NGD: CNZ Audio JM

[Buddha Pickups]

I always change mine to mustang style unless I just enlarge the holes for a Tom style roller like a Wilkinson. I did that to my original liquid (back when it was the SJM).

[andrewsrea]

Happy new guitar day!

I've got a SX SJM62 that had the same issue with the bridge grub screws backing out. SOLUTION: Loctite 'Blue' threadlocker. Gums up the threads, but dows not freeze them.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Happy new guitar day!

I've got a SX SJM62 that had the same issue with the bridge grub screws backing out. SOLUTION: Loctite 'Blue' threadlocker. Gums up the threads, but dows not freeze them.

Thanks! I did not know about that version of Loctite. Sounds perfect. It's certainly better than the random thought I had of smearing peanut butter on the threads (just in jest).

[tobijohn]

Great, how about a link to that Mustang bridge? Also, did the saddle replacement help at all with the tremolo/B string issue?

[BatUtilityBelt]

Great, how about a link to that Mustang bridge? Also, did the saddle replacement help at all with the tremolo/B string issue?

Sure thing. The Mustang bridge I took the saddles from is on Amazon for $13 here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6HRMN8D?ps ... ct_details
The new saddles do help with the B string issue. They're keeping every string in its slot nicely, but I did slightly angle a couple of them to help ensure that. The guitar came with 9's that are still on it. I personally think 11's work better on this type of bridge, so when it gets new strings, that will help too.

Oh, and a side conversation with the CNZ Audio has broached them possibly making a proper lefty Jaguar (24" scale with traditional Jag pickups), which they seem to be heavily considering. They're quite good at communicating. If they make that one, I'll likely buy several.

[tobijohn]

Sure thing. The Mustang bridge I took the saddles from is on Amazon for $13 here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6HRMN8D?ps ... ct_details
The new saddles do help with the B string issue. They're keeping every string in its slot nicely, but I did slightly angle a couple of them to help ensure that. The guitar came with 9's that are still on it. I personally think 11's work better on this type of bridge, so when it gets new strings, that will help too.

Oh, and a side conversation with the CNZ Audio has broached them possibly making a proper lefty Jaguar (24" scale with traditional Jag pickups), which they seem to be heavily considering. They're quite good at communicating. If they make that one, I'll likely buy several.

Thanks, I'd be interested in a Jaguar too. FWIW, the HB Mustang copy has a 24" scale neck:

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... series.htm

Do a neck swap, grab an aftermarket pickguard and there's a sort of 24" scale Jaguar and also an interesting 25 1/2" scale Mustang...

[BatUtilityBelt]

Thanks, I'd be interested in a Jaguar too. FWIW, the HB Mustang copy has a 24" scale neck:

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... series.htm

Do a neck swap, grab an aftermarket pickguard and there's a sort of 24" scale Jaguar and also an interesting 25 1/2" scale Mustang...

I have pushed that Jaguar conversation with them, but I'm sure it would help if any other interested lefties also contacted CNZ Audio to weigh in. They're very good communicators. There is a contact link on their site https://cnzaudio.com/ On the HB, I just don't want to give Thomann any money, and I would think the HB neck might not allow for intonation unless it's a conversion neck.

[tobijohn]

...On the HB, I just don't want to give Thomann any money, and I would think the HB neck might not allow for intonation unless it's a conversion neck.

Just out of curiosity, does the neck dimensions on the JM match up with anything else you've got around with a 25.5" scale neck? I've got that HB Mustang and could check that out. I've also got plenty of other brands and styles of guitars with 25.5" scales, I can take some measurements to see if it's even theoretixcally possible.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Just out of curiosity, does the neck dimensions on the JM match up with anything else you've got around with a 25.5" scale neck? I've got that HB Mustang and could check that out. I've also got plenty of other brands and styles of guitars with 25.5" scales, I can take some measurements to see if it's even theoretixcally possible.

I'll try to take the neck off again tonight and make some comparisons and measurements. During daylight, my diamond saw and I are trying to beat winter to finish this patio.

[honyock]

A JM and a Strat should be basically identical.

A Mustang should be 22 frets without an overhang

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[tobijohn]

[
I'll try to take the neck off again tonight and make some comparisons and measurements. During daylight, my diamond saw and I are trying to beat winter to finish this patio. image.png

Thanks, but don't make a project out of it, you've got enough already...

[BatUtilityBelt]

Thanks, but don't make a project out of it, you've got enough already...

No problem, my evening was getting boring. The neck pocket is just a little wide, at 2.229". I measured the length of the pocket at about 2.9575", and for some reason forgot to measure the pocket depth, sorry.

The pocket shape is pretty much stratocaster shape. It fits the CNZ Audio neck snugly, but left a little too much wiggle room for the off-brand tele and strat necks I have sitting around. One is pictured so you can see the gap.

[tobijohn]

Thanks, but don't make a project out of it, you've got enough already...

No problem, my evening was getting boring. The neck pocket is just a little wide, at 2.229". I measured the length of the pocket at about 2.9575", and for some reason forgot to measure the pocket depth, sorry.

The pocket shape is pretty much stratocaster shape. It fits the CNZ Audio neck snugly, but left a little too much wiggle room for the off-brand tele and strat necks I have sitting around. One is pictured so you can see the gap.

Thanks, I'll do some measuring on the HB mustang this weekend

[BatUtilityBelt]

This is strange. When I first evaluated the CNZ Audio JM and found the B string hung up on the tremolo collet, I thought it was probably unusual. Since the guitar has no other issues and I adjusted the action to near perfect, I decided to keep it. While I did reduce the friction of the B string on the trem, I also wanted to fix it permanently. I had asked CNZ about it, and they suggested moving the trem arm adjusting it from the back. Unfortunately that adjustment was not possible because the adjustment nut was welded to the collet at the factory - its position is permanent.

So I have spent a few moments here and there thinking about what I might be able to do to fix it myself. The only answer I keep coming back to is fill and drill all 6 tremolo mounting screw holes, which does not sound fun, but I might do that some time I have too much time on my hands. Then another thought crept in - was this someone eyeballing the position of those screws, or are they CNC drilled? Seems it should be the latter, but maybe not. So I zoomed in on sales pictures of other CNZ Audio JMs for sale. They sell many colors, so there were a lot of pictures. Surprisingly, I see the B string touching or bent around the tremolo collet on a lot of those pictures. It's not just a one-off problem. While I'm now sure they're talking to the builders about the problem, it would have been nice if they had acknowledged a replacement unit might have had the same issue. As an example, check out the B string bend around the trem on this zoom-in of a blue righty... same issue.

image.png (79.23 KiB) Viewed 1823 times

[tobijohn]

From your earlier picture it looks like the plate willl have to be moved about 1/8" to the left which means that the string alignment with respect to the neck edges and the bridge will be off and there will be tension over the sadles as they will have to deflect slightly to the left as they break to the tremolo off the back saddle edge. However, FWIW I have a Davison LP where the bridge was off center by about that much (the high E string was closer to the edge of the neck than the low E but it didn't prevent the guitar from intonating properly or the playability (unless you like to bend the high E by pulling down rather than pushing up)....

[Tiga]

It looks like the trem collet is actually shifted over to the right - at least from the picture anyway. I'm wondering if it would be worth just dropping in another trem unit to see if fixes the problem. Something like this:
https://www.mojotone.com/Jaguar-and-Jaz ... xIRqvYjUdo

collet appears to be more centered. Just a thought.

Edit- just realized I posted a right handed model. Unfortunately not as many LH models that I can see.

[tobijohn]

It looks like the trem collet is actually shifted over to the right - at least from the picture anyway. I'm wondering if it would be worth just dropping in another trem unit to see if fixes the problem. Something like this:
https://www.mojotone.com/Jaguar-and-Jaz ... xIRqvYjUdo

collet appears to be more centered. Just a thought.

I thought the same but it's tough (and/or pricey) finding lefty parts like this...

[BatUtilityBelt]

It looks like the trem collet is actually shifted over to the right - at least from the picture anyway. I'm wondering if it would be worth just dropping in another trem unit to see if fixes the problem. Something like this:
https://www.mojotone.com/Jaguar-and-Jaz ... xIRqvYjUdo

collet appears to be more centered. Just a thought.

Edit- just realized I posted a right handed model. Unfortunately not as many LH models that I can see.

That is a possibility, but kind of a throw of the dice. I agree the collet placement on the blue one appears to be the problem. Mine is centered though, and still was mounted in a bad way. If I see the backside of a trem to know whether it is really adjustable, I might go that way. Also I do have a lefty Jazzmaster with a righty trem, and it is no problem for me at all. I barely notice a difference. I think some of the early Fenders were that way anyway.

[honyock]

The only lefty JM/Jag Vibratos I see are like $45 on eBay.

I'd rather put a right handed Fender branded or an unbranded one from EY with the locking mechanism at that rate. There is barely any difference if you use a lefty arm on a righty vibrato in the case of a JM/Jag

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