hacking mine up

tragictravisty

i want a jag with a jag vibrato really close to the bridge (which will be a roller bridge) and 3 rotary switches on the lead vol/tone plate. i have 5 questions:

how hard is routing out the vibrato space (my dad has a router, but i think hes only ever used it for putting a border on the edge of wood) and how badly can i #### it up

should i a) put another hole in the plate, or 😎 put the jack on the side of the guitar

will rotary switches fit in the routed space under the lead vol/tone plate

how do i get the existing tune-o-matic tailpiece hole thingies out? im inclined to route behind those, so that i can decide if i want it trem or stop-tailpiece during each stringing

should i pay somebody to do the routing?

edit: that wasnt very clear. its a jag HH

edit2:jaguar vibrato or mustang vibrato?

AnotherTool

tragictravisty said:
how hard is routing out the vibrato space (my dad has a router, but i think hes only ever used it for putting a border on the edge of wood) and how badly can i #### it up
If you bought the vibrato first, you can see what you have to do and make a template, but yeah, you could fck it up badly if you have never done anything like that before.
should i a) put another hole in the plate, or 😎 put the jack on the side of the guitar
Doing a side mounting jack is no noob luthier job, this is something else you could fck up really badly.
will rotary switches fit in the routed space under the lead vol/tone plate
I have no idea.
how do i get the existing tune-o-matic tailpiece hole thingies out? im inclined to route behind those, so that i can decide if i want it trem or stop-tailpiece during each stringing
You can remove those pesky bridge post thingies (i have no idea what they're called either) by finding a longish bolt with the same thread, screwing it in all the way, and then pulling them out. I wouldn't route behind them though, i've never heard of that before.
should i pay somebody to do the routing?
Definitely
edit2:jaguar vibrato or mustang vibrato?
No comment

nirvana23freak

id say go jag trem. and yeah id have a ro do it. you may need it refin'd also. id drill another hole in the plate if it were me too. good luck

tragictravisty

nirvana23freak said: you may need it refin'd also.

why not? i mean like an inch or two behind the posts, couldnt hurt anything, right?

how come?

Q#6: which is grounded, the bridge or the tailpiece? will i need to run a ground wire to the trem? also should i shield this?

tragictravisty

how much will a pro charge me?

AnotherTool

You'd be alot better off selling yours and buying a standard trem version, it's alot of work when you could just trade it in, it wouldn't cost alot to trade would it?

The bridge post is normally grounded.

tragictravisty

i like mine, and even if i got my full money back id be down 200 for the new MIMs. ive already voided the warranty with my mods, and i like the idea of being able to switch between a stop tailpiece and the jag trem when i string. also, it shouldnt cost much to have it done, maybe 90? and then the tailpiece is 60, which gets me all the advantages of the MIM, and then ill add a roller bridge.

nirvana23freak

yo umight need it refined cuz routing could possible #### the paint up. it could be fine though. and the rates for it vary from luthier to luthier so go talk to yours and see.

grunge-fan

tragictravisty said: i like mine, and even if i got my full money back id be down 200 for the new MIMs. ive already voided the warranty with my mods, and i like the idea of being able to switch between a stop tailpiece and the jag trem when i string. also, it shouldnt cost much to have it done, maybe 90? and then the tailpiece is 60, which gets me all the advantages of the MIM, and then ill add a roller bridge.

90!! damn, i tried to get a mustang routed for a humbucker, and get the pickguard cut and the guy told me like 125-150 and i seriosly thought he was #### crazy