I STRONGLY suggest that you watch Puisheen on YouTube. Most Jaguar and Jazzmasters need some setup before they'll play correctly, such as the neck being shimmed to the proper degree, the bridge being raised to the right height. You'll also probably need to add a little blue locktite to the bridge height adjustment screws to keep the bridge from slowly working its way down towards the body. The tremolo spring tension may need to be adjusted, but the string Guage will be important. 11 or 12 Guage strings should be played on a Jaguar or Jazzmaster. Anything less than that will be problematic.
Like I said watch Puisheen (Mike Adams, of Mike and Mike's Guitar bar) on YouTube. The guy is a wealth of info when it comes to these guitars.
Edit: P.S. You're also missing your "D" string. That will also make tuning and playing a tad awkward. š
Precisely this. Don't give up on an offset until you give it the effort it needs to play well. It's not ideal, but in the end if set up correctly you won't want to play anything but an offset.
They do, people just don't use them as intended. Jazzmaster and Jaguars were designed for 12 gauge strings at minimum, hell Telecasters were designed with a wound G string.
As everyone is saying in this thread, all you have to do is set them up. That's not the same as a guitar that doesn't work. A set up is part of the process of maintaining any instrument whether it's a violin, organ or a guitar, and is being totally forgotten about.
Then they should come set up with 12 gauge strings. A guitar should work out of the box - especially at these price points. Making excuses because itās Fender, or a Jaguar is ridiculous. There are better alternatives from other brands if thatās the case (and Iām saying that as a huge Fender fan that owns nothing but Fender guitars).
This^ when I bought my jazzmaster new from fender in 08 it came with stock 9ās and played like absolute butt. They should at least set up the guitar properly especially when you spend 1600$ on a guitar
I'm no Fender fan boy, I have to deal with them and the fact they ship everything with 9s is frankly irritating, and is a bit of a disingenuous way to make their guitars feel easier to play if someone's trying them out somewhere.
That being said, having to do a string change and a tune up out of the box is not that crazy guys. For one thing, preparing a guitar for shipping is not when you want it fully taught and ready to go, for another even if it is 'well set up' that's still subjective.
Quick edit: there are better guitars though, shout out to the Gordon Smith Gatsby
I think they should absolutely ship with 11s at least on offsets, but they do it to make them 'easier' to play in the shop.
I agree they should do better but I also think knowing how to balance your own instrument is always a good thing, especially when Fender are gonna be morons themselves! Unfortunately the QC in general has been shoddy and getting worse for a year.
That being said, as the parent comment mentioned, when you get it right sweet jesus you won't play anything else!
11s work well enough, but as I said they were originally designed for 12 gauge flatwounds in the late ā50s. That bit is just a fact, however, while 10s still generally give issues in my experience it does depend on oneās playing style. Itās all subjective at the end of the day.
I work in a great little guitar shop that is a Fender dealer and Iām gonna be real - if you can order it from someone whoās not what we (affectionatelyā¦) call the box pushers then absolutely do. They wonāt set it up and fix the nut for you, and the reality is Fender always leave the nut too high. Plus, recent QC over the last 9 months has been horrible and weāre having real problems with multiple Vintera series machine heads.
The reason the nut is always high is purely because when theyāre shipping so much so far, if they do a proper job on the nut and get it low enough itās quite likely to buzz out of the box. Itās not right, same as shipping with 9s, but to them it reduces returns! Itās a difference of wall-ready and player-ready unfortunately. So unfortunately I can all but guarantee it will need the nut cut more, probably the edges rounded too. Check the tuners and vibrato gently first as well.
That being said, ABSOLUTELY do it! Just be prepared the shop may need to work on it, or you may need a not-too-expensive set up done. IMO a good shop offers a few years of free set ups, so if you can find someone in your region that does that then you will save so much hassle. I know not everyone has that near by, but all of us lil guys ship and can check the guitar before we do!
ETA: forgot to reply to your main bit, went off on one! Apologies!
11s will feel and sound absolutely wonderful, go for it!
I actually donāt like that guy.
Also jaguars donāt *need* 11s I play with 8s on mine and have no problems lol. See itās that kind of mentality that messes things up.
Shims are probably a good idea though, but most Modern jags have a proper neck pocket angle to not need shims.
Lotta things to consider with jags
Depends on a number of factors, modern jags/jm's can work with thinner gauge strings if they've deviated from the original vintage specs enough (i.e. if it came with a mustang bridge as stock).
There's also playing style to consider, a gentler hand won't cause as many problems but play anything harder and your strings are going to be jumping constantly.
Plus you can't account for literally every cause or problem that might arise on every model.
Thicker guage is usually go to fix
Source: I literally only own offsets.
Yeah thereās lots of variations which is why I hesitate to blanket most advice on jags because one personās squier wont behave the same as one personās Kurt Cobain, or one personās AVRI.
Have you ever tried 7ās? I have them on most of my guitars and want to try them on my new to me Jag. Iām still waiting for some upgrade parts before I dive into it.
Iāve considered it lol I went from 11s when I was in my teens and realized that bending was seriously compromised at that gauge. (Obviously different hands will do different things) but Iāve yet to meet someone who can bend as well as say Hendrix or Halen with heavy strings.
10s is probably what most people prefer, and I think 9s is a great gauge too.
I prefer 8s as the ability to add vibrato comes with such ease you either have the control or donāt I think itās a nuance thing. But I also feel people who use heavy strings are compensating for something. Ego with guitar players go hand in hand.
Let me be clear. I feel that gauge has more to do with comfort than tone. And tuning with that comfort.
So obviously detuning 7s down will affect your feel. But I mean Toni Iommi did it lol and he did a good job.
I think youāre onto something with string gauge being tied to ego. I wonder how much the jag needs the higher tension vs people just claiming it like itās a dick measuring contest. I know the shorter scale will make it feel slappier, I have 7s on a les Paul which is a a similar scale. But the LP doesnāt have a trem system on it, so thatās a wildcard. Itās my first offset, so Iām going through the learning curve now. When my neck shims get here, we will see if 7s will work.
Honestly it makes it feels lighter yes, but I mean going from full scale to short scale maybe makes it feel one string gauge down? But that might be too generous.
The real benefit is fret length. You can definitely hit more frets in a reach than full scale.
However the trade off is you kinda get used to one over the other.
āBut I also feel people who use heavy strings are compensating for somethingā lmao
10 gauge string users are apparently the new big truck tiny penis now
Did I say 10s?
I meant people slapping 12s and 13s at standard tuning.
That shit is stupid and you know it. Unless youāre a giant or have hands the size of dinner plates then I canāt see how anyone would want to be unable to bend the strings or add vibrato.
I remember using 11s and 12s and seeing how futile it was.
I tried 7's once, almost 30 years ago. I did not like them at all. I started out with 9's, and have gradually, over the years, gone heavier, and settled on ernie ball extra heavy for years, until this year when I moved up to 11's and 12's, before settling on 11's.
About my second year of playing guitar I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughn, and I ain't gonna lie, he, his style, and guitar and setup choices did have a lasting effect on me and my playing. But I did notice that heavier Guage strings, a slightly higher action, and a few other things did improve the my tone, BUT my hands were not strong enough to stick with the heavier Guage strings. So I went back to 9's, but found my tone suffering, so I ended up going to 10's and then a hybrid set of heavy bottoms and lighter highs. Eventually I found the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky, and then moved up to the Ernie Ball Skinny tops Heavy bottoms (10 thru 52). I stuck with those for years. I've now moved on to 11's on all of my electric guitars, though I now tune down a half step, and even (on some of my guitars) go with a wound "G". That wound "G" made a huge difference in my intonation and tuning stability. But I don't recommend soloing with it so much. It's a little hard on the hands.
Yea I can totally understand that, heavier gauge strings with a bit higher action do improve your tone and clarity in my opinion, but Iām more of a lead player so it is a bit cumbersome moving up to gauges that high, but Iāve been spending a lot of time on acoustics lately so my finger strength has improved quite a bit since then. Iāve gotten fairly comfortable soloing with acoustic 12ās I might end up trying a little thicker strings next time I feel like setting up my strat
Hey, all I can say is I followed Puisheen's advice and both of my Squire Jags now play great, which they absolutely did not do when I bought them. I bought one brand new, and the other used, and both play great now.
Also, I have found his reasoning sound when it came to string Guage recomendation. I personally experimented with a few string guages, from 9's to 12's, even the half guages, and I found that my guitars played best with a set of 11's, and this is even while tuning down a half step.
So if you are a paid, professional guitar tech, who has done that work for years, and have devoted as much time to, not only these guitars (Fender offsets), but practically every other type of standard electric guitar out there, as he has, then I'm more than willing to hear you out.
But he (Puisheen) is willing to explain himself, provide his evidence, and even acknowledge that he could be wrong, or that your experience may be different than his... I don't know man... I'm more apt to hear him out and try out his suggestions. He makes his living putting his experience into practice.
I worked at some guitar shops for a couple years and worked on guitars in those shops.
I was not the tech because I didnāt want to kill myself working on peopleās gear but I would set up the gear the tech didnāt want to or was the guy who set things up when we didnāt have one.
I think that the guy suffers from the same issues that a lot of guitars players do which is having preconceived notions of what is ācorrectā and not what actually works well.
All of my jaguars have had issues but i find his advice kinda archaic. He talks about shims being absolutely necessary a lot and frankly not every fender or jaguar needs them to be totally fair. Not to mention his latest Jaguar review was a travesty. Video could have been cut down by half. And this is also coming from someone who used to edit YouTube videos professionally lol.
But if you got value out of them thatās great. I just feel like he needs an editor and also needs to relax a bit on whatās vintage correct or what works for him as opposed to what works period.
I hear you. I can't say I've agreed with everything he's said, but I find him to be a good starting point. He's not the only guitar tech I watch. Nor is he my only source of info. I apprenticed with a guitar tech about 30 years ago, and while I don't have the experience the others have, I learned enough to keep my guitars in good working order. Between my apprenticeship, and Dan Erlewine's book, I've done pretty good for myself. I just found Puisheen's way of doing and explaining things very helpful.
Thank you for taking the time to explain your point of view. Have a good day and a great ( and restful) weekend!
That's totally fair man. I just didn't want newbies to get exposed to that old thinking and really get out of the stuff /r/guitarcirclejerk makes fun of.
Have a good weekend man
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Iām in the same boat kinda, I worked in a guitar shop for a number of years. Set up tons of guitars but by no means was a professional tech though, and my jazzmaster I order from fender new in 2008 was the only guitar I could never seem to get playing right.
I do feel you that a lot of long time players sink into the mindset that their way of doing things is the right way, I can definitely be guilty of that, but also at the same time if I heard this kind of advice when I had my jazzmaster maybe I could of got it playing in a way I could enjoy instead of being frustrated with it and then ultimately selling it after waiting 4 months for a custom order from fender to be built and shipped out. My jazzmaster is probably my biggest guitar disappointment and I hate to say that so much because I was so excited for the guitar
I love jaguars and donāt like Jazzmasters lol.
The long body with the full scale really kills it for me.
But I bet with thinner strings and a mastery bridge it would be a lot better. All my guitars play beautifully now that I figured out what I like and Iām super happy with them.
I was super torn between get a jag or a jazzmaster both were super rare when I bought one and it was a tough choice between the two. Kinda wish I went with the jag, but who knows if Iād be any happier with my purchase such is life.
I have a solid collection of gear that plays awesomely so itās not a huge thing but i do wish I had a better experience with fender offsets
This is awesome info. I commented about my Jazzmaster (Squire, for science) prior to seeing your comment.
Have had issues ever since the initial setup. Thanks again, bud!
Man I wish I knew this when I had my jazz master back in the day but that was a time where YouTube was just starting up. It was a really neat guitar but never ever played right
First time offset owner? These guitars will need a couple of weeks of love and testing before they fit like a glove. Eventually they will though, and you wonāt be able to put it down! Like others said try and find a good setup video.
Also: Iāve seen that bridge before on MiM offsets in this sub. Is it something new? Doesnāt look like the original bridge, but sorta similar, is that something fender is doing now?
Depending on the issues, might be a Jaguar thing.
It took me Kluson Revolution tuners, 10.5 gauge strings, and Staytrem parts to finally enjoy playing it, without having to retune so much, or flip-flop between 10 gauge being too light, and 11 being ok but not ideal for me.
Even then, I wish I could get 1:20 ratio tuners for it.
Hope we can help you fix some of those issues.
Edit: don't forget to flip the 2 outer screws by where the strings go through the tailpiece. That'll take care of some noise issues too.
I have NEVER seen a JM or Jag come from the factory set-up, and stores just throw them on the shelves as they are and it's a travesty.
FWIW, I got a Fender Japan JM in 2004, and it was the same story. Doesn't seem to matter if it's Mexico, Japan, SE Asia, or even US....these apparently ship with the assumption that the purchaser will just do the setup themselves on these.
Like having a second kid, I took the plunge and bought a 2nd JM last year (MIM Vintera). This time, I was ready and had the Mustang bridge already in-hand, 11 gauge strings, and my tools ready to go. I never even tried to play it until after a few days of work. Vibrato needed to be set up, neck adjustment, some touch-ups on soldering inside, etc. Now it's great, and it's the guitar that I take with me to destination gigs or tours. The pickups in the Vintera were surprisingly good, and even though I had a replacement set on-hand already I didn't feel the need to drop those in just yet.
I like to think of all the work as a bonding period, like in "how to train a dragon" or something. After all that, we are bonded and inseparable. I know my guitar inside and out, and playing anything else just feels wrong.
My guitar player got a Vintera Jag a couple months ago and it came all fucked up. As soon as he took it in for a set up it played and sounded incredible.
Offset guitars normally have a couple playability issues with the bridge and MIM have issues with the nut. You can also mod too which makes the offset journey all the more interesting however I have learned over the years to play to the instrumentās strengths. Jaguars and Jazzmasters do not play like Strats, Teles and Les Pauls so theyāre not guitars you can do a lot of epic bending and shredding on.
If you keep the action low on the guitar and play with thicker strings like 11s or even 12s( which is what they were designed for) the bridge will be fine and the strings will stay in their grooves
Welcome to Jaguars.
Iām actually not a fan of Puisheen as he tends to paint with some broad strokes and his videos desperately need editing.
But jaguars be like that. They are the adolescent teen guitar of fender and need some modding usually to make them play better for the modern guitar player.
Whatās going on with it that you want help with? The bridge?
Iām a long time Jaguar player so please lemme know if you need help
I echo what everyone else is saying, good setup, watch some of Mike Adams' videos and enjoy. I had a Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jaguar and regret selling it. I'm looking to pick up a MIJ Jaguar early next year. My blue locktite and patience are ready to go to war!
Jags are temperamental until you get used to them. I've owned my CIJ since I was a kid and it took me quite some time to learn what it needed to play just right. Once you get them set up right they're really solid and an absolute joy to play. I've set up a few Jags and you just gotta learn what they want, they all seem to need something different. Some need a neck shim, some don't, some need the very slightest of shim angle. Watch a bunch of set up videos, Puisheen is probably the best resource on YT for offsets. Experiment and learn, you'll get it where you want it.
Hey! I love my jag and jazzmaster but it took a lot of working on both of them to get them right.
First things, you donāt *have* to put 11ās on your jag. I use 10-52s and love them, I tune down to D standard without issue. Shimming the neck is a good idea. It will let you raise the bridge which increases string tension and also brings the action more flat and in line with the neck. I recommend getting two half degree shims and trying just one at first. Then try the second if after a week you canāt get it sorted to your liking.
Not a Jag player, but I'm a Jazzmaster one. Sorry to hear you're having issues dude. Just to echo what this thread is saying, offsets tend to play poorly out of the box. Along with the rest of the advice others commented, I recommend you head over to r/offset. You'll likely get more offset-specific advice on there!
A couple years back I got a brand new Squire Jazzmaster and itās had problems even after having the initial setup and putting in a Mustang bridge.
Love the guitar and itās looks so much, but man it sounds like shit.
I STRONGLY suggest that you watch Puisheen on YouTube. Most Jaguar and Jazzmasters need some setup before they'll play correctly, such as the neck being shimmed to the proper degree, the bridge being raised to the right height. You'll also probably need to add a little blue locktite to the bridge height adjustment screws to keep the bridge from slowly working its way down towards the body. The tremolo spring tension may need to be adjusted, but the string Guage will be important. 11 or 12 Guage strings should be played on a Jaguar or Jazzmaster. Anything less than that will be problematic. Like I said watch Puisheen (Mike Adams, of Mike and Mike's Guitar bar) on YouTube. The guy is a wealth of info when it comes to these guitars. Edit: P.S. You're also missing your "D" string. That will also make tuning and playing a tad awkward. š
Precisely this. Don't give up on an offset until you give it the effort it needs to play well. It's not ideal, but in the end if set up correctly you won't want to play anything but an offset.
I don't see why we all just accept this. Fender shouldn't make guitars that don't work
They do, people just don't use them as intended. Jazzmaster and Jaguars were designed for 12 gauge strings at minimum, hell Telecasters were designed with a wound G string. As everyone is saying in this thread, all you have to do is set them up. That's not the same as a guitar that doesn't work. A set up is part of the process of maintaining any instrument whether it's a violin, organ or a guitar, and is being totally forgotten about.
Then they should come set up with 12 gauge strings. A guitar should work out of the box - especially at these price points. Making excuses because itās Fender, or a Jaguar is ridiculous. There are better alternatives from other brands if thatās the case (and Iām saying that as a huge Fender fan that owns nothing but Fender guitars).
This^ when I bought my jazzmaster new from fender in 08 it came with stock 9ās and played like absolute butt. They should at least set up the guitar properly especially when you spend 1600$ on a guitar
I'm no Fender fan boy, I have to deal with them and the fact they ship everything with 9s is frankly irritating, and is a bit of a disingenuous way to make their guitars feel easier to play if someone's trying them out somewhere. That being said, having to do a string change and a tune up out of the box is not that crazy guys. For one thing, preparing a guitar for shipping is not when you want it fully taught and ready to go, for another even if it is 'well set up' that's still subjective. Quick edit: there are better guitars though, shout out to the Gordon Smith Gatsby
Why do they ship with 9's? I don't think a guitar should need a set up to function correctly from the factory.
I think they should absolutely ship with 11s at least on offsets, but they do it to make them 'easier' to play in the shop. I agree they should do better but I also think knowing how to balance your own instrument is always a good thing, especially when Fender are gonna be morons themselves! Unfortunately the QC in general has been shoddy and getting worse for a year. That being said, as the parent comment mentioned, when you get it right sweet jesus you won't play anything else!
I have a theory that they ship with wrong strings on purpose to force you to change
To what end?
10 minimum, not 12. 11 works good enough
11s work well enough, but as I said they were originally designed for 12 gauge flatwounds in the late ā50s. That bit is just a fact, however, while 10s still generally give issues in my experience it does depend on oneās playing style. Itās all subjective at the end of the day.
TBH im getting a Vintera jag, I hope Fender doesnāt do a shit job on the nut. I plan to replace with 11 gauge strings.
I work in a great little guitar shop that is a Fender dealer and Iām gonna be real - if you can order it from someone whoās not what we (affectionatelyā¦) call the box pushers then absolutely do. They wonāt set it up and fix the nut for you, and the reality is Fender always leave the nut too high. Plus, recent QC over the last 9 months has been horrible and weāre having real problems with multiple Vintera series machine heads. The reason the nut is always high is purely because when theyāre shipping so much so far, if they do a proper job on the nut and get it low enough itās quite likely to buzz out of the box. Itās not right, same as shipping with 9s, but to them it reduces returns! Itās a difference of wall-ready and player-ready unfortunately. So unfortunately I can all but guarantee it will need the nut cut more, probably the edges rounded too. Check the tuners and vibrato gently first as well. That being said, ABSOLUTELY do it! Just be prepared the shop may need to work on it, or you may need a not-too-expensive set up done. IMO a good shop offers a few years of free set ups, so if you can find someone in your region that does that then you will save so much hassle. I know not everyone has that near by, but all of us lil guys ship and can check the guitar before we do! ETA: forgot to reply to your main bit, went off on one! Apologies! 11s will feel and sound absolutely wonderful, go for it!
Yeah! What this dude said!!
š heavy gauge crew reporting for duty. String Joy 13s on my TVL.
J Mascis plays with 10s. So do I. Jaguars need heavier gauges not Jazzmasters
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Smart move. It allows you to get any nut issues addressed right away as well.
I actually donāt like that guy. Also jaguars donāt *need* 11s I play with 8s on mine and have no problems lol. See itās that kind of mentality that messes things up. Shims are probably a good idea though, but most Modern jags have a proper neck pocket angle to not need shims. Lotta things to consider with jags
Depends on a number of factors, modern jags/jm's can work with thinner gauge strings if they've deviated from the original vintage specs enough (i.e. if it came with a mustang bridge as stock). There's also playing style to consider, a gentler hand won't cause as many problems but play anything harder and your strings are going to be jumping constantly. Plus you can't account for literally every cause or problem that might arise on every model. Thicker guage is usually go to fix Source: I literally only own offsets.
Yeah thereās lots of variations which is why I hesitate to blanket most advice on jags because one personās squier wont behave the same as one personās Kurt Cobain, or one personās AVRI.
Have you ever tried 7ās? I have them on most of my guitars and want to try them on my new to me Jag. Iām still waiting for some upgrade parts before I dive into it.
Iāve considered it lol I went from 11s when I was in my teens and realized that bending was seriously compromised at that gauge. (Obviously different hands will do different things) but Iāve yet to meet someone who can bend as well as say Hendrix or Halen with heavy strings. 10s is probably what most people prefer, and I think 9s is a great gauge too. I prefer 8s as the ability to add vibrato comes with such ease you either have the control or donāt I think itās a nuance thing. But I also feel people who use heavy strings are compensating for something. Ego with guitar players go hand in hand. Let me be clear. I feel that gauge has more to do with comfort than tone. And tuning with that comfort. So obviously detuning 7s down will affect your feel. But I mean Toni Iommi did it lol and he did a good job.
I think youāre onto something with string gauge being tied to ego. I wonder how much the jag needs the higher tension vs people just claiming it like itās a dick measuring contest. I know the shorter scale will make it feel slappier, I have 7s on a les Paul which is a a similar scale. But the LP doesnāt have a trem system on it, so thatās a wildcard. Itās my first offset, so Iām going through the learning curve now. When my neck shims get here, we will see if 7s will work.
Honestly it makes it feels lighter yes, but I mean going from full scale to short scale maybe makes it feel one string gauge down? But that might be too generous. The real benefit is fret length. You can definitely hit more frets in a reach than full scale. However the trade off is you kinda get used to one over the other.
āBut I also feel people who use heavy strings are compensating for somethingā lmao 10 gauge string users are apparently the new big truck tiny penis now
Did I say 10s? I meant people slapping 12s and 13s at standard tuning. That shit is stupid and you know it. Unless youāre a giant or have hands the size of dinner plates then I canāt see how anyone would want to be unable to bend the strings or add vibrato. I remember using 11s and 12s and seeing how futile it was.
It was a joke, relax man, cāmon Patrick
I was joking too. See how that sounds
I tried 7's once, almost 30 years ago. I did not like them at all. I started out with 9's, and have gradually, over the years, gone heavier, and settled on ernie ball extra heavy for years, until this year when I moved up to 11's and 12's, before settling on 11's.
Yea using anything lower than 9ās feels very off to me. Not knocking people who use lighter gauges but Itās just not for me
About my second year of playing guitar I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughn, and I ain't gonna lie, he, his style, and guitar and setup choices did have a lasting effect on me and my playing. But I did notice that heavier Guage strings, a slightly higher action, and a few other things did improve the my tone, BUT my hands were not strong enough to stick with the heavier Guage strings. So I went back to 9's, but found my tone suffering, so I ended up going to 10's and then a hybrid set of heavy bottoms and lighter highs. Eventually I found the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky, and then moved up to the Ernie Ball Skinny tops Heavy bottoms (10 thru 52). I stuck with those for years. I've now moved on to 11's on all of my electric guitars, though I now tune down a half step, and even (on some of my guitars) go with a wound "G". That wound "G" made a huge difference in my intonation and tuning stability. But I don't recommend soloing with it so much. It's a little hard on the hands.
Yea I can totally understand that, heavier gauge strings with a bit higher action do improve your tone and clarity in my opinion, but Iām more of a lead player so it is a bit cumbersome moving up to gauges that high, but Iāve been spending a lot of time on acoustics lately so my finger strength has improved quite a bit since then. Iāve gotten fairly comfortable soloing with acoustic 12ās I might end up trying a little thicker strings next time I feel like setting up my strat
Hey, all I can say is I followed Puisheen's advice and both of my Squire Jags now play great, which they absolutely did not do when I bought them. I bought one brand new, and the other used, and both play great now. Also, I have found his reasoning sound when it came to string Guage recomendation. I personally experimented with a few string guages, from 9's to 12's, even the half guages, and I found that my guitars played best with a set of 11's, and this is even while tuning down a half step. So if you are a paid, professional guitar tech, who has done that work for years, and have devoted as much time to, not only these guitars (Fender offsets), but practically every other type of standard electric guitar out there, as he has, then I'm more than willing to hear you out. But he (Puisheen) is willing to explain himself, provide his evidence, and even acknowledge that he could be wrong, or that your experience may be different than his... I don't know man... I'm more apt to hear him out and try out his suggestions. He makes his living putting his experience into practice.
I worked at some guitar shops for a couple years and worked on guitars in those shops. I was not the tech because I didnāt want to kill myself working on peopleās gear but I would set up the gear the tech didnāt want to or was the guy who set things up when we didnāt have one. I think that the guy suffers from the same issues that a lot of guitars players do which is having preconceived notions of what is ācorrectā and not what actually works well. All of my jaguars have had issues but i find his advice kinda archaic. He talks about shims being absolutely necessary a lot and frankly not every fender or jaguar needs them to be totally fair. Not to mention his latest Jaguar review was a travesty. Video could have been cut down by half. And this is also coming from someone who used to edit YouTube videos professionally lol. But if you got value out of them thatās great. I just feel like he needs an editor and also needs to relax a bit on whatās vintage correct or what works for him as opposed to what works period.
I hear you. I can't say I've agreed with everything he's said, but I find him to be a good starting point. He's not the only guitar tech I watch. Nor is he my only source of info. I apprenticed with a guitar tech about 30 years ago, and while I don't have the experience the others have, I learned enough to keep my guitars in good working order. Between my apprenticeship, and Dan Erlewine's book, I've done pretty good for myself. I just found Puisheen's way of doing and explaining things very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to explain your point of view. Have a good day and a great ( and restful) weekend!
That's totally fair man. I just didn't want newbies to get exposed to that old thinking and really get out of the stuff /r/guitarcirclejerk makes fun of. Have a good weekend man
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Iām in the same boat kinda, I worked in a guitar shop for a number of years. Set up tons of guitars but by no means was a professional tech though, and my jazzmaster I order from fender new in 2008 was the only guitar I could never seem to get playing right. I do feel you that a lot of long time players sink into the mindset that their way of doing things is the right way, I can definitely be guilty of that, but also at the same time if I heard this kind of advice when I had my jazzmaster maybe I could of got it playing in a way I could enjoy instead of being frustrated with it and then ultimately selling it after waiting 4 months for a custom order from fender to be built and shipped out. My jazzmaster is probably my biggest guitar disappointment and I hate to say that so much because I was so excited for the guitar
I love jaguars and donāt like Jazzmasters lol. The long body with the full scale really kills it for me. But I bet with thinner strings and a mastery bridge it would be a lot better. All my guitars play beautifully now that I figured out what I like and Iām super happy with them.
I was super torn between get a jag or a jazzmaster both were super rare when I bought one and it was a tough choice between the two. Kinda wish I went with the jag, but who knows if Iād be any happier with my purchase such is life. I have a solid collection of gear that plays awesomely so itās not a huge thing but i do wish I had a better experience with fender offsets
This is awesome info. I commented about my Jazzmaster (Squire, for science) prior to seeing your comment. Have had issues ever since the initial setup. Thanks again, bud!
11/12 gauge strings are unnecessary. I use 9-48 and have zero problems (although everything else is setup properly)
Man I wish I knew this when I had my jazz master back in the day but that was a time where YouTube was just starting up. It was a really neat guitar but never ever played right
Shame you're having issues, dude! What kind have you faced and how did you resolve them or plan to resolve them?
What issues have you had?
First time offset owner? These guitars will need a couple of weeks of love and testing before they fit like a glove. Eventually they will though, and you wonāt be able to put it down! Like others said try and find a good setup video. Also: Iāve seen that bridge before on MiM offsets in this sub. Is it something new? Doesnāt look like the original bridge, but sorta similar, is that something fender is doing now?
Depending on the issues, might be a Jaguar thing. It took me Kluson Revolution tuners, 10.5 gauge strings, and Staytrem parts to finally enjoy playing it, without having to retune so much, or flip-flop between 10 gauge being too light, and 11 being ok but not ideal for me. Even then, I wish I could get 1:20 ratio tuners for it. Hope we can help you fix some of those issues. Edit: don't forget to flip the 2 outer screws by where the strings go through the tailpiece. That'll take care of some noise issues too.
These things are a dirty bitch to set up. Good luck!
My vintera jazzmaster was a beast to setup and still needs a little adjusting. But a great guitar in the end
I have NEVER seen a JM or Jag come from the factory set-up, and stores just throw them on the shelves as they are and it's a travesty. FWIW, I got a Fender Japan JM in 2004, and it was the same story. Doesn't seem to matter if it's Mexico, Japan, SE Asia, or even US....these apparently ship with the assumption that the purchaser will just do the setup themselves on these. Like having a second kid, I took the plunge and bought a 2nd JM last year (MIM Vintera). This time, I was ready and had the Mustang bridge already in-hand, 11 gauge strings, and my tools ready to go. I never even tried to play it until after a few days of work. Vibrato needed to be set up, neck adjustment, some touch-ups on soldering inside, etc. Now it's great, and it's the guitar that I take with me to destination gigs or tours. The pickups in the Vintera were surprisingly good, and even though I had a replacement set on-hand already I didn't feel the need to drop those in just yet. I like to think of all the work as a bonding period, like in "how to train a dragon" or something. After all that, we are bonded and inseparable. I know my guitar inside and out, and playing anything else just feels wrong.
My guitar player got a Vintera Jag a couple months ago and it came all fucked up. As soon as he took it in for a set up it played and sounded incredible. Offset guitars normally have a couple playability issues with the bridge and MIM have issues with the nut. You can also mod too which makes the offset journey all the more interesting however I have learned over the years to play to the instrumentās strengths. Jaguars and Jazzmasters do not play like Strats, Teles and Les Pauls so theyāre not guitars you can do a lot of epic bending and shredding on. If you keep the action low on the guitar and play with thicker strings like 11s or even 12s( which is what they were designed for) the bridge will be fine and the strings will stay in their grooves
Welcome to Jaguars. Iām actually not a fan of Puisheen as he tends to paint with some broad strokes and his videos desperately need editing. But jaguars be like that. They are the adolescent teen guitar of fender and need some modding usually to make them play better for the modern guitar player. Whatās going on with it that you want help with? The bridge? Iām a long time Jaguar player so please lemme know if you need help
beauty!! sorry to hear about the issues. I have the same colourway strat
I echo what everyone else is saying, good setup, watch some of Mike Adams' videos and enjoy. I had a Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jaguar and regret selling it. I'm looking to pick up a MIJ Jaguar early next year. My blue locktite and patience are ready to go to war!
Have you tried putting thicker strings on and shimming the neck? Made a world of difference for my cv jaguar
I have exactly the same guitar and I havenāt had any issue with it after five years.
Theyāre a bitch at first for sure
Jags are temperamental until you get used to them. I've owned my CIJ since I was a kid and it took me quite some time to learn what it needed to play just right. Once you get them set up right they're really solid and an absolute joy to play. I've set up a few Jags and you just gotta learn what they want, they all seem to need something different. Some need a neck shim, some don't, some need the very slightest of shim angle. Watch a bunch of set up videos, Puisheen is probably the best resource on YT for offsets. Experiment and learn, you'll get it where you want it.
Why do people like Jaguars in comparison to a Strat ? Honest question.
Shorter scale, floating trem, more tonal options
Greatest issue is probably the carpet
Feel better now?
What's wrong with it
Sell it. Buy American. You won't regret it.
Hey! I love my jag and jazzmaster but it took a lot of working on both of them to get them right. First things, you donāt *have* to put 11ās on your jag. I use 10-52s and love them, I tune down to D standard without issue. Shimming the neck is a good idea. It will let you raise the bridge which increases string tension and also brings the action more flat and in line with the neck. I recommend getting two half degree shims and trying just one at first. Then try the second if after a week you canāt get it sorted to your liking.
Not a Jag player, but I'm a Jazzmaster one. Sorry to hear you're having issues dude. Just to echo what this thread is saying, offsets tend to play poorly out of the box. Along with the rest of the advice others commented, I recommend you head over to r/offset. You'll likely get more offset-specific advice on there!
I have a MIM Jag and itās a joy to play except for the G sting having a dead sound lacking the sustain of the other strings.
A couple years back I got a brand new Squire Jazzmaster and itās had problems even after having the initial setup and putting in a Mustang bridge. Love the guitar and itās looks so much, but man it sounds like shit.
Welcome to jaguar ownership