Offset chat

[Mr Bungle]

Anyone tried the toughtset bridge yet ?

Looks really interesting https://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vi ... p?t=126191

I've got a Staytrem, but I've never fitted it as my AO60s Jazzmaster is set up well and I have no issues with the stock bridge.

Really don't like the look of the Mastery on a vintage Jazz. The Tuffset looks a litte in between both.

I agree re: aesthetics of the mastery on vintage spec offsets
I went back to old mustang bridge on my 63 JM
Considering grabbing a toughset, looks good to me

What issues were you having? And what strings do you typically use? My AOJM is 9.5” but is the old style bridge. No issues. As you know I have a 7.25” inbound.

[StrummersOfThunder]

Looks really interesting https://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vi ... p?t=126191

I've got a Staytrem, but I've never fitted it as my AO60s Jazzmaster is set up well and I have no issues with the stock bridge.

Really don't like the look of the Mastery on a vintage Jazz. The Tuffset looks a litte in between both.

I agree re: aesthetics of the mastery on vintage spec offsets
I went back to old mustang bridge on my 63 JM
Considering grabbing a toughset, looks good to me

What issues were you having? And what strings do you typically use? My AOJM is 9.5” but is the old style bridge. No issues. As you know I have a 7.25” inbound.

I use 11's onmy JMs and 12's on my jag.

Issues with the original JM bridge:
1. Grates your hand off
2. Strings skip out of slots
3. chattery and relatively poor sustain

Issues with mastery on a vintage guitar:
1. Looks wrong

Issues with mastery in general
1. Lacks individual string adjustment
2. Prioe to rattle/buzz
3. Tend to self lower/sink over time unless you use locktite or a bit of nail varnish

Dont get me wrong, the mastery is a fine bridge. But its not perfect and its not right for vintage offsets IMO

[Mr Bungle]

I agree re: aesthetics of the mastery on vintage spec offsets
I went back to old mustang bridge on my 63 JM
Considering grabbing a toughset, looks good to me

What issues were you having? And what strings do you typically use? My AOJM is 9.5” but is the old style bridge. No issues. As you know I have a 7.25” inbound.

I use 11's onmy JMs and 12's on my jag.

Issues with the original JM bridge:
1. Grates your hand off
2. Strings skip out of slots
3. chattery and relatively poor sustain

Issues with mastery on a vintage guitar:
1. Looks wrong

Issues with mastery in general
1. Lacks individual string adjustment
2. Prioe to rattle/buzz
3. Tend to self lower/sink over time unless you use locktite or a bit of nail varnish

Dont get me wrong, the mastery is a fine bridge. But its not perfect and its not right for vintage offsets IMO

Thanks for that. I run 10s on all my electrics. Might have to jump up to 11s when the '64 arrives.

Not a fan of the Staytrem? They're the best looking of the 3.

[StrummersOfThunder]

What issues were you having? And what strings do you typically use? My AOJM is 9.5” but is the old style bridge. No issues. As you know I have a 7.25” inbound.

I use 11's onmy JMs and 12's on my jag.

Issues with the original JM bridge:
1. Grates your hand off
2. Strings skip out of slots
3. chattery and relatively poor sustain

Issues with mastery on a vintage guitar:
1. Looks wrong

Issues with mastery in general
1. Lacks individual string adjustment
2. Prioe to rattle/buzz
3. Tend to self lower/sink over time unless you use locktite or a bit of nail varnish

Dont get me wrong, the mastery is a fine bridge. But its not perfect and its not right for vintage offsets IMO

Thanks for that. I run 10s on all my electrics. Might have to jump up to 11s when the '64 arrives.

Not a fan of the Staytrem? They're the best looking of the 3.

Staytrems good but I don’t own one. They aren’t far of a jag bridge from what I can tell

Yep 11s for a JM. Particularly if you are playing surf

[jimi]

Offset Advice please!

Used my Squier JM for a band practice, and it held up okay, plus we’ve got a new guitarist who is also a LP into a Marshall guy, so I enjoyed the sound of the JM not sitting in the same space.

While it’s passable, and I like it, I don’t love it, So now I’m looking at either upgrading parts, or just looking for a replacement.

Anyone sitting on a good giggable JM they want to sell?

Otherwise suggestions please on good upgrades for a Squier CV 70s? Looking at maybe some pickups from Glyn, a fender or mastery trem, locking tuners. Not sure if any other electronics upgrades are needed with the pickup swap. I like the 2 circuits, tho the switch to swap could be easier to hit.

Issues
- tuning could be stabler
- there are a few places where bends fret out
- usual Squier too much poly on the neck thing going on
- not the same clarity as I’ve heard on other JMs I’ve played

[AiRdAd]

Offset Advice please!

Used my Squier JM for a band practice, and it held up okay, plus we’ve got a new guitarist who is also a LP into a Marshall guy, so I enjoyed the sound of the JM not sitting in the same space.

While it’s passable, and I like it, I don’t love it, So now I’m looking at either upgrading parts, or just looking for a replacement.

Anyone sitting on a good giggable JM they want to sell?

Otherwise suggestions please on good upgrades for a Squier CV 70s? Looking at maybe some pickups from Glyn, a fender or mastery trem, locking tuners. Not sure if any other electronics upgrades are needed with the pickup swap. I like the 2 circuits, tho the switch to swap could be easier to hit.

Issues
- tuning could be stabler
- there are a few places where bends fret out
- usual Squier too much poly on the neck thing going on
- not the same clarity as I’ve heard on other JMs I’ve played

A really good place to start is to shim the neck to increase the break angle. It helps with the tuning, and it might be my imagination, but from memory it made my one sound better when I did it.

[StrummersOfThunder]

Offset Advice please!

Used my Squier JM for a band practice, and it held up okay, plus we’ve got a new guitarist who is also a LP into a Marshall guy, so I enjoyed the sound of the JM not sitting in the same space.

While it’s passable, and I like it, I don’t love it, So now I’m looking at either upgrading parts, or just looking for a replacement.

Anyone sitting on a good giggable JM they want to sell?

Otherwise suggestions please on good upgrades for a Squier CV 70s? Looking at maybe some pickups from Glyn, a fender or mastery trem, locking tuners. Not sure if any other electronics upgrades are needed with the pickup swap. I like the 2 circuits, tho the switch to swap could be easier to hit.

Issues
- tuning could be stabler
- there are a few places where bends fret out
- usual Squier too much poly on the neck thing going on
- not the same clarity as I’ve heard on other JMs I’ve played

1. Bridge: Get a mustang. that will get you most of the way. If you must have a mastery I could sell you one.
2. See if you can grab a USA trem assembly off ebay or reverb or new. Worth it.
3. Grease your nut. Get decent tuners.
4. Solder your string winds (ive had them unravel a little and sometimes completely with heavy vibrato use)
5. Turn your trem plate scres upside down ( I .e screw in from underneath)
6. Use 11s not 10s
7. If oyu dont change out the whole trem assembly at least get a better spring
8. Pickups. I dont know what squiers are running with but if they are as bad as MIJ ones then they have to go. Lots of options. I have a set of fender AVRI's you could try and buy if they suit you. I might have some others too.
9. Shim the neck. Almost all need this. Get a proper tapered shim not a bit of card.
10. Electronics. The 1 MEG pots can sound weird. I like a resistor mod across the outer lugs to make a sort of 500k (but not exactly the same as a 500k pot, its its onw thing but works with JMs)
11. synthetic steel wool or sand paper to remove the neck shine. No one wants a clacky poly neck
12. Sometimes have to play with your pole (pieces) I usally poke the D out a little to give some stagger.

[jeremyb]

I usually poke the D out a little to give some stagger.

Aroused.

[Mr Bungle]

I use 11's onmy JMs and 12's on my jag.

Issues with the original JM bridge:
1. Grates your hand off
2. Strings skip out of slots
3. chattery and relatively poor sustain

Issues with mastery on a vintage guitar:
1. Looks wrong

Issues with mastery in general
1. Lacks individual string adjustment
2. Prioe to rattle/buzz
3. Tend to self lower/sink over time unless you use locktite or a bit of nail varnish

Dont get me wrong, the mastery is a fine bridge. But its not perfect and its not right for vintage offsets IMO

Thanks for that. I run 10s on all my electrics. Might have to jump up to 11s when the '64 arrives.

Not a fan of the Staytrem? They're the best looking of the 3.

Staytrems good but I don’t own one. They aren’t far of a jag bridge from what I can tell

Yep 11s for a JM. Particularly if you are playing surf

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8_AkHHR ... g1ZHJrbQ==

[AiRdAd]

Offset Advice please!

Used my Squier JM for a band practice, and it held up okay, plus we’ve got a new guitarist who is also a LP into a Marshall guy, so I enjoyed the sound of the JM not sitting in the same space.

While it’s passable, and I like it, I don’t love it, So now I’m looking at either upgrading parts, or just looking for a replacement.

Anyone sitting on a good giggable JM they want to sell?

Otherwise suggestions please on good upgrades for a Squier CV 70s? Looking at maybe some pickups from Glyn, a fender or mastery trem, locking tuners. Not sure if any other electronics upgrades are needed with the pickup swap. I like the 2 circuits, tho the switch to swap could be easier to hit.

Issues
- tuning could be stabler
- there are a few places where bends fret out
- usual Squier too much poly on the neck thing going on
- not the same clarity as I’ve heard on other JMs I’ve played

1. Bridge: Get a mustang. that will get you most of the way. If you must have a mastery I could sell you one.
2. See if you can grab a USA trem assembly off ebay or reverb or new. Worth it.
3. Grease your nut. Get decent tuners.
4. Solder your string winds (ive had them unravel a little and sometimes completely with heavy vibrato use)
5. Turn your trem plate scres upside down ( I .e screw in from underneath)
6. Use 11s not 10s
7. If oyu dont change out the whole trem assembly at least get a better spring
8. Pickups. I dont know what squiers are running with but if they are as bad as MIJ ones then they have to go. Lots of options. I have a set of fender AVRI's you could try and buy if they suit you. I might have some others too.
9. Shim the neck. Almost all need this. Get a proper tapered shim not a bit of card.
10. Electronics. The 1 MEG pots can sound weird. I like a resistor mod across the outer lugs to make a sort of 500k (but not exactly the same as a 500k pot, its its onw thing but works with JMs)
11. synthetic steel wool or sand paper to remove the neck shine. No one wants a clacky poly neck
12. Sometimes have to play with your pole (pieces) I usally poke the D out a little to give some stagger.

Do you think something like this might be a more cost effective solution? It might be a better all around guitar, and you might not need to upgrade pickups/bridge/wiring/trem/tuners etc? He's also got a car listed, so you could potentially negotiate a better price without fees.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace ... f=Pvb5OtWI

[Slowy]

Do you think something like this might be a more cost effective solution? It might be a better all around guitar, and you might not need to upgrade pickups/bridge/wiring/trem/tuners etc? He's also got a car listed, so you could potentially negotiate a better price without fees.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace ... f=Pvb5OtWI

That does seem a good price....... Japanese made....... and I'm currently getting my Nels Cline on......

Sigh

[StrummersOfThunder]

Offset Advice please!

Used my Squier JM for a band practice, and it held up okay, plus we’ve got a new guitarist who is also a LP into a Marshall guy, so I enjoyed the sound of the JM not sitting in the same space.

While it’s passable, and I like it, I don’t love it, So now I’m looking at either upgrading parts, or just looking for a replacement.

Anyone sitting on a good giggable JM they want to sell?

Otherwise suggestions please on good upgrades for a Squier CV 70s? Looking at maybe some pickups from Glyn, a fender or mastery trem, locking tuners. Not sure if any other electronics upgrades are needed with the pickup swap. I like the 2 circuits, tho the switch to swap could be easier to hit.

Issues
- tuning could be stabler
- there are a few places where bends fret out
- usual Squier too much poly on the neck thing going on
- not the same clarity as I’ve heard on other JMs I’ve played

1. Bridge: Get a mustang. that will get you most of the way. If you must have a mastery I could sell you one.
2. See if you can grab a USA trem assembly off ebay or reverb or new. Worth it.
3. Grease your nut. Get decent tuners.
4. Solder your string winds (ive had them unravel a little and sometimes completely with heavy vibrato use)
5. Turn your trem plate scres upside down ( I .e screw in from underneath)
6. Use 11s not 10s
7. If oyu dont change out the whole trem assembly at least get a better spring
8. Pickups. I dont know what squiers are running with but if they are as bad as MIJ ones then they have to go. Lots of options. I have a set of fender AVRI's you could try and buy if they suit you. I might have some others too.
9. Shim the neck. Almost all need this. Get a proper tapered shim not a bit of card.
10. Electronics. The 1 MEG pots can sound weird. I like a resistor mod across the outer lugs to make a sort of 500k (but not exactly the same as a 500k pot, its its onw thing but works with JMs)
11. synthetic steel wool or sand paper to remove the neck shine. No one wants a clacky poly neck
12. Sometimes have to play with your pole (pieces) I usally poke the D out a little to give some stagger.

Do you think something like this might be a more cost effective solution? It might be a better all around guitar, and you might not need to upgrade pickups/bridge/wiring/trem/tuners etc? He's also got a car listed, so you could potentially negotiate a better price without fees.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace ... f=Pvb5OtWI

Couldnt comment, have never played one. Looks nice tho. Will have thick poly and a japanese profile neck.

Im always wary of chucking great parts at a cheap guitar and expecting a result. I guess it can sometimes work. Partscasters are a good example. More often than not what reads like a bunch of high end stuff cobbled together isnt really that good. I guess thats why we have luthiers that know how to build a guitar from the ground up.

Ive assmebled a partscaster that has wowed me. I know there are a couple floating round that are legendary tho.

For what its worth I just think its worth laying down the coin and getting a USA fender offset. Maybe play round with the pickups.
Yep youll pay up for it but no free lunches etc

[jimi]

Do you think something like this might be a more cost effective solution? It might be a better all around guitar, and you might not need to upgrade pickups/bridge/wiring/trem/tuners etc? He's also got a car listed, so you could potentially negotiate a better price without fees.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace ... f=Pvb5OtWI

For what its worth I just think its worth laying down the coin and getting a USA fender offset. Maybe play round with the pickups.
Yep youll pay up for it but no free lunches etc

Cheers! Yeah, all advice appreciated.

I think holding out for a good one is the answer.

Guitar Gallery have a nice looking Vintera I’m going to try out next time I’m in the area. Otherwise it’s mostly MIJ JMs on FB and TM. All good though, I’m happy to sit and wait on the right guitar to come along.

Can always pimp my Squier if I get too impatient.

[StrummersOfThunder]

Do you think something like this might be a more cost effective solution? It might be a better all around guitar, and you might not need to upgrade pickups/bridge/wiring/trem/tuners etc? He's also got a car listed, so you could potentially negotiate a better price without fees.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace ... f=Pvb5OtWI

For what its worth I just think its worth laying down the coin and getting a USA fender offset. Maybe play round with the pickups.
Yep youll pay up for it but no free lunches etc

Cheers! Yeah, all advice appreciated.

I think holding out for a good one is the answer.

Guitar Gallery have a nice looking Vintera I’m going to try out next time I’m in the area. Otherwise it’s mostly MIJ JMs on FB and TM. All good though, I’m happy to sit and wait on the right guitar to come along.

Can always pimp my Squier if I get too impatient.

I went there a month ago.
The vintera offsets.... the ones i tried ...not worth price of admission. God the pau ferro fretboard is ghastly. And also gloss poly finish. And to make mattes worse...$2900??! And the setup, fit and finish was crappo. Im sorry, but it just was.

Heres something tast ideas from J guitar japan. Remember they should be able to take tax off for international purchases. You still be up for shipping and tax our end but still...

Looking at reverb I can see shipping from japan to nz for a JM/Jag for as little as $200-250 NZD.
Assuming remiving japanese sales tax of 10% and adding shipping plus nz tax of 15% on sale price and shipping.

https://www.j-guitar.com/products/detail.php?id=1282904
ender AMERICAN VINTAGE II 1966 JAZZMASTER DAKOTA RED. 297'000 yen -> 3000 . Minus japan tax = $2700 + shipping $250 x 1.15 = $3335 NZD




2002 AV 62 USA jag 260'000 yen - > 2600 NZD. minus tax = 2340 . add $250 = 2590 x 1.15 = 2978 NZD

[jennz]

I enjoyed seeing all your lovely offsets. Here is what I have that was under my post "Cheap is GOOOOD" and I love it ! All offsets are the greatest !