Jaguar stainless steel fret upgrade???

[cyberpunk409]

I've always wanted at least ONE of my guitars to have steel frets. I'm pretty heavy handed and I believe stainless steel frets will last longer.

Apart from letting my tech know that it has a 7.25" radius, is there anything else I need to let him know?

I'm also going to get him to replace the pickups with Fender American Vintage '65 pickups. So I need to let him know about the claw orientation.

The internet is a mish-mash of information regarding this, so I'm just going to go with short claws on high B and E string.

The guitar came with thinner strings than I'm now using (11-52), so obviously a nut filing job is required also.

Jaguars are quite unique, just wondering if there's anything else I need to word him up on. Better to think of it now than later when the job is done.

[cyberpunk409]

Oh, and what would be the best type of stainless steel fret to get? I'm quite happy with what my Fender MIJ Jaguar JG66 has at the moment, which is "vintage" frets, right?

I wouldn't mind shorter (less tall) and thinner (less wide) but I don't know what those frets would be called?

[cyberpunk409]

No love? That's ok. The project should be finished by next week. I've asked for it to be completely gutted and rewired and have asked the tech to install a bone nut and vintage pure '65 pickups, along with the stainless steel frets of course. I'm missing my jaguar... Been gone for over two weeks now

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

Hey Cyberpunk.
Sorry, I definitely missed the first round of your questions.
Edit: For the claws
I just re-checked with old pictures:
For me it would be more logical for thethe lower ones to go on the LOWER strings! At least both my Late 60s Traditional II MIJ has and my (now sold) Vintera 60s Jag had it that way (and it makes more sense to me due to the higher magnetism (no better words to describe it) with thicker strings).

But: my VM Squier came with the lower claws on one pickup on the lower and one the other on the higher strings. The VM VI has the lower claws of the outer two pickups on the higher strings and the middle PU on the lower strings. And the CV Jag of my gf - here I have to correct my statement from before - came with them on both pickups on the higher strings.

Not knowing about them/their true meaning I have accidentally messed with both, neck/bridge position and orientation in either way… the results weren‘t too bad - but (subjectively) more balanced when „corrected“. It could also be that I liked the middle pickup position in some of these combinations and disliked them in the other - but can‘t exactly put my finger on it.

I am definitely more confused now than I was before

For the fret wire I seriously have no clue - even after 22 years of playing electric guitar I have no clear preference. I like vintage frets - but can also work with anything between that and Jumbo. That is a clear question of personal taste and playing style.

But I‘m looking forward to see your finished guitar!

[BearBoy]

The claws are all over the shop on my guitars. My JM Jag has the shorter claws under the low E and A strings but my 1992 MIJ Jag and my Squier VM Bass VI have them under the high E and B strings.

No idea which is "correct" or really what actual difference it would make.

[cyberpunk409]

Hey Cyberpunk.
Sorry, I definitely missed the first round of your questions.
Edit: For the claws
I just re-checked with old pictures:
For me it would be more logical for thethe lower ones to go on the LOWER strings! At least both my Late 60s Traditional II MIJ has and my (now sold) Vintera 60s Jag had it that way (and it makes more sense to me due to the higher magnetism (no better words to describe it) with thicker strings).

But: my VM Squier came with the lower claws on one pickup on the lower and one the other on the higher strings. The VM VI has the lower claws of the outer two pickups on the higher strings and the middle PU on the lower strings. And the CV Jag of my gf - here I have to correct my statement from before - came with them on both pickups on the higher strings.

Not knowing about them/their true meaning I have accidentally messed with both, neck/bridge position and orientation in either way… the results weren‘t too bad - but (subjectively) more balanced when „corrected“. It could also be that I liked the middle pickup position in some of these combinations and disliked them in the other - but can‘t exactly put my finger on it.

I am definitely more confused now than I was before

For the fret wire I seriously have no clue - even after 22 years of playing electric guitar I have no clear preference. I like vintage frets - but can also work with anything between that and Jumbo. That is a clear question of personal taste and playing style.

But I‘m looking forward to see your finished guitar!

Thanks for the reply. I got the guitar back yesterday (after a month of waiting!)

The invoice says the following; "Jescar medium stainless steel wire, no show fret tangs"

I have also had the following done:
New bone nut
Fender pure vintage 65 pickups installed
Copper shielded throughout
Pots, jack and wiring upgraded
Staytrem bridge
Staytrem arm and collet
AllParts trem spring

The fret job is superb. Like most people say, I now want stainless steel frets on all my guitars!

I also installed Gabriel Tenorio Jaguar strings (11-52). The best strings I've ever tried.

The guitar is a beast now. Definitely one that I'll take to me grave with me. Just a beautiful looking, sounding and playing instrument. I'll post some pics later...

[cyberpunk409]

[cyberpunk409]

There's a big difference just in appearance..
Top photo: stock frets after a polish
Bottom photo: stainless steel frets