Squier Jaguar Review - What do you mean, modified?

Quick Update:  Restringing the Stratocaster with the System III requires the patience of a saint.  I'm not going to go through the many stages of anger, frustration, denial, acceptance, and final victory, but suffice to say there might have been a bit of crying. 

Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar

I bought this guitar on a whim.  Over some holiday gathering, I went to a music store with my brother.  This caught my eye, and the price was right (Less than $300 out the door).  Sure it had issues right off the bat, but it was soooo cool.

Let's get something out of the way - I have no idea why this is part of the "Vintage Modified" series and not the "Classic Vibe" series.

You see, the Vintage Modified series is supposed to be a collection of classic designs with a few modern popular updates. This definitely isn't that. WTF is modified here?

As Lee Anderton rightly pointed out (see video below), this is pretty much a spot on recreation of the original Jaguar, "warts and all". From what I can tell, the only major departure from the original design was the failure to include the locking tailpiece for the tremolo.

I have a theory though - Fender knows that anyone who buys this guitar is going to want to immediately make some changes, or modify it, to make it at least half playable.

Fender, you clever son of a...

A Vintage Three Legged Puppy

Before ripping this thing apart, I will liken this to a 3 legged puppy.  Sure, it has some pretty significant issues, but you probably still love it.  It oozes vintage vibe (the guitar, not the puppy), and for my money Candy Apple Red is the only choice.  If I could get a puppy in Candy Apple Red, I'd probably have that too.  Probably cost more in the long run though...

The Squier Jaguar, on the other hand, has enough chrome to build a bionic 4th puppy leg, and for the price it's hard to argue that a Jaguar is a nice change of pace from the parade of Strats, Teles, and puppies in the world.

But if I see one more Fiesta Red Squier Strat... So help me.

Omission is a kind of modification, right?

Fender didn't include the locking mechanism on the tailpiece.  If you're not familiar with what I'm talking about, go look up a US Jaguar.  I'll wait.  Nope, no links for you.  You've had it too easy too long.

Anyway, you'd have to think that cost was a major factor in this decision, but it was the wrong decision.  You are constantly at the mercy of a very large spring lurking under all that chrome.  Bastards.

Pictured: Baby Jaguar Springs

Are we in tune yet?

Jaguars do not stay in tune.  Ever.  You can fight it all you want, but you're just setting yourself against a cruel and feckless tuning goddess.  There are reasons for the wanton abandon of stability:

#1 - The neck angle is wrong.  Because of the design of the bridge, the neck of a Jag should be similar to a Les Paul (all tilted off the body and whatnot).  Short of shimming the neck (which many Jag players do), the design is flawed.

#2 - The tailpiece is too far away from the bridge.  Combined with #1, it means there isn't enough break angle over the bridge itself.  Not enough downward pressure means that bridge floats around in there (it isn't mounted into the guitar, but rests in two metal post holes - apparently electrical tape wrapped around the bridge posts is a common fix, and one applied here).

#3 - The bridge itself has grooves that are too shallow for the strings, so they jump around in the absence of downward force.

All of this adds up to a guitar that is going to need some work if you intend on playing it.

Modifying the Vintage Modified

Step 1:  Shim the neck.  Nope.  Haven't bothered.  Probably should. Might solve all my problems. 

This isn't a picture of the neck angle.  Truly a feckless goddess.

Step 2:  Buy Mustang bridge from Allparts.com. Also buy new tuners. Wait for package to arrive.  Install bridge.  Try to install tuners.  Tuners don't fit. Crap. Peg holes need reaming.  I don't do that.

Downward pressure = I'm definitely a bridge?

Step 3: Bring guitar to trusted shop.  Reams holes, installs tuners, wraps electrical tape around bridge posts to cut down on wobbling.  Also files some burrs out of the nut.  Thank you trusted shop man.

How was this not the solution to begin with?

Step 4: Don't use trem. Tighten down set screw for maximum resistance and minimum play in the bar.

Step 5: Bring guitar home, ready to bask in the glory of stable tuning.

Step 6:  Be disappointed 5 minutes later.

A Modification Situation

At this point, I'm not willing to do much more.  The guitar itself is a fantastic player and the pickups are surprisingly good - neither Strat nor Tele.  I could go and order the USA style tailpiece, and/or order an aftermarket addition to the bridge to increase the break angle over the saddle, but with over $100 into the guitar already, we're approaching a silly percentage of the guitar's overall value.

At this point, I'm going to give shimming the neck a go during the next string change.  I'm not hopeful, but since this will lead to raising the bridge height, thus increasing break over the saddles, maybe there's hope.

There isn't though.  Not with that damn unlocked spring.

So, do you have one?  Do you want one?  Did I miss some obvious modification that will bring me Jaguarian bliss?

FEARLESS PREDICTION: This guitar is eventually released into the wild (aka Kijiji) in exchange for a Fiesta Red Squier Strat...

Update:  After a few days of sitting around with the spring bottomed out, it seems that the Jaguar has attained stability Nirvana.  I'm still sceptical, but fingers crossed.

FINAL UPDATE: I HAVE CONQUERED THE FECKLESS TUNING BEAST! The Jag stays in tune while playing, and better still while hanging on the wall.  I can come back to it after 3 days and it is still in tune.  Success!