First short scale, VM Jaguar, setup tips?

Beau · Post by **Beau** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:18 am

I've never worked on a guitar before and feel I should I start. I just walked in with a VM Jag I found on craigslist for $210. This thing buzzes uber super duper.

I'm thinking of dropping in a Warmoth Mustang bridge and Staytrem system.

Any links on setting up a jag?

I really like the sound of the pickups.

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:19 am

This is a good place to start:

Jag Set Up Tips

Get Rid Of Buzz

Setting up Jags and Jazzies is tricky, but you can definitely do it yourself. I conquered VM buzzing with no experience whatsoever.

Switching out the stock bridge will certainly make things easier but is by no means necessary.

What I did:

1) Raised bridge height (outer posts) and saddle height (grub screws). This does raise the action but is the easiest way to get rid of buzz. If the action is not to your liking, you can easily shim the neck.

2) Replaced stock strings with .011s to increase tension.

3) Replaced grub screws with new ones from Ace Hardware. Improves saddle stability. The screws are about 50 cents each.

4) Found a diagram on OSG to help with intonation settings. There really is a wealth of info on OSG.

Others will have great suggestions too. But the number one requirement: patience. You can do it, and it will be worth it!

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:10 am

And yes, I think the VM Jag pups sound fantastic!

I also like the sound of the VM Jazz pups, but they seem to be less popular with the masses.

luciguci · Post by **luciguci** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:32 am

Setup tips: shim the base of the neck pocket with two pieces of credit/gift card stacked on top of each other, put this bridge in instead of the stock bridge, and (this is just my personal preference) put on a set of D'addario Chromes. Adjust pickups as needed. This is exactly what I did to my VM Jag and it plays perfectly.

meltedbuzzbox · Post by **meltedbuzzbox** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:45 am

To echo some of the things that have been said

Jags love 11 gauge strings and heavier, they really settle the guitar down, especially with buzzing.

Setting the radius is made easier with some radius gauges and they are cheap to buy.

Shimming the neck - I have never needed to do so. Some people say it is a must.

The standard Jag/Jazz bridge screws like to work loose, its a good idea once the radius is set to go over the saddle screw holes with clear nail varnish/super glue (some people even use wax)

I have read mixed opinions on the stock trem unit (I am not a massive user of the trem)
Some people say they are stiff and great, others recommend replacing them for MIJ/AVRI units.

Patience is needed, there is a lot of tweaking to be done on Jags/JMs. Luckily your truss rod is in the headstock, if you are upping the gauge you might need to tweak this.

most importantly

where are the pics?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:22 pm

singlepickup24 wrote:This is a good place to start:

Jag Set Up Tips

Get Rid Of Buzz

Came in here to post these links. Almost ten years down the line, and these are still my go-to resources.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:21 pm

Um, don't worry about whatever bridge is flavour of the month. They're a lame waste of cash invented to give guyz on guitar forums something to talk about. Don't fit a buzz stop, they're not needed with the correct gauge of strings. Just put 11s on yer Jag and if the grub screws rattle or come loose get some of that thread-locking stuff. It's called Lock-tite in the USA, IIRC - you'll have to investigate what it's called here - anyway don't get confused and use Loctite superglue like some n00000bs.

George · Post by **George** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:40 pm

timhulio wrote:Um, don't worry about whatever bridge is flavour of the month. They're a lame waste of cash invented to give guyz on guitar forums something to talk about. Don't fit a buzz stop, they're not needed with the correct gauge of strings. Just put 11s on yer Jag and if the grub screws rattle or come loose get some of that thread-locking stuff. It's called Lock-tite in the USA, IIRC - you'll have to investigate what it's called here - anyway don't get confused and use Loctite superglue like some n00000bs.

That's true of proper jaguar bridges but have you tried the new vm bridges? They're baaad

meltedbuzzbox · Post by **meltedbuzzbox** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 3:30 pm

George wrote:
timhulio wrote:Um, don't worry about whatever bridge is flavour of the month. They're a lame waste of cash invented to give guyz on guitar forums something to talk about. Don't fit a buzz stop, they're not needed with the correct gauge of strings. Just put 11s on yer Jag and if the grub screws rattle or come loose get some of that thread-locking stuff. It's called Lock-tite in the USA, IIRC - you'll have to investigate what it's called here - anyway don't get confused and use Loctite superglue like some n00000bs.
That's true of proper jaguar bridges but have you tried the new vm bridges? They're baaad

They're not that bad, they do need some extra work though.

I imagine a "proper" bridge can be had for peanuts as everyone + dog seems to go for a mustang/staytrem/mastery.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 3:33 pm

singlepickup24 wrote:And yes, I think the VM Jag pups sound fantastic!

I also like the sound of the VM Jazz pups, but they seem to be less popular with the masses.

I really like the stock pickups on mine. combined with the stock bridge you can really get that strummy jazzmaster sound. definitely my favorite guitar along with my Tele and I own a fendurr jaguar.
SQUIER FO LYFE.

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:11 pm

I'm with you, Josh. I'm keeping my VM JM stock. And I'm going to get another

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:14 pm

The main reason I've kept the stock bridge is custom string spacing. It also is part of what makes a JM/Jag a JM/Jag.

Loctite is good advice. New grub screws were my solution to the same problem and have really worked for the VM. Those VM grub screws were born to fall out.

Beau · Post by **Beau** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:14 am

singlepickup24 wrote:This is a good place to start:

Jag Set Up Tips

Get Rid Of Buzz

Setting up Jags and Jazzies is tricky, but you can definitely do it yourself. I conquered VM buzzing with no experience whatsoever.

Switching out the stock bridge will certainly make things easier but is by no means necessary.

What I did:

1) Raised bridge height (outer posts) and saddle height (grub screws). This does raise the action but is the easiest way to get rid of buzz. If the action is not to your liking, you can easily shim the neck.

2) Replaced stock strings with .011s to increase tension.

3) Replaced grub screws with new ones from Ace Hardware. Improves saddle stability. The screws are about 50 cents each.

4) Found a diagram on OSG to help with intonation settings. There really is a wealth of info on OSG.

Others will have great suggestions too. But the number one requirement: patience. You can do it, and it will be worth it!

The guide says you need a 0.5 mm hex key. I cannot find one anywhere and on some Telecaster forums, they say they don't exist.

HALP

Beau · Post by **Beau** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:19 am

Also,

"To set intonation you need an electronic tuner.

Play your open string and tune exactly to pitch. Place rubber foam squares between the last fret and the strings not to be tuned.

After the string is tuned to pitch, play the string pressing the string at the 12th fret."

Rubber foam squares for what?

Halp number 2

mixtape · Post by **mixtape** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:21 am

Beau In Space wrote:Also,

"To set intonation you need an electronic tuner.

Play your open string and tune exactly to pitch. Place rubber foam squares between the last fret and the strings not to be tuned.

After the string is tuned to pitch, play the string pressing the string at the 12th fret."

Rubber foam squares for what?

Halp number 2

From nothing, because it's really not that hard to dampen the other five strings with your fingers.

Beau · Post by **Beau** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:35 am

I felt it unnecessary, but am trying to go "by the book" as this is my first tampering.

mixtape · Post by **mixtape** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:54 am

It really doesn't matter. The only point is to stop any vibrations from the strings you're not intonating so the pitch your tuner hears is accurate. How you stop them is up to you. If going by the book would really make you feel better, I suppose you could cut up an old mousepad or something and stuff pieces of it between the strings and the last fret.

Beau · Post by **Beau** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am

I'll just hold onto them. Thanks for your creativity though!

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:43 am

Beau, I just found a thread on OSG that says you should use a 1.5 mm hex key for a VM Jag.

OSG page in question

Beau · Post by **Beau** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:30 am

Thank you good sir!