Great, cheap upgrade for the CP Jaguar...

avj · Post by **avj** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:39 pm

Short version:
I tend to stay away from voicing strong opinions and speaking in absolutes here on shortscale in favor of being open-minded, but I must say the hot-ass pickups in the CP Jaguar are absolutely fucking terrible in any application. The AVRI pickups can be had for very cheap and turn a frustratingly shitty guitar into an amazing one. If you own this instrument, make this change post-haste.

Long, stupid version:
I acquired a Classic Player Jaguar from Elderly Music in March after trading in a neglected American Deluxe Strat for it. I loved the feel of the new-to-me Jaguar, but I kept going back to my favorite Telecaster because it just felt and sounded more familiar.

A few months back I finally decided to read a bit on how to properly set up a Jaguar and tackled it one evening, during which I strung it with 12s and adjusted the intonation and trem accordingly. It still didn't feel or sound right, but I figured I'd try it for a few weeks and see how it felt. I would still always bring my Tele with me everywhere to fall back on, as I would usually start the night on the Jag, hate it, and return to the Tele. I figured I was missing out on something that Mike and others had seen in this version of the guitar and didn't want to give up on it so easily.

I finally reached a breaking point with the Jag after a New Years show where I fought it the whole night. For some reason, I only then realized the 12s were too heavy for my playing style and were really fucking my shit up. I also couldn't dial in a good overdrive sound and everything sounded like garbage. Everyone assured me later that it sounded fine, but I began to question everything in my long-trusted rig and decided I must need a new amp. In a childish fit of rage, I put my favorite amp in the world, a '73 Fender Vibrosonic Reverb (1x15 Twin Reverb), on craigslist in the hopes of buying a new amp. I tried a few other amps that I have access to, including a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 (a buddy's amp that I've always found to sound great), a Fender Blues Junior (my own), a 5150 clone, and an old '50s Gretsch we have around the studio -- and every single one was dogballs with the Jag. Thankfully no one seems to know about or have ever heard of the Vibrosonic, so I didn't make a mistake I would later regret.

A few days into the new year I started looking into replacement pickups, hoping to salvage the Jag instead of selling it and moving on. I didn't want to spend too much, because if it still sounded and felt terrible after new pickups and lighter strings, I'd be out some money on the eventual sale. I decided to start with a set of AVRI pickups, mostly because it was only $80 new for the set versus $120 and up for Duncans, Novaks, or Lollars. I figured this was a small enough investment that I could later sell the AVRIs and upgrade if I felt the need to.

I installed them on Monday and strung the Jag up with much-more-manageable 11s, and the AVRI pickups are perfect. It actually sounds like a Jaguar and sounds great with my trusty ol' amp and pedalboard. Last night was the first night I was able to use the guitar with the band, and it was the first time in a long time I could relax and enjoy myself instead of dicking around all night while trying to dial in a good sound. I haven't felt this good about such a simple change to an guitar since replacing the pots in my Tele Deluxe reissue, which also changed a guitar I hated at the time into a much better instrument.

I guess this all may be a bit hyperbolic, but it was a great experience. It was quite humbling to accept that I thought I had it all figured out, only to realize I'm an idiot.

(For the record, I don't think the fact that they're "hot" has anything to do with all of this -- it's just that they're shit.)

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:52 pm

I'm a huge fan of AV pickups, my '57 Strat RI and project tele [bridge position '60s Custom Tele pickup] both have them and because they often go a bit cheap I'm always putting lowballing eBay bids on Jag neck units for my CIJ.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:10 pm

I love the pickups on my AVRI Jaguar. I never got along as well with the CP Jaguar pickups either, but I have only briefly played them.

IroniaSudby · Post by **IroniaSudby** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:13 pm

How do the AVRI compare to the Novak pickups if anyone knows.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:18 pm

Been considering this for my '66 Classic too. I like the sound I have, but the bridge alone isn't great.

avj · Post by **avj** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:43 pm

Ankhanu wrote:Been considering this for my '66 Classic too. I like the sound I have, but the bridge alone isn't great.

I think it's absolutely worth it. The set is only $80 when ordered from Darren Riley, and he'll ship worldwide. If you don't like them for some totally oddball reason, I'm sure you can recoup a lot of the investment in reselling them. The low price was one of the main selling points for me, as I figured I could flip them easily if I wanted to upgrade to Duncan Antiquities or Novaks.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:56 pm

Just took my avri bridge pu out of my jag as I needed something with some big hairy balls (p-rails)
I wouldn't mind a set of mim jag pickups as I have aproject or two in mind that would use jag pickups.

avj · Post by **avj** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:17 am

I can't in good conscience recommend those sons of bitches to anyone, but if you really want to try them, PM me and we'll coordinate something.