new jaguar dilemma

poorhillbilly · Post by **poorhillbilly** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:07 am

Yeah the Special HH is cool. but thats if you can get one. They only seem to ship to USA on ebay.

I think people need to realise that The blacktop jags arn't a poor mans special HH, but a unique guitar in it self.

same with the squier.

I think the improvements made on the Classic Player Jaguar Special HH to the reissues are pretty great and I like the Olympic White

Empires · Post by **Empires** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:12 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:ha ha, al from Empires Verse Metrics has a MENSTRUALBURST jagboner as well.

This is true.

They were going for an absolute steal at Musicians Friend at one stage too.

Regret not biting on it to this day

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:23 pm

Empires wrote:
hotrodperlmutter wrote:ha ha, al from Empires Verse Metrics has a MENSTRUALBURST jagboner as well.
This is true.

They were going for an absolute steal at Musicians Friend at one stage too.

Regret not biting on it to this day

Yeah, think they were at about $500.
Definitely regret being really poor when they were available.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:12 pm

So basically I should look more at something like this??

140 bucks shipping is kind of punishing tho

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:30 pm

Find a better price

It will take patience, but, they can be had cheaper.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:39 pm

Maybe I can find one of the pawn shop mustang specials to try... how are the pups on those? this thread opened up more possibilities instead of narrowing it down :/

looks like there's one of the mustang specials at a GC near me... I'll add that to the list of possibles

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:42 pm

brainfur wrote: this thread opened up more possibilities instead of narrowing it down :/

it all depends on ur patience and ur pocket book....

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:02 pm

brainfur wrote:Maybe I can find one of the pawn shop mustang specials to try... how are the pups on those? this thread opened up more possibilities instead of narrowing it down :/

looks like there's one of the mustang specials at a GC near me... I'll add that to the list of possibles

I liked the pups on the Mustang specials. $899 is a new price for the Mustang Special and the Jaguar HH is $799 new. I see the Jag HH on CL all the time for $500ish.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:02 pm

Yeah. If you maintain a low budget, the options still remain narrow... but if you're willing to put more saving and patience into it, there are plenty of options

Really, it comes down to what features you'll be happiest with and how much you're willing to pay for them.

For example, I prefer single coils, classic Jag switching and the floating trem... it took me about 15 years, but I got a brand new Japanese Jag for $750, and love it. I wouldn't be nearly as happy with the Squire, Blacktop, HH Specials or humbuckered Classic Player due to the wrong features. A lot of people love the simplicity of the Squire and Blacktop, and the hardtail and construction of the HH... while they seem pretty cool, I wouldn't want them as my only Jag, though, having one, I'd love a second with different features

If humbuckers are your thing, a more classic Jag just won't do... the output is way too low, and they don't sound anything like buckers

You're better off with the Squire, Blacktop, HH or humbuckered CP. If hardtail is important, scratch off the CP. If price is really important, scratch off the HH.

blah blah blah blah blah

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:06 pm

yes... Ankhanu be serving up hot knowledge

also, if u have never had a shortscale then u may not want to drop $500-900 on one unless u definately know u will get on with a 24" scale neck.... some people find them cramped on the higher frets

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:24 pm

SGJarrod wrote:also, if u have never had a shortscale then u may not want to drop $500-900 on one unless u definately know u will get on with a 24" scale neck.... some people find them cramped on the higher frets

Yep, trying them is a great idea if you CAN

Personally, I find very little difference between 24", 24.75" and 25.5". I know a lot of people notice and care, I don't. Mind you, I come to guitar by way of bass, so the difference between 34" and guitar scales is pretty small to my fingers

I notice the difference between standard and shortscale bass... mind you that's a 4" difference, rather than 1.5" between standard and shortscale guitars.
If you're primarily a guitar player, 1.5" might feel more noticeable to you.

Another aspect that you might want to be aware of is the difference in fretboard radius. Vintage or vintage spec Jags and Mustangs have a 7.25" radius, while the Squire, Blacktop and CP have a more modern, flatter 9.5" radius. That's going to change how the guitar feels too... and something to keep in mind.

poorhillbilly · Post by **poorhillbilly** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:50 am

On ebay, you can get a HH special jap/mex jag in the us for around $600-900, shipping could vary from a pickup-$150

But blacktop new go for $450! . i think free shipping in the USA. Squiers around $300 mark.

Just remember If you want a squier with tune-o-matic, that requires buying the seperate parts and work. where the Blacktop comes with a Gotoh tuno-o-matic, tailpiece for the behind the bridge work, chrome covers, kluson tuners already. The blacktop is also an alder body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard. compared to the basswood body of a Squier. thats your $150 price difference.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:10 am

Phew... so I played the pawnshop mustang @ GC... and it was fairly awesome-- definitely would be my choice if it was half the price.

They didn't have any of the cij hh jaguar specials in stock, so I still haven't played one of those, but I checked out the blacktop and squier again and also played the squier vm jazzmaster in a weird yellow color. It didn't particularly impress me (strange glossy maple fretboard) except for the jazz pickups which sounded pretty cool.

I'm going to scan craigslist / ebay for used cij jags and see if I can find one locally that I can try before buying. The cp doesn't appeal b/c I have no idea what to do w/ a tremolo. It just makes me nervous and I have heard its harder to keep in tune.

poorhillbilly · Post by **poorhillbilly** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:26 am

The coil tapping pickup switch stuff. I still don't understand it fully. I found this though>>>>Interactive Jaguar

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:23 pm

It's really simple:
Switch <-- : bridge coil
Switch -|- : full humbucker
Switch --> : neck coil

Set each pickup to the configuration you want, use the 3-way toggle to choose neck, both or bridge pickup.

poorhillbilly · Post by **poorhillbilly** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:54 pm

yeah i guess top tone and vol are for neck, whilst normal tone and vol for bridge but can you blend with neck and bridge SC and HH? what the hell is the bass boost?

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:29 pm

Wait, which instrument are you referring to? CP Jaguar HH?
I was describing the switches on the Pawn Shop Mustang... Though I suppose the dials on the upper horn of the CP Jag HH work nearly same way.

The bottom plate are on/off switches for each pickup, with a strangle switch (closest to the bridge), reducing the low frequencies leaving the instrument. The switches on the upper horn are a kill switch and single to humbucker blend dials for each pickup, but I think it goes Single -> Humbucker with different levels of blend between the two. I'm pretty sure that it doesn't split between the two coils like the PSMustang, just 1 -> 2 coils.

Standard Jaguar controls, the upper plate has the on/off switch and volume and tone for the rhythm circuit; rhythm circuit uses only the neck pickup, with 50k pots.
When the Rhythm circuit is off, the Lead circuit is engaged, the lower plate controls the neck and bridge pickups on/off and the strangle switch again, with the volume and tone controlled on the lower bout like most guitars. It's a lot brighter, with 1Meg pots.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:55 pm

just save your money and buy a USA fiesta red one like mine.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:31 pm

robroe wrote:just save your money and buy a USA fiesta red one like mine.

One of the coolest Jaguars I have ever laid eyes on.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:40 pm

the thing is 12 years old. im not exactly sure how rare it is since my ebay trolling days are long gone. I do know that what I payed for it will be a steal if I hold onto it

new jaguar dilemma

which cheap jaguar?