What should I mod before getting my jag set up?

jkmerryman21 · Post by **jkmerryman21** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:50 pm

I have just purchased a Classic Player Jaguar. I have heard talk about changing to a Mustang bridge on Jags. Should I do that or anything else before I have the guitar professionally set up?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:07 pm

classic players have tune-o-matic bridges, there's no need to change it for a mustang one.

astrozombie · Post by **astrozombie** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:24 pm

I'd change it to a mustang bridge so i could better use the vibrato system. i dont think the TOM moves or anything.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:02 pm

That's not going to help.
The CP's bridge posts are indeed not seated in thimbles but screwed into the body.
If this is really an area of concern, consider getting a wilkinson roller bridge but IME, the TOM does not impede the tremolo action in the slightest.

astrozombie · Post by **astrozombie** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:53 pm

laterallateral wrote:That's not going to help.
The CP's bridge posts are indeed not seated in thimbles but screwed into the body.
If this is really an area of concern, consider getting a wilkinson roller bridge but IME, the TOM does not impede the tremolo action in the slightest.

well nevermind then.

buzz stop?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:34 pm

You need a Mastery Bridge. Without one you may as well use the guitar to start fires in your Chiminea.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:53 am

astrozombie wrote:
laterallateral wrote:That's not going to help.
The CP's bridge posts are indeed not seated in thimbles but screwed into the body.
If this is really an area of concern, consider getting a wilkinson roller bridge but IME, the TOM does not impede the tremolo action in the slightest.
well nevermind then.

buzz stop?

No need for a buzz stop, the trem tailpiece was moved forward in the Classic Players to increase break angle over the bridge.

Honestly, you won't know what you might want to change on the guitar until you have some experience with it. Get it set up as-is, learn how it works and figure out what could make it better for you. Could be fine just the way it is.

jim93 · Post by **jim93** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:32 am

Its fine the way it is, change the pickups if you want to mod

rlm2112 · Post by **rlm2112** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:34 am

I had a jaguar bridge on mine for a few weeks, and ended up putting the TOM back on. I used different posts I had to get it lower than the stock ones could. I love it now. More sustain, no buzzing or string popping, and it feels solid.

So basically I recommend not changing it, if you can get the height where you want it.

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jim93 · Post by **jim93** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:01 am

The mastery bridge is expensive considering the price of a cp jag, and the TOM is fairly stable anyhow theres a reason its on lp's

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:55 am

I'm assuming fran is larking about a Mastery bridge - I honestly see no benefit whatsoever for a CP Jag. Plus they look ugly on a guitar which is a shame as i'm sure they're well made. The stock TOM works fine on the guitar with a set up. The only thing I might consider is a wilkinson roller bridge like EKWatts. Oh and at least the bridge pup needs something happening to it.

astrozombie · Post by **astrozombie** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:35 pm

If i had the spare cash, id get the mastery in a heartbeat.

avj · Post by **avj** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:58 pm

I've had no problems with the Adjusto-Matic bridge on the CP Jag or Jazz, so just give it a try for a bit and you'll likely come to the same conclusion.

Keep in mind that if you do use a Jag or Mustang bridge, it'll need to be an import version with 74mm post spacing. Also, there will be a radius disparity between Jag and Mustang bridges, which are fixed at 7.25". The Warmoth Modified Mustang bridge has adjustable saddles to conform to whatever radius you choose, but I'm not sure of the post spacing on that.

As Dave said, a Wilkinson roller bridge or equivalent would be awesome and allow for really smooth trem action. GFS make a version that I've seen others with CP offsets speak highly of as a replacement, but they're currently out of stock. These likely have a flatter 12" radius, but I think it would be less of a problem to use a bridge with a flatter radius than your neck versus one with a more round radius than your neck.

The Mastery of course would be nice, and I think it's a wonderfully engineered piece of equipment -- but there are much cheaper and more readily available alternatives.

astrozombie · Post by **astrozombie** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:29 am

avj wrote:I've had no problems with the Adjusto-Matic bridge on the CP Jag or Jazz, so just give it a try for a bit and you'll likely come to the same conclusion.

Keep in mind that if you do use a Jag or Mustang bridge, it'll need to be an import version with 74mm post spacing. Also, there will be a radius disparity between Jag and Mustang bridges, which are fixed at 7.25". The Warmoth Modified Mustang bridge has adjustable saddles to conform to whatever radius you choose, but I'm not sure of the post spacing on that.

As Dave said, a Wilkinson roller bridge or equivalent would be awesome and allow for really smooth trem action. GFS make a version that I've seen others with CP offsets speak highly of as a replacement, but they're currently out of stock. These likely have a flatter 12" radius, but I think it would be less of a problem to use a bridge with a flatter radius than your neck versus one with a more round radius than your neck.

The Mastery of course would be nice, and I think it's a wonderfully engineered piece of equipment -- but there are much cheaper and more readily available alternatives.

im pretty sure the warmoth bridge will fit.

ambientnoize · Post by **ambientnoize** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:02 am

the only mod i bothered to do with my CP jag was switching the pickup switches so that up = off, as opposed to down. Means i don't accidentally switch things off whilst i'm playing.

Got the wiring diagram from this very forum, i'm sure.

George · Post by **George** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:34 am

You could have just unscrewed and turned them round, however.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:43 am

How people hit those switches on a jag is beyond me... not once have ever done so.

There seems to be less complaints about the mustang switches which are in the direct line of fire.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:18 pm

I added a roller bridge and buzz stop to my Jaguar alongside replacing the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder (I'll be replacing the neck pickup soon as well with another QP) as well as unscrewing the switch plate and reversing it. There are no other mods. Bear in mind though that this is a Japanese Jaguar, and while I have no idea as to whether or not the Mexican pickups are as dogshit as the ones on the Jap Jags none of the mods I made to the bridge and trem on mine are applicable to the CP series as all of the "problems" I sought to correct are already dealt with.

Turning the lower switch plate around is always a good idea. I don't hit it often either, but when you do it can be fairly catastrophic considering you can end up turning both pickups off. Or you can put tape over them. Your call.

You could still upgrade to a roller bridge, mind you. The Wilkinson one I have has much more travel in the saddles for intonation purposes than a TOM but it has a fixed curve you can't really change other than raising or lowering the entire bridge. I don't know if the CP Jags have a flatter fretboard than the Japanese ones, but if they do it might not be desirable. Stick with a roller saddle TOM instead of the one I have if that's the case.

mtotallywired · Post by **mtotallywired** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:25 am

I think if anything, play the guitar and find out what you like, what you don't like. Offsets like the jag/jazz, etc. are a good way to learn how to troubleshoot your own stuff, rather than go pay some "pro" to do it. With all the DIY info out there on these guitars, you'll figure out how to navigate and set up your guitar however which way you want, and you'll realize pretty fast that "mods" are not necessarily required to make your guitar better for you.

GreenKnee · Post by **GreenKnee** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:57 pm

othomas2 wrote:How people hit those switches on a jag is beyond me... not once have ever done so.

There seems to be less complaints about the mustang switches which are in the direct line of fire.

+1 my man! Never hit my jag switches, but the mustang (in particular the bridge pickup switch) is forever being knocked slightly by me, and turning off