Finally got my dream guitar (Jaguar)

superklye

I'm sure you guys see tons of threads about this all the time and are probably bored with them...but I've had mind since the end of February. I got it from a guy over at a NIN forum I frequent for $450 shipped. It's a 1996 MIJ Re-issue, three-tone sunburst, and apart from a few knicks and scuffs and a loose knob, it's in fantastic condition.

I love this guitar so much. I've wanted one ever since I first saw Kurt playing one (the first band I ever go into was Nirvana) and again: I'm sure there are so many people that come here about that...that's not what I'm going to go on about. I'm past Nirvana now. 😀

But anyway...the wiring or something inside is kinda loose and the pickups really cut in and out a lot. Besides that, they don't have the sound I'm looking for. That's probably my fault for not taking into account what the guitar was designed for, but I've got two Seymour Duncan SHR-1s on the way to replace those.

I've got a question about them...I'm going to take them into a shop to have them do it, and after they do, will I still be able to use all the swtiches and knobs even though those aren't the Jaguar pickups anymore?

I'm also looking to do the bridge replacement and I've found two bridges on eBay, but I'm not sure if this one is going to work. It says the string spacing is 2 1/8" but

this other one is the 2 7/8" string spacing I've seen everywhere else. I'd rather save $10, but if the string spacing is going to mess everything up, I'll pay the $10 extra to get the right bridge.

And finally, I know Jaguars like heavy guage, but I personally don't. I have a Washburn WR150 that I use 009-042s on...will 010-046 be heavy enough, or should I go to 011-052?

Thanks everyone...I can't wait to get this thing all modded out so I can really rock out with it. I"m so pumped to finally have a Jaguar. I never thought it was going to happen because they're so expensive...but here I am. 😁

Aug

1. YAY for the Jaguar!

2. Seymour Duncan makes a great pup

3. Yes, the switches and knobs will be the same

4. Put mustang saddles in your existing bridge or file a deeper groove in your existing saddles

5. Use 11's

6. Welcome to the boards

superklye

someone said: 6. Welcome to the boards

Yeah, I definitely spent money I didn't really have to spend on it (damn you rent and tuition), but I'm so glad I did.

That's what everyone tells me and the SHR-1s are supposed to have ridiculously high output so I'm really looking forward to them. I love loud, abrasive, in-your-face guitars. My current guitar idol is Aaron North formerly of The Icarus Line and currently touring with Nine Inch Nails. The tone he gets out of his Jaguars and Hagstroms is fearfully awesome.

Excellent. How hard is it to tighten up the knobs? I took that part of the pickguard/plates off to see, and I coldn't figure it out. The bottom-most knob is a little loose and I'd like to fix that.

But from what I was reading on this site, the Jaguar bridge moves, but the mustang one doesn't? I thought that was the point of the switch over...that once you put the mustang bridge in, no more random out-of-tune strings and they wouldn't pop out.

Should I stay away from the $30 2 1/8" spaced bridge and go with the $40 one?

All right, I'll trust you on this. 😀

Thanks a lot! I'm really excited to be here and to have a Jaguar. I'm looking forward to learning a lot about this guitar and meeting some great people. 😀

Purplehaze19x

If its just a loose pot, just pull off the knob and tighten the nut.

superklye

oh, sweet...i didn't know you could just pull them off and pop 'em back on no problem.

Rick

i wasn't aware any mustang bridges were being made with different post spacing. it's likely someone just has their description wrong, in one of those auctions. and that those two bridges will be identical.

the jaguar and mustang both share the same bridge assey. it's only the saddles that are different. both bridge asseys move, with trem use. but they don't move unless you actually push them out of position, which is actually quite difficult to do, unintentionally. alot of people do wrap the posts in insulations tape, so that it can't move in any case

Fran

Rick said: both bridge asseys move, with trem use. but they don't move unless you actually push them out of position, which is actually quite difficult to do, unintentionally.

That's true. On my Jag i used tape on the posts for 'peace of mind' because i could'nt comprehend why the bridge moves. But i have'nt touched the Jazzmaster bridge, and it does'nt move one bit and i think the tension of the 11's helps with this.

superklye

ahhhh...sweet. Okay, I get it now. 😀 Thanks for clearing that up. The auctions I've seen for just the saddles cost as much or more than the whole bridge, so I guess I'll just snag one up. And since you said the description is probably just wrong, I'll double check with the seller and probably get those. Since he's in Milwaukee, I'll probably get it tomorrow. 😀 I'd go over and get one in person, but I've got no car and the friends I have with cars don't want to make a special trip across town so I can get a guitar part.

Thanks guys!

superklye

Well I just emailed the guy and he wrote back saying they got a new shipment in and the spacing is actually 2 3/16". WTF? I'm just going to get the $40 one because I KNOW those have the correct spacing.

Fran

Augustus_McCrae said: file a deeper groove in your existing saddles

Seriously, i'd try that first. It worked for me and cost me nothing.

superklye

Augustus_McCrae said: file a deeper groove in your existing saddles

Okay, well, what size file would I need? Before I ask any other questions about it, is there a guide/walkthrough online that I haven't seen yet that goes through the proper way to do it? I don't want to be "that n00b" any more than I already have been. 😀

Aug

the edge of any bastard file will do, and they are quite common. Then use a smaller file (even your mother's nail file will do) to deburr. As for depth, just use your own judgement. Although, I would advise you to cut a small groove, deburr, restring and test. Repeat until your satisfied.

oh...and you will also want to 'arch' your groove so that you eliminate the possibility of having a string bind or break because it was resting on an 'edge'.

superklye

Augustus_McCrae said: the edge of any bastard file will do, and they are quite common. Then use a smaller file (even your mother's nail file will do) to deburr. As for depth, just use your own judgement. Although, I would advise you to cut a small groove, deburr, restring and test. Repeat until your satisfied.
oh...and you will also want to 'arch' your groove so that you eliminate the possibility of having a string bind or break because it was resting on an 'edge'.

Gotcha...thanks. 😀

And thanks to everyone for their help. I appreciate it and I'm sorry if the questions I've had have been done to death already.

Fran

Augustus_McCrae said: the edge of any bastard file will do, and they are quite common. Then use a smaller file (even your mother's nail file will do) to deburr. As for depth, just use your own judgement. Although, I would advise you to cut a small groove, deburr, restring and test. Repeat until your satisfied.
oh...and you will also want to 'arch' your groove so that you eliminate the possibility of having a string bind or break because it was resting on an 'edge'.

We are glad to help anyone along to becomming a proud Jag player. 😉

superklye

Augustus_McCrae said: the edge of any bastard file will do, and they are quite common. Then use a smaller file (even your mother's nail file will do) to deburr. As for depth, just use your own judgement. Although, I would advise you to cut a small groove, deburr, restring and test. Repeat until your satisfied.
oh...and you will also want to 'arch' your groove so that you eliminate the possibility of having a string bind or break because it was resting on an 'edge'.

Fantastic...I can't wait until I've got all the mods complete and this thing is ready to rock. I'm so excited! And I'm really glad I found this site/board. I learned so much it's unreal.

I also have to get the right sized Allen Wrench BAD. The guy that had the guitar before me LOVED super-high action and the bridge is so high, it's pretty much impossible to play anything complex above the twelfth fret because the force required to keep the strings down enough so they don't mute is just too much. I don't know how the hell he played like this. 😲