.. and i thought i was being helpful.
Does anyone use a "BuzzStop" with their Jaguar?
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Ok maybe I'm just kinda drunk and bored, but the content of this thread got me thinking... why are so many people on message boards, particularly guitar message boards, so easily offended when people offer their opinions on a matter in a blunt way? The point of a message board is to give opinions about things, so why bother asking a question if you don't want answers?
Ignore the ignorant or biased answers, but if someone argues their point well, even if in a direct/curt way, why not consider it?
Buzzstops are pointless in my opinion. With any string gauge higher than .10 and a few small adjustments, they are completely unnecessary. There is no substantial gain of sustain. People need to stop trying to make one guitar into something it's not -- if you want it to sound like an SG, get an SG.
Too many people buy Jags or Jazzmasters with the intention of making them sound like something else entirely and are disappointed when they discover they have a unique character of their own. They do not clang like Strat, twang like a Tele, or have the midrange growl of a Gibson-style instrument. They have a cutting, percussive attack with a lot of treble bite that sustains for a relatively short time. They sound almost like a hollow-body thanks to their shallow bridge angle and long string length. They also have arguably the best tremolo system if properly set up. The characteristics that define their failure as 'rock' guitars at the same time crown their victory as instruments capable of producing huge atmospheric soundscapes, dripping surf tonalities, scathing jangle textures, and round thick melody lines.
If you're just using them to bang out power chords you're missing the point. Go back to your fucking SG.
Ignore the ignorant or biased answers, but if someone argues their point well, even if in a direct/curt way, why not consider it?
Buzzstops are pointless in my opinion. With any string gauge higher than .10 and a few small adjustments, they are completely unnecessary. There is no substantial gain of sustain. People need to stop trying to make one guitar into something it's not -- if you want it to sound like an SG, get an SG.
Too many people buy Jags or Jazzmasters with the intention of making them sound like something else entirely and are disappointed when they discover they have a unique character of their own. They do not clang like Strat, twang like a Tele, or have the midrange growl of a Gibson-style instrument. They have a cutting, percussive attack with a lot of treble bite that sustains for a relatively short time. They sound almost like a hollow-body thanks to their shallow bridge angle and long string length. They also have arguably the best tremolo system if properly set up. The characteristics that define their failure as 'rock' guitars at the same time crown their victory as instruments capable of producing huge atmospheric soundscapes, dripping surf tonalities, scathing jangle textures, and round thick melody lines.
If you're just using them to bang out power chords you're missing the point. Go back to your fucking SG.
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Fran
- The Curmudgeon
- Posts: 22219
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:53 am
- Location: Nottingham, Englandshire.
Its a fair point if somewhat close minded. The main reason these guitars once again became popular was because players got them cheap and modified them, and in most cases tried to get a heavier sound and knocked out power chords.Aeon wrote:People need to stop trying to make one guitar into something it's not -- if you want it to sound like an SG, get an SG.
Too many people buy Jags or Jazzmasters with the intention of making them sound like something else
The other point missed is people like these guitars because of how they feel and look, so why should'nt they modify them to suit their needs sonically? Look at the Strat, they've been successfully modified for years. The whole existence of Ibanez, Jackson, ESP, etc. developed from the concept of a modified Strat and they are great guitars. You cannot stop evolution, and it will be a sad day when everyone uses what traditionalists tell them to use.
What.othomas2 wrote:The mex Jag HH is basically and SG though, that's the whole point of its existance...
Not it isnt. You could'nt be more wrong. For that to be true a regular jag would have to be "An SG with singles", a mex Jag HH is a decent way for lots of people with teh krudtz/who like jaguars but not singles to get a jag with buckers from the get go.
I have highlighted the common features in bold:
Mex Jaguar HH:
Alder Body
24" scale
Bolt on neck
Humbuckers
Tremolo
SG Standard:
Mahogany (I think)
24" 3/4 scale
Set necl
Humbuckers
Stoptail
Oh lordy look at that, you take away the humbuckers and they're completely different.
I like the way they feel, if I ever feel the need for another humbucker guitar I'll probably go down the jag HH route. I don't get on with gibson necks at all, even the neck on my artcore kills my hands after a while.Aeon wrote:If you're just using them to bang out power chords you're missing the point. Go back to your fucking SG.
I'm all for making your guitar sound like you want, within reason. If you've got a single coil jag don't put in a big swimming pool route in it, buy a hot rails or something but if you've got a squier strat with singles then go nuts.
If we're getting into what guitars are "made for" then why aren't we all playing surf on our jaguars and jazz on our jazzmasters?
Flat radius neckZaphod wrote:What.othomas2 wrote:The mex Jag HH is basically and SG though, that's the whole point of its existance...
Not it isnt. You could'nt be more wrong. For that to be true a regular jag would have to be "An SG with singles", a mex Jag HH is a decent way for lots of people with teh krudtz/who like jaguars but not singles to get a jag with buckers from the get go.
I have highlighted the common features in bold:
Mex Jaguar HH:
Alder Body
24" scale
Bolt on neck
Humbuckers
Tremolo
SG Standard:
Mahogany (I think)
24" 3/4 scale
Set necl
Humbuckers
Stoptail
Oh lordy look at that, you take away the humbuckers and they're completely different.
tuno bridge
steeper string angle ala Gibson
body shape doesn't make much impact on sound or even type of wood used.
& I'd even argue about the set neck too...
They've made the guitar more generic to appeal to a wider audience... who enjoy the aesthetics but so much the playability of a stock jag.
I'm not a proponent of 'traditionalism', I think worrying about vintage specs is retarded, and that modifications to suit the player (within reason) are a good thing. Buzzstops are pointless because they cost too much for what little effect they actually have. A mediocre setup will nullify their 'need'.
But it seems like you're fighting an uphill battle if you're trying to get a Gibson sound out of a Fender instrument, ESPECIALLY a Jaguar.
What I was arguing was to embrace the sonic characteristics of a guitar and utilize its quirks for your music.
And this is old hat, but you're going to sound like yourself regardless of what guitar or amp you're playing through. Sure, the timbre might change a bit, but what is actually important doesn't change when you switch from singles to humbuckers, set neck to bolt on, hollow body to solid, maple to rosewood, or any other sort of modification. Just look at Mike's demo videos of his various guitars on youtube -- regardless of what he's playing he still sounds like Mike. The harmonic emphasis and sustain change a little bit from guitar to guitar, but that's about it.
Work with what you have, in my opinion.
But it seems like you're fighting an uphill battle if you're trying to get a Gibson sound out of a Fender instrument, ESPECIALLY a Jaguar.
What I was arguing was to embrace the sonic characteristics of a guitar and utilize its quirks for your music.
And this is old hat, but you're going to sound like yourself regardless of what guitar or amp you're playing through. Sure, the timbre might change a bit, but what is actually important doesn't change when you switch from singles to humbuckers, set neck to bolt on, hollow body to solid, maple to rosewood, or any other sort of modification. Just look at Mike's demo videos of his various guitars on youtube -- regardless of what he's playing he still sounds like Mike. The harmonic emphasis and sustain change a little bit from guitar to guitar, but that's about it.
Work with what you have, in my opinion.
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Fran
- The Curmudgeon
- Posts: 22219
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:53 am
- Location: Nottingham, Englandshire.
I dont know if i agree with that or not to be honest. If i picked a Gretsch chet atkins up i dont think i would be in the same mindset or produce the same playing as i would a Jackson Flying V with Floyd Rose. But i agree it is nice to see players embrace a guitars inherant character, still, its nice to see players use something that is unexpected for a particular style.Aeon wrote:I'm not a proponent of 'traditionalism', I think worrying about vintage specs is retarded, and that modifications to suit the player (within reason) are a good thing. Buzzstops are pointless because they cost too much for what little effect they actually have. A mediocre setup will nullify their 'need'.
But it seems like you're fighting an uphill battle if you're trying to get a Gibson sound out of a Fender instrument, ESPECIALLY a Jaguar.
What I was arguing was to embrace the sonic characteristics of a guitar and utilize its quirks for your music.
And this is old hat, but you're going to sound like yourself regardless of what guitar or amp you're playing through. Sure, the timbre might change a bit, but what is actually important doesn't change when you switch from singles to humbuckers, set neck to bolt on, hollow body to solid, maple to rosewood, or any other sort of modification. Just look at Mike's demo videos of his various guitars on youtube -- regardless of what he's playing he still sounds like Mike. The harmonic emphasis and sustain change a little bit from guitar to guitar, but that's about it.
Work with what you have, in my opinion.
Personally speaking, i fitted humbuckers because i like humbuckers, i like high gain and i hate microphonic feedback. I was'nt looking for a Gibson sound, i already owned a Gibson, i was looking for a Jaguar with balls sound. I may even fit a Floyd Rose yet.. coz i like them.
Some people sound the same on any guitar, some don't. I find guitars have a long-term effect on my playing; as I developed most of my skills on a Fender I couldn't get on with Gibsons originally, they'd go out of tune even though I had a strat and a jag with whammy bar antics out the wazoo that were solid as a rock tuning-wise. My strat bends were always quick and precise, and I'd never hold for sustain. I'd overbend on my Les Paul, and wasn't taking advantage of all the harmonic overtones you get from them.
Now I think my playing has gone towards a sort of happy medium that suits both, though I'll definately still play to the strengths of whatever guitar I'm playing. I stopped doing my typical types of leads on the jag when I recently went back from tune-o-matic to mustang bridge.
Now I think my playing has gone towards a sort of happy medium that suits both, though I'll definately still play to the strengths of whatever guitar I'm playing. I stopped doing my typical types of leads on the jag when I recently went back from tune-o-matic to mustang bridge.
Aug wrote:which one of you bastards sent me an ebay question asking if you can get teh kurdtz with that 64 mustang?
robertOG wrote:fran & paul are some of the original gangstas of the JS days when you'd have to say "phuck"
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Fran
- The Curmudgeon
- Posts: 22219
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:53 am
- Location: Nottingham, Englandshire.
Yeah, i know what your saying. Fenders are more restricting to me but at the same time i like the feel and look, since i have started using other companies guitars in the last year my playing seems to have improved a shitload. I think i got stuck in a rut on the Jaguar and i was always compensating for it being a little delicate, still love the Jags to bits though.paul_ wrote:Some people sound the same on any guitar, some don't. I find guitars have a long-term effect on my playing; as I developed most of my skills on a Fender I couldn't get on with Gibsons originally, they'd go out of tune even though I had a strat and a jag with whammy bar antics out the wazoo that were solid as a rock tuning-wise. My strat bends were always quick and precise, and I'd never hold for sustain. I'd overbend on my Les Paul, and wasn't taking advantage of all the harmonic overtones you get from them.
Now I think my playing has gone towards a sort of happy medium that suits both, though I'll definately still play to the strengths of whatever guitar I'm playing. I stopped doing my typical types of leads on the jag when I recently went back from tune-o-matic to mustang bridge.
Thing is Fran, I can totally see where you're coming from. You clearly love the aesthetic but your technique demands something a bit different. I can totally understand people loving the Jag and trying to find thier way around their idiosyncrasies, but when people buy one and then bitch about the aspects that define the fucking thing it really pisses me off.
I use 10s on my Jaguars and they're all set up corectly. I have no tuning/buzzing/popping strings problems. Seriously get to know someone who knows thier way around a guitar and get a proper set-up before thinking about a buzzstop.
Some peeps hate th extra voicings from the strings behind the bridge, an elastic band does away with that without a buzzstop. Plus your tremelo will still work as was designed.
I use 10s on my Jaguars and they're all set up corectly. I have no tuning/buzzing/popping strings problems. Seriously get to know someone who knows thier way around a guitar and get a proper set-up before thinking about a buzzstop.
Some peeps hate th extra voicings from the strings behind the bridge, an elastic band does away with that without a buzzstop. Plus your tremelo will still work as was designed.