|
Post by glenmornan on Mar 5, 2019 8:42:45 GMT
Really saltee? I can't imagine what they have to suit you. There's not much left handed stuff. A tele? I'm treating myself to one of these. Squier's first ever left handed offset.
www.thomann.de/ie/fender_sq_cv_60s_jazzmaster_lh_lrl_ow.htmIf they're anything like the VMJM you'll like it (when you're not adjusting the bridge). I've had one for about 7 years and recently decided to shim the neck. It's fine again now but that bridge will drop with use every few weeks or so, particularly if you're doing a lot of rhythm strumming. Johnny Marr's techs discovered that on his Jags and put another bridge on his (can't remember which one). I had been tampering with the string height adjustment screws on the bridge for a long time before realising all I had to do when the buzzing started was raise the whole bridge back up again (slightly). Apart from the shim and some nut groove butchering to take 11s, mine has been great the way it came, and I've done nothing else to it, same as my VM Jag. I currently have 10s on the JM and 11s on the Jag, but might go to 10.5 for them both next time. These days I only play at home so it's not really a big issue if I have to keep making adjustments. The Jag neck is a lot more stable and less high maintenance. They're both excellent guitars. Pure nostalgia, regardless of the 60s hardware!
|
|
3,968 posts
|
Post by salteedog on Mar 5, 2019 10:45:00 GMT
From what I read it sounds like they are essentially the Vintage Modified but now branded as Classic Vibe. Good to hear you've had a mostly positive experience with yours.
|
|
|
3,457 posts
|
Post by LeoThunder on Mar 5, 2019 12:12:38 GMT
Sounds like giving up on all the fun… Oh, I see adjusting intonation is going to affect the string height. Lovely. And it looks like the screwdriver for it will be too long, or is it an Allen wrench?
Seriously, who designed this? Was it supposed to be a nasty exam for guitar techs? I guess this is fine as long as one goes for safely high action but flirting with the edge of fret buzz is another game altogether.
|
|
3,968 posts
|
Post by salteedog on Mar 5, 2019 13:54:56 GMT
The VM / CV models use the mustang style saddles which are supposedly much better that those original ones.
|
|
DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
|
Post by DefJef on Mar 5, 2019 14:28:02 GMT
The VM / CV models use the mustang style saddles which are supposedly much better that those original ones. So I'd heard but Fender's own site doesn't even list the guitar. The problems with the Mustang bridge are that you lose the option of spreading the strings to your preferred width or to adjust the strings to lay over the pole pieces, and that there is no saddle height adjustment on them, so I hope they have the same radius. You would think that Fender would have had enough time to sort the nonsense out. Fans of Fender are so stuck in the past that they won't allow improvements, but Squier have always had a bit more license to play about with things. Hopefully the Mustang bridge will partially improve things.
|
|
|
Post by blindwilly3fingers on Mar 5, 2019 15:27:03 GMT
I'm sure I've seen videos stating they updated/upgraded the bridge on Squier JM's to something similar to a tune o matic.
|
|
|
|
Post by blindwilly3fingers on Mar 5, 2019 16:37:07 GMT
I can't remember if it was a bog standard tune o matic or a roller version. It definitely wasn't the Jaguar type DefJef, I was looking prior to getting a JM type guitar. The reason I went for the JA60 was no tremolo, as you said Squier do seem to be open to improving (not sure if that is the right word) past Fender designs. It must be infuriating to tremolo players that the bridge/tremolo systems are poor.
|
|
|
Post by glenmornan on Mar 5, 2019 16:49:46 GMT
I know next to nothing about guitar set up but had to learn pretty quick with these. The new CV ones look as though they still have the older style "Problematic" bridge. Once you get the string height saddles about right to the contour of the fingerboard it's best to leave them alone. To be fair they usually arrive properly adjusted in the box, and tampering with them could lead to issues. I've never used Loctite or anything else on them, but it does appear to work.
What typically happens is that vibration through the strings causes the bridge posts to loosen off, and eventually the bridge drops down just enough to cause buzzing. The simple remedy is to use the small allen key to raise the bridge posts back up again, without touching the string saddles. Of course you can put loctite on the whole works as shown in the pic, but if you decide to change string gauge you'll need to lower or raise the bridge again.
I've never played a "real" JM or Jag, so cannot make a comparison, but by all accounts both guitars are a very close representation of the originals. I wouldn't part with any of mine, and still have the original bridges on them. There are only 18 screws, six springs, and 2 bridge posts that can cause issues, although there is a lot of satisfaction to be had out of learning how everything works!
A lot of the recent complaints about them are from "modern" players who don't use a pick, or strum them with gorilla type movements, and end up knocking the lighter gauge strings off the saddles. When the originals were made most lead guitarists just used picks with a fairly light touch on 12 gauge or heavier strings. Of course you can use them for any style you see fit, but the chicken pickers and metal guys might want to give them a miss.
The VMs have Duncan designed pick ups which seem to suit both of them fine. I'm led to believe the CVs will be fitted with different pick ups but everything else looks the same. If any of my VMs need replacing I wouldn't hesitate to go for one of the new ones. Some people just don't like them, but they've certainly sold a good few, even although the RRP has increased a bit in recent years. I paid about £240 for each of mine 6 or 7 years ago.
FWIW the Gretsch electromatic bridges also shake rattle and roll something awful. The intonation screws on those are a very loose fit in the bridge threads and it seems good old Loctite is the preferred option as an alternative to throwing the original bridge away and buying a Compton bridge. I think I'll go and get some Loctite for mine, as I haven't been able to work out any other "cure".
|
|
3,457 posts
|
Post by LeoThunder on Mar 5, 2019 17:18:55 GMT
Of course you can put loctite on the whole works as shown in the pic, but if you decide to change string gauge you'll need to lower or raise the bridge again. If you change the string gauge or even the type, you'll have to adjust intonation. I don't think freezing any of the system is a good idea.
|
|
|
Post by glenmornan on Mar 5, 2019 18:15:00 GMT
If you change the string gauge or even the type, you'll have to adjust intonation. I don't think freezing any of the system is a good idea. Sorry, still haven't got the hang of the quote facility here. Yes, I agree with you on that one. Apparently there are different types of Loctite, and if you use the red version you need heat applied to free it off! Don't know what they used in the 60s, but the techs in those days were probably used to the issues then. Did they actually have guitar techs then? As far as I can remember the only Fender electrics you were likely to find in the UK in the 60s and 70s were Teles and Strats. If you asked for anything else you got a raised eyebrow. I cannot remember ever seeing offset guitars here at all, although they may have existed. I remember buying a Tele and thinking I had finally got in with the big boys. Only issue as my playing wasn't as good as the little boys, and I ended up giving up playing for nearly 30 years. I've spent thousands on chromatic button accordions over the years, but that's another story altogether, and you definitely cannot use Loctite on those!
|
|
|
1,773 posts
|
Post by MartinB on Mar 5, 2019 18:37:46 GMT
Iirc my fender modern player JM had a tune o matic style bridge and it worked fine.
|
|
|
Post by glenmornan on Mar 5, 2019 18:38:13 GMT
Thanks for clearing that up. I have heard that a lot of players use it. I think I'll need to give in and use it on the Gretsch, as the bridge on it is driving me nuts. Better not get the red stuff though!
|
|