Need stoptail recommendations for a Jagmaster TOM bridge mod

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:49 pm

I just received a 9.5" radius TOM-style Jazzmaster bridge from someone on another site (OffsetGuitars.com). I'm planning to use this to modify my Squire Jagmaster's tremolo bridge. Now I need to track down a stoptail + posts.

I'm assuming that the "ideal" stoptail would also have the string through-holes cut to a 9.5" radius, but given how hard it was to find a 9.5" radius TOM bridge, I'm guessing that I'll never find one. That means I'll probably have to use a 12" radius stoptail.

Who makes reasonably-priced after-market stoptail that would work for this upgrade project?

And are there any tips & tricks I should know when it comes to installing a TOM & stoptail on a guitar that originally had a Strat-style tremolo bridge?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:40 pm

You've got some major filling and refin work to do here chap. This is not an easy job at all.

Best view this as starting from scratch. You need to use pieces of hardwood (softwood is not adequate) to fill the cavity atleast on the top of the guitar, fill the small screw holes with cocktail sticks/glue (again, they are hardwood) then some proper wood filler. Sand the lot back, drill for the TOM mounting cups and tail piece mounts, then refin/patch in the finish.

Now. Which Jagmaster do you own? What scale neck is it? You need to know for the placement of the bridge (ie. 25.5 scale). You measure this from the inside of the nut to the centre of the TOM... giving you your drill hole centres.
As for the tail piece, use the standard Gibson measurement.

You will have to browse the net for stop tails and which will be aesthetically right for your project. Gotoh is a good starting point.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:44 pm

the "radius" of the stop-tail makes no difference.

the problem with putting a tun-o-matic where there once was a strat trem is the posts will have to go right on the edge of the trem route. they would actually have to go a little bit into the route. so you can't really do it unless you fill the whole route and start over. another option would be get a standard shortscale 24" neck and then move the bridge location by half an inch or whatever. that might work.

edit: oh crap, fran beat me to the post

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:52 pm

Good idea on the short scale neck dude. Imo, he needs to fill that route anyways, may as well do it properly. God help him if its sunburst finish.
Personally i would block the trem off with a tight offcut of wood, thus allowing resonance to flow through the body from the sustain block. Fitting a TOM will also mean a neck shim, but thats the least...

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:59 pm

I have a lot of wood working tools (table saw, router, sanding belt, etc.) as wells as an assortment of smaller Dremel tools and such, so cutting a piece of hardwood to completely fill in the trem cavity shouldn't be too much of a problem. It won't be trivial, but I was planning to do this anyway. I'm going to get everything completely filled up before I drill out new holes for the TOM (actually, it's Fender's "Adjust-O-Matic) bridge and the stoptail. I think the key here is to make sure that I mark and maintain the original location of the bridge crown, then install the new bridge with this in mind.

I probably have more flexibility with respect to placing the stoptail. If I have to use one fitted originally for a 12" Gibson radius and string spacing, that wouldn't be the end of the world, either.

I'm also considering changing this into a single-coil guitar along the lines of a Mustang, with a couple of 3-way switches, a new pickguard, a chrome control plate, Mustang pickups + new 250K pots.

I have the black 24" short-scale Jagmaster with a white pickguard, but I'd like to get a red tort pickguard (which may end up being the most expensive component in this upgrade).

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:09 pm

i don't even know the neck radius on the new 24" conversion neck.

the old vista 24" neck was 7.25 though

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:09 pm

(My Jagmaster has a 24" scale neck with a 9.5" radius.)

I just spotted this mockup of a mod project on another site, and I might want to do something similar.

In my case, I'd want to have angled pickups and I'd have cutouts for both the TOM bridge and for the two 3-position switches.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:16 pm

problem solved !!!

http://www.ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-ORM1

omar has 300mm which is 11.8 i think or something rounded up

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:51 pm

Its comforting to know your patching a black finish, still.. not easy.

Wheres this other website mod? LINK!! We wanna read it dude. No one knows more than us, and if they do they will disappear in one of robroes black bags.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:56 pm

i got so many black bags

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:02 am

Fran wrote:Its comforting to know your patching a black finish, still.. not easy.

Wheres this other website mod? LINK!! We wanna read it dude. No one knows more than us, and if they do they will disappear in one of robroes black bags.

Here's the link (it's over at OffsetGuitars.com): http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/ind ... 760.0.html

Cool mockup, but don't get your hopes up. The dude is just trying to decide between a Duo Sonic style and a Mustang style pickguard for his Jagmaster (I copied from his Duo Sonic mockup in red tort which I think looks killer...although I need more room @ the top for the two 3-position switches). This guy still hasn't indicated where he'll get these made (or where he'll source that cool bridge cover, either!).

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:05 am

Something like this from BYO Guitar would probably work (it's about $18.00):

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:10 am

Armchair Bronco wrote:

yea, I saw this over on offset. super cool idea. If I was him I would continue the XII thing he's got goin with some split pickups.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:30 am

Cool thread and all..... but no info

Plenty of eye candy but to reach these results you are looking at some major work which most guitar techs would run a mile from. However, i can do this and im optimistic you can. So, i am going to watch this thread like a hawk. We want pics, progress (ASAP) and less of the chit chat. If not, you are going out in one of Roes body bags.

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:40 am

Well, when I finally get started with this mod, I'll make a "build thread" with lots of photos and I'll document each step of the fiasco...I mean modification.

First, I'll need to track down someone with a USA Mustang pickguard who can give me a trace. I've found a vendor ((Guitar Parts Resource)) that sells red tortise ones for about $38 and if this fits on my Jagmaster, and I'll probably go in this direction along with a matching chrome control plate.

Stay tuned...but be patient!

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:59 am

i'm stoked to see how this turns out. you got your work cut out for you! good luck and if you ever need anything please don't (hesitate to ask someone else first).

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:14 am

I just thought of another jagmaster mod idea that requires no filling. I made a little illustration.

you could also, do it without the jag trem. or you could do it with a bigsby. or you could saw off the pickup ring part of the tele bridge plate and keep the jagmaster pickguard stock.

Armchair Bronco · Post by **Armchair Bronco** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:26 am

I think I'm going to start a separate thread enumerating all of my various ideas to derive a final Bill of Materials, a Design Document, and an estimated final cost for this Jagmaster mod.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:03 pm

dude, look what I just found:

http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.p ... tail&p=148

for filling the trem route!

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:11 pm

mage wrote:dude, look what I just found:

http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.p ... tail&p=148

for filling the trem route!

Nice. That would make life a lot easier.