modification project - opinions wanted

Ro_S

Ro_S

New member
Set out below are my current draft plans for modifying my Squier Jagmaster guitar.

I hope this is the correct forum section to post this.

I'm seeking opinions on what I'm proposing, please.

I will preface this by saying that I want this modified guitar to have some unusual things and be capable of doing stuff that none of my other guitars can do. It is sort of experimental. Further, I don't wish to modify the guitar into a Jazzmaster cos I already have a Jazzmaster guitar.

Here is what I'm proposing/planning at present ....

An HSH pickup configuration.

The bridge and neck pickups will be humbuckers. (I won a free pair of DBZ-Diamond ones in a competition.)
They will be on a standard 3-way pick-up selector toggle switch, and have a master volume and tone.

These two pickups will have a vari-tone style circuit. (I've found a passive module by Artec - see below.)

The bridge humbucker will be c. 16k DC resistance and will have a 'spin-o-split' type control so it can go from single coil to a humbucker of varying output.

The neck humbucker will be c. 8k DC resistance. It will be capable of being coil split.

The middle pickup will be a single coil - a Tele neck style pickup [I saw this used on a recent Fender Strat model - see photo below], a hot one with c. 8k DC resistance.
This middle pickup will have a blend/volume control ('Memphis wiring'?) and its own tone control.

The bridge/neck pickups will be capable of being combined with the middle pickup in both parallel and series wiring.

I've acquired a white Jazzmaster scratchplate (I never liked the black one). I'll retain the stock Strat style trem/bridge. I'll add a Strat type output jack to provide more space on the scratchplate for controls.

Here is a annotated diagram:





Here's what my stock Jagmaster looks like:



 
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Re: modification project - opinions wanted

That sounds pretty cool. What about an on/off phase switch for the two humbuckers when the pickup selector is in the middle?
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

LazNovak said:
That sounds pretty cool. What about an on/off phase switch for the two humbuckers when the pickup selector is in the middle?
Click to expand...

Good idea. I'll certainly bear that in mind. Thanks!

More switches. Nice :wink:
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

Have you already set the parts in the cavity to make sure they fit? Sounds like it might be tight.


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Re: modification project - opinions wanted

Way too many knobs and un-ergonomic switches for an array of... meh tones.
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

Several of the coil mode switching for your two humbuckers could be assigned to Seymour Duncan Triple Shot pickup mounting surrounds.

I agree with earlier contributors that having a vast number of selectable tonal options is less desirable that having a small number of sh!t hot ones that can be accessed rapidly.
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

The QTA isn't a very powerful booster so you need a pretty powerful signal going into it to get usable EQ shifts.
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

idsnowdog said:
The QTA isn't a very powerful booster so you need a pretty powerful signal going into it to get usable EQ shifts.
Click to expand...

I was thinking of the QTP module - the passive one?

Or maybe I could just create my own varitone circuit, instead? Various caps of different values either on a rotary switch or a couple of toggle switches?
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

beaubrummels said:
Have you already set the parts in the cavity to make sure they fit? Sounds like it might be tight.
Click to expand...

No, but when I'm set on a final version of my proposed layout, I shall do before I drill anything etc.
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

Edgecrusher said:
Way too many knobs and un-ergonomic switches for an array of... meh tones.
Click to expand...

The project will unashamedly have 'too' many switches/knobs. That's basically the point of it.

I want the layout of controls to be ergonomic amd intuitive, though.
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

Ro_S said:
The project will unashamedly have 'too' many switches/knobs. That's basically the point of it.

I want the layout of controls to be ergonomic amd intuitive, though.
Click to expand...

You asked for opinions so I gave it. I hate having extra positions on a guitar that are meh or bad sounding. I would build the guitar up with only the tones that are actually good and useful. If its not useful there is no point wasting a switch slot for it in my mind.

The ergonomics are important... for me if i cant make the change during a scalar run down the neck i dont want it on the guitar. If i cant find it on a dark stage I dont want it...

but these are just my opinions...
 
Re: modification project - opinions wanted

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Okay, below is a REVISED proposed layout and plan:

Opinions wanted, please.

---

Changes:

Dual tone controls for the neck/bridge circuit (based on the G&L 'PTB' circuit).

Varitone-style circuit - I'll just create my own six-position circuit. I'll have its own on/bypass switch.

I've added a phase reversal switch. This will apply to either the bridge or neck pickup (I haven't decided which yet). This is to achieve an electrical out of phase sound when combined with either of the other pickups.

Each pickup will have its own selector toggle switch. I've tentatively put them on the upper horn. They'll be 3-way on/off/on toggle switches rather than on/off - this is in order to provide two different 'on' versions -- E.g. parallel or series wiring with other pickups; humbucker or coil split for the neck pickup -- and to reduce the number of switches.

The bridge pickup is now a triple-coil pickup (Fender 'Triplebucker'). It'll have a 6-way rotary position mode switch to select different permutations and wiring configurations of the pickup's three coils. (Yes, each coil has its own two output wires.) No spin-o-split control any more.

(The neck pickup is still a humbucker, it's just located under a Jazzmaster pickup cover.)

I've used two dual concentric pots to help save space.

Here it is:

 
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