The The Jazzmaster ’ s floating , lockable vibrato system is often spoken of in nightmarish terms by haters and enthusiasts alike , and it does have its share of difficulties to be sure , but this is the part of the guitar that many of its most adoring adherents find that they simply can ’ t live without . For one , it can wobble notes both sharp and flat , a very unique function indeed in the pre-Floyd era . Additionally , it is an essential part of the instrument ’ s tonal character , with numerous options for behind-the-bridge tones and ringing high harmonics , as well as a design that allows one to manipulate the bar constantly while playing . The Jazzmaster ’ s vibrato system is truly an instrument unto itself . This is exemplified in the playing of Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine , the boys from Sonic Youth , Adam Franklin of Swervedriver , and Nels Cline , among other notable devotees . When properly set up , a Jazzmaster vibrato can be quite stable even with the most vigorous thrashing . It can even lock for those times when you ’ d rather have a hardtail .
Many players ’ problems with this design start with the bridge , which has a tendency to buzz , rattle , and allow strings to pop out of its shallow saddle grooves during hard playing . There are a number of fixes for this , though , including swapping the stock bridge for a Fender Mustang bridge , which is similar in design but has deeper grooves and a less rattle-prone nature , or purchasing the very popular aftermarket Mastery Bridge , a brilliantly engineered piece of hardware endorsed by many of today ’ s masters of jazz . It should be noted , though , that quite a few players are perfectly happy with the stock bridge . As it was designed for jazz guitarists , the Jazzmaster was originally intended to be strung up with heavy gauge flatwound strings . Thus , the stock bridge can often work quite well after a switch to a set of 11s , 12s , or 13s ( not necessarily flatwound ), and a good , professional setup . This option also has the benefit of retaining all of the Jazzmaster ’ s sonic idiosyncrasies , which are often muted by some of the more popular modern day modifications .
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The The Jazzmaster ’ s floating , lockable vibrato system is often spoken of in nightmarish terms by haters and enthusiasts alike , and it does have its share of difficulties to be sure , but this is the part of the guitar that many of its most adoring adherents find that they simply can ’ t live without . For one , it can wobble notes both sharp and flat , a very unique function indeed in the pre-Floyd era . Additionally , it is an essential part of the instrument ’ s tonal character , with numerous options for behind-the-bridge tones and ringing high harmonics , as well as a design that allows one to manipulate the bar constantly while playing . The Jazzmaster ’ s vibrato system is truly an instrument unto itself . This is exemplified in the playing of Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine , the boys from Sonic Youth , Adam Franklin of Swervedriver , and Nels Cline , among other notable devotees . When properly set up , a Jazzmaster vibrato can be quite stable even with the most vigorous thrashing . It can even lock for those times when you ’ d rather have a hardtail .
Many players ’ problems with this design start with the bridge , which has a tendency to buzz , rattle , and allow strings to pop out of its shallow saddle grooves during hard playing . There are a number of fixes for this , though , including swapping the stock bridge for a Fender Mustang bridge , which is similar in design but has deeper grooves and a less rattle-prone nature , or purchasing the very popular aftermarket Mastery Bridge , a brilliantly engineered piece of hardware endorsed by many of today ’ s masters of jazz . It should be noted , though , that quite a few players are perfectly happy with the stock bridge . As it was designed for jazz guitarists , the Jazzmaster was originally intended to be strung up with heavy gauge flatwound strings . Thus , the stock bridge can often work quite well after a switch to a set of 11s , 12s , or 13s ( not necessarily flatwound ), and a good , professional setup . This option also has the benefit of retaining all of the Jazzmaster ’ s sonic idiosyncrasies , which are often muted by some of the more popular modern day modifications .