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Post subject: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 11:49 am
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So I picked up a nice 90s MIJ Jag off of ebay, but so far it has been unplayable. The bridge keeps sinking, lowering the action to the point where the strings just clunk against the fretboard. I've brought it to my repair guy twice, but the issue persists.

Anyone have any experience with this? I'm at a loss.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 1:19 pm
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I never heard of this. Can you put up some pics? My only thought could either be the saddle screws or the bridge height screws backing themselves out enough to lower the action. I have an MIJ jazzy from that era and my saddle screws would loosen due to vibration. I removed the srews and put some clear nail polish in the threads and reinstalled. That seemed to help me out.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:27 am
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Sounds like the bridge height adjustment screws are backing out. This can be a common problem. You can try getting your bridge height as you want it then gooping some locktite on the 2 screws. I've heard of people jamming some rubber tubing underneath the bridge posts but then the bridge won't rock back and forth (a good thing IMO). I think Johnny Marr talks about this issue in the video on YouTube about his signature Jag. You could also get a Mastery Bridge which is pricey but well worth it. 8)


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:48 am
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Thanks for the comments so far.

I've already tried some glue, but I wasn't sure if it was Locktite. What about a Mustang bridge? I've heard of people putting those in, and they're far cheaper than the mastery. I know that they have better saddles, but do they still sink?


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:29 am
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Mustang bridge might be the ticket.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 7:04 pm
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Chip,

Did you get the Mastery on your 50th all set up right?

Art


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 5:50 pm
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Ok, I know it's been a while but I couldn't find a Mustang bridge right away.


Put in the Mustang bridge and the guitar is playable, but now I get string buzz (mostly with the Low E string, but there are traces of it all over the guitar). The bridge no longer "sinks," but I can still see the strings rattling against the fretboard no matter how many times I adjust the action.

I heard of something called a "Buzz Stop." Is that worth it? I've heard both good and bad about it. While I hear that the buzzing is somewhat common, people also say that a solution is...installing a Mustang bridge. Could there just be something wrong with the guitar? I'm thinking of bringing it to another shop for a second opinion, but I don't want to be charged for someone to say "yeah, I don't know..."

I'm thinking about just saving up for a Mastery bridge, but I don't even know if that will help at this point, as this guitar just refuses to cooperate.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 8:40 am
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it may be that your neck needs some adjustment. First off, try to raise the bridge a bit, just until it stops buzzing. Secondly, take a good look at your neck, you could have some back-bow or even a bit too much relief. You can use a straight edge to check that, in either case, you should adjust the truss rod until your neck is dead straight. Then I'd re-adjust the string height to preference and check again for buzzing. If you are still getting buzz, adjust your truss accordingly. This is a simple, yet tedious set up process, and I beleive buying more gadgets is not going to solve your problem. As for the buzz-stop, these are to help keep pressure at the bridge so the string saddles don't rattle around.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 8:54 am
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Hey there BEatlehaircut, if you're in the Houston, TX area, I can recommend an excellent guy for guitars.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 10:36 am
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I live in New Orleans, but my band will be touring through Texas the first week in July with a stop in Houston on Friday, July 6. Any chance this guy could knock it out in a couple of hours? If not, I can see about dropping it off the day before en route to Austin.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:38 pm
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this dude is the man, hence his name, Dan "the guitar man" Kiblinger. I've known this guy as long as I've been playing, around 20 years. His shop is about 25 minutes or so, north of Houston. Dan's Guitars in Cleveland, TX. I walked into his shop with my jazzmaster, and her singing in a matter of minutes. I tell you what, shoot me a PM and I'll help get you set. What's the name of your group? Our bassist is out of New Orleans, he used to jam with the Mud Pigs!


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:04 am
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Sorry for the lapse.

Well, I finally bit the bullet and just got a Mastery. I won't play it through my amp until this afternoon, but I did some recording on a computer (with amp simulators) and the difference was night and day. The guitar sounds brighter and the buzzing is gone. I also found a guy locally who actually knows what he's doing and he got everything in tip-top shape (sanded down the frets a bit, adjusted the neck, got the bridge set up, the works).

Thanks to everyone for the advice and help. Also, I bought that Mustang bridge and it's now just sitting around, so let me know if you know of anyone who would like to buy one!


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:17 am
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Good call on the Mastery. Glad it all worked out.

Art,

Yes I got it set up on mine. It's a dream. Some say it takes the Jaguarness out of the Jag. I think that's BS. It's expensive but it turns a somewhat fidgety prima donna into a workhorse which is exactly what I was after.


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Jaguar Sinking Bridge
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:58 pm
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Chipbutty74,

Glad that is working out for you. I guess with my style it really hasn't been fidgety. My 50th Anniversary model has 11's and the 62 NOS Custom has 11's with a wound 3rd. No rattles or sinking bridge.

Art


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