Squier VM Jaguar HH upgrade. P-Rails or Filter'Trons

[Funkfingers]

Scored a Squier VM Jaguar HH, partly to rob the stock pickups out of it for a Hamer XT Standard and because it is a cracking little guitar to play.

Under the scratchplate, the cavities follow a hybrid Jaguar/Jazzmaster layout. I am considering whether to install P-Rails pickups for maximum sonic variety or TV Jones 'Trons to mimic the latest Fender Custom Shop Cabronista derivative models.

With a tradition scratchplate and metal control plates, the instrument could even be turned into a kind of hardtail Jaguar.

Any opinions would be welcome. Thank you.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Squier VM Jaguar HH upgrade. P-Rails or Filter'Trons

P180s or hum bucker sized P90s. Anger.

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[marcello252]

Re: Squier VM Jaguar HH upgrade. P-Rails or Filter'Trons

I have 2 squier vm, a Jm and a Jag, both resonate very well, if your is like mine I'd stick with a p90 like, maybe in a hb size, harmonically better suited than a humbucker, that tends to compress a bit too much to my ears

 

[marcello252]

Re: Squier VM Jaguar HH upgrade. P-Rails or Filter'Trons

I 'm quite sure the tv trons would give you a much more classic Jag sound however, especially in the in between position. It depends on what are you looking for.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Squier VM Jaguar HH upgrade. P-Rails or Filter'Trons

I give you another idea: Firebird mini.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Squier VM Jaguar HH upgrade. P-Rails or Filter'Trons

Seems like a shame to put full-sized buckers in that guitar.

Minis, P-90s (GFS Mean 90s will drop right in to the HH routs, has a fuller/warmer sound than most P-90s), P-Rails, 'Trons are all good choices.

I personally love P-90s and variety/versatility, so P-Rails is a super good choice.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Squier VM Jaguar HH upgrade. P-Rails or Filter'Trons

Firebird mini 'buckers is a great idea. There is a company in the UK that makes a mini HB inside a regular-sized HB cover.

The TV Jones 'Tron idea was just to get a particular flavour of twang. For true Jag tones, I would go with two single coil and all of the plates. Of course, without a "Floating Tremolo" vibrato system, the sound would not be complete. I have pretty much already dismissed these ideas, together with any thoughts of Jazzmaster pickups.

The appeal of P-Rails is;
1) I already have them.
2) I am an unashamed P-90 nut
3) The shorter scale length of the Jaguar would set the two Rail coils 60mm apart. That is about the correct distance for a Stratocaster.

If I go this route, the only remaining question is how to manage the pickup selection. Triple Shot mounting surrounds are out of the question. There is nothing behind the scratchplate into which to screw them.

Push-pull Master Volume and Master Tone pots would be practical but it would also mean removing the rather nice Danelectro-inspired stacked controls.

Since this guitar is a Jaguar, Switchcraft DPDT on/on slider switches would not look out of place.

I am also considering a five-way lever switch roughly where it would appear on a Johnny Marr signature Jaguar. A Superswitch would present the five most usable sounds with the least confusion for my old brain.