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Post subject: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always crap?
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:25 am
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Hi folks, I have a question and I hope someone can help me answer it.

I recently purchased a NOS Cobain Jaguar. I've been playing Fenders for about 20 years now, mostly Strats and Teles, but I wanted to have a more "beefy" sounding Fender this time around. I was a little hesitant to spend a big amount of money on a MIM guitar, but decided to just do it. I gotta say, the guitar sounds fantastic and plays really, really well. It stays in tune great and there's no rattling or buzzing whatsoever. However, the stock Adjustomatic bridge it came with has a HUGE problem. The small nuts on the bridge (I'm not sure about the term, English is not my native language), fall off whenever I adjust the screws for intonation purposes. And not only that, even after I set the intonation and fasten the nuts tightly, they start to loosen and come off after only an hour of playing! At first I didn't notice, so two nuts fell off in my practice space as well as one screw. I couldn't find them. Luckily I still was owed a free professional setup by the store I bought it from. So I brought it to them, explained what happened and got it back within a day. The tech had put on a new screw and tightened all the nuts. Much to my surprise (and chagrin) within an hour of playing at home three nuts were already loosening, with one falling off again. Needless to say, I was not happy. I phoned the store and the guy basically said "these bridges aren't that good, I can have Fender send a new one, but chances are you will have the same problem" and "I can put on a similar bridge without the nuts problem for 70 euro plus hourly rate". To me, it's completely ridiculous and unacceptable that if I purchase a new guitar for 1300 euro it comes with a bridge that's unusable. Spending additional money to have a usable guitar is just nuts (pun intended :wink:)

So my question it this.. is this a common problem with these type of Fender adjustomatic bridges? Because if it isn't common, I'm gonna make them file a complaint with Fender and get me a new bridge, 'cause the bridge feels great when I play it. If it is common though, than that's truly sad.

I hope someone can point me in the right direction. I did a lot of google searches, but I couldn't find anything relevant on this issue. I think I might be using the wrong search terms (do you even call it a 'nut'?)

For clarity's sake.. below are two pics of the bridge. I'm referring to the six nuts.

Image
Image


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:32 am
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I'm not familiar with that specific (Gotoh?) bridge model. To be a little sarcastic, a faulty design in a Jag bridge would for some people mean just keeping up the tradition :lol:

But some Loctite 242 might help with the problem.

Oh: in here (EU) consumer legislation requires that products are suitable for the use they are intended to. My understanding is that this would cover both faulty design and faulty individual bridge...


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:51 am
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+1 for Loctite


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 7:07 am
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Get 6 extra nuts, and put them on the screw inside of the bridge plate...set bridges for intonation, tighten nuts against each other (against the bridge plate), and it should cure it. Do not use Locktite.


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 8:24 am
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White Dog wrote:
Do not use Locktite.

Any special reason for this statement?


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 10:05 am
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jmattis wrote:
White Dog wrote:
Do not use Locktite.

Any special reason for this statement?
Yes; because Locktite would be ridiculous, when the problem could be solved without liquid substances such as glue/paste (which locktite is essentially).

If the issue can be resolved mechanically...why go any other route. Locktite is ugly and messy as well....especially on components this small.


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 11:30 am
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"Ridiculous"... :shock:

Don't know how you use your Loctites, but the purpose is to apply it only on the last few rounds of threads - those that will be covered by that nut.
Don't also know which glues and pastes you refer to, but usually glues are meant to form a permanent bond (as opposed to #242, which can be disassembled).

Loctite can be found in just about any store. Where would you order those extra nuts, and what's the correct size?

But come to think of it now: a little strip of teflon tape might also do the job :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 12:56 pm
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jmattis wrote:
"Ridiculous"... :shock:

Don't know how you use your Loctites, but the purpose is to apply it only on the last few rounds of threads - those that will be covered by that nut.
Don't also know which glues and pastes you refer to, but usually glues are meant to form a permanent bond (as opposed to #242, which can be disassembled).

Loctite can be found in just about any store. Where would you order those extra nuts, and what's the correct size?

But come to think of it now: a little strip of teflon tape might also do the job :lol:

Well, jmattis, based on this:
Quote:
At first I didn't notice, so two nuts fell off in my practice space as well as one screw. I couldn't find them. Luckily I still was owed a free professional setup by the store I bought it from. So I brought it to them, explained what happened and got it back within a day. The tech had put on a new screw and tightened all the nuts.
I would "order" them from the same store that put the two back on that the original poster lost. If they could replace two....I'd have to assume they could come up with more.

And the 'glues' & 'pastes' that you have a difficult time understanding, is a textural example of the Locktite you obviously love and defend. And that's fine! If you like Locktite, that is your prerogative....but I personally would rather do it right, than to do it lazy.

To each their own brother. You gave the original poster a remedy that you like, and I gave a remedy that I like. You don't have to like mine, and I don't have to like yours....he can decide what road he would like to take.

I simply am not going to put a seizing adhesive on a mechanism I want left operational. If I wanna make adjustment I can, without breaking the seal on the Locktite, and then removing it, and reapplying a new coat. As I said---Ridiculous.


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 5:38 am
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Your "right way" has some questionable points, too.
The availability of those nuts ain't the same everywhere.
Adding one inside the "bridge plate" takes away some of the already limited intonation adjustment space (see the pic in the OP's post, esp. the low-E).
And the tool one would need for it... maybe some real thin nose pliers would fit in - or of course one could "simply" mill a wrench for this job only.
You're right, that surely is not the lazy way out.

But, as you point out, we all can choose which way to take.

Oh, and I ain't your brother.


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 6:37 am
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A soon as you asked "Any special reason for this statement?" I could tell you were looking for a fight. Got no time to 'fight' with someone I don't even know or care to know...on the internet. So; you win, if that's what you wanna hear.



Have a great day.


Last edited by White Dog on Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:14 am
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Quote:
looking for a fight

Nope, just trying to get some grounds on that statement I found strange.
But you seem to be more interested in personal insults than facts, so I'll leave this as is.


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Post subject: Re: Adjustomatic on Cobain Jaguar - faulty one or always cra
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 2:46 pm
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If you are bothered about the inacessibility issue, putting another nut on the inside of the bridge channel , you could always get 6 slightly longer bolts of the same thread and size and put TWO on the outside edge
After intonating the saddle , make sure the nut against the bridge is tightened then tighten another nut against that nut . I guarantee they will NOT unscrew

Either that, or get some locking screws (they can be bought with a nylon inner locking ring and a domed end on them )



TBH , it looks like a massive design goof by whoever designed that bridge

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