Jazzmaster Problem Urgent Replies Appreciated

[nickyseow]

Hi all,

recently, I bought myself a CIJ '62 Reissue Jazzmaster. To my knowledge and experience with guitars with whammy bars such as a strat, you can sorta screw the bar in, and it can swing around, but it is locked in, and even if you flip it over with the face of the guitar facing the floor, the whammy bar will not drop out.

The problem with my jazzmaster is that the tremolo arm just slides in, and it cannot be locked in. Yes granted I can push it in and i stays there, but when I use it, the arm goes loose, and falls out very easily. Also to my knowledge, the MIA Jazzmasters, w.r.t the tremolo arm, has a locking system of such for the arm, where you press it in, and it goes click. Mine does not. Is this a design flaw on the part of Fender Japan? I also did email ishibashi where I got it from and they said my problem "stumps the whole office" they did however provide really odd solutions that didnt help.

Is there someone I can approach to rectify this problem?

 

[subversion]

if you can reach another owner, try comparing the whammy bar physically- maybe it lacks certain threads/ indentation to make it 'click' into your guitar.

 

[nickyseow]

bump

 

[vernplum]

A quick solution is to get some plumbing tape - this is a non-adhesive stretchy rubber tape that is commonly used by plumbers to repair leaky pipes. Wrap a couple of turns around the short length of the bar prior to insertion; the friction of the tape plus the extra thickness will hold the bar in place.

I can't comment on whether that's a design flaw, but this is a viable workaround.

 

[nickyseow]

thanks for the reply man, however saying that, I really want my whammy bar to be in place, kinda like the strat's where you can swing around and it doesnt come out. Get what im saying? 8)

 

[gsonique]

like that ^

 

[gsonique]

the possible solution here

 

[nickyseow]

ooh.... Thanks man! I will try looking into that one.

 

[Elias]

This is a design 'flaw' that's found on Japanese Jaguars/Jazzmasters only. The US ones do have the mechanism that 'click' when you insert the bar. What I normally do is I run one or two rounds of adhesive tape around the end of the tremelo bar to get it to fit more snugly. Alternatively, you can take out the tremelo system and use pliers or some other tools to tighten the 'teeth' that hold the bar in place. Be careful not to apply too much force as it might break off the 'teeth'.

Here's also a forum I highly recommend for all Jag/Jazzmaster owners:
http://www.jag-stang.com/forum

You'll find ultra loads of info, tips, tricks, and what-nots about your Jag/Jazzmaster there

 

[nickyseow]

lgf = fgl backwards!

hmm, for a long term solution, do you think its possible to purchase the bridge as a standalone MIA part? Then install it in? Cost wise, has anyone done this?

 

[Elias]

I wouldn't take the risk as alot of times, the CIJ and MIA parts don't really fit exactly. I'm not sure about the tremelo plate though...cos even both my CIJ Jaguar's necks don't really fit each other's body right. But if you don't mind forking out $$ to try, I guess you can go ahead and let us know the results Btw, if you do change to MIA tremelo plate, you must also get the MIA tremelo bar.

You can get the parts here but they're not cheap: http://www.angela.com/

(the fgl part corny lah *lol*)