cheaper the UK Staytrem but still good quality, I modded one to fit my Mascis Jazzmaster.

I think the general consensus is that these are the exact same part as the current Classic Vibe bridge, for what it's worth. I also agree that there's not a huge difference in that one and the American Pro or the Staytrem. I've 2 or 3 of these on my guitars (technically the brushed/aged version from the 40th anniversary JM), and they all work great.

[Franz the Stampede]

Just an update: the sympathetic vibrations pretty much finished the moment I squished the Graphtech saddles together, eliminating the spaced between them due to the fact that they are made for the 52mm bridge, but what I had is a 55mm bridge.

I have purchased the Fender 52mm bridge (loved the Fender shop at Amazon UK!) and I think I'll put the Graphtech saddles in it because they allow for height/action adjustment. Will report about, but thanks for all the help, especially alexpigment!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09SJMJDFW? ... asin_title