My bridge lowers w/ excessive vibration

mick

Hi all,

I recently bought a '06 CIJ jazzmaster secondhand; the dude had already installed the mustang bridge, which was a bonus. However, excessive vibration seems to wind the bridge down to the point where the strings are touching the frets, resulting in the same twangy note from around the 5th fret upwards. It's easily fixed of course, but it happens frequently, I'd hate for it to happen during a gig. Any tips? Cheers

Mick

Richie

The screwthreads on the ends of the posts that go into the body are winding down you mean?

Take 'em out, grease 'em up, put 'em back in again. Or, take 'em out, wrap 'em in clingfilm, put 'em back in again.

Alternatively you can do what I did to mine and put a tune-o-matic bridge on it instead. The only problem with putting them on Jags/ Jazzes, if you can call it a problem, is that the radius of the bridge doesn't allign properly with the neck radius, but you'll still be able to play it. In fact you can intonate it more accurately.

Some like it, some don't . Personally I love it. 😁

mick

Thanks Ritchie,

I think I'll use some fine gauge plumber's tape on the screws perhaps; I'm always hesitant to do makeshift alterations however! Don't get me wrong, I love all the idiosyncracies of the jazzy! Also: tune-o-matic bridge?

cheers

mick

robertoriginal

the tune o matic is whats found on most gibson guitars and alot of others too, they are set for a 12-16 radius and the jazzy and jag being a 7.5

makes it a bit awkward unless you file the slots down a bit.

Richie

A tune-o-matic bridge looks like this:

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/shop/products.php?category=210&product=17420

You just wrap electrical tape around the posts and slot it in, and it fits exactly the same as the stock bridge would. Yeah, the radius doesn't match that of the neck if you don't file it, but it won't stop you playing. It makes some bends slightly more difficult. That's about it. Other than that it'll pretty much fix all the issues inherent in stock jag/ jazz bridges.

hoddyman

Two things that I do that work: 1. I put some white glue on the screws at the bottom of the bridge posts. I adjust the height, then the glue dries and holds everything in place. It breaks easily if re-adjustment is required later.

2. I put a little putty (the kind you get at art supply stores, called a "kneaded eraser") at the bottom of the sockets the bridge assembly rests in, to keep anything from rattling against anything.

Fran

+1 on the plumbers PTFE tape mick, i used that on the threads of my Jag-Stang bridge.

Otherwise i'd go with grease or vaseline as it prevents vibration/movement and allows future adjustment. Unlike super glue which makes parts difficult to move afterwards.

Whatever you do leave the screw point touching the base of the bridge ferrule's so that it stays grounded.