modding a jag

cartmanr0cks

Hi,

I got a jaguar a couple of weeks ago, and I'm planning on modding it as Kurt had it (maybe not completely, but I like his sound). It's a CIJ sunburst HH jag, it's like the black HH, but then sunburst, so it's a hardtail. I'm gonna switch out the pickups and pickguard (not a big fan of the cream colour it has right now, and it's a little too heavy on the highend for my taste).

I've got a couple of basic questions, that I'm sure have been asked loads of times, but I couldn't find any definitive answers, so here goes:

Which PAF model did he have? I'm thinking the PAF pro, but there's like 4 models out there, so i got confused 😛 And if we're on the pickups anyway, did he have white or cream (might as well get it right then, if i'm going to be that picky)

Obviously, i've visited kurtsequipment.com and all that, but I have no idea what a red-swirl mother-of-bowling-ball pickguard is. Is that just a red tortoise-shell, or a red pearloid pickguard?

And the toggle switch he had, that wasn't actually very functional was it, I mean, the wiring I have right now allows me to choose the neck, bridge, or both pickups, which he was unable to do...

The two things that have really been bugging me is, how do I add an extra volume knob on the lead section, and will a jag tremolo cover the screw holes of the gibson style tailpiece i currently have?

For the volume knob, all I know is that I have to drill a hole between the two holes that are already there. What kind of pot would I have to place there, and what would the wiring be like? I realize it's just basically the wiring of an SG, but everything goes through the top left controle plate, so it's gotten me confused.

And about the tremolo, it's not essential, because I don't plan on using it in the near future, or very intensively for that matter, but I like the look of the jaguar with the tremolo on it. And as far as I know, if I just lock the thing, it wont affect my tuning or anything like that. I want it mainly for the looks, but if it would affect functionality, please tell me.

Sorry for the ridiculously long post, and please don't think i haven't done any research. A lot of my questions have already been resolved by this forum, but these ones I couldn't find an answer to, so I thought i might as well register 😁

-Anti-

Swapping the pickups is going to be the majority of the tone change.

Drilling, routing, and all that ####? I'd strongly recommend passing on it.

cartmanr0cks

the drilling probably wont be a problem, i know someone with a drill press. And even if i muck it up, i could just order a new control plate and leave it for what it is. The routing, on the other hand, I wouldn't do myself, but I'd like to know if the tremolo is wide enough 😛

And I know that the extra volume pot wont really make that much of a difference soundwise, but i like how I'm able to change the pickup volume on my bass individually, I want that for my guitar as well.

danny

wouldn't it be easier to buy a k.c. model?

in japan!

cartmanr0cks

where's the fun in that? I have one already, and anyway, if I do (most of) the modifications myself, it becomes my own guitar, if you know what I mean

Fran

The pickups are the main thing, DiMarzio Super Distoriton in the bridge position most importantly. It may be worth checking the pot values as well, you would be better off with 500k if they are 250k.

The Jag trem wont cover the tail piece holes.

You have to remember most Kurts sound came from his other gear though, like the mesa boogie and pedals.

cartmanr0cks

yeah I know, but the pickups he uses give the guitar a warmer sound anyway, which is what I'm after, even without the bass-cut on I think it's got a bit overpowered high-end. Anybody know what pots the HH has? Was planning on getting the super distortion first, and now I'm sure 😀. He used the PAF right?

Fran

cartmanr0cks said: yeah I know, but the pickups he uses give the guitar a warmer sound anyway, which is what I'm after, even without the bass-cut on I think it's got a bit overpowered high-end. Anybody know what pots the HH has? Was planning on getting the super distortion first, and now I'm sure 😀. He used the PAF right?

The cream pickup in his Jag was a DiMarzio Super Distortion, which is like a very hot PAF. Some 80s guitars like Westbury came with them already factory fitted and at that time they were a very popular upgrade. Some people say the old cream ones (like Kurts) sound better than the new black ones. I dunno.

You would naturally have 500k pots with a powerful humbucker and a .022 capacitor. Like a Gibson set up.

It should have the pot value stamped on the back of your pots, i think they are 1meg but not sure.

cartmanr0cks

yeah i know he used the super distortion in the bridge, but I'm wondering which PAF exactly he used in the neck position? There's loads of them out there. Oh and thanks for your help, I'm new to modding guitars. Biggest thing i've done till now is intonation, or maybe truss rod. Anyway, nothing that involves opening the thing up 😡

jacksonjackass

cartmanr0cks said: yeah i know he used the super distortion in the bridge, but I'm wondering which PAF exactly he used in the neck position? There's loads of them out there. Oh and thanks for your help, I'm new to modding guitars. Biggest thing i've done till now is intonation, or maybe truss rod. Anyway, nothing that involves opening the thing up 😡

it doesn't matter exactly.....

And kurt cobain used a mesa boogie????

Fran

I dont think he ever used the neck pup, put anything in lol.

Yeah, he used Boogie..

God, i hate it when this forum does that with Youtube links. 😠

jacksonjackass

Fran said: I dont think he ever used the neck pup, put anything in lol.
Yeah, he used Boogie..

God, i hate it when this forum does that with Youtube links. 😠

You have to get rid of the '&feature=channel_page' bit 😉

cartmanr0cks

ok well, anybody recommend something else for the neck pickup? PAF pro and super distortion is (was?) a common combination (or so i've assumed), so I just thought I'd try it out. Btw, anybody know what red swirl mother of bowlingball is?

jacksonjackass

cartmanr0cks said: ok well, anybody recommend something else for the neck pickup? PAF pro and super distortion is (was?) a common combination (or so i've assumed), so I just thought I'd try it out. Btw, anybody know what red swirl mother of bowlingball is?

'red swirl mother of bowling ball' is just a really anal name for red tort. Its the same thing.

And I reccomend GFS VEH (EVH) pickups for the neck

cartmanr0cks

ok thanks. I've seen mother of toilet seat as a name for pearloid, but I couldn't find anything about mother of bowling ball. What does that pickup sound like?

jacksonjackass

Pretty much like any highish output paf

Fran

Seymour Duncan '59.

Based on a 59 Les Paul neck pickup... supposedly the holy grail of neck humbuckers.

cartmanr0cks

thanks, I'll look in to it. But now I'm curious, as i can't find anywhere which model PAF Kurt Cobain uses. Anybody got an idea?

jacksonjackass

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER!!

Kurts pickup isn't neccesraly going to make kurt's sound.....pick something that comes close in terms of output (impedance, magnets) and colour. I tried getting his sound with a JB.....didn't work, was much better with fake hotrails. Plus what other gear you got?

cartmanr0cks

This isn't about replicating his exact sound, I know he had p-up selector switch taped in the bridge position, so he barely used the PAF, I'm just curious, as I can't find it anywhere.

And actually my other gear sucks anyway XD