Picked up a Surf Green Squier VM Jaguar for a decent price as a blemish this week. It arrived with no visible marks, but you could tell someone had played it (all the plastic covers were removed and there were marks on the pickguard) so I'm guessing it was just returned or a floor model. I've been reading up on all the problems people have had setting them up with the wonky bridges buzzing and such. I've spent the last couple of days trying to get the thing playable. It's my first offset so figuring it out has been a learning experience, but no matter what I've done I haven't been able to get the buzzing fixed and it's been driving me nuts. So this morning I put the tremolo arm in (had to FIGHT that thing to get it all the way in) and it sticks out at an ungodly and unusable angle. It's the one problem I haven't really seen anyone mention anywhere. After a few google searches I find out about the tremolo adjustment screw ( ). I adjust it until the trem arm is reachable and VOILA! Suddenly this thing comes together! Almost all the buzzing has disappeared and it actually feels good to play. I can't believe something so simple has made such a difference. I was really frustrated and barely considered this thing worth firewood but now I'm in love. It feels so natural I'm angry I took so long to get a jaguar. I was really close to picking up a new bridge but now this one seems to be working just fine. If you'd asked me yesterday I would have said to save your money on one of these but now I can't recommend them enough.
So few people understand how to properly adjust that trem tension screw but as you found out, it's imperative to the overall feel and setup of an offset. Glad you're happy with it after initial struggles.
Congrats man. I've been playing Jag's and Jazzy's for a while. They are great guitars and the new VM series is excellent. But they are also very misunderstood and unique. Just because someone, even a tech, understands how to set up a LP, Tele or Strat will that mean that they/you know what to do with the floating bridge and trem's on these guitars.
Thanks, duders. Yeah, I've mostly only played an SG for about the last five years, so it's definitely a new experience. I have an Ibanez with a Floyd Rose and I figured my experience with that would help but it's a completely different animal. Still getting it dialed in but it's all starting to make sense.
Yeah, I got a VM Jazzmaster and the bridge has been driving me insane the last few weeks.
I'm putting a Mastery in tonight, hoping that will solve all of my problems.
PetZounds wrote:Yeah, I got a VM Jazzmaster and the bridge has been driving me insane the last few weeks.
I'm putting a Mastery in tonight, hoping that will solve all of my problems.
Just got some 11-52 strings in today and put them on. I kept reading that would help on other forums.
PetZounds wrote:Yeah, I got a VM Jazzmaster and the bridge has been driving me insane the last few weeks.
I'm putting a Mastery in tonight, hoping that will solve all of my problems.
Just got some 11-52 strings in today and put them on. I kept reading that would help on other forums.
Yep, the jazzmaster bridge was originally designed for 12s I think.
I have a 14 on my high e, currently, because I broke a string and slapped a B on there.
It feels great actually.
The mastery instantly alleviated so many of the problems I was having.
I love the guitar even more now.
PetZounds wrote:Yeah, I got a VM Jazzmaster and the bridge has been driving me insane the last few weeks.
I'm putting a Mastery in tonight, hoping that will solve all of my problems.
Just got some 11-52 strings in today and put them on. I kept reading that would help on other forums.
Yep, the jazzmaster bridge was originally designed for 12s I think.
I have a 14 on my high e, currently, because I broke a string and slapped a B on there.
It feels great actually.
The mastery instantly alleviated so many of the problems I was having.
I love the guitar even more now.
Hmm. Originally I was considering one but couldn't justify the expense, but now that I'm bonding with it I may have to look into it. I've also been eyeing some Novaks
Gonna have to keep reminding myself not to become an OSG dweeb
Some of those guys are almost as fascist as the tgp doods.
The Mastery will definitely alleviate most any traditional JM issue/complaint. I think adding a trem with the lock function is really great for properly adjusting spring tension but this can be done by feel on the non-lock versions.
Also, a Mastery bridge resulted in higher overall tension on my JM but I still stick with 11-50's, just tuned down another half step to Dstandard. I think I could easily get away with 10-50 set though if I wanted to tune back up. It's really only the high strings that felt a little too tight at my normal tuning (1/2 step down).
). I adjust it until the trem arm is reachable and VOILA! Suddenly this thing comes together! Almost all the buzzing has disappeared and it actually feels good to play. I can't believe something so simple has made such a difference. I was really frustrated and barely considered this thing worth firewood but now I'm in love. It feels so natural I'm angry I took so long to get a jaguar. I was really close to picking up a new bridge but now this one seems to be working just fine. If you'd asked me yesterday I would have said to save your money on one of these but now I can't recommend them enough. 
