Staytrem bridge sounds darker than stock bridge?

[Zorro]

Hello! Is it just me, or do the Staytrem bridge really sound darker and almost a bit dull compared to the stock Jaguar-bridge (AV65)? I have been swapping these two bridges back and forth during the last months, but it is hard to tell because those swappings take place when I am changing strings, and new strings never sound the same as old ones.

[Embenny]

That's never been my experience, but it might be happening on your particular guitar. I do find that Staytrems (or Mustang bridges in general) give me a little more sustain than the stock bridges...but more sustain means less of a sharp transient, and a sharp transient could be interpreted as a "strong attack" or "bright attack" so maybe that's part of it?

[Debaser]

I’ve noticed something similar with Staytrems and a particular guitar, so it’s not totally out of the question. You mention string changes, so I’m thinking it’s more to do with that than anything else. I’m a fan of the original bridge, and it’s not a sustain killer any more than a rocking Staytrem in my opinion. Stainless Vs typical steel? Try swapping with the same set of strings. I’ve had good luck with nickel plated steel strings.

[hwestman]

I’d day that anything that’s more solid Tham a standard JM bridge will provide more bass and mids, probably giving you the impression of a darker sound.

[Zorro]

Thank you for your replies! I am not mad, then. I will continue my investigation, but with the sam strings on!

[Johno]

Would be interesting to hear if you could record both examples?

[B]

That has been my experience every time with a Staytrem bridge... My tone always seemed to get noticeably duller. Keep in mind I use flatwounds exclusively and maybe this isn't as pronounced with wound strings. I looked past it for a long while because of some other benefits that the bridge did provide, but ended up going back to stock USA bridges provided I tweak/mod/dial one in effectively.

[Hiwhat]

Bit of a zombie thread but I noticed that too when I changed the bridge on my new American Original Jazzmaster yesterday.
The Staytrem is much darker, almost to the point of being dull and muted. Sort of like changing from a 1meg pot to 250k.

On the other hand, it works extremely well: Stays in tune, smooth as a cat, doesn`t move, looks great! But I am not sure I can live with the tonal difference. Heck, it might be a good thing, Jazzmasters can be painfully bright.

We`ll see: Gotta dig out my old Mastery perhaps or go back to the stock bridge (which isn`t nearly as bad as the internet will tell you).

[jorri]

Maybe.
I noticed changing from stock to mustang to modified mustang.
Mustang darker, as i think the height screws kind of add a resonance of the bridge. Less mass gets excited more easily, but it also sucks some energy so less sustain. Not to mention if buzz is sucking energy.

Sustain is lower in frequency usually, and higher frequencies are transient attack. So if you add sustain, well perhaps there is not even less bright twang, but relatively there are more lows.

[soul1]

Yup, this has been my experience as well, the Staytrem kinda dulled the tone a bit on my Jaguar. When I switched it for a regular mustang bridge, the high-end suddenly reappeared.

[marqueemoon]

Yes, and I like it.

[Axolotl]

I've clearly noticed this last time I went from my staytrem to stock bridge on my66 Jazzmaster. After a few weeks I went back to the staytrem. I like the sound better. It'sounds duller, with less buzzing and overall feels a bit more balanced. Then of course I love the staytrem's fix radius, spacing, nylon bushes, looks etc.

[marqueemoon]

I've clearly noticed this last time I went from my staytrem to stock bridge on my66 Jazzmaster. After a few weeks I went back to the staytrem. I like the sound better. It'sounds duller, with less buzzing and overall feels a bit more balanced. Then of course I love the staytrem's fix radius, spacing, nylon bushes, looks etc.

Right. It doesn’t kill the overtones. If you pick behind the bridge or nut or hit a harmonic that stuff is still there. It just reduces the high mid hashiness.

If you are going for Sonic Youth sounds that could be a drawback. Same if you are going for plinky surf sounds.

[soggy mittens]

I use a compressor on my board always on and have different jazzmasters with staytrem and stock and never noticed a difference. I like both bridges but just prefer the staytrem, if there is a difference it's so minute that it's irrelevant to me.

[mackerelmint]

I haven't noticed a difference in terms of high end going away. Mileage always seems to vary with everything, though.

Definitely smooths the attack out a bit, which I really like. It's a good bridge.