ThePearDream's Coyote/Voyager builds (Completed Pics on Pages 7 & 10)

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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ThePearDream's Coyote/Voyager builds (Completed Pics on Pages 7 & 10)

Post by ThePearDream » Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:51 pm

I'm home sick today with an URTI, so this is a good time to start this build thread.

So, I've got an extra Squier VM Mustang neck laying around from an aborted Short Scale Talman project. I had it on my Jaguar for a few months while I was painting the Jag headstock. It's a real nice, chunky neck (0.89"at the first fret, 0.95" at the 12th), so I'd like to get it back on a body. I've been going back and forth on what to do with this neck for the last year. Mustang? Jaguar? Jag-stang? Something else? What kind of pickups do I want?

Finally, a month or two back, the ideas started to gel into some kind of vision. I already have a Jaguar, so didn't want to do that. I thought about a Warmoth Mustang body, but I want to make my own body - have been for 20 years now. I've been gradually increasing my skills and confidence on my last few projects, doing body repairs and modifications and I think I'm finally ready to attempt a body build. I started leaning towards a Jagstang, using templates from Faction Guitars. But what pickups to use? I don't need another guitar with a strat pickup in the neck, and I don't like humbuckers that much, especially Distortion or JB types that you'd typically see on Jagstangs and I didn't want to do the WRHB like on the Faction template.

Maybe two months back, I saw a post on here (can't find it now), where someone had done some kind of dual single coil pickups, with different magnets on each coil. I thought this was pretty interesting. I don't like humbuckers, but I do like the option of combing single coils in series. Around the same time, I was reading up on some of the pickups on vintage Yamahas, especially the SG-3. So, I combined those ideas into my plan of having dual Jaguar bridge pickups ala the SG-3, with some fancy wiring options, that the Jagstang would have room to support.

I started working on a 3D model of a dual Jaguar pickup. It took two versions to get a model that will work. I have a finished version being printed now in a nice polished plastic.

Image

Once I was sure that my 3D model was good, I used this to create a 2d routing template that is being laser cut in mdf by Ponoko. I received my routing templates from Faction last week, so whenever my alder body blank shows up, I can start working on that. In the meantime, I'm working out a few other details. I'm looking at doing angled controls in the rhythm circuit section, in order to echo the SG-3 influence.

Image

I'm thinking that the bridge pickups will go to the two two-way switches to do Jaguar with series mod switching, before going to a three way toggle for typical N/M/B switching. I'm also looking at a single roller pot for a bass cut control - if possible, I'm thinking I'd like it to only be active when the two bridge pickups are in series. The thought there is that I could have a good bridge "humbucker" tone pre-set when I go to series mode.

So, that's where things stand now. I'm still looking at colors, but would love some input on those - and names too.
So far for names I have JSG-3, but am open to something else.

For colors, I am limited by the rest of my collection. I don't want multiples of the same color, so I have to work with the gaps between what I own and what I already have planned. I am planning on trying out Guitar Paint Guys for the finish. I don't care about Nitro or doing a traditional Fender color on a non-traditional guitar. They have lots of really cool colors. I am planning on using a pearl pickguard with black pickups as a nod to the mustang portion of this.

Here are some options I'm considering:

Orange Firemist Metallic
Image

Firemist Purple Metallic
Image

Cotton Candy Metallic
Image

Solar Gold Metallic
Image
Last edited by ThePearDream on Tue Jul 16, 2019 6:43 am, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:46 pm

Orange Firemist Metallic is what I'd say, but to be fair, orange is what I'd always say in a line-up like that. That purple is pretty sweet too though!
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by bacca51 » Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:04 pm

My vote is for the Solar Gold. I really like your SG3 pickup design. I hope someone does the same in a non "stang" jag

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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by pscates » Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:15 pm

Orange Firemist Metallic, hands down. That's a great color. And that's the cool thing about doing a non-traditional build...you're not bound by that same "vintage Fender accurate" palette that one may feel compelled to if they were building a more straight-up Jaguar or Jazzmaster. The Solar Gold Metallic is my second favorite.

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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by Embenny » Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:40 pm

Sorry, I can't get past that jaguar humbucker. That's one of the coolest things I've ever seen on the board.
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by AWSchmit » Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:54 am

Love the duel pickup cover. Do you plan to sand it down and smooth it out?
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by ThePearDream » Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:27 am

Thanks for the feedback everybody. The orange is currently the front runner for me, It'll be a bit before that has to be settled though.
I did a quick mockup to see what it could look like.
Image
sorry about the quality, but I'm much better at CAD than photoshop.
I'm debating on angling the neck pickup. :unsure:
AWSchmit wrote:
Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:54 am
Love the duel pickup cover. Do you plan to sand it down and smooth it out?
That is just a prototype. I had that printed using one of the cheaper materials that Shapeways has (PLA plastic). It is currently being redone in much pricier nylon plastic that will be polished and look more finished.

After I did the original, I went all mad scientist and did a bunch of different variations that I will make available soon:
Image
Singles, doubles, angled, open, closed, WRHB style

I'm also prototyping a cover that would (hopefully) allow for jag pickups to be pickguard mounted and still include the claw. These would just require a bit of pickguard modification. I think the pickups from the VM jag are too cool to just be tossed, and these would make it easier to reuse them in mustangs or strats or whatever. Or, ooh, just thinking out loud - a tele with a jag neck pickup could be cool.
Image
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by Embenny » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:18 am

The Yamaha-style slotted covers make me so happy. It's about time someone did this!

Someone on the board just bought my pair of JG90 pickups (jag-shaped P90s) that are destined for an SG-2 or -3 project. Once you make these available I'll have to remember to contact him to point them out.

The pickguard-mount cover is also a great idea. Could easily "Cyclone-ify" a Mustang or Duo-Sonic that way.
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by s_mcsleazy » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:21 am

im liking these pickup covers.
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by HNB » Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:08 pm

I love modding Jag-Stangs so it is cool to see other ideas for changing the original design and features. Cool stuff you are doing. ;D
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by rwlandes » Tue Jan 16, 2018 7:03 pm

I had an SGV300 reissue from about 2000. It had the dual single coils in the bridge position with a center détente blend knob that really handy. I think you're going to like this! Very cool designs.

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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by kdanie » Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:25 am

I'm not really a fan of the jagstang shape but as I was reading your post I was thinking metalic ORANGE and poof, there it was so that's my choice for color...

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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by ThePearDream » Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:20 pm

Guitarpaint guys have a pic of a Jazzmaster in that Orange Firemist on their website.
http://www.guitarpaintguys.com/gallery3.html
(Middle, top row)

So. ..yeah, I think that settles that question.

Now I just need a name. Also, the wood. When is that gonna show up?
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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by epizootics » Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:37 pm

I'll join in with everybody else and say how cool your pickup covers are :)

In terms of aesthetics, the WRHB-style cover would work great with an angled neck pickup. It would complement the body's offset without the visual discomfort created by the angled HB of the original. Call me OCD, but I always wanted to give Kurt Cobain's bridge pickup a yank to the right to make it straight.

A little while back, I experimented with pickup placement quite a bit and the spot where the middle pickup would stand in that layout sounded really sweet. It retained some of the twang but sounded quite a bit warmer and beefier. Alas, the guitar in question had JM pickups and there was no chance I could have stuck two pickups so close to each other. This is a pretty cool way to do it!

Name-wise, how about 'I-Stang-Corrected'?

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Re: Jagstang Done Right Build

Post by pscates » Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:07 pm

As far as the name goes, how about a nod to the automotive world, since it is a Jaguar/Mustang hybrid?

If it were my build/guitar, I’d name it XK-E Mach 1 and just let folks stew on it/figure it out. Those who are both guitar and car enthusiasts will get it right away, and probably chuckle.. :)

It lets you allude to the Fender origins/inspiration of the guitar in a subtle, clever way without having to use the words “Jaguar” or “Mustang” (or a labored mashup of the two).

And it doesn’t hurt that it evokes images/thoughts of speedy performance and sleek style. And, like the two guitars this build is based on, both car models referenced have their roots in the 60’s as well.

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