ShortScale.org

Man, if i had just waited THREE YEARS I could have saved $700 on my jaguar.
Even though I have no need or money for these new Squiers I am pretty excited that they exist.

laterallateral wrote:Funny thing: This happened to mine, as well, I found out the saddle for the G string was able to jiggle up and down and was clacking against the sort of rails it sits on that is part of the bridge's base.

I've never had this happen with a TOM/AOM bridge before, as the saddles themselves aren't height adjustable and there's no reason for there to be any possible movement, in this sense. Closer inspection revealed that the problem was due to the fact that that saddle's intonation screw was a little bit bent and that it was forcing the saddle up so that it didn't sit flush with the rails, so yeah... I just cannibalized a screw from another AOM I had lying around and that took care of that but yeah... That's one of the few blatantly cut corners I've found on these. At that price, though? IDGAF. I'm just happy I didn't get this problem when I was 14 and scared shitless to investigate problems like these and just put up with them for fear of messing my guitars up even more.

My problem is definitely under the unit. It sounds like i have the lock button halfway across and it is catching, but there isn't one on these units of course.

laterallateral wrote:Funny thing: This happened to mine, as well, I found out the saddle for the G string was able to jiggle up and down and was clacking against the sort of rails it sits on that is part of the bridge's base.

I've never had this happen with a TOM/AOM bridge before, as the saddles themselves aren't height adjustable and there's no reason for there to be any possible movement, in this sense. Closer inspection revealed that the problem was due to the fact that that saddle's intonation screw was a little bit bent and that it was forcing the saddle up so that it didn't sit flush with the rails, so yeah... I just cannibalized a screw from another AOM I had lying around and that took care of that but yeah... That's one of the few blatantly cut corners I've found on these. At that price, though? IDGAF. I'm just happy I didn't get this problem when I was 14 and scared shitless to investigate problems like these and just put up with them for fear of messing my guitars up even more.

I have a rattling G string saddle as well, I will check the screw, I was thinking it was string tension not keeping the saddle down. It's definitely one of the cut corners and one reason I thought about swapping the bridge

I wonder what these are going to do to the secondhand market for Jap Jag and JMs....

OK, so after living with both of these guitars for a few days I have some thoughts...

Believe the hype. They really are up to the standards of "the new Squier" or maybe a bit above. I come home inspired to play everyday. I haven't felt this excited about guitar in a long, long time. I'm especially liking the Jag, despite the fact that so many others have raved about the JM and said that the Jag is a bit disappointing. Maybe I just got a good one, but the fretboard feels amazing. It's such a pleasure to strum this guitar. Although just six months ago I sold my AVRI and went into an anti-Jag funk, my love for Leo's finest has been reignited.

I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I'm into the CAR and surf green. I generally don't like bright colors, but on the Squiers they just work. These guitars beckon to me whenever I'm within 5 feet of either one. I put them on opposite sides of the room, so I'm constantly tempted to put down whatever I'm doing and pick one up.

It's as if I'm some crazy polygamist and I married two hot ass sisters in one go. It's an offset orgy up in here.

In conclusion, buy these guitars.



Now perhaps I'll try to respond to some of the questions and comments in this thread.

taylornutt wrote:What do you think about the pickups? Are you going to swap them out?

What is the quality like on the tremolo and stock bridge?

I have no plans to swap out the pups anytime soon. Although the pups on both of these guitars obviously lack the definition of AVRI pups, they have character all their own. Through a nice vintage amp, both guitars sound great as-is. If I decided to swap, I'd probably swap out the Jag pups first.

I really never use the tremolo so I'm a bad person to ask. Musicmaster habits die hard. The bridge seems solid enough. When I first got the Jag home, there was horrific buzz/rattle on four strings. I freaked out for two minutes, raised the height of one saddle in about ten seconds (literally) and all was well.

mastermorya wrote:I like the JM AVRI neck and the CV 50's Tele neck. Probably my two favorite necks on guitars, ever. I haven't played the old VM Jag. I found the Squier JMJM neck to be a little too chunky for my wrist/hand. Where does the Jag fall along those lines? Thanks so much for being a great source of information.

My pleasure. My AVRI Jag neck was too chunky for me but this one feels comfortable. I'm pretty sure it's less chunky than a JM JM neck. You're in Sacramento, right? You're welcome to come over and check it out.

Johnny Noir wrote:so what about the neck? not too chunky? trem set up? not too out of tune? pickups?

Tuning stability is so-so, but I've seen (heard) much worse and I still have the stock strings on. I'm sure it will be just fine once I put GHS 11's on both guitars. I'm going to change them tomorrow (will do a proper stretch) before a jam on Saturday, so will let you know.

Mike wrote:Great stuff, thanks for the demo.

Sure sounds like a Jaguar to me. I'm very excited about these, think I'm going to go for the Green Jaguar initially. Maybe down the line I'll treat myself to the Red Mustang.

You are very welcome. I would love to hear you demo a Green Jag. The Red and Green look pretty sexy together side by side. It's like surf candy christmas. Still really curious about the Mustangs as well.

Fran wrote:Sounds bang on, be interested to hear it with some different drive settings.

You and me both. Difficult to drive a Fender amp in my bedroom without making mortal enemies. I think it's time for me to sell some pedals and order a Miek Saltbreaker. I will try to record some overdriven snippets when I'm at the rehearsal studio next.

paul_ wrote:Those are cool vids singlepickup24, they got me more excited about these things. They definitely sound and look the part of the classic design.

Congrats on the double NGD, I just knew someone here was gonna pull one of those when we learned the price of these things.

Thanks Paul! I'm actually shocked that I was able to pull the trigger. I'm a thrifty ass Jewish boy. Lust and temptation got the better of me.

I'm really glad so many of you have enjoyed the vids.

Ben79 wrote:I wonder what these are going to do to the secondhand market for Jap Jag and JMs....

Welcome to the new era of MII.


Night all...

Great write up(s) man thanks. It's making my decision to hang on a couple of months for a MIJ Jag Vs one of these now, a really difficult one.

Does anyone have both MIJ/CIJ and one of these Squiers? If you could have only one, which would it be?

gusman2x wrote:Does anyone have both MIJ/CIJ and one of these Squiers? If you could have only one, which would it be?

Maybe not quite the the comparison you are looking for but between CIJ JM's and the Squier JMJM i would say they are different variations with different feel. Neither inferior in that department.
The only things i would make a preference to is in my opinion the Squier pickups are better but the Fender tremolo is better than the Squier.
Down to personal preferences i would choose the Squier based on the jumbo frets and TOM.

Fran wrote:

gusman2x wrote:Does anyone have both MIJ/CIJ and one of these Squiers? If you could have only one, which would it be?

Maybe not quite the the comparison you are looking for but between CIJ JM's and the Squier JMJM i would say they are different variations with different feel. Neither inferior in that department.
The only things i would make a preference to is in my opinion the Squier pickups are better but the Fender tremolo is better than the Squier.
Down to personal preferences i would choose the Squier based on the jumbo frets and TOM.

Cheers man. I currently have a SQJMJM, and I love it, but the neck profile is giving me some joint pain in my thumb. I have a MIJ Kurdtz Mustang. I like the neck profile, and the fretboard radius and frets are OK for me too. It's just not as resonant a guitar. I suppose I'll have to give it some more thought.

gusman2x wrote:

Fran wrote:

gusman2x wrote:Does anyone have both MIJ/CIJ and one of these Squiers? If you could have only one, which would it be?

Maybe not quite the the comparison you are looking for but between CIJ JM's and the Squier JMJM i would say they are different variations with different feel. Neither inferior in that department.
The only things i would make a preference to is in my opinion the Squier pickups are better but the Fender tremolo is better than the Squier.
Down to personal preferences i would choose the Squier based on the jumbo frets and TOM.

Cheers man. I currently have a SQJMJM, and I love it, but the neck profile is giving me some joint pain in my thumb. I have a MIJ Kurdtz Mustang. I like the neck profile, and the fretboard radius and frets are OK for me too. It's just not as resonant a guitar. I suppose I'll have to give it some more thought.

I think its what you get used to with neck profiles. I'm one of them sad bastards with about 14 guitars in the house and i rotate them. This means going from say a deep C profile Tele neck to a shallow speed neck like on my Jackson gives my thumb/hand a bit of grief to start with. My skinny 70s Bronco neck sometimes feels cramped then other times feels like the best thing i own.

Same as Fran, I can cover everything from a baseball bat neck on a Gordon Smith to the tiny neck on a Duosonic and I like them all. I find the neck on my JMJM to be fairly middling size wise.

Yeah, think I'm struggling as I've been playing nothing but Ibanez for the last three years, so the JMJM was a bit of a shock. It feels amazing, it's just that after shortish periods of time, I start to get a pain in my thumb joint. I'm on fish oil every day now to see if that helps, and it's certainly better, but I just love my jmjm so much, it's really hard not pick it up first. I'm deliberating over a MIJ Jazzmaster (or maybe a jag), as the jmjm has totally changed my playing, and really inspired me so much.

i play mainly on a chair or the couch and i rarely get hand pain. but I am a fat lazy fuck, so theres that.

I'm going to look you up the next time I've got time to kill in the East Bay. I recently got a CV 50's Tele and that thing is a fucking monstrously good guitar. I like to play it more than my AVRI JM, so it looks like I'm going to get rid of the latter and trade up to 3 or four of these damn VM Squiers.

gusman2x wrote:Yeah, think I'm struggling as I've been playing nothing but Ibanez for the last three years, so the JMJM was a bit of a shock. It feels amazing, it's just that after shortish periods of time, I start to get a pain in my thumb joint. I'm on fish oil every day now to see if that helps, and it's certainly better, but I just love my jmjm so much, it's really hard not pick it up first. I'm deliberating over a MIJ Jazzmaster (or maybe a jag), as the jmjm has totally changed my playing, and really inspired me so much.

One thing to check is the angle of your hand as you hold the neck, I find myself getting in to sloppy habits and the bend increasing at the wrist. Also, try some stretching beforehand. I'm like the others, I feel it in my muscles for a short while after moving from one guitar to the other but it generally goes after a while

mastermorya wrote:I'm going to look you up the next time I've got time to kill in the East Bay. I recently got a CV 50's Tele and that thing is a fucking monstrously good guitar. I like to play it more than my AVRI JM, so it looks like I'm going to get rid of the latter and trade up to 3 or four of these damn VM Squiers.

Cool, just send me a PM here if you'd like my phone number. I live 10 mins north of Berkeley now.

How are the fret edges on these ?

Some of the Vintage Modified guitars I've tried have had sharp frets ends... one of my pet hates.

Easily fixed if so, but just wondered...

robroe wrote:what the fuck is a trem plate?

The vibrato assembly.

othomas2 wrote:How are the fret edges on these ?

Some of the Vintage Modified guitars I've tried have had sharp frets ends... one of my pet hates.

Easily fixed if so, but just wondered...

Not bad on mine... although like you said, some of the VM series will have sharper edges than others.

Latest thoughts:

JM pups will be replaced but probably not for 3-6 months. They are pretty good but did a side-by-side comparison with my friend's MIJ JM (with custom vintage pups) and the weaknesses became clear. Especially with the bridge pup.

Jaguar has become my go-to guitar. I may grow to like it more than my Musicmaster?


This is a complete reversal from my initial thoughts, in which I claimed deep love for the JM and thought the Jag pups would be replaced first.

Ultimately, I am glad I have both. Would have regretted (not) buying one or the other.

I've ordered a Surf Green Jaguar on the strength of threads like this. I'm very excited.