So, kinda done got a VM jaguar.......

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 3:35 pm

I'd like your honest opinions on them, would I like it?

You know what guitars i play (classic player strat/Baja tele)
And that I stick them into a low wattage tube amp set crunchy.
Style wise, i play in a covers band ranging from free to killers to donner summer!
I play lead on gauge 11's tuned to standard , sometimes drop d and open g.

So tell me the pros and cons and mods and setup tips

Love proggie

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 3:45 pm

The Jazz I had was great build wise. The electronics, guard, trem, bridge etc were all really shit quality. The electronics were super noisy. By noisy I mean unusable (I got it as part of a trade just to check out what they were like).

Great platform for modding and you can pick up a secondhand one on ebay for about Â£150. At that sort of price it's a no-brainer. If you're buying new, test as many as you can. The quality of the wiring is all over the place. Make sure you use a dirt pedal on it. Dirt through mine created an instant horrible shoegaze cycling noise cos the electronics were so borked on it.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:09 pm

mine is good, i had to shim the neck quite a bit to get it playing properly, but that's no big deal. i'd suggest swapping the bridge out immediately, they're pretty garbage. pickups aren't bad, slightly hotter than the ones on my '66, thus a bit honkier sounding, but unless you played them side by side i doubt you'd even notice. good for the money, but be prepared to spend Â£100 on a few upgrades. also, it sounds like a jag, so be sure that's what you're after.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:13 pm

Sh'up and buy it Rob. You'll loev it.

George · Post by **George** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:14 pm

oscar the grouch alert:

yeah i would buy used (if possible), and replace the stock bridge with a staytrem or something because at the end of the day and despite what advice people give about loctite, it's dire. as for the pickups that's your call, i found the ones in my mustang to be woofy.

honestly though, you should take the time to get to know the neck first and foremost. maybe i got a dud but it was absolute pony on my mustang: sharp unfinished frets that are poorly seated, badly cut nut and an overly chunky neck that is not enjoyable at all. together it feels very slow and clunky. tuners are also shit but maybe the white button klusons are not the same kind as on the jaguar.

all my experience is with the mustang, so take all this with a pinch of salt. also bear in mind that the squier jaguar tremolo does not have a trem lock. i never use mine to lock the trem, but find it crucial for a good setup.

so i would say a) try before you buy, and b) be brutally honest about it and leave the rose tinted glasses at home

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:15 pm

benecol wrote:Sh'up and buy it Rob. You'll loev it.

You still on the wine loev? Lol

How's the wii?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:19 pm

oh yeah, the nut's made from playdoh or something. same on the squier VIs. i think george got a duffer, as my jag isn't clunky at all, and the neck's nice. i played it in the shop before buying it though.

edit: and took my old one in with me and played them side by side, and was impressed enough by the comparison to get the VM.

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:19 pm

TOM, neck shim, it's good to go. In fact I think it might have even been you who sold me the TOM, Proggy.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:27 pm

Freddy V-C wrote:TOM, neck shim, it's good to go. In fact I think it might have even been you who sold me the TOM, Proggy.

Yeah think I did. Think I may still have a spare one.

In terms of pickups, I tend to lean on the bridge pickup most of the time for rhythm. How do the switches work again on a jag? Used to 5 way strat or four way tele/s1

The trem wouldnt be used, so would probably lock it off somehow.

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:29 pm

On the lower horn you've got an on/off switch for each pickup and bass cut switch. On the upper horn you've got a switch to activate the rhythm circuit and separate volume and tone controls.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 5:33 pm

the easiest way to lock the trem is to get a tailpiece with a trem lock. Or just don't put the arm in.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 5:52 pm

Progrockabuse wrote:
benecol wrote:Sh'up and buy it Rob. You'll loev it.
You still on the wine loev? Lol

How's the wii?

Sober as a judge. Especially since standing on the scales this morning...

Rob, they're really, really good. Like Stewart said, no need to lock off the trem, just don't put the arm in - it's unlike any trem you've had on anything before (it's also fucking lovely, and easy to set up, and it's a crying shame you won't use it, but still). Bridge pickup can out-tele a tele, but with more girth (or less, if you use the treble cut switch). You'll love a Jag. You're making me miss one...

Wii is a smash hit, benecol jr. is over the moon x

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:04 pm

Glad jr likes it, mr b.

I might try using a trem again, though more for slight wobbles not dive bombs.

What strings should I stick on it? Guessing to up a gauge as it's a shortscale. Is my sg a short scale Benecol?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:07 pm

Your SG is 24.75", standard Gibson. The Jag won't feel much different. 11s or 12s on a Jag - I used 12s on my old one, 11s on everything else, but I AM HAMFISTED AS FUCK.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:28 pm

I use 11's for the fatter low end, the tele loves them more than the sg. Think the sg had 12's to start with didn't it?

So tele-like bridge pickup sounds a winning, not sure on colour to go for?

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:45 pm

Do an sunburst. I use Beefy Slinkies on my Jaguar and it sounds heavy.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:48 pm

Progrockabuse wrote:Think the sg had 12's to start with didn't it?

D'Addario 11-52s on all of mine Rob.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:55 pm

i use 11-49s (i think?) and don't have any problems.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 10:16 pm

Dont let the needed mods on these put you off Rob, even the CIJ/MIJ Fender Jags needed a fair bit of work and they go for Â£500 second hand these days.

As with most Squier, if the chassis is good (neck and body) its a no brainer purchase.

Alternatively, and I may get publicly stoned for this, look at the Fender Marauder. They are now dirt cheap but a very versatile guitar especially for a covers band with the pickup options. Nice player as well.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 10:35 pm

Fran wrote:Alternatively, and I may get publicly stoned for this, look at the Fender Marauder. They are now dirt cheap but a very versatile guitar especially for a covers band with the pickup options. Nice player as well.

The Marauder is the guitar I usually take to the jam (rather than the two guitars I take to gigs) because of the flexibility. They're not as easy to find cheap now the clearouts have finished.