Possibly modifying a Jagmaster

grungerocker114 · Post by **grungerocker114** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:25 am

I'm new here and this is my first post.

I'm considering modifying my stock 2008 Squier Jagmaster. I planned to add 2 on/off/on mini toggle switches in place of the 3-way switch, replace the stock tone pot and replace it with a push/pull tone pot to coil tap the neck and bridge pickups (are the stock pickups capable of being coil tapped?), install some Seymour Duncan humbuckers, and take out the stock tuners and put in Kluson style tuners. Are these mods worth it or should I just keep the guitar the way it is? Do any of you have heavily modded Jagmasters? Also, what other mods would be good to go along with the ones I plan on doing?

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:02 am

Sounds like you're making things more complicated then they need to be. Out of phase humbuckers are kind of a niche sound (my tele's middle position is almost useless). Coil taps can be cool, but not with the stock pickups (even my Duncans split boring). May I recommend Guitarfetish for pickups, they're like half the price but with much cooler options. Replacing the tuners will probably be more of a hassle than anything.

But hey, if you're trying to learn and you can afford the stuff, DO IT! I learned a lot by modding my Jagmaster. It'll provide you the opportunity to get good at soldering and you can find 'your tone'.

So I guess that answers nothing, but welcome aboard!!

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:22 am

Sparky wrote:Sounds like you're making things more complicated then they need to be. Out of phase humbuckers are kind of a niche sound (my tele's middle position is almost useless). Coil taps can be cool, but not with the stock pickups (even my Duncans split boring). May I recommend Guitarfetish for pickups, they're like half the price but with much cooler options. Replacing the tuners will probably be more of a hassle than anything.

But hey, if you're trying to learn and you can afford the stuff, DO IT! I learned a lot by modding my Jagmaster. It'll provide you the opportunity to get good at soldering and you can find 'your tone'.

So I guess that answers nothing, but welcome aboard!!

You're tele's middle position may be useless to you but it is not a useless position. If you want to play funk music, it is great. I use at all the time because I like the sound. What do you have to lose with coil splitting? Even if you rarely use it, you will always have the option to use it if you want.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:51 am

Here you go. Let me know if you have any questions.I modified my 2007 Jagmaster as well but sold it a while back. I put Fender Dragster pickups in it.

[youtube][/youtube]

grungerocker114 · Post by **grungerocker114** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:16 am

Hey taylornutt, that video was great!

I have a few questions..when you installed the gotoh vintage tuners, how did you get them to fit properly? Is sheilding paint the best option to use when working with an electric guitar? Does pickguardian have more options for Squier guitars?

Thanks for the help!

-Greg

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:36 am

grungerocker114 wrote:I have a few questions..when you installed the gotoh vintage tuners, how did you get them to fit properly?

Conversion Bushings: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Vintage-Tun ... _c_41.html

BUT new tuners hardly ever make a big difference. Tuning stability at that end mostly has to do with how neatly the strings are wound to the posts and how cleanly the nut slots are cut. If the size conversion doesn't work, it can make the tuning much worse. A well-installed set of crummy tuners works better than a poorly installed set of good tuners.

grungerocker114 wrote:Is sheilding paint the best option to use when working with an electric guitar?

Yes and no. It's expensive and can be messy, and shielding that's not done properly can make noise worse. This is an if-it-aint-broke-dont-fix-it problem. If you have a noise issue, look into shielding. Otherwise leave it be. The neatest option is to wire with shielded wire and eliminate ground loops. Also use a good quality cable.

The Guitar Fetish pups are clones of Duncan and Dimarzio types and very good. A split humbucker will not sound like a single coil - just a thinner and quieter humbucker. IMO, alternative wiring schemes are usually only good for making novelty sounds that might be cool for a riff or two, but rarely are good enough to be truly useful.

Of all the mods you listed, all I would do is change out the PUPs and run some shielded wire.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:39 am

grungerocker114 wrote:Hey taylornutt, that video was great!

I have a few questions..when you installed the gotoh vintage tuners, how did you get them to fit properly? Is sheilding paint the best option to use when working with an electric guitar? Does pickguardian have more options for Squier guitars?

Thanks for the help!

-Greg

I am glad you liked the video. The problem with Gotoh tuners on a Squier neck is that the Chinese necks use different spacing of the holes and diameters for the holes. I had to use special 10.5mm ferrules on the front side and larger screws on the back side. The ferrules look fine on the front side, though there is some tan lines from the previous tuners. The back side is not entirely straight because the tuners don't meet up like they should and the new ferrules space out the back. I got mine to work by using fatter screws to fill the gap. The tuners are solid, but they are crooked a bit. I used Gotoh Locking tuners and they are ace. I also used them on my Daphne Baja Tele and I love them. You can get the 10.5mm ferrules online from StewMac or AllParts.

Headstock Front Before and After

Back Headstock before and after

As far as shielding paint goes, I used them on both my project guitars and I have had good results on both. Just make sure not electrical parts are shorting out on it. The only other option is to use copper shielding and solder all the parts together. It's more old school and looks cool but more work. The paint is definitely easier. I don't know pickguardian's options. Be careful not to pay too much for a custom pickguard. Mine came with a broken pickguard and I paid $60 for mine, which is a little much but it was custom.

Hope that helps. I tried to discuss as much as possible in the video to help others with similiar issues.

zedoktor · Post by **zedoktor** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:08 pm

I did the coil split on my Jagmaster and it's not as cool as I thought it was going to be or as cool as some other people make it out to be but it's easy enough to just not use it. Stock tuners do well enough, IMO. And that whole double toggle thing in place of the three way is going to make your life difficult for no reason--your best bet would be to get or fab a jaguar control plate or to get a pickguard made with a trace with holes for the toggles and not the 3-way.

grungerocker114 · Post by **grungerocker114** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:16 pm

Now I'm starting to think it's just going to be a waste of time modifiying the Jagmaster. I've had it for 2 years and it's never had any problems. So why change what doesn't need to be fixed..everything on the stock Jagmaster is perfect!

zedoktor · Post by **zedoktor** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:19 pm

Some people, like me, can't leave well enough alone so they mod stuff.i put some GFS pickups in mine and I like the way they sound a little better but that was the goal I had in mind.i didn't do it on a whim.if you have a goal then go for it and we'll help you get there but part of that help is also pointing out where you can get into trouble

MikeG · Post by **MikeG** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:34 pm

I haven't finishing modding mine yet.

You'll need conversion bushings for the Klusons though.

grungerocker114 · Post by **grungerocker114** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 10:43 pm

Thanks for the advice zedoktor! Modding my Jagmaster has been a huge goal that I've been wanting to start. And since I've got my vacation from college coming up, I need something to do. I checked out guitarfetish.com and they've got a huge selection of parts. I'm most likely going to get the stuff I need from them.

zedoktor · Post by **zedoktor** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:32 pm

grungerocker114 wrote:Thanks for the advice zedoktor! Modding my Jagmaster has been a huge goal that I've been wanting to start. And since I've got my vacation from college coming up, I need something to do. I checked out guitarfetish.com and they've got a huge selection of parts. I'm most likely going to get the stuff I need from them.

Sweet. Also be aware that their trem blocks don't seem to fit the bridge plate of the Jagmaster. After the holidays I'm going to try to get a whole trem assembly from them to see if it'll work out on mine but right now I can't screw in the trem arm of my guitar. The string spacing for import trems is perfect but the hole for the arm is aligned slightly differently.

They have a good selection of pickups. Note that you'll have to open up the holes for the pickups in the pick guard if you choose to buy covered pickups. I did (without really thinking about it) and by using a large metal file I was able to open them up enough. With patience you can make this process very clean. Even though mine are not precise (in any approximation of the word) the average person wouldn't notice that the holes were hacked up.

Example:

And if you buy different color knobs (split shaft) be sure to buy a similar or matching switch tip.

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:08 am

I'm a big fan of swapping out the hot stock buckers that come in most guitars with cooler vintage-wound PUPs. Most people aren't getting distortion by pushing the front end of the amp like in the 70s, and I think a lower output PUP sounds a bit clearer if you're going to be using fuzz or other effects.

grungerocker114 · Post by **grungerocker114** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:58 am

Most likely I'm not going to modify my Jagmaster. I actually like everything about it and nothing on it is bad. I've been playing my Agile Argus Bass VI a lot lately and I'm thinking about doing some simple mods to it. I'm thinking about adding a Jaguar bridge with the vibramute, gotoh tuners, and possibly taking out the stock 5-way switch and adding the Jaguar/Bass VI on/off slide switches. Could this be done?