Descendant vs Mastery: which offset vibrato should I buy? | Guitar.com

The Mastery Vibrato has been the aftermarket tailpiece of choice for many Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar players for several years now, but Chris Swope's Descendant Vibrato is an innovative new design that allows the user to adjust the depth of the unit to increase downward tension of the strings at the bridge. Can it knock the Mastery unit off its perch?
Here, Michael James Adams puts both products through their paces and shares his thoughts as we take a deep dive into the world of retrofit offset vibratos.
All tones: Line 6 Helix.
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[@TomsGreenMind]

I see Mike Adams talking about offsets, I hit like.

[@TheSkinwizard]

I went from a fender vibrato to a descendant. I cannot put into words how much it helped the vibrato feel, but it helped even more so in the aspect of the added tension to the bridge. Feels so much more solid.

[@TheBurdenOfHope]

You need to get this guy doing more videos! Amazing stuff. I love the comparisons with Leo's original designs as well as the technical details of each part. So sick of generic and vague comparisons and demos!!

[@OlMoldy]

puisheen is his channel

[@davidlee2790]

I’d add that the descendant, with two plates fitted, is particularly good on a Jag where string tension even with 11-49s can be a problem. Made a big difference over the Fender original on mine.

[@CarsonCostanza]

Great background music

[@krispatel1]

I don't own a guitar these would fit on and have no intension of purchasing one however I still watched the entire video. It was very engaging and well thought out

[@adrianseifi3285]

Been waiting to hear Puisheen's thoughts on the Descendant for so long. I got ahold of a Descendant for my custom Jazzmaster and there's no going back. I own a '63 original unit, several American Vintage units as well as the American Professional and the Descendant rules them all.

[@joebubbit]

What bridge do you own? I'm putting together a Jazzmaster and had no idea there were many different trems and bridges. I like the Descendant trem. Just need bridge and saddles. Mastery?

[@radio7353]

@@joebubbit Try Descendant trem, with a Mastery bridge, yes. It's a wonderful combination.

[@joebubbit]

@@radio7353 Thanks, I did just that. My guitar plays as well as any custom shop. I'm blown away.

[@walterrizotto8668]

@@joebubbit Swope Companion bridge.

[@sethhoward1095]

There's a weight difference. Weights from Home of Tone: Fender AVRI unit weight (without arm) - 305g / Mastery unit weight (without arm) - 321g / Descendant unit weight (without arm) - 270g (with both 'shims' installed). Something to consider if you're sensitive to such things and/or the guitar you're considering upgrading is already on the heavy side.

[@ryanhurley8170]

Great video, Mike!

[@hiroprotagonitis]

the newest top end jazzmaster trem (american professional ii?) is apparently a really great designll hope fender gives the chance to buy the part by itself soon!

[@garyptaszek]

The Descendant looks interesting. I’ve got a couple of Mastery vibratos, one with a mastery bridge, and one with a staytrem. The one with the staytrem has an issue where the string touches the back of the bridge behind the saddle, I feel like if I’d opted for the Descendant this issue would’ve been worse.

[@shelveDEMO]

Whoa, that's kinda unnerving. What guitar is it? Is it all the strings?

[@walterrizotto8668]

Swope's Companion bridge prevents this.

[@bubblepipemedia3414]

I know it’s a bit late, but wow I would love a bit more EQ to notch that guitar out so I can pay attention to what is being said more easily (or just lower the music or both)

[@jmacc9876]

Really great video with lots of info, but I'm still left wondering which one has most downward travel (more pitch bending capability).

[@daniwest1370]

Like this content a lot

[@louisaccardi2268]

Hi Mike, your voice is outstanding for this type of video. You have multi-talents for sure. Nice job.

[@imokas]

Liked and subscribed. Probably the best KZbin channel ever!

[@GrinningFeline]

As soon as I heard Mike I knew I clicked on the right vid

[@TheDistortions]

who made that jazzmaster with the 2 humbuckers, the rainbow foil, and the lipstick pickup on the wrong side of the bridge? it's awesome.

[@ZachariahConnor]

Shelton Electric Instruments!

[@Jaysthename]

I don't know if they were the first, but I seem to recall that a pickup behind the bridge on a JM was popularized by Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth).

[@andychase7693]

According to your parting comments, to quote, "I've been Mike" (etc.) Were you someone other than Mike before, and (or) are you someone/something other than Mike now? I'm not trying to pry or trigger anything in you, but if you are now someone or something other than Mike now, how shall we address you? I hope you are doing well in your current incarnation, and please thank Mike for the informative video, if he still exists.

[@chrisst8922]

I love the 'I've been Peter' or 'I've been Jill' thing, always makes me smile, if you will, at this moment in time.

[@lolwithme36dd]

Fantastic demo! You have earned another stoked subscriber! Much appreciated! 🙏💯👍🤘😀

[@blindsidedka]

Get the Descendant. Mastery has seriously let me down with the fact that they WON'T SELL YOU A VIBRATO BAR SEPARATELY. They won't tell why, only that you shouldn't remove the arm... how the hell will that work when i have a hard case? Several people have experienced this, and it's such a shame that a very good unit from Mastery has otherwise shoddy customer service.

[@shelveDEMO]

I just shut the case right on the arm. That's what they tell you to do & I haven't had any issues whatsoever. Definitely felt weird to do at first but I love it - don't need to screw/pop in the arm every time I play.

[@strobelightstrobelight]

I would never imagine that. Bye Mastery option!

[@TheMyndsurfer]

I have Mastery Vibrato's on both my American Vintage Jaguar and my Professional Series Jazzmaster. You just close both Fender cases with the Vibrato's on, as Mastery suggests. You take the guitars out, and neither of them are out of tune. No problem. I have had the Jag. since 2008 and the Jazzmaster for 12 months. No problem.

[@DelScully]

closing the case with the arm on isn't bad for the guitar at all.. Technically speaking it might be even better as there will be slightly less tension on the neck with it depressed from the case. I pull the arm out of my regular Jazzmaster before going in the case and this just caused it to become loose, now it just swings around wherever it wants.

[@l1feson]

Great video, really informative

[@MrTylero28]

Chris Swope genuinely can’t make anything bad. I think it goes against everything that he is.

[@leonblankenship261]

I like both of these units, and currently have a Descendant vibrato on my Squire Jaguar. The only thing that is lacking to make either of these models is the lack of trem locking lever. Are these never a feature of the after market vibratos because of a Fender patent?

[@tendingtropic7778]

why do yu miss the trem lock lever?

[@Jaysthename]

@@tendingtropic7778 A broken string will change the overall tension put the guitar out of tune. If you can stop and change the string immediately then a lock isn't really necessary, but if you need or want to carry on (during a show for instance) then having a lock allows a player to return it to the "in tune setting" and continue playing with just five strings, which could be a lifesaver in those rare instances.

[@gavin4848]

I decided to upgrade to the American Vintage vibrato. Hope it fits.

[@Larry21924]

This is absolute perfection. I recently read a similar book, and it was absolute perfection. "Better Sleep Better Life" by William Brook

[@marklepley]

How did you get a custom Death Star baseplate? That’s awesome.

[@noahm]

Very well made video, thanks a lot

[@monmixer]

So does the descendant eliminate the need for a neck shim being the break angle behind the bridge is steeper?

[@thenewmedic]

That's the idea.

[@connordrysdale5333]

What is that middle pickup? Looks amazing!

[@AdaSoom]

I know it's a year late but it's a curtis Novak gold foil pickup

[@mitchellprobst616]

I wonder what your thoughts are on a Staytrem. I'm thinking about putting that collet into my fender AVRI.

[@CORDUROY00]

Polvo at 01:32?

[@whodunitpros8555]

The volume on the background music over powers the voiceover ... also some of the descriptions detail do not seem relevant to the video elements.

[@christianscazzieri]

Mike's the Man.

[@DelScully]

I got a mastery bridge on my Jazzmaster but am wondering if I should upgrade to the vibrato as well. I don't mind the stock one on it, but the arm doesn't stay in place at all, unless I push it in just a bit harder than normal and keep it in that spot.. Just one slight touch and it goes back to swinging around again though. It's a MIM TVL Jazzmaster , not sure if the AVRI ones have better trems than the mexican ones or if they're the same? Is it worth the upgrade or should I just stay used to the trem arm swinging around like so many people do?

[@rabokarabekian409]

old school: use pliers with a good grip to carefully bend the arm end a teensy bit and check the fit each time. Permanently done.

[@drewdemaio4162]

Man, I'd love to know what Helix patches being used here! Amp models sound amazing to me!

[@redcomn]

Which one have the rocking action?

[@ThomasGeist]

Tightening a nut with pliers instead of a wrench huuuurts! 😬😢

[@jimmythefish]

I made a yelp when I saw that. Oh the teeth marks in the brass nut.

[@ChrisJoyeMusic]

What about the bridge? Should I get a matching brand one or is a generic bridge sufficient?

[@robertdavis5616]

Mastery. For me, thanks, good video !

[@chriswhrtn]

mike has the best guitars

[@RussArteaga]

The Descendant looks like it might have issues with Fender Bullet strings. Of course I may be the only human on the planet to actually prefer them. lol

[@telefunkenyou47]

Russ Arteaga - I've been trying to get bullet Voodoo sets (10-38) but I can't find them in stock at the moment.

[@ijohndear]

I have a client that wants a replacement tremolo that has the deepest detuning effect. Almost like a floyd rose drop. What would you reccomend?

[@brunoantony9257]

what is the gray guitar?

[@mindblazemtg1608]

But what about the Hanlon one?

[@JustaRandomGuy890]

Can you pull the tremelo the opposite way to make it like a bend? Like how you can do so in the stratocaster

[@dougkuhns]

So two questions @guitar, first at 1:07 what are you playing as far as the guitar itself? Then what is the song you are playing?

[@mougabo]

thanks!

[@kmatax9237]

What are those split pickups on the jaguar?

[@8polar]

Fender XII pickups. It is a partscaster Jaguar with 60s body and neck and custom-made pickups a la Fender XII.

[@Sylkis89]

Will these work with a Bass VI?

[@user-ps4hw4rh5v]

what pickups are in that blue JM?

[@johnbeddoe782]

also wanted to know

[@slimturnpike]

So which is better?

[@banjo7598]

What is that Charcol metallic guitar?

[@MidtownSkyport]

Partscaster Jaguar with 60s body and neck and custom-made pickups a la Fender XII I'm sure there'll be pics and more details on Mike's ig @puisheen

[@O-YAMA]

charcoal frost metallic

[@ethanstockleyyoung5958]

Where did you get that Roswell pickup

[@chrisvalleqatsi]

WHY ARE YOU USING NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS ON A BRASS NUT FFS! GAAAH! sorry

[@bobolson5423]

curious if anyone has tried on an SG?

[@ernststavroblofeld2109]

those needle nose pliers on that brass nut.

[@josheherenman8926]

Anyone know what pickups the speaker looking one are?

[@telefunkenyou47]

Josh eherenman - It's a Gold Foil pickup. I'm not sure on which brand but it would be easy to figure it out by looking it up. Gold Foil pickups came on cheap Japanese guitars and people are rediscovering their lo-fi sound now that many companies are making them in standard replacement pickup sizes. Ry Cooder digs them and I think they are an good pairing on Jazzmasters & Jaguars guitars.

[@josheherenman8926]

@@telefunkenyou47 I found them. Thank you for the insight.

[@hiroprotagonitis]

@@josheherenman8926 for anyone else, he goes over them on one of his channel here as puisheen - its the c3po guitar

[@jacobperez576]

Can someone please tell me what that split pickup offset is and where I can get one.

[@Deaf_Notes]

It's a vintage fender jaguar he modified with a set of pickups from a fender electric 12 string, he has a video where he goes through all his guitars and he shows this one off more, the channel is called "puisheen"

[@visje1996]

Oof who uses pliers on a nut?? People who call it a bolt I guess but that hurts to see man

[@rabokarabekian409]

itsme1955: All a good man needs is to have him a case knife and vicegrips, ya'll. Hit heps relicking, ya know it?

[@ciantisdall]

If is possible to buy screws for the tremolo plate that are flat top instead of the domed ones? I have a MIA thin skinn jazz with the stock tremolo setup, My high e keeps snapping?

[@alexfilacchione3032]

I jusgt want to know what the color of the Jaguar is! It looks like some sort of purple,.,,,?

[@pinheadgringo]

I think that's Charcoal Frost Metallic.

[@brain21]

@@pinheadgringo You're right. At 4:45 it has a purplish hue. It must be the lighting. It is clearly Charcoal Frost as you can see at the beginning of the video

[@sharonlee4773]

That background racket needs lowering when the talking is going on!

[@SMAWA9]

❤️

[@ernestschultz5065]

Nice ad

[@ryaandnice]

A guy going after a brass nut with needle nose pliers! NOOoooooo! Put that down good sir!!!

[@ice9snowflake187]

Neither of these vibratos have a Trem-O-Lock. You need the Trem-O-Lock!

[@neilaspin008]

I've just bought a MIM Jaguar (which plays like an absolute dream btw) and guess what? No lock!....I was stunned.

[@tendingtropic7778]

why do you need that

[@ice9snowflake187]

@@tendingtropic7778 It's part of the system. You balance the vibrato spring tension with the lock as a reference. the lock also ensures tuning stability if a string is broken, or if one wishes to tune down to a dropped D tuning or some such.

[@rabokarabekian409]

Eh. The fake "jazz" trem on my Jay Turser project guitar just needed a little smoothing with a jeweler's file, oil, and adjustment. It's not magic. Do a little look and see, fix for me. Mine has been faultless for seven years since I tinkered for 10 minutes. As a matter of fact it's the only thing left from the original guitar other than the body and the neck.

[@whodunitpros8555]

I found the background music a distraction at that volume.

[@The504lego]

You must have adhd

[@chrisst8922]

But if it had been louder, I mean much louder that would have been fine.

[@pyrimid]

I’m guessing you listen to whatever the radio tells you too. Just stop playing music then.

[@paulygood6665]

There is not a DAMN thing wrong with a FENDER vibrato . The Squire ones are the fast , cheep made ones.

[@jw112mail]

For the love of god do not adjust that Mastery bridge with Needle nose pliers.

[@doubleotwentyone]

I cringed. Use a spanner!

[@cool555breeze]

What's with the AWFULL background music??

[@davidfragale5156]

The mastery system is an over priced scam, when a shim will usually do.

[@johnstitt2615]

Don’t buy either. Buy Tusq saddles.

[@jadeone]

that’s the bridge. not the vibrato.

[@modestoney1577]

Meh. A good set up orginal Fender Trem works perfectly fine and is in my opinion one of the best trem system designs. As long as it is not broken/faulty I feel no need to throw my hard earned money at anything else. Nice commercial though.

[@waagner]

Really annoying. JYour message gails to come through because of the damned background noise. Not good.

[@aapddd]

Good video but the background playing is too loud and gets annoying.

[@NoCoverCharge]

I liked it

[@sundrenched6248]

Jeezes Christ that playing in the background is annoying.