bridge difference: AM Pro Jazzmaster Vs Mustang 9.5" radius

[Lost In Autumn]

What's the difference between an AM Pro Jazzmaster bridge and a 9.5" radius Mustang bridge?

Am Pro: https://reverb.com/item/11692701-770-99 ... uar-bridge

Mustang 9.5" https://reverb.com/item/17287519-steel- ... -vi-chrome

as far as I can tell, the main difference is $64 is there anything else I'm missing?

[manwithtitties]

string spacing. Ampro is 52mm, the cheaper one is 55

[adamrobertt]

Also the AM Pro is just a higher quality piece, IMO. Better made. And the posts are narrower than a usual bridge to accommodate for the plastic bushings they put in the American Professional thimbles.

[lamp]

The Am Pro also has brass saddles.

[timtam]

The appearance of inexpensive, non-Fender/non-Squier 9.5" radius bridges is relatively recent. Prior to that all the inexpensive Mustang bridges were 7.25" radius. The 9.5" ones appeared around the same time as the recent Classic Vibe series with its 9.5" radius bridge, so it's possible that the supplier/bridge is the same, or maybe they're just copies. While we've had people confirm the 9.5" radius on the CVs, I can't recall if we've had the E-E-spacing on those CV bridges verified.

Similar recent 9.5" Mustang bridges, only one listing its E-E spacing (55mm) ...
https://www.eyguitarmusic.com/Chrome-Mu ... _2681.html
https://www.customworldguitarparts.com/ ... adius.html
https://www.emma-music.com/mustang-brid ... dius95.cfm
(last one is listed as 'Gotoh' but we've seen that name misused before)

And the posts are narrower than a usual bridge to accommodate for the plastic bushings they put in the American Professional thimbles.

I haven't heard that before. There are slight variations across thimble and post sizes across all offset bridges (which can create issues for retrofitting Mastery bridges). But I would have thought the typical gap between the post OD and thimble ID should be enough to accommodate the somewhat-soft nylon bushings.

Unfortunately none of the aftermarket sources of the Am Pro's Mustang-style bridge (Riley, Angela, guitarpartsresource) list its bridge posts' OD. In any case I just measured two aftermarket Asian import bridges (7.25") I had lying around - ie not MIA like the Am Pro - one jaguar and one mustang, from different sources. They are pretty much identical (maybe 0.1mm either way) ...

Thimble OD 8.8mm
Thimble ID ~8mm
Post OD 6.0mm

So ~2mm space (ie ~1mm each side) into which the nylon bushings would need to fit.

Fender Am Pro nylon bushing specs from Riley:
Inner diameter 0.262″ 6.7mm
outer diameter 0.315″ 8.0mm
https://darrenriley.com/store/fender-am ... 710508000/

So those bridge posts' OD above (6mm) should still have a little wiggle room to fit into those Am Pro nylon bushings' ID (6.7mm), without any need for changed post dimensions. If standard MIA bridges have similar post dimensions, they would be fine too, without modification. If would be good if anyone who has an Am Pro bridge could confirm the OD of the bridge posts.

[Lost In Autumn]

string spacing. Ampro is 52mm, the cheaper one is 55

I have the cheaper one, it’s spacing is 52 mm, iirc. It replaced an actual 7.5” radius mustang bridge, which had the e strings on the edge of the fretboard.

[timtam]

string spacing. Ampro is 52mm, the cheaper one is 55

I have the cheaper one, it’s spacing is 52 mm, iirc. It replaced an actual 7.5” radius mustang bridge, which had the e strings on the edge of the fretboard.

The cheap one you linked says 55.5mm.

[adamrobertt]

And the posts are narrower than a usual bridge to accommodate for the plastic bushings they put in the American Professional thimbles.

I haven't heard that before. There are slight variations across thimble and post sizes across all offset bridges (which can create issues for retrofitting Mastery bridges). But I would have thought the typical gap between the post OD and thimble ID should be enough to accommodate the somewhat-soft nylon bushings.

Unfortunately none of the aftermarket sources of the Am Pro's Mustang-style bridge (Riley, Angela, guitarpartsresource) list its bridge posts' OD. In any case I just measured two aftermarket Asian import bridges (7.25") I had lying around - ie not MIA like the Am Pro - one jaguar and one mustang, from different sources. They are pretty much identical (maybe 0.1mm either way) ...

Thimble OD 8.8mm
Thimble ID ~8mm
Post OD 6.0mm

So ~2mm space (ie ~1mm each side) into which the nylon bushings would need to fit.

Fender Am Pro nylon bushing specs from Riley:
Inner diameter 0.262″ 6.7mm
outer diameter 0.315″ 8.0mm
https://darrenriley.com/store/fender-am ... 710508000/

So those bridge posts' OD above (6mm) should still have a little wiggle room to fit into those Am Pro nylon bushings' ID (6.7mm), without any need for changed post dimensions. If standard MIA bridges have similar post dimensions, they would be fine too, without modification. If would be good if anyone who has an Am Pro bridge could confirm the OD of the bridge posts.

Well, I said that because I tried using a Classic Vibe bridge as a temporary placeholder on my Jazzmaster with the nylon bushings, and it didn't fit. The post diameter was too large. I was also surprised.

[timtam]

Well, I said that because I tried using a Classic Vibe bridge as a temporary placeholder on my Jazzmaster with the nylon bushings, and it didn't fit. The post diameter was too large. I was also surprised.

Interesting. Could also be that those new 9.5" CVs have posts that are a tad larger than other bridges. It's hard to be sure about relative sizes of posts and thimbles across MIA/MIJ/MIK/MIC bridges, but there are obviously small variations. Mastery provides some info on thimbles that have the same ID as MIA, and includes the Am Pro in that list (but suggests that the ID of MIK thimbles are a tad narrower than MIA, and older MIJ a bit larger).
https://masterybridge.com/which-to-buy/
But that doesn't mean for sure that the posts follow exactly the same pattern as the thimbles. Some posts could have more clearance to rock in their thimbles than others. It's only in situations like fitting a non-rocking bridge like Mastery that requires tight-fitting posts, or using Am Pro nylon bushings/thimbles with other bridges, were some differences may become apparent.

[Debaser]

The Am Pro also has brass saddles.

For what it’s worth, the new CV bridge saddles are chrome plated brass as well. Of course it’s uncertain or to be confirmed that the linked bridge is the same. I sold my CV so I cant add any more information, but I filed my low E saddle to seat the string better, it’s brass underneath.

[lamp]

The Am Pro also has brass saddles.

For what it’s worth, the new CV bridge saddles are chrome plated brass as well. Of course it’s uncertain or to be confirmed that the linked bridge is the same. I sold my CV so I cant add any more information, but I filed my low E saddle to seat the string better, it’s brass underneath.

Thanks - that's good to know!

[shawn42]

Just checking, has anyone, or can anyone, confirm the stock string spacing, E to E, at the bridge, of a CV JM? 52mm (2-1/16") or 55mm (2-3/16")?