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Post subject: 2 H/H Jags different sound?
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:06 pm
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not identical, but
Gtr 1- Squier VM H/H Jaguar
Gtr 2- Squier Jagmaster (H/H)

Similarities:
Jag body style
H/H (I tried DMZ Bluesbucker in both neck positions)
24" scale
same neck (virtually)
same nut

Differences:
VM Jag- Basswood body
Jagmaster- Alder body
VM Jag- top load set bridge
Jagmaster- Strat style vintage trem (bridgr flush with body- springs all tightened)

Sound difference:
I recorded both guitars with a DM Bluesbucker (neck) DMZ Paf Pro (bridge)

Krazyness ! !
The Basswood body top load bridge Jag sounds waay clearer than the Alder vintage trem Jagmaster.

The Bluesbucker is muddier and has less clear high end on the Jagmaster.
This is crazy. I'm not one to think the body wood has much effect on an electric guitar.
But the Bridge, neck style, scale length and pick ups account for most of an electric guitar's tone.

So I'm considering putting a top loader sset bridge on my Jagmaster


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Post subject: Re: 2 H/H Jags different sound?
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 12:36 am
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I have a Jagmaster and yes it is "muddy" sounding when compared to recent production Fender/Squier offerings with the HH pickup configuration that I've played (using same amp & string gauge/manufacturer). My other Squiers including a 2008 Tele Custom HH, Squier M-80 and the seldom seen Fender Lead III w/Seth Lover designed humbuckers are much brighter. I think the Jagmaster designers were aiming for those who play "darker" music with that model.


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Post subject: Re: 2 H/H Jags different sound?
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:55 am
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KRKHKZ wrote:
This is crazy. I'm not one to think the body wood has much effect on an electric guitar.
But the Bridge, neck style, scale length and pick ups account for most of an electric guitar's tone.


Before I begin, let me say that my experience is with Strats (Fender and Squier alike) and that I've never had much/any interest in Jag's, Mustangs or other "non-Strat" Fenders. As such, please use an appropriate grain of salt with my comments.

Regarding the body wood vs. pickups, bridge, etc., the truth is yes, no and sort of (LOL). A guitar, in essence, is the sum of it's parts. Certainly going from mediocre pickups to something quality is going to have a much greater impact on sound than other aspects of an electric guitar, such as the body wood. From that point of view, even going from something like vintage single coils to Duncan "rails" is going to have a huge impact. Likewise, as a person who has a particular fondness for mid 90's Mexican Strats, I can certainly attest to the fact that bridges can likewise make a huge difference...or in the case of Strats at least, trem blocks specifically. Slap a quality steel trem block on a Strat that previously had a half-sized zinc block and the difference is night and day.

Now, with that all said, don't discount the body wood either! It -really- sucks that basswood gets such a bad rap as it's really a very lovely wood for electrics. Of the many Strats I own (or have owned), -1- actually has a basswood body...a '93 Fender MIM "Squier Series" (Fender Black label for those in the know) and with a set of Guitar Fetish pickups, that guitar singularly has the most vintage sound of any Strat I own (or have owned). Certainly a great deal can be attributed to the pickups themselves...I was rather blown away by how good these particular pups sound, however even with the stock, low end Squier import pickups, this particular guitar sounded most impressive (after I upgraded the trem, block and tuners of course). My other Strats have alder, poplar and even agathis...yes, that basswood body absolutely makes a big difference!

I would also add that different pickups do very much sound very different in different bodies/guitars. My '96 MIM Standard for example - I had originally upgraded the pickups to a set of Fender VN's and while it was an improvement over the stock pickups, it wasn't really the sound I wanted. Those same pickups however sound LOVELY in my '87 MIJ Squier E-series. The hardware between the two guitars is pretty comparable, however the MIJ has alder where as the MIM has poplar, so again here it does seem that body wood does in fact make a big difference...and the MIM ended up with a set of Duncans (in case anyone was wondering).

This is just my own personal opinion (as always), however to me, part of the "magic" of a great sounding guitar, regardless of brand or style, is simply finding that right combination of parts...the pickups and bridge and such that work best with a given body and neck, etc..

Anyways, just something to consider...


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