HOW TO INSTALL A MASTERY BRIDGE: Installation Guide PLUS Setup Tips on a CME Jazzmaster
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2021
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Today's video is a deep dive on Mastery bridge installation and setup, and I hope this helps dispel some myths surrounding the care and feeding of this marvelous little bridge.
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honestly it just doesn’t get any better then videos like this. Man if you bought and sold modded offsets I buy 3! but im sure your repair/mod list is growing by the day. Puisheened offsets!!!
I would ABSOLUTELY sign up for that!
I recently purchased a brand new American Vintage II Jazzmaster and immediately purchased a mastery bridge along with their thimbles. To my surprise, the stock thimbles fit the mastery bridge perfectly and I decided not to replace them. Another huge surprise- the mastery bridge was delivered set up for a 7.25” radius and the intonation was dead perfect. I literally did nothing beyond adjust the action height after installation. Wow!
Killer content as always….. I don’t know if I’ll ever get on the mastery train, but your knowledge on the matter os going to help tons of folks out!
You sir, are an absolute god! 😂😄❤️ I've honestly been in dire need of some of this more detailed information in regards to mastery setup for quite a great deal of time now, having not ever been able to find all of the answers on my own, despite my best efforts. So, needless to say, my Jazzmaster and I are greatly appreciative for this very fine contribution of yours to the community, and would sincerely like to thank you for all your hard work and effort you've put into making this video! Seriously can't wait to get her all set up properly now and see how she ends up sounding! Instantly subscribed! Seriously can't wait to see what other videos you end up dishing out! 😁
Perfect timing, I'm about to work on my JM build this weekend! You're the best, man!
This is the video I've been waiting for. I have a mastery bridge on order and I've been scouring you tube for installation tutorials. There isn't one video that even comes close to this. Thank you! You are scholar and a gentleman!
Ooh, good timing Mike!! Just been looking into the mastery bridge & trem/vibrato for my 60th anny JM. Had a few things I wasn't sure of, now will go ahead for sure! Cheers!!
Have been using one for over 10 years now, and they are fantastic! 👍🏻
Love your work, playing, & insight into all things Offset! Helping me get over, albeit slowly, my apprehension/hesitation in picking up a Jazzmaster! It's almost as though i won't buy an offset UNLESS i know you've worked on it! All the best 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
Incredibly helpful, I considered installing my Mastery myself but I wasn't confident enough so I went to my local tech, but this video would have been absolutely perfect! Cheers Mike!
Beautiful CME jazzmaster. Thanks for the informative video. Hoping i get to own one.
I’d love to see your full review of this model. The CME player JM seems like one of the best options for getting into offsets, and offset moding.
This is a great video! I was having trouble getting the stock thimbles out. Got out the soldering iron and 5 mins later, presto!
Just got mine in Sonic Blue! Obsession w the JM started thanks to Mike lol Always digged offsets (I am super partial to the offset teles) but after trying out a J Mascis squier & binge watching Mike's videos, I couldn't help but feel the enthusiasm seep into my bones for these lovely offset creatures. Cannot wait to deep dive with the new whip 🤠👌
Awesome content, as always.Would love to see a video on the Mastery M1 Ric bridge as well!
Would love to see an On The Bench with that Player Jazzmaster!
Super helpful! I’ve got a Mastery on my Jaguar and Jazzmaster and shimmed the neck bringing the string angle way to high. Resetting the shims and Mastery height makes for a much better playing experience! Thanks Mike!
This is great news!!!
Outstanding! It's time to choose a bridge for my Jag parts pile & was concerned about my Warmoth neck with the compound radius. I have the Mastery in the cart. But was also looking at the modified mustang bridge Warmoth sells.
Love my Mastery's! Great overview and Im gonna try the lip balm vs nut sauce
I need this. Also, I need that trem arm. Awesome vid! Thanks!
I've never even thought to lube the strings at the saddles... I've been playing for HOW LONG NOW?!?! Thank you as always for your wonderfully informative videos!
Mike, once again you’ve saved me. Yesterday I finally installed my Kinman pickups in my Jag, with MUCH guidance from a genius builder pal. But, the process whacked out the setup and intonation. Thus you helped me revive my ol pal! (Also, if anybody is scouring the interwebs to know the SIZES of the Mastery hex wrenches:
* 1 .050″ allen wrench (small)
* 1 5/64″ allen wrench (medium)
* 1 3/32″ allen wrench (large)
Godspeed errybody!
Thanks mate, just about to install mine and this was very helpful!
Thank you for this information. A fan.
The video I've been waiting for! Thanks!!!
I set my bridge at 3mm height and still feeling like my saddles are a little high. Certainly higher than Pancake's. I feel like this guitar could play better but not sure what more I can do. Neck relief looks on point and the neck is shimmed. It's a Troy Van Leeuwen JM. Any thoughts Mike?
This..was an amazing video chock full of great info and content! I learned so much (more) about neck shims. Thanks!
Wow! Thay lip balm tip is smart 🙌🏼
Thank you for everything that you do, Mike. You're a treasure trove of knowledge and positivity for the online world. Also, you had me dying at "Sponsor Me You Cowards" 😂
I am very proud of my joke but also COME ON LOC TITE I HAD TO BUY SOME YESTERDAY
this was the video i needed to see! TY Puisheen! I have both Jag and Jazzmaster that ive been setting Mastery bridges on. Each instrument is different but you addressed the issues i was looking into. Once again, TY, and i appreciate all the effort you put into educating us on the offset world.
ive not drilled my guitars but have the mastery posts... im afraid of doing so. i dont experience any rattle issues currenetly... is that ok? lmao.
Some models don't need drilling, it really depends on the model
@@Puisheen ive been able to pull the original thimble's out but its not the same size as the mastery thimbles. that being said i have no problems currently so why fix whats not broken? the Jag is positioned super high though... maybe removing the neck shim.. Once again, youre amazing and kee[p up the good work!
really nice video dude, thanks for sharing! :D
that was amazingly precise, acute, and articulate - after all the precision and technical lowdown, however, i wanted some more kick ass play through. but good stuff. certainly reference grade!
Thanks god I found your video. I was unable to pull the old bridge suport out. I heat them and they came out easily 👌
I got a Mastery String Tree. That's all I could do since I have a strat XD. Good string tree though, and cool looking!
HA!
I have a troy van leeuwen jazzmaster. I've always wondered if I'd need to do and drilling for the thimble holes
Great work! Can you do a mastery trem install and setup video?
Hey Mike, this video helped me set up my mastery bridge the way it should be set up. Thank you for all of your awesome offset wisdom and knowledge man, p.s. you should do another Mikes hot ones video hahah.
Brysen! You're the best, glad it helped
Great install tutorial! I plan on installing a Mastery bridge on my AmerPro Jag (once I save up enough). But for now, I'm trying to lower the stock bridge height but it doesn't seem to be moving in either direction up or down when I turn the allen wrench. Any thoughts or tips? Thanks!!
The shot at 6:14 helped me immensely in knowing where exactly I needed my bridge height.
You said that 3mm is about perfect for the mastery.
I've found that to be true!
I'm working on a CV Jag right now and I wonder.. since you said the stock bridge is set higher.
What is the proper height for the stock bridge?
I'm guessing around 1/10 or 3.5/4mm.
I can't seem to find anything else online with an answer.
Thanks for doing everything you do!
I also have a shell pink JM from CME. Waiting for my time to change the bridge out. I just might try the CuNiFe pickups too.
I just got a Halon aftermarket bridge to replace the TOM on my classic player jag. Stainless steel with chrome plated brass saddles
Oh this is soooo good!!!
Do you have any guides for the different bridge upgrade options? I have a fender pawn shop series offset special that came stock with an AOM
Hey Mike, love the videos. Question for you, what do you keep the action at on your Jazzmasters? 5/64 at the 17th? Always been curious...
This is a lot of info. I just bought the Squier Jazzmaster Gold guitar and I would like to replace the bridge but man the mastery bridge is pricey!! The guitar only cost me 400. I do like the way the mastery trem looks on your CME guitar here. great Video
Saved for when I upgrade my Jag woot
What a GREAT video and came at a great time for me too! Tomorrow I should receive my FENDER 1965 AMERICAN VINTAGE THIN SKIN JAGUAR REISSUE - WHITE, MATCHING HEADSTOCK, BOUND, LACQUER, AVR. I am going to try and make the stock bridge work for now and see what happens. I do recall one of your other videos showing that when set up right, the strings stay put and in tune. I did call Michael at Gryphon Music ( He says hello and said what a Great Guy and Friend you are) and that they have 2 skilled Luthier's that know the Jaggs and Jazzers' in case I need a set up and string change or a tune up from time to time. Nice beard by the way, looks good long.
Michael is the best!
Mike, can you do a sound demo of those Charlie Christian style blademasters? Double plus bonus extra if you can somehow include a demo of offsets and pot tapers.
Awesome guitar
I have a MIM road-worn Jazzmaster that I just bought new a couple months ago (my first offset). I bought the Mastery vibrato and it's absolutely killer but SO FAR the strings have stayed put on the stock bridge. I believe I read somewhere that at some point Fender moved the vibrato forward slightly (1/4"?) to allow for the same jig to be used to make multiple models. My bridge height is darn close to where you suggest with no neck shim and I think the break angle is just right. No issues so far. Excellent video!
Mike made a video about vibrato position! th-cam.com/video/gwSRG4COM9M/w-d-xo.html
I do enjoy the stock bridge, and if it's working you're good to go!
Great vid as usual! However I thought the point of the JM vibrato is the saddles rock with the strings, does the Mastery not do that, hence the need for lubricant?
The Mastery is a fixed (non-rocking) bridge by design, so lubrication does help
Hey!!! I wanted to hear that thing!
First, love that Jazzmaster. Second, I assumed a Mastery was a drop-in, like other replacement bridges. Good to know. Thank you, Sir!
It is on US-made, vintage spec guitars. Certain other models like those mentioned will require some extra steps
@@Puisheen that's right. I watched it last night, commented this morning. Forgot about that.
Can I add to measure the depth of the thimble prior to drilling! It may seem like a no-brainer to not go super deep with the drill press, but I think we all know a story or two of a time where someone (sometimes even ourselves) should have measured before doing a mod.
Come on Mike! You are definitely a national monument, a Jazzmastery pusher! Thank you for existing!
I’ve had my mastery bridge for 6 years and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t get rid of fret buzz. I knew I had to be missing something. Turns out I missed the Allen wrench key hole within the Allen wrench key hole to lift the whole bridge. Thank you for this video and blowing my mind.
Great Video. I have a question I hope you will answer. I have a J Mascis Squire Jazzmaster. Now I can not afford a Mastery bridge for this guitar but can do a staytrem. With all the jazzmasters you have set up and played do you think the Staytrem bridge would make this guitar feel/play better? Thanks
Great video. And timely, since I'm in the process of building my own Warmoth JM. Question though, at 7:22, can't this be corrected by just lowering the pups, instead of shimming the neck pocket? Those pups look pretty high, compared to the 61.
The problem at that timestamp has nothing to do with the pickups. American Original Jazzmasters have a factory-angled neck pocket that in my opinion is pitched back a little too much, which is why the bridge had to be so high to achieve playable action.
thanks, my main question is: which jazzmaster models have the bridge problems and need/benefit from bridge replacement?
Where did you get that wonderful blue tortoise pick guard ??
It's a funny looking thing. I noticed it the other day on Shermy's Creature.
To me a bridge is a bit of steel with a groove filed in it that the string sits in.
But this thing looks like some bit off the T101. All those screws and bits and pieces and the strings fit between the posts not on top of them. And the guides aren't all the same, it could be 5 blocks with screws between the strings and then a little block at each end but this has 4 blocks with screws and four little blocks without and it looks like Mr Mastery ran out of bits when he was making it.
It's just the kind of thing where it's own fokelore will develop.
A master of the Mastery.
I wish Mastery would offer the brass saddles they use on some of their tele bridges for their offset models.
Another great video! Have you ever explained how to reshape the vibrato arm like you seem to like doing?
I have, I just use my forearms to bend them
@@Puisheen Ok! I watched a lot of your vids and didn't find it. Thanks Mike
Hi Mike,
How much should we shim the neck? I see stew mac sells shims pre-made, is there a particular thickness you recommend?
Thanks!
Amazing vid- i was hoping you were going to address dialing in the string height with the master bridge.
Im finding it tenuous, trying to exclude acoustic buzz but retain an ideal action.
Its not happening.
By the time i get rid of acoustic buzz (striving for cleanest tone possible) ive lost the edge on the action.
Please help!
My luthier has already done a 2nd neck adjustment.
Im playing with the fine adjustments but the overall allowances just dont seem to be aligning 😢
Great video! Thank you very much! Will I need a M1 or M2 Mastery bridge for a Squier CV Jaguar ? And I was also wondering if a stewMac 0.5° would be enough pitch back with that bridge ?
Anyway, thanks again for sharing your knowledge!!
I would go for the KIT!
@@Puisheen thanks a lot for your answer !
@@Puisheen I assume you meant the mastery kit right ? With the tremolo plate ? And which stewMac shims degree would you suggest please ? Thanks again and keep up the great work !
Wow, the saddles on mine were slammed to the front and bridge was really high up. Thank you!
PS - is the pinky Jazz getting a gold guard?
I really want one of these bodies for exactly that purpose, but sadly no!
Mike, I’m building a Jaguar.
Do you think a 10”-16” compound radius neck will be an issue with string buzz and intonation?
Just picked up one of the new Fender American Professional bridges for JM, and it does not fit my MIM JM. The posts are ever so slightly wider than the stock bridge. Any idea as to whether the Mastery MT thimbles will allow the American Professional bridge to fit without having to fill and re-drill thimble holes?
Thank you Mike for bringing all these points! Just a question considering that I have stock bridge which is looking exactly like 7:40 (left) - how to determinate if the break angle is too much? Or bridge height? I assume there is some maybe rule of thumb measurement or something to watch out. Also it's not clear to me what exactly is the downside(symptoms) caused by that bridge/angle too high. Tuning issues? rattle? Pickups that cant go enough high..I would be very thankful for the answer! Maybe also idea for a short video as I believe this is an critical aspect of offsets. Thank you very much in advance!
The stock bridge does require a healthy amount of neck pitch to work as designed. If your bridge is working, it probably has enough angle.
Do you have a review of this CME jazzmaster?
You changed pickups which were PV65 if I am right to which type buddy? Thanks
Did you find the need to shim the CME Jazzmaster? I just ordered one!
Hello
Today I woke up with a crazy idea and I would like to know if it would be possible ( I know it already exists ) I would like to build a Jazz Strat using a squier do you think it would be possible ? Thanks
Will made in Mexico Jazz need the body insterts removed?? Or will the stock ones fit?
Man I wish you could fix up all my GeEtArS but ah well gonna be a fun summer fixing all of em again. And picking back up learning how to set up my instruments.
The fretboard on that pink Jazzmaster is beautiful! 😍Is that pau ferro?
Yeah, a really nice example too!
Hey, great video! I have an American Original Jazzmaster and I have a few questions. Do I need to replace the thimbles to fit a Mastery bridge? If so, will I need to drill the holes again? Also, what Stew Mac shim do I need for the neck?
Fender thimble manufacturing can vary, so it can be a good idea to get the M1-KIT with thimbles. As for the holes, I've gotten away without in some cases, but it's a good idea to keep the drill handy just in case. Shimming itself depends entirely on the guitar, and with the AO you'll have to reduce neck angle to get the best experience from the Mastery. Grab the three shim set and experiment
Anyone know what string brand is visible at 06:43? The coloured string winds look great!
If I have a 2023 mij jaguar, should I still get the M2, or should I get the M1 kit instead?
Help me Puisheen! Tired of fighting with my MIJ Mascis Jazzmaster… how do I know if I just need a shim or a mastery bridge to really make the playing more enjoyable?
I can’t seem to get the action low enough… is it the mismatched radius between the neck and TOM or neck angle?
Hi Mike, thanks for all the great and entertaining videos. I've really been enjoying them. I have a question. I have a MIJ Jazzmaster, probably from about 1994, or so. I don't remember exactly what year it was I bought it.
If I purchase the M2 Mastery kit will I have to do any drilling to install it? I'm trying to avoid that if possible. I'm a little confused by the description on the web site and am not clear from your comments in this video. Thanks
The M2 has a second set of wider posts which should fit whichever thimbles your Jag happens to have. The interior diameters can vary a bit but you should not have to drill anything
@@Puisheen Great! Thank you for the reply and the information. Cheers!
Hi from Tokyo I use a fender USA original 60’s Jazzmaster with a mastery bridge but I have a problem, I set the bridge around 3mm and I needed more tention so I raise the saddles up. And pretty much the saddles are all the way up. Is it a right adjustment of a mastery bridge in order to rise the string height?
so how could you match the bridge / string radius with the neck radius if this one is a compound radius neck?
I've got a 97 blonde/gold LE jaguar and there was no way of using a mastery and have it sit low...had to use it extremely high, even without shimming. Ended up using it in a road worn JM. Wonder if anything could be done to make it work in that jaguar though
Will these accommodate A necks (Fender) 2" neck pockets?
Is the Mastery tremolo system allows up and down tremolo movement or just up only?
Hello! Just found your channel. I just got a TVL jazzmaster with a mastery bridge. I’m a bit new to mastery and adjusting my own guitars in general. It plays great. The radius looks perfect and there’s no buzzing. The neck looks very straight, but the action is slightly high on the higher frets. Should I tighten the two screws just a hair to bring it down ever so slightly?
First I'd take some neck relief measurements and see how much you've got in the neck. Lower the bridge via the screws embedded in the posts (loosen) and re-evaluate!
Put a Staytrem bridge and tremolo in my Squier VM Jag, best money I ever spent. And it was drop in.
So is the Mastery
What kit do I need for a Jazzmaster blacktop
Do you have any specific advice for installing a Mastery bridge on a Bass VI? I'm putting together a Warmoth Bass VI, which has the standard 30" scale length, but doesn't have an angled neck pocket and I plan to use the La Bella Bass VI strings on it, which are the thicker gauge .095-.026 strings that were originally used on Bass VIs.
I had a Mastery on my Squier VI and loved it, worked great. As with Jazzmasters and Jaguars, shim the neck to get the bridge higher off the body and everything comes together.
Can anyone tell if the AVRI 62 Jazzmasters come with Spline split shaft or a solid shaft. Trying to find some Crome aluminum knobs to fit the guitar.
That color combo
Would a Mastery fit OK on my new Pro II Jazzmaster?
Hey! I have an AVRI 65, what mastery should I get? Regards!!!!
...is that some Klon pedal-goop in the body cavity? That thing's gotta be a tone-monster.
What do you think about the original vibrato and the bridge of this JM model?
They're fine. Middle of the road parts, nothing fancy. Surely would have needed loc tite on the bridge screws, and the vibrato felt just alright and was relatively noise-free
I wanted to paint my pickup covers, but they are stuck onto the pickups pretty tightly. I’m hesitant to use too much force, thereby causing something to break. Do you know how to get the covers off? Thank you.
would a staytrem drop straight in?
Mike - do you often/ever document the heigh of the strings over the body or pick guard as part of your setup measurements? (rather than the individual building blocks of neck shim, bridge height and action)
Wondering if you've found an ideal range?
I haven't, no. The distance from string to body isn't really my main concern during setup, it's really all about the neck angle and bridge height
If the mastery bridge works best if its between 2-4mm above the pickguard, then how do you set the string action (I'm used to set the height of the bridge as high or low as needed to get the best action)