VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

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stompbox
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VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by stompbox » Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:18 pm

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

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by Beef Bonanza » Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:31 pm

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

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by Harmoncj » Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:59 pm

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?

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by TeenageShutdown! » Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:57 pm

Looks great!

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by Con-Tiki! » Thu Apr 20, 2017 4:12 pm

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...
(Christopher, also)
I've been to one World's Fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing i ever heard come out a pair of headphones.

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:33 am

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:
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by antisymmetric » Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:41 am

A worthy endeavour! 8) (+1 on the claws idea, would be interesting to see how it would look with them...)
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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by hpr_hpr » Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:33 pm

Keep the 'gaps' . . . the white / black / silver looks classy.
When thinking about any advice given always ask yourself "why would (s)he know more than I do".

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by marqueemoon » Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:30 pm

Cool. I am a big lipstick fan, but I strongly dislike concentric pots.

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by stompbox » Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:38 pm

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

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by The Dead Ranch Hands » Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:57 pm

That looks killer. White on white on chrome on chrome.

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by marqueemoon » Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:18 pm

White cupcake knobs would tie the look together I think if you decide to ditch the concentric pots.

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by antisymmetric » Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:25 pm

The Dead Ranch Hands wrote:That looks killer. White on white on chrome on chrome.
Totally.
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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by jthomas » Sat Apr 22, 2017 4:16 am

Mondo cool.

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Re: VM Jaguar w/ Dano Lipsticks

Post by stompbox » Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:35 am

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!

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