I know there are people happy with their stock bridges or more affordable bridges, but I don't think that makes it fair to put down the Mastery. Most of the people who were dogging it haven't even tried it. I have a Mastery on one guitar and I have guitars with TOMs, AOMs, Mustang bridge, and Jazzmaster/Jaguar bridges. (AVRI and MIJ)
If I had the money, I would get a Mastery on every guitar it works on. I noticed much better sustain on my guitar with a Mastery. I had no intonation issues. When using the tremolo, the strings stay easily in the deep grooves and slide over the bridge nicely.
I wrap my other bridges posts with electrical tape to help make them more stable like a Mastery is without modification. I have used loc tite on my Jazzmaster and Jaguar bridges to help with the rattle issue that I did not have with a Mastery. I have had stings move from slot to slot on those Jaguar and Jazzmaster bridges. I like my Mustang bridges, but you can't adjust the height on each string. If you get the modified Mustang bridge, you can, but that also costs more and sometimes needs loc tite on the height screws. A TOM and AOM is nice if you don't want to use a tremolo. If you aren't using a tremolo, I wouldn't get a Mastery. If you use the tremolo, the AOMs and TOM's blades scrape the strings as they move over the bridge. It is also very tall which usually causes a need for a ship to help with action since you can't lower it as much as the other bridges. AOM's and TOM's still have more play as well verses a Mastery because the bridge piece isn't physically attached to the posts.
Again, I have and use almost every type of bridge Fender makes. I also use a Mastery. Just because it cost more doesn't mean it is not worth the money. Can you play a $100 guitar well? Yes. Is there a difference in that guitars quality and detail compaired to a $1,000 guitar? Yes. With bridges, I have learned you typically get what you pay for. Cheaper bridges have more issues that people then to tweak by modifying.
In the end, I would advise, don't knock something you haven't ever tried. Taking someone elses word for it could keep you from trying something you really like. Take my Ultralinear Silverface Twin Reverb. Tons of people will say all the silverface amps are trash. The ultralinear amps are trash. Yadda yadda yadda. I LIKE this amp. I tried it out, it sounds good, I am happy.
If you don't like the Mastery or it doesn't work for you, fair enough. If you haven't even tried it personally, I don't see how you could write an accurate review. 😀 Just my thoughts.... and YES I also post on OSG and I am not a rich yuppie with tons of spare cash. I am a teacher with two kids living paycheck to paycheck like many people.
