Player Jaguar with mods.

I got GAS for a short scale guitar and zoned in on a Fender Jaguar. Initially I thought I'd modify one into a sort of Esquire. However, after I picked up a Fender Player that had been in the shop for a long time I changed my mind as I really liked the neck pickup. I wasn't so keen on the bridge pickup, either in humbucker or tapped modes, so figured I may as well go to a more traditional two single coil Jaguar set up.

I tried to find a used neck pickup from another Player to use in the bridge, but no luck. I was almost about to order a set of V-mod pickups when a set of used Pure Vintage '65 pickups came up for similar money. These are the ones used on the American Original 60s Jaguar, so I was able to watch various Youtube videos comparing them to the V-mods and decided to go with the used option, which was also a much quicker delivery too.

I've had to do some work on the frets, frets ends and the nut: I was aware they could do with some work, but the price was good and not many places had them in stock due to the current situation. Stuff that I knew I could do, so I did a deal and also got a hardcase for trade price (still to arrive though). The work sorted out the slight rough feel it had, plus a set up to suit my tastes, changed the strings for 11 gauge (it's short scale remember). I got a 'Straytrem' bridge which solves the usual Jaguar rattles and also narrowed up the string spacing a little which actually works better for me.

I made a little cosmetic change too with Telecaster knobs since I'm not keen on the standard 'witch hat' ones. The Pau Ferro 'board is quite dark and doesn't look a million miles different to the Rosewood one on my Les Paul Junior. It's also much smoother than when I got it after some careful work with 3M nylon pads and fretboard oil:


Close up of the Staytrem bridge:


This was during the upgrade of the pickups. Cavities come painted with conductive paint, which surprised me for a Player series. I took the whole loom, pickups and control panel off as a complete unit, so it could be refitted if I ever decide to sell it on:


This is how it stands now:


I've taped the selector switch down so I can play it and make the adjustments to the pickup height. Next job is to cut a custom pickguard from a blank as I'm going for the cleanest look I can and only have a pickup switch (from a Gibson SG loom I had) on the top part as I found the original switch below the neck pickup got in the way.

I might make another 'guard later using an off white 3 ply one, depending on how well this goes. The blank was under £10 delivered, so not a huge expense. In fact the whole project totals under £700, which is about half what an American Original 60s would have cost and I'd still have wanted to remove all the excess switches and chrome bits, plus add a Staytrem:


Just for interest, this was a mock up I made of what the 'Jagsquire' might have looked like: I'd have changed the knobs for Tele ones and used a covered pickup with a chrome cover, but I don't have the skills to edit a version of that: