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Post subject: Re: Pretty dissapointed
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 5:10 am
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Tiger J wrote:
Martian wrote:
These two models were designed for heavy gauge strings, higher action and marginal use of their respective tremolos; the Mustang in particular, being a "bottom feeder". The designs of both have virtually never changed. Due to popular demand, these two models were resurrected along with all their drawbacks where utilization of light gauge string sets, low action and aggressive tremolo use are concerned. They are what they are and a faithful duplication of two 50+ year old designs is surely not a QC problem.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.


Hey Martian, I have heard this before about short-scale guitars like the Jag being meant for heavier gauge strings. Do you know why Fender puts .09s on them from the factory? Recently got a Blacktop Jag and I have wondered if I should bump it to .10s.

No problems at all with my Blacktop Jaguar... but then again it is a stoptail with no trem.


I know of no axiom which decrees that inherently, short scale and especially, solid body guitars should have heavier gauge strings. Even if there were, I wouldn't agree with it. Having said that, consider the fact that the Jaguar is an offshoot of the Jazzmaster which was designed in the late 50s; the Jaguar itself having been introduced in the early 60s. Consequently, the lightest OEM gauge string set of the times was a full run of .012s. It wasn't until the early to mid-70s (IIRC) that the 'bigger' guitar manufacturers started putting .010 gauge sets on some of their offerings; .009s came along as OEM in the 90s. Simply put, Fender puts .009s on many of their solid body offerings because that is what the majority of their target buyers use on those models in particular. This, coupled by the fact that a set of .009s requires less metal than a set of .010s and of course, the lighter the gauge, the proclivity to make whichever guitar play more easily.

You could certain bump up the gauge of strings on your guitar to whatever you want. Just bear in mind that the change in gauge and/or even a change to a different brand of the same gauge would require the guitar to be setup again to some degree.

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Post subject: Re: Pretty dissapointed
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:05 am
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Aspiring Musician
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My '65 reissue Mustang, made in Japan in 2010, is flawless in every way. Perfect workmanship, super low action but without fret buzz. In fact, it's the only guitar I own on which I have never even had to adjust the truss rod, even though I live in a very humid environment and it no doubt passed through colder, dryer climates before it ended up in my home. I go back and forth from 9s to 10s. Still the same--the action never changes. It must be magic. The guitar is amazingly well made.

Now, these guitars have the truss rodd access on the bridge side, making truss rod adjustment a pain in the rear, but I swear I've never needed to adjust it anyway. I don't know if it's that the heavy lacquer seals out the humidity or the neck is exceptionally hard or what.


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Post subject: Re: Pretty dissapointed
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:59 pm
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Last edited by BassPaulL on Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Pretty dissapointed
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:13 pm
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Martian wrote:
I know of no axiom which decrees that inherently, short scale and especially, solid body guitars should have heavier gauge strings.


Maybe not inherently, but you may be neglecting the fact that, for example, 10's on a Strat will feel "tighter" than 10's on a Les Paul due to the difference in string tension for the same gauge strings on a long vs short scale guitar. Many people will use the next gauge up (or higher) on a short scale guitar compared to what they use on a longer scale to try and get the same "feel" on the two guitars.

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Post subject: Re: Pretty dissapointed
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:41 pm
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Also, short scale guitars can be difficult to set the intonation with smaller gauge strings, depending on the guitar. Epi Dots are a tricky set up with 9's. Also, they can get a little sloppy and fret buzz with low action. If I remember, I had to reverse the "g" saddle to get the intonation set with 9's. 10's-11's work with out reversing the saddle. I guess it all depends on the guitar. Sloppiness due to lack of string tension would not depend on the guitar, just the scale. For me 10's are a minimum gauge for a 24 (3/4) scale guitar. I don't think I have played anything shorter (like a 24").

There are always exceptions to the rule though. Billy Gibbons plays 8's on a Les Paul, but from what his tech said he has a super light touch.

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Post subject: Re: Pretty dissapointed
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:09 pm
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In situations where instruments in less than top playable condition are put out into the showroom,the store should own a lot of the blame.Maybe I'm spoiled but Reid Music in Mt. Pearl NL, where I do all my gear buying,always gves each and every guitar a complete inspection and set-up before it's put on display.All of the guitars that come here have traveled from the warm California or Mexican climates to the cold damp climate of Eastern North America right next to the cold North Allantic.

.All of this travel,time and difference in temps and humidity play havoc on even the best made and factory set-up guitars.Even the frets of guitars could appear to be sharp and unfinished due to wood shrinkage in the neck which will almost always expose the ends of the frets. Guitars of any brand that travel any long distance through different climates,temps etc. have enough to contend with but when you factor in the rough handling that they get from Neanderthal types of warehouse,courier,airport and shipping personel,it's no small wonder that more of them aren't destroyed or seriously damaged.

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