Tuffset Bridge
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I saw this on insta earlier - it’s great! Certainly a guy who knows his offset onions
Do you know what he was using before seeing the light?
Cheers mate! Oh for sure he's been into Jazzmasters in particular for the long haul, since the '90s. Long before they became recognised by collectors.
I've heard in a few interviews with other Jag / JM players that their choice of guitar was in part incidental because they were cheap, but in Grant's case I think he's just always adored them. It says a lot that he sought out a '59 before they were on anyone's radar - no coincidences there!
Just the original bridge was on it before I think, all the old tricks with loctite and electrical tape! He's experimented with Mustang bridges but the lack of individual height adjustment is a pain, especially on vintage players that have had lots of fret work.
He told me he still wraps the Tuffset's posts but not all the way snug because he appreciates the rocking bridge character in the sound, just as an insurance policy that if something crazy ever does happen and it gets whacked out, it's not by enough to ruin the setup.
His tech explained the Tuffset is currently running about a 10" radius on that guitar, even with the original board. Goes to show radius isn't always what it says on the tin! Levelling frets over time has a tendency to creep towards a compound radius, probably as a result of the neck width taper.
I've heard in a few interviews with other Jag / JM players that their choice of guitar was in part incidental because they were cheap, but in Grant's case I think he's just always adored them. It says a lot that he sought out a '59 before they were on anyone's radar - no coincidences there!
Just the original bridge was on it before I think, all the old tricks with loctite and electrical tape! He's experimented with Mustang bridges but the lack of individual height adjustment is a pain, especially on vintage players that have had lots of fret work.
He told me he still wraps the Tuffset's posts but not all the way snug because he appreciates the rocking bridge character in the sound, just as an insurance policy that if something crazy ever does happen and it gets whacked out, it's not by enough to ruin the setup.
His tech explained the Tuffset is currently running about a 10" radius on that guitar, even with the original board. Goes to show radius isn't always what it says on the tin! Levelling frets over time has a tendency to creep towards a compound radius, probably as a result of the neck width taper.
Thought I'd post some pics of the upcoming Raw Brass Saddle version of the Tuffset, which will be available when orders reopen later this month!
"Twang" doesn't begin to cover it!
Tight bass, some added richness in the midrange and a slightly rounded top end make it a more 'vocal' sound than the stainless... A great choice if you want a bit more fatness and muscle out of your Offset! And it still has no trouble cutting through the mix.
"Twang" doesn't begin to cover it!
Tight bass, some added richness in the midrange and a slightly rounded top end make it a more 'vocal' sound than the stainless... A great choice if you want a bit more fatness and muscle out of your Offset! And it still has no trouble cutting through the mix.
I love those mixed metal ones - will the saddles be available separately at some point for those who want to switch between types perhaps?
Thanks for the suggestion! Believe it or not, the saddles are one of the most expensive parts of the bridge because they are completely bespoke manufacture and have the tightest tolerances. It's something we might consider in future, but not for the coming wave. Cheers!guitargeek62 said:I love those mixed metal ones - will the saddles be available separately at some point for those who want to switch between types perhaps?
Put me down for one of these
No worries at all, I had a feeling they might be - the machining on the first run really is superb!Tuffset said:Thanks for the suggestion! Believe it or not, the saddles are one of the most expensive parts of the bridge because they are completely bespoke manufacture and have the tightest tolerances. It's something we might consider in future, but not for the coming wave. Cheers!guitargeek62 said:I love those mixed metal ones - will the saddles be available separately at some point for those who want to switch between types perhaps?
Hello all!
Tuffset Bridge Orders are open again, biggest news is we now offer a choice between Original Stainless or brand-new Raw Brass Saddles
The raw brass saddles seem a bit more ‘vocal’ sounding with a more focused midrange character that adds some richness to single note lines and helps cleans cut through the mix. Brass combines well with higher output pickups, especially P90s and Humbuckers, to produce a fat, punchy sound that’s great for adding spice to single note runs and riffs, and partners well with fuzz.
Meanwhile, our original stainless saddles remain the best choice if you’re looking for a spacious “headroom” sound that brings out the best in polyphonic arpeggios and chord voicings, with clear note separation and a controlled low end. They’ve got the signature Offset Guitar ‘presence’ and atmosphere in abundance, and have the edge when drenched with reverb or as part of a complex pedal chain.
Pictured to show wide range of intonation adjustment. Bass VI players have told us they love having double the intonation range, but in a smaller package that allows them to fit a standard Jag mute
Brass Saddles adjusted for vintage neck radius
Secondly, we've made a usability upgrade to the posts with our new Bearing Lock system that keeps your setup rock-solid. This feature ensures your locking posts stay in place, allowing you to apply greater torque and keeping everything firmly locked down.
Each Wave 3 Tuffset Bridge will include the bearings and a guide that explains how to use them. We include a couple extra, so if you like how they work on your new Wave 3 bridge, you can retrofit a pair to your Wave 1 or Wave 2 Tuffset Bridge as well.
Plus, the Tuffset Bridge will now come with a CNC-engraved logo discreetly positioned on the underside of the chassis, so there’s no mistaking the quality of your official Tuffset product (and still no outward-facing logos to distract from the beauty of your guitar).
It was more difficult to achieve, but I'm really pleased we managed to make the proper engraving happen. I've never been a fan of how flat laser or acid-etched logos can look!
Old on the left, new on the right
Under the bonnet, we’ve overhauled our post-chassis interface. Those with very keen eyesight might notice the post hole now has a broader chamfer around the top edge of the hole, and the threads start just a bit deeper.
But the change is more than skin-deep - the possibilities this new and improved design opens up are deceptively vast! It will allow us to produce several versions of the bridge more easily, by mating the same chassis geometry to different post spacings and designs - starting with the TOM/AOM version, coming in Q1/Q2 2025.
Thanks to everyone who has been a part of the Tuffset project from the beginning! There are too many names to list, but a cursory glance over this thread will show the great enthusiasm, patience and passion that made this whole trip possible. I really can't thank you all enough!
Cheers and all the best,
Dan
Tuffset Bridge Orders are open again, biggest news is we now offer a choice between Original Stainless or brand-new Raw Brass Saddles
The raw brass saddles seem a bit more ‘vocal’ sounding with a more focused midrange character that adds some richness to single note lines and helps cleans cut through the mix. Brass combines well with higher output pickups, especially P90s and Humbuckers, to produce a fat, punchy sound that’s great for adding spice to single note runs and riffs, and partners well with fuzz.
Meanwhile, our original stainless saddles remain the best choice if you’re looking for a spacious “headroom” sound that brings out the best in polyphonic arpeggios and chord voicings, with clear note separation and a controlled low end. They’ve got the signature Offset Guitar ‘presence’ and atmosphere in abundance, and have the edge when drenched with reverb or as part of a complex pedal chain.
Pictured to show wide range of intonation adjustment. Bass VI players have told us they love having double the intonation range, but in a smaller package that allows them to fit a standard Jag mute
Brass Saddles adjusted for vintage neck radius
Secondly, we've made a usability upgrade to the posts with our new Bearing Lock system that keeps your setup rock-solid. This feature ensures your locking posts stay in place, allowing you to apply greater torque and keeping everything firmly locked down.
Each Wave 3 Tuffset Bridge will include the bearings and a guide that explains how to use them. We include a couple extra, so if you like how they work on your new Wave 3 bridge, you can retrofit a pair to your Wave 1 or Wave 2 Tuffset Bridge as well.
Plus, the Tuffset Bridge will now come with a CNC-engraved logo discreetly positioned on the underside of the chassis, so there’s no mistaking the quality of your official Tuffset product (and still no outward-facing logos to distract from the beauty of your guitar).
It was more difficult to achieve, but I'm really pleased we managed to make the proper engraving happen. I've never been a fan of how flat laser or acid-etched logos can look!
Old on the left, new on the right
Under the bonnet, we’ve overhauled our post-chassis interface. Those with very keen eyesight might notice the post hole now has a broader chamfer around the top edge of the hole, and the threads start just a bit deeper.
But the change is more than skin-deep - the possibilities this new and improved design opens up are deceptively vast! It will allow us to produce several versions of the bridge more easily, by mating the same chassis geometry to different post spacings and designs - starting with the TOM/AOM version, coming in Q1/Q2 2025.
Thanks to everyone who has been a part of the Tuffset project from the beginning! There are too many names to list, but a cursory glance over this thread will show the great enthusiasm, patience and passion that made this whole trip possible. I really can't thank you all enough!
Cheers and all the best,
Dan