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Post subject: 2017 American Professional Jazzmaster Bridge Too Wide
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 3:07 pm
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I recently purchased this guitar in mystic seafoam, just beautiful. However, the bridge slots are spaced too wide. The low E string is perfectly parallel with the edge of the neck, but the high E starts out in a good spot at the nut, but veers to the edge of the neck as one goes up to the 22nd fret -- to where your finger falls off the neck when trying to fret a note past the 12th fret. Looking at the bridge, it is clear that the barrels are too wide, with the width from E to E at 56mm, and no setup tweaks are going to remedy it.

Is this a common problem with Jazzmasters? Does Fender have a fix for this, or do I need to throw more money at it in the form of aftermarket parts?

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Post subject: Re: 2017 American Professional Jazzmaster Bridge Too Wide
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 11:22 pm
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The situation might get better if you adjust the neck sideways a bit. Many players set up their guitars so that the lowE is closer to the fretboard edge than the highE, yours seems to be the opposite and that doesn't seem to fit your playing style.

I haven't got an AmPro myself, but I'd suppose if nothing else helps, it's possible to shave the saddles a red aunt hair narrower.


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Post subject: Re: 2017 American Professional Jazzmaster Bridge Too Wide
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 2:53 pm
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jmattis wrote:
The situation might get better if you adjust the neck sideways a bit. Many players set up their guitars so that the lowE is closer to the fretboard edge than the highE, yours seems to be the opposite and that doesn't seem to fit your playing style.

I haven't got an AmPro myself, but I'd suppose if nothing else helps, it's possible to shave the saddles a red aunt hair narrower.


Thanks, I tried that adjustment before I posted, but there's not enough slack in the pocket to move it much... which is a good thing actually, lol.

When I buy a $500 import guitar, I expect to make changes to it (and in fact I consider that part of the fun) , but a $1500 made in USA guitar should be good out of the box. I have a decent skillset in building, altering, finishing, and wiring electric guitars, but I was kind of expecting to leave this one alone.


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Post subject: Re: 2017 American Professional Jazzmaster Bridge Too Wide
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 3:15 am
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I don't mean to suspect or contradict your experience, just trying to help.

So: did you check that the neck (finish) isn't stuck in the neck pocket bottom, preventing the neck from turning? I mean, I can't remember ever encountering a Fender where the neck pocket tolerance wouldn't allow any sideways moves. And fractions of a mm in the pocket increase towards the headstock.

And there's always the warranty way, if the guitar hangs out the highE even with a perfect setup.


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Post subject: Re: 2017 American Professional Jazzmaster Bridge Too Wide
Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 11:08 pm
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jmattis wrote:
I don't mean to suspect or contradict your experience, just trying to help.

So: did you check that the neck (finish) isn't stuck in the neck pocket bottom, preventing the neck from turning? I mean, I can't remember ever encountering a Fender where the neck pocket tolerance wouldn't allow any sideways moves. And fractions of a mm in the pocket increase towards the headstock.

And there's always the warranty way, if the guitar hangs out the highE even with a perfect setup.


Update: I appreciate the reply. In fact, I did try loosening the neck screws again and gave it a little more push as I braced it against my torso and pushed with my left arm while tightening the screws with my right. Meanwhile while playing, the stock high E string snapped at the end of the trem so I decided to restring as well, aaaaand since the strings were off I took the E, B, and G barrel saddles and ever-so-gently buffed the flat sides with StewMac micromesh to reduce roughness without going through the chrome.

In the end, after restringing, the alignment did shift this time in the right direction, giving my high E more purchase on the frets. I'd like more, but it is playable now.

Sidenote: I replaced the stock 9 guage strings with EB Slinky nickel wound 10 guage. I know that a lot of Jazzmaster owners like 10 and even 11 guage sets or higher, but for some reason, my 10's seemed to lose a little sparkle or something. I'll have to explore that further...

Still, there's something about this guitar and its pickups that really grabs me. It just fills a new niche in my collection. I have a stock American strat with Fat50's, a Mex-strat modded with Pure Vintage 65's, and an assortment of humbucker LP's, Super-Strats, and an SG, but this Jazzmaster is a creature unto itself.

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GDEC (traded in for the 3/30


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Post subject: Re: 2017 American Professional Jazzmaster Bridge Too Wide
Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 1:14 pm
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I sure enjoy happy endings. Now play on, play LOUD.


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