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VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:18 pm
by stompbox
Just a quick first post to say thanks to the other forum members who discussed modding their Jaguars with Danelectro lipstick pickups, as it has encouraged me to do the same...

In my case, a "project" VM Jag (originally Surf Green, poor amateur refin by prior owner) came up for sale for less than I've spent on effect pedals... It was a no brainer. I happened upon a complete vintage Danelectro wiring harness in a local store a week later and next thing you know Dano's chocolate was in my Squire peanut butter... or something along those lines.

The pickups have been mounted with aluminum plates I made and spray painted black. Because the mounts are shorter than the original Jag pickups I've trimmed the mounting screws so as to not go through the body. I will be using the original stacked pots from the Dano (which required enlarging the control cavity w/ a router, as well as drilling larger holes in the control plate for the stacked pots). I've also made up an aluminum plate to retain the original Dano toggle switch for the pups - that may change but it will do for now.

Eventually I'm planning to refinish the body and headstock in black (all of my other guitars are tuxedo Danelectros so I thought I'd stick with that).

Here's an in progress picture, I hope to update this thread as I find the time.

Cheers!

Image

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:31 pm
by Beef Bonanza
I think this is an awesome idea... lipsticks in a jag. But i would have made a new pickguard to fit the pickups better. The gaps are just a bit to wide for my taste.

Andreas

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:59 pm
by Harmoncj
i love the way that looks!

Beef Bonanza wrote:I think this is an awesome idea... lipsticks in a jag. But i would have made a new pickguard to fit the pickups better. The gaps are just a bit to wide for my taste.

Andreas
i wonder if it is possible to fill in the space with the steel claws from the jag pickups?

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:57 pm
by TeenageShutdown!
Looks great!

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 4:12 pm
by Con-Tiki!
Harmoncj wrote:i love the way that looks!

Beef Bonanza wrote:I think this is an awesome idea... lipsticks in a jag. But i would have made a new pickguard to fit the pickups better. The gaps are just a bit to wide for my taste.

Andreas
i wonder if it is possible to fill in the space with the steel claws from the jag pickups?
the claw thing is a cool idea.
you should try it, and let us know what happens...

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:33 am
by Shadoweclipse13
Beef Bonanza wrote:I think this is an awesome idea... lipsticks in a jag. But i would have made a new pickguard to fit the pickups better. The gaps are just a bit to wide for my taste.

Andreas
The gaps are what gives it it's character to me! I like it a lot!! :w00t:

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:41 am
by antisymmetric
A worthy endeavour! 8) (+1 on the claws idea, would be interesting to see how it would look with them...)

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:33 pm
by hpr_hpr
Keep the 'gaps' . . . the white / black / silver looks classy.

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:30 pm
by marqueemoon
Cool. I am a big lipstick fan, but I strongly dislike concentric pots.

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:38 pm
by stompbox
marqueemoon wrote:Cool. I am a big lipstick fan, but I strongly dislike concentric pots.
I agree - I've tolerated the concentric pots on my Danelectro guitars because they're stock and I never adjust them. After stealing the knobs off one of my Danos and putting them on the Jag I'm undecided if I like the look - maybe all white knobs would be better but regardless they seem odd when the guitar is strapped on. I'll suspect I will revisit the wiring and ditch the stacked pots and go with the original black knobs and just 2 volume pots, but one thing at a time!
antisymmetric wrote:A worthy endeavour! (+1 on the claws idea, would be interesting to see how it would look with them...)
Thanks! I have a spare lipstick I may try this out with, but prefer the look of the plain lipsticks for now... plus I'm concerned the claws will change the response of the pickups, and they sound pretty deadly as-is!

Image

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:57 pm
by The Dead Ranch Hands
That looks killer. White on white on chrome on chrome.

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:18 pm
by marqueemoon
White cupcake knobs would tie the look together I think if you decide to ditch the concentric pots.

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:25 pm
by antisymmetric
The Dead Ranch Hands wrote:That looks killer. White on white on chrome on chrome.
Totally.

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 4:16 am
by jthomas
Mondo cool.

Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:35 am
by stompbox
Thanks for the comments! Will have to go through the wiring as the bridge position doesn't have the typical spank I would expect from a lipstick. While it's not finished yet, this has turned out to be well worth the price of admission!