A New Offset Bridge with a TWIST | Secret Weapons

[@firesgt911]

I totally thought that was Def that moved into the frame when you were playing, and when the tiny hand reached out and started touching the guitar, I lost it. The fact that it took me a second before realizing that it was a child had me questioning my choice of two gummies tonight.

[@NathanSink]

The bridge looks really elegant & reminds me of the Fender Custom Shop RSD bridge. But I gotta say, it seems like setting the intonation on that thing would be a nightmare. 😬

[@StanleyCullerEsq.]

Man, I am a hopeless gear geek, but I would be subscribed forever just for the music you create.

[@sosborniv]

Have you considered dropping the pot values in the Jag? That would be an inexpensive way to cut some of that high end.

[@batflash]

I'll second that. Maybe 250k pot values if you don't already have them in there. If you've already done that, I would say 100k pots if you can find em. I've also read here and there that an aluminum pick guard can reduce the top end too.

[@Mathcartney]

Or use the tone knob?

[@batflash]

@@Mathcartney Yep. Which is what he says he does already; but seems he wasn't entirely happy with that solution. I usually like to play my guitar wide open and pull back from that. Different strokes for different folks.

[@Talkboxeffectistrash]

@@batflashit’s nice to be able to adjust it based on feel though. Somewhere in the middle to start, all the way down for dark and all the way up for crystalline

[@Talkboxeffectistrash]

@@batflashi only wish i could have a knob that would click in the middle to have an easy stopping point though. And a volume knob that never goes to 0, but rather down to 2. No need for volume knob 0 with a tuner pedal as a mute (which everyone has)

[@ivan_emege]

I like it. Reminds me the old Sorkin Bowtie I put once in my Les Paul 54 with Bigsby

[@buntingguitars_Yaniv]

Thank you Mark for another great demo and really interesting video!! It was super fun for us to hear the different tone tests of your guitar with your playing and feel. Keep on the amazing content.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

That bridge is elegant… I thing of beauty.

[@shook9042]

I'm an old-school metal guy, but I really dig your music and demos. Great stuff!

[@dasczwo]

@@shook9042 oh get yourself s nice big ambient verb, maybe a microcosm…a looper. do some cheesy hippster ambient old school metal … but seriously: the microcosm arp and glitch algos are great fun with tapsolos.

[@BenNeal]

Cameo from your kid was my favourite part

[@RadioBluesPR]

same. super relatable to us ambient rocker dads haha

[@markescareno7584]

I’ll never miss a video. So excited to watch this.

[@jbrobertson2758]

I wouldn't miss the background music when you're having a conversation. Thanks for the info.

[@crazyquilt]

I put Tru Arc bar bridges on all my Gretsch guitars, and I have a couple of other guitars with Thorn Brass Knuckle bridges so this is very pertinent to my interests. I really like the wood veneer option, although I agree that contact is king, and steel has a great tone. Killer playing as always.

[@eitanazulay9239]

Awesome bridge love the wood sound its kinda different in a good way❤

[@thedobermans]

It looks like it has a fixed radius, probably 7.25. Is there an adjustable radius type? Currently have a Jazzmaster thinline with Warmoth neck-10-16 inch compound radius. Thanks

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The site sells them as a 7.25 and a 9.5, both fixed.

[@thedobermans]

@@markjohnstonofficial OK. That's good to know. Thank you.

[@yeon_jin_]

Is it better than a Mustang or Mastery bridge? for stable tune

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

God that intro was amazing

[@digitaldrew]

Your callout on the Squier is right where my head went. If Bunting could make a drop-in solution for the J Mascis, that would be incredible.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The good news is that the Belrok comes in a 7.25" (what I have here) and a 9.5" which is what the J Mascis is. So it's absolutely an upgrade I am planning to make for my Jazzmaster.

[@OCTAVEDIVIDER]

I feel the question would be or that I have is just that what about how a mastery you can just hammer and then the strings and use the bar and it doesn’t go out of tune and I’m kind of wondering what this bridge does in regards to that is it just as good can you like? Use the bar and have it Retain its tuning or am I just off base asking that question? Cause

[@leamanc]

@@markjohnstonofficialThe Mascis has a Tune-o-Matic style bridge, so the Belrok would not be a drop-in replacement. At a minimum, one would need conversion thimbles. Either way, it would involve a lot of monkeying around because the stock Mascis bridge sits up higher than a standard offset bridge.

[@digitaldrew]

@@OCTAVEDIVIDER What in the large language model bot vomit is this?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

There’s an option in ordering that includes the thimbles.

[@NorthBayRepublic]

Thoughtful engineering, like a 21st century Bowtie that intonates.

[@leamanc]

$195 is not too bad, compared to other high-end replacements. But are any of them truly worth it? I just put a $25 Kaish bridge in my parts Jag and I’m really impressed with the crunchy tone it offers for so little money.

[@gringogreen4719]

Kaish does make good stuff, no doubt about it. Do higher end bridges make a difference? Yes and no. The "No" is that you probably would not hear it in a mix or live. The yes part is that you are fighting over minute changes in frequencies so difference designs and materials can yield different results. I would venture to say that it would be more of a "Feel" difference with some audible differences. It also depends on gauge and quality of strings too, so great strings with a great bridge, you will feel and hear a difference. Keep in mind you want thicker strings for Offsets and right now I have a D'Addario NYXL on my Viper (yes, it's an Offset and I had a Bigsby installed) with 11s and on my Xaviere JT 100 (my first real dive into the Offset pool) I have String joy 12s on that one. Eventually I am going with Haylon for that guitar for a bridge and Trem. The other thing you may want to try for an Offset bridge is Tusq makes Mustang saddles with their nut and string tree material. As far as Offset parts go it's not too expensive. I also compare these to Fender parts and prices so it's definitely affordable compared to Haylon or Mastery replacements. I do use Kaish in my Import Strat and Tele shaped guitars. Mainly I use their switches as well as JD Moon for the Les Paul style toggles. I can recommend both brands. I use the Kaish because the Fender Grigsby style switch is usually too deep for Import cavities. I can also recommend Wilkinson and Gotoh as fantastic bridge replacements that are not too expensive but definitely a step up from OEM Import bridges.

[@jjerkamillo]

🎵Jesus Christ what a pretty face...🎵

[@omdwillieturnip8840]

Great video! Over 200 dollars and it looks like an absolute nightmare to intonate!?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Pretty easy. I’m able to get it pretty dialed and I suck at working on guitars.

[@BoojayDeeth]

I don't see how it's possible to adjust the intonation at all.

[@thesimulations8900]

Looks like an RSD wannabe👍. If it intonates and adjusts like that one, then it's a winner and will be great

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Just thinking through this thing… And I’m sure it doesn’t make that much of a difference, but even though each of those pieces together, defined a fixed radius… The actual working radius will be plus or minus a teeny little bit, depending on how you actually set the intonation. Well… Maybe not the radius, but the string height, of course and then, of course you can lower the entire bridge to compensate for that. I mean the difference is, I’m talking about a pretty negligible given the general intonation problems that are inherent to guitars anyway.

[@eyeball226]

Just one thing to note, radius and string spacing are two completely different things that you seem to conflate a few times in this video.

[@signalpath]

how many tube lights on this one

[@markjohnstonofficial]

One but MORE TO COME.

[@erickt1974]

I'd love this but i have a TOM/AOM bridge. Any suggestions?

[@NoMasNames]

That's what I have on mine too. All the suggestions I've gotten from people have been to swap it with a staytrem or Mastery. Depending on your playing style, the AOM aren't terrible. It's probably one of the last things I'd change on my classic player JM.

[@analogsound1]

I’ve tried a lot of different bridges on my offsets. So far my favorites are the Halon and the Descendant Companion bridge. This Belrok sounds really good though. I like the simple two saddle design with full contact between the base plate and saddles. Might have to try one. The only thing I don’t love is the shape of the base plate. It looks a little too industrial and a bit out of place on an offset body imo. They should round the edges of the base plate to match the ends of the saddles.

[@jamescovan8853]

You could always round off the edges yourself. Maybe giving you corners you can take off offers more customization than the other way around... Although there could have been a reason they went that way from an engineering standpoint.

[@paulbrown5196]

I changed the pots from 1Meg to 250K.....pickups sounded very strat like....alternatively get hold of 1M...510K....330K resistors and try each one soldered in parallel across the outer 2 legs of the volume control in turn....or even use 2 in parallel across the pot....tune the sound to where you want it.

[@911elijah]

Do they make one for a Bass6?

[@TheFlutecart]

Did you know that a P-Rails neck pup (or any NECK PAF) will line right up with the string spacing in the BRIDGE spot on that cool Jag? (,actually, all the little Fender offsets) - But I'd bet it would need a router job. I know a good anesthesiologist.

[@courier11sec]

That's a gorgeous piece. Thanks for sharing this. That said, the ambient sound playing while you are speaking is so loud it makes it a little difficult to hear what you're saying.

[@AJNpa80]

I wrote a long comment explaining how I made an offset casterbridge with a tele casterbridge and base m bridge base. It got lost. I don't feel like writing it out again as they often show up later. In short, any offset bridge base, casterbridge, drill bit, rotary burr or files. Can make screw holes into slots or remove wall, leaving some around the 2 new holes to adjust the casterbridge.

[@mariodriessen9740]

I’m surprised you didn’t like the sound of the Johnny Marr. I’ve wanted this guitar for a long time. Mainly because of its sound. 🙂

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I love my Johnny marr. I just find that I’m always compensating for how bright and / or brittle the pickups can be.

[@mariodriessen9740]

@@markjohnstonofficial : I understand. I happen to prefer brighter sounds in general, so maybe that’s why I have less of a problem with these pickups.

[@JI3oost]

Real question is does it fit the J Mascis Jazzmaster?

[@daughtersofdivorce6803]

Should fit anywhere standard JM, no?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Just have to order the bridge that matches your guitar’s radius.

[@Duane-j1q]

Looks like pinball… flippers? I’m not hip to p ball lingo. I don’t mean that in a bad way either. Very intrigued

[@beatuplexus]

Yep that’s exactly what they’re called

[@martinclayton7260]

Don't change the pickups, change the pots, it's a cheaper way of getting what you want. I think the pots in it are 1 meg pots, so you could change them to 500k pots to see what difference it makes.

[@Metalbaum]

What about downtuning with this bridge

[@leebrooks4304]

I’ve asked before, but did you ever end up putting new pickups in the MarrGuar? Still rocking the Bare Knuckles?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Still have the BKs in it. I might still swap them out but this bridge actually did help with a fair amount of my gripes.

[@OCTAVEDIVIDER]

@@markjohnstonofficial may I ask what Pickups you’ve been thinking about swapping out like or what brand you’re thinking about using instead of the bare knuckles? Or maybe just a couple suggestions just because I’m interested in why or what you’re looking at instead of the bare knuckle ones that come with it? Appreciate it. All and if it needs to be sad, I don’t miss video and never miss one of these demos since the one’s involving the pedals that I own, I seem to continually refer back to, and it helps me immensely

[@jazzblasterrr]

Reminds me of Jesus Christ by Brand New

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Same.

[@emulgatorx]

Pity that I just bought a Bensonite bridge. Looks very cool though.

[@lcglazer]

Looks a lot like a tru arc serpentine

[@analogsound1]

Except the Tru Arc has no intonation adjustment while this is an adjustable two saddle bridge similar to a Mastery.

[@paulfromjupiter]

Interesting video, but the background music is far too loud. I tried watching it on multiple devices - TV, phone, computer and Nest. I'm not using any crazy surround system. On the larger systems, your voice is getting at trampled on. I actually had to stop watching it through my TV because I had to crank the volume to hear your voice, which made the back music painfully loud. The background music shouldn't be so loud that your voice has to fight with it for attention.

[@roscius6204]

Seems to me a tone control that is middled is about perfect....

[@PabloAllendeNunesdeAquino]

Gain in bass frequencies

[@amslu]

3 allen keys, no radius setup, no wound g setup... I don’t get the trend of over engineered yet over simplified guitar accessories. Bad design

[@nasticanasta]

why would you want a fixed bridge?

[@BenNeal]

Please never get rid of that moody background music.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Ayyyy

[@BoojayDeeth]

Are you genuinely telling me that a different bridge (one that has no adjustment for intonation to boot) is changing the tone of your pick ups? I've listened and I call BS.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The differences are subtle but I can pick them out pretty clearly. If you can’t I don’t know what to tell you other than “it’s a bold take to assert that changing the bridge on a guitar won’t change the tone”

[@BoojayDeeth]

@@markjohnstonofficial One should never underestimate the power of confirmation bias. I don't think it's bold at all to say the bridge won't change the tone characteristics of a pick up in an electric guitar. To claim otherwise demonstrates a failure to understand how magnetic pick ups actually work. But I do accept that without tone chasing "woo woo" the majority of channels would have nothing to talk about.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I’d encourage you to go listen to Puisheens comparison of the stock and mastery bridges in his Harmony if you think there’s no tonal difference. I’ve done blind tests on those samples and gotten it right; it’s a noticeable difference. Claiming that the materials or design of a bridge don’t impact tone is like claiming that the break angle won’t. Is it the same severity as changing picks up? Not remotely. Can these things make a difference? Absolutely.

[@BoojayDeeth]

@@markjohnstonofficial To be clear my comment is not that there is zero difference (perhaps a very small variance), but that it makes zero difference to the pick up, which was the context you based your tonal claims on. In the end of the day we are all welcome to our opinions and have the right to blow 200 bucks on a replacement bridge if we really want to. Having listened I don't think it represents value for money. Did you spend your own money on yours?

[@klovig1]

The intro sounds a bit like Brand New - Jesus Christ

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

I’m digging the background ambient sounds… But the balance is not so great. I’d like to hear more voice and less of the music.

[@bifbassman]

I don't know but something else is not quite there it's thin maybe it is a pot or something else to look at...

[@janglestick]

that 'long drawn out' feeling is not really what I want when listening to you 1) talk quickly, it doesnt match 2) guitar info, any info really, 3) soooooo repetitive, can't tell where I am in the video. Could you possibly use more than two chords the entire time, just so I can tell what year it is. and by that I mean I can't tell where I am in the video .. trying to step around, it all sounds the same

[@markjohnstonofficial]

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[@keithklassen5320]

Please either get rid of or keep that moody background music. Either one is good, thank you in advance! Edit: I spoke too soon. I actually like it but it is honestly a bit much for it to run the *whole* time.

[@ab8817]

lol just play a les paul at this point

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I own a Les Paul as well and can confirm that this is, in fact, a very dumb take.

[@ab8817]

@@markjohnstonofficial being rude for engagement?

[@whodunitpros8555]

Please get rid of that moody background music.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Nope. Never.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

@@markjohnstonofficialI think it’s great….just a bit too high in the mix.

[@kevinmackfurniture]

Cool Bridge... No Love for the Lefties, though... Just finding my stock Jag was a treasure hunt... Trying to Mod or Upgrade it is an exercise in futility... 🫤