My first build. JMA-1L from Montreal.

[Marc T]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not familiar with this type of bridge. I'm assuming it should just lean up against the posts and the tension from the springs and strings will keep it in place.

Am I supposed to push the posts all the way in so that they are flush with the body?

Thanks

[Simon Barden]

Yes, the nead on the top of the insert should be flush with the body.

I hope you remembered to fit the bridge grounding wire before putting the inserts in.

[Marc T]

Yes, the nead on the top of the insert should be flush with the body.

I hope you remembered to fit the bridge grounding wire before putting the inserts in.

Thanks Simon,

Ugh!!! I did not pass the grounding wire. I wanted to install the bridge so I can then make sure the neck is in the right position to properly drill the holes for the neck screws.

So i guess i'm going to have to try and remove one of the posts or is there another solution.

I have to say i am learning quite a bit with this build.

[Simon Barden]

I can't think of another way with that trem bridge. In theory you should be able to cut off a smaller diameter bolt so that it fits in the hole and comes out the bottom and touches the wood, then use the post (or another screw the same size to avoid any damage to the post) to screw down, pushing on the smaller bolt and so pulling the insert out.

However from some of your photos, the post holes appear to go all the way through to the trem cavity, so the above method isn't practical. In which case there's no real alternative but to fit a screw into the insert (I'd use a similar sized one rather than the post itself, it should have a metric thread), then turn the guitar over and put a rod through the hole and tap that gently with a hammer until the insert is pushed out.

[Marc T]

Thanks again Simon.... I was starting to feel too confident. i'm going to slow down and go back and re-read the user manual again.

[Sonic Mountain]

Hey mark, With this kit the earth wire is soldered onto the spring claw, no need to pull out the posts.

And, yep push the receivers in flush. The bridge pivots on the bit past the thread. I'll throw up a photo of how mine ended up.

[Sonic Mountain]

So here is how my bridge sits on my JMA kit. This is after 3 or 4 goes at setup.



It is amazingly good to play now - weight aside.

Once you install the spring claw and springs the bridge will hold in place against the pivots. I started with the pivots screwed all the way in and the saddles at half adjustment. Then i raised the pivots a 1/4 of a turn each until the strings stopped buzzing and fine tuned the action with the saddles. There is a real balancing act required to get the float right - strings vs springs. You will need to adjust how far the claw is screwed into the body to adjust the tension on the springs and spend a bit of time tuning the strings and adjusting the float until you get it right.

My action is 1.5mm at the 12th and there is zero buzz with 9's on it.

[wazkelly]

On an old Jap Strat copy I had as a teenager the ground wire was connected to the tremolo spring claw underneath and wondering whether that might work?

EDIT: just saw Sonic's post on the same topic.

[Sonic Mountain]

On an old Jap Strat copy I had as a teenager the ground wire was connected to the tremolo spring claw underneath and wondering whether that might work?

EDIT: just saw Sonic's post on the same topic.

Snap ****************

[Simon Barden]

Ooops! Yes of course! Sorry Marc, just wasn't thinking properly.