Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar, alternative guitars.

[AlanMcKillop]

Following Robbo's thread, Amazing Value - and food for thought, I acquired one of these in Sunburst and have to say, it's a very well made guitar indeed. I've stripped it down as I wouldn't play it strung with 9's and before I put on my favoured 11's, I seem to remember some discussion on the bridge although I can't remember what was written. Was it improvements? or was it simply to do with it coming supplied with 9's that caused the strings to jump, so maybe the 11's will solve the problem. Not overly impressed by the tremelo arm, any tips on making it a bit more secure and rattle free?

[ErikMAMS]

I'm not a Jaguar expert - but from what I've read the standard cure for the Jaguar bridge problems seem to be to replace it with the Mustang bridge.
http://www.jag-stang.com/guitars/jaguar/fender-jaguar-jazzmaster-bridge-mod/

And then there's the usual trem arm wiggle issues:
http://home.comcast.net/~rmessick2/Home.htm

I'm pretty sure there's someone making a replacement arm including improved bushing - but I can't remember who it is.

Erik

[geoff1711]

Have a look on Ebay I regularly see a listing for Jazz / Jag replacement trem arms with a screw bush on the bottom, however, have you pushed it far enough home? I have a Squier Jag which I bought last year and at first the arm was all over the place, then I found that if you pushed it in a bit harder it stiffened up considerably, the bend ends up right down by the bush.

Re string guage I replaced with 11's due to the shorter scale length they feel like 10's do on a Strat.

I don't have the same issues that some do with strings jumping, but then again I don't hit the strings that hard, I would think that if you wanted to strum it a lot 13's would be better, but for lead playing with chord work fairly minimal and often arpegiated it works for me.

I see them used by rock bands on Jools Holland and when you see the guys furiously scrubbing up and down they must have Mustang bridges.

On trhe classic player series the trem is closer to the bridge, but you can also buy a roller device which increases back angle.

Nice guitar though and excellent value for money, I'll probably get the Squier Jazzmaster later in the year as well.
Geoff

[cockroach]

Alan

If you string the Jag with 13-56 flatwounds and tune all strings down to D-D, you can do Diamonds, Scarlett etc

[JimN]

The best trem arm fix for the Offsets is the Staytrem. Made by John down in Folkestone. I expect he'll get a bit of custom out of the new Bass VIs.

[John Boyd]

I brought a Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster back from the US last December and found the trem arm seemed very loose.
Like Geoff, I pushed the arm in as far as it would go and that did the trick. It's now very firm and holds its position well.
Cheers,
JB

[AlanMcKillop]

Yes, the secret is pushing it home as far as it goes, which requires a bit of effort. I used a thin piece of wire to see how deep the hole was and soon realised that mine had a fair bit to go.

[jgoatcher]

erik, the guy who makes a threaded bush for the Jazzmaster /Jaguar is Ian White who also makes the easymute trem for Strats. I bought a MIJ Jazzmaster about three years ago and he actually fitted the first one he made to that guitar. Its not cheap but its a first class bit of kit, firm as arock.
John G

[ErikMAMS]

erik, the guy who makes a threaded bush for the Jazzmaster /Jaguar is Ian White who also makes the easymute trem for Strats.

Thanks John - had slipped my mind who it was. I'm a user for many years of easymute with the complete block/bushing mod on two of my strats, I can vouch for the function/quality of that.

Erik

[AlanMcKillop]

Update, I purchased a Staytrem bridge for my Jaguar and although expensive at £65, what a difference it makes. No string buzz or rattles and the strings stay perfectly in play, highly recommended.