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jag

Full contact neck shim :: 2015 Squire Jaguar [8.6 lbs]

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Full contact neck shim :: 2015 Squire Jaguar [8.6 lbs]

The owner of this Jag was playing around with the setup and found the bridge height he liked that would allow enough down pressure to hold the strings on the saddle.  At this height, the action was sky high making it tough to play.  He brought it by the shop and I made a tapered full-contact shim to increase the neck angle over the body.  These shims are much more involved to fabricate when compared to the common simple shim in the back of the neck pocket.  Being a full contact shim, it eliminates any empty space in the neck joint and theoretically improves sustain.  A full shim also better supports the neck and helps prevent the common fingerboard rise over the body (aka "ski jump") that can be caused by smaller step shims.

Also note that I had to add foam under the pickups in order to raise them up to the new neck set.

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Mastery Vibrato :: 1997 Fender Jaguar [9.2 lbs]

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Mastery Vibrato :: 1997 Fender Jaguar [9.2 lbs]

This killer Japanese Jag has been in the shop a few times before.  One time for a Mastery Bridge install, Lollar pickups installed and again for a Curtis Novak middle pickup install (here and here).  Now it's back in for some finishing touches including new tuners, a Mastery string tree and a Mastery Vibrato (with UFO tip).  All I can say is that this is one of the best, most versatile guitars I've worked on.  The player that owns this guitar is a monster and I love hearing him play it when he brings it by.  Dammit, now I need a 3 pickup (Lollar / Novak) Mastery Jag!

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Jag switches in a Silvertone :: 1960's Silvertone 1488 Silhouette

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Jag switches in a Silvertone :: 1960's Silvertone 1488 Silhouette

Jag switches in a Silvertone :: 1960's Silvertone 1488 Silhouette

The old rocker switches on this 60's Silvertone are sloppy and unpredictable, so they need to go.  They were held in place by massive amounts of electical tape and all the switches moved as one, making it difficult to quickly select specific pickups.  Here the switch is being replaced with a Fender Jaguar-style setup to greatly increase reliability.

This is the same Silvertone in for broken truss rod, links here and here.

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Installing a middle pickup :: 1997 Fender Jaguar [8.9 lbs]

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Installing a middle pickup :: 1997 Fender Jaguar [8.9 lbs]

Installing a middle pickup :: 1997 Fender Jaguar [8.9 lbs]

A made in Japan Jag in for a middle pickup installation.  This guitar has been in the shop a few times before to remove a Buzz Stop, replace a Tuneomatic with a Mastery bridge and swapping out the pickups for Lollars.

Adding a middle pickup involved routing the pickguard, copper top shield and the body (prep photo here).  The low-cut / strangle switch was moved to a Bourns 1 meg push-pull pot that replaced the stock tone pot.  The original Lollar neck pickup was moved to the middle position and a new Curtis Novak went up front.  All pickups are selected via the three-switch plate.

This setup sounds incredible.  Wow.

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