Sweetwater is blowing out Jaguarillos at $579

[ekwatts]

I just don't really see the problem with TOMs at all. I certainly would never replace a TOM with a Jaguar bridge. That seems a bit perverse.

First of all, most of them aren't radiused properly and I just don't think they're the best bridges to use for a vibrato tailpiece. In any case, I just got mine and I'll give the stock config a go before I replace anything.

Ah, radius. Not something that ever bothers me as I tend to have the action set to a pretty medium height on all guitars. In the white heat of a practice or gig it's just not something that matters, I guess.

They definitely aren't the best bridges to use in combination with a trem but it's not a deal-breaker. I don't think the Jaguar/Mustang bridge is an "upgrade", it's just replacing a good bridge that doesn't chat well with a trem with a crap bridge that still doesn't chat well with a trem. There are better options out there.

[George]

the fender tune o matic or "adjust o matic" is pretty garbage. the saddles are held in place by little rubber seal things that break really easy meaning the saddles get loose and wonky and shite. it's only saving grace is that it's the right radius. i think you should do what you did with the wilkinson roller bridge with bits of coke can. i keep meaning to get round to that myself.

however i'm not sure it would even fit in the pickguard recess or not

[honeyiscool]

In any case, I just got mine and I'll give the stock config a go before I replace anything.

I gotta say, the Jaguarillo looks to me like somebody at Fender designed a custom guitar specifically for *you*. Looking forward to a Blondie / Pixies demo.

Thanks!

So far, I haven't really gotten to give it a go. I tried it at low volume but I'll try it out at rehearsal this weekend and yeah, I think it has everything I want in a guitar. I've always loved the whammy/design of a Jazz/Jaguar but never liked the wiring of them, and until this one, all the Fender models that dealt with modifying the wiring usually also gutted out the tailpiece as well. This one, though, keeps the important part intact and is versatile enough (via mods) that I can eventually turn it into anything. I'm thinking about setting up the switch with a 4-way Tele switch that can do series w/ neck + bridge, and then putting the middle pickup on a push-pull because I never use that pickup by itself.

It's also very attractive and since selling my Jag forever ago, I've always missed having a guitar you could do MBV on, so I figure any demo will involve trying to do swirls and glides on it. Which is probably why the bridge has to go. It holds up for light whammy but I don't think it'll be OK with heavy MBV on it. Also I don't know if the stock arm is loose enough, I might have to replace that tailpiece unit as well.

[BearBoy]

Do these have the same trems as the CPs? i.e. with the screw in arm?

[paul_]

A TOM offers an entirely different feel and sound to a Mustang or Jaguar bridge regardless of how well either are working for what you're doing, so it's up to the player really. You either want an old-school Jaguar feel or you just like the way the guitars look and want more of an all-rounder.
I had a TOM on my Jag for the years it was my #1 guitar and then went back to a Mustang bridge when I had a load of Strats, Teles and Les Pauls around. In recent years I've paired a buzzstop with the Stang bridge. These things make ALL the difference, it's a completely different guitar after a bridge swap.

[dots]

isn't this guitar essentially an ssh jagmaster?

[George]

Yeah but the trem and tom makes it

[dots]

i think it's a swell guitar actually, aesthetically anyway. would love to hear how it sounds.

[George]

I would kill for it on a mustang body even though the full sized humbucker is a bit of a blemish

[honeyiscool]

Do these have the same trems as the CPs? i.e. with the screw in arm?

Yep.

A TOM offers an entirely different feel and sound to a Mustang or Jaguar bridge regardless of how well either are working for what you're doing, so it's up to the player really.

Not to mention, the neck angles always seem "better" on a Mustang bridge than a TOM for me.

isn't this guitar essentially an ssh jagmaster?

In some ways, yes, but it removes the parts I don't like about them: the Strat bridge, mainly, and I do like the blade switch instead of toggle.

I would kill for it on a mustang body even though the full sized humbucker is a bit of a blemish

It's a swimming pool under there. You can configure it however you want it.

[BearBoy]

So how you liking it so far Honeyiscool?

Any chance of an demo?

[dots]

yeah, i'm curious how good it sounds/feels. should see if they have one at the GC across the street.

[othomas2]

They're really nice guitars... perfect pickup options for me anyways.

If I started again on the Jag front it's what I'd go for, neck doesn't feel as friendly as a Japanese Jag though... that's my only reservations.

Because it's quite a modified guitar, the positioning of the trem plate doesn't offend either.

[honeyiscool]

So how you liking it so far Honeyiscool?

Any chance of an demo?

I'll try to put one together this weekend, I should have time on Sunday.

So far, the guitar plays great but the sound is, honestly, a bit boring for me. Thankfully, I think that's entirely something that better pickups should fix. Like most low end MIM Strats I've played, I feel like the pickups don't really do all that much in terms of variety. I think that about a lot of Strats, though, and lot of times, w/ MIM Strats, I feel like the middle and the neck pickup don't even sound all that different, and this one has that problem.** Also, the bridge pickup isn't forceful enough for a good power chord crunch and not smooth enough for a good solo sound and the lack of neck + bridge options are making me feel restricted, but I feel that way about any 3-pickup guitar. I have been doing some reading, and I think I've decided on my pickups: DiMarzio Area 58 in the neck, Area 61 in the middle, and Seymour Duncan TB-14 in the bridge. After I get it fully modified, I think I will absolutely love it.

A bit unexpected, perhaps, but I actually like the neck a lot. It feels like a very good modern Fender neck. Even with my eyes closed, it's on an entirely different level than the MIM Blacktop Jaguar I once had. It really feels great. The neck is not as thin as a '69 RI Mustang, but it's not as thick as a KC Mustang (though KC neck is surprisingly comfy yet thick), and certainly feels way better than the Japanese Jaguar HH (which feels near-unplayable to me). I'd say it's not too far from a '65 RI neck, but it's been so long since I had a '65, but anyway, I can't imagine anyone not liking this neck enough. It might not be PERFECT for everyone, but it's in that region of versatile and playable. The Tune-O-Matic is largely doing its job, and I think I could get on with it if I got a better bridge (maybe a GraphTech) and/or put some lube on it.

I am thinking of getting a Candy Apple Red one before they become extinct. I know it sounds dumb, but I could totally see myself getting another one just to convert it to a SS wiring config because I just love the construction and versatility, and I would honestly have another one of these before any MIM or MIJ Jaguar. Since I'll keep this one with a Stratty configuration, it'd make sense that my second Jaguarillo would be more of a Mustang/Jaguar config. But really, I love it. It's really well built, plus the swimming pool's gotta be shaving off half a pound from the weight, and it's ridiculously comfortable and easy to play.



** This is where I'm happy that I spent $579 on this guitar and not $799. Now I can spend that difference on pickups. I don't think the pickups quite justify the $799 price, because my only other experience with a high-end MIM Fender is the Fender Classic 60s Strat, and that guitar plays and sounds incredible.

[honeyiscool]

They're really nice guitars... perfect pickup options for me anyways.

If I started again on the Jag front it's what I'd go for, neck doesn't feel as friendly as a Japanese Jag though... that's my only reservations.

Because it's quite a modified guitar, the positioning of the trem plate doesn't offend either.

If by friendly, you mean thin, yeah, it's not quite as tiny as a vintage-style Japanese Jag. I had an MIJ Jaguar at the same time as a couple of '65 RI Mustangs, and I remember that the Jag had the thinnest of the lot, about as thin as my current '73 RI Mustang, I think. But it's still plenty thin for me, it feels like most Fender Standard necks with a Thin C. So overall that's a good thing. I do wish it were 7.25" but 9.5" is not a HUGE difference. As I said in the previous post, I think if you like the way the '65 Mustang plays, you'll love the way this one plays. And on the plus side, if you care about that kind of thing (and mind you, I really don't), Jaguarillos are Alder, most MIJ Jaguars are Basswood. As I said, though, I really don't care, my favorite guitar and bass are basswood.

Yeah, agree with you on the last point as well. I like the Classic Player Jaguar HH a lot, it's something I considered for a long time, but somehow by modifying it even further, the Jaguarillo comes out more tasteful than the CP Jaguar HH and the overall effect seems to be better. Or maybe it's because I prefer Jaguarillo's color scheme. I always found OWH/Tort to be a better combo for Mustangs than for Jaguars. Whatever it is, I like it.

[Allthumbs]

i'm new here, so i hope i'm doing this right. Musicians friend has the candy apple red Jaguarillo for $277.79. it's listed for $499, but once you add it to your cart an additional $220.20 is taken off. it's a good enough deal that i joined this forum just to share this! i came across this forum a few days ago when i was looking for some information about the jaguarillo. i have a screen grab of the cart, but i have no idea how to post it. it appears to only work on the candy apple red. wasn't my first choice of color, but for under $300 i pulled the trigger. no idea how long the deal is good for though (sorry). i hope someone else can benefit. i look forward to being a part of the shortscale community.

[dots]

i'm new here, so i hope i'm doing this right. Musicians friend has the candy apple red Jaguarillo for $277.79. it's listed for $499, but once you add it to your cart an additional $220.20 is taken off. it's a good enough deal that i joined this forum just to share this! i came across this forum a few days ago when i was looking for some information about the jaguarillo. i have a screen grab of the cart, but i have no idea how to post it. it appears to only work on the candy apple red. wasn't my first choice of color, but for under $300 i pulled the trigger. no idea how long the deal is good for though (sorry). i hope someone else can benefit. i look forward to being a part of the shortscale community.

nice info and welcome to the forum!

[honeyiscool]

i'm new here, so i hope i'm doing this right. Musicians friend has the candy apple red Jaguarillo for $277.79. it's listed for $499, but once you add it to your cart an additional $220.20 is taken off. it's a good enough deal that i joined this forum just to share this! i came across this forum a few days ago when i was looking for some information about the jaguarillo. i have a screen grab of the cart, but i have no idea how to post it. it appears to only work on the candy apple red. wasn't my first choice of color, but for under $300 i pulled the trigger. no idea how long the deal is good for though (sorry). i hope someone else can benefit. i look forward to being a part of the shortscale community.

You're my hero.

I wanted a red one, I just submitted an order for it. $300 inc. tax for this guitar is an absolute steal. So I guess I have two Jaguarillos now.

[Allthumbs]

well, to be fair, your thread sent me on the search for sales on the jaguarillo. so, you are at least half responsible i love jaguars and have wanted to check one of these out for a while now. i own a Japanese jaguar HH hardtail (the burst, not the all black one) and i love the neck on it. since i don't own a guitar with a tremolo or single coils the jaguarillo seemed like a great foray into both worlds. i'm sure i'll have a ton of questions once i get it. anyways, i'm glad i could help!

[endsjustifymeans]

well, to be fair, your thread sent me on the search for sales on the jaguarillo. so, you are at least half responsible i love jaguars and have wanted to check one of these out for a while now. i own a Japanese jaguar HH hardtail (the burst, not the all black one) and i love the neck on it. since i don't own a guitar with a tremolo or single coils the jaguarillo seemed like a great foray into both worlds. i'm sure i'll have a ton of questions once i get it. anyways, i'm glad i could help!

Welcome to the forum, but curse you for tempting me with that great deal. Curse you!