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I've talked about this is other places on here, and I know it's a divisive topic (people on a FB group are going mental about it) but I'm seriously considering converting my '67 to WRHBs now I've spent some time with the guitar and decided it's a keeper. I've had them in so many guitars now I know they're my favourite sound, and I know I'll like them...but would I definitely be a dick to do this?

Firstly, I'd like to put out there that the impact on the financial value of the instrument is of no concern to me. My enjoyment of an instrument trumps it's monetary value in every way. I've been told that, if the mods were reversed and invisible with the guard on, then I could realistically expect to lose 15-20% in today's market. Original finish is more important by a long stretch. I can live with the risk of 20%, or even more, but as I said...it's not a deciding factor in this.

So, that being said. Pretend this guitar is worth, say, £500 as it is and consider my arguments for and against:

Against:

It's an unusual year for a Jaguar, 1967
It has some palpable historic value
It's currently unmolested bar wear and tear
It sounds fine already

For:

It's not an important era, being a CBS model
It's not in a rare or overly desirable finish
It's not a minty fresh example, definitely 'player grade'
I'd almost certainly prefer it with some good WRHBs in
It would also look cool as fuck...

...and we all know a cool looking guitar makes you feel good.

So, what's a boy to do? I bought that AV65 to do this to but I have this feeling it won't satisfy the urge nearly as much - and it doesn't play and feel as good (although it's a fine instrument).

I think I know what the prevailing opinion will be on this but I also know that people on here appreciate modified and beat up old Fenders more than most places and can look at it objectively. I need help making my mind up while I wait for the pickups to arrive!

Pacafeliz wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 12:13 am

Well, I know you'd likely love it

Good to hear that this one is a keeper, it's your guitar man, do as you please!

It's your guitar & you've had plenty of time to realise it's a keeper.

Just make sure those WRHBs are decent. Would you be willing to buy a vintage set, or are there perfectly good repros available?

This kinda reminds me of a dilemma I had with my ES125T. I basically wanted a strap button on the heel but would have to drill a hole in a '59 Gibson!
I thought far to long about what I might do to the value (OK, this is nothing like routing pickups, but still) and in the end realised it was gonna be a positive, minor upgrade. Even so, drilling that hole was nerve-racking.

If it's a guitar you're gonna keep for life anyway, and you know it having WRHBs is what you really want, then anything like market value or it's collectability status are kinda moot points.

Yngwie Malmsteen scalloped the fretboards of vintage Strats long after they became valuable sought after instruments. Those were the instruments he liked and the mod he wanted. You might argue precious guitars were ruined, or that the Stratocaster became even more loved and iconic because of his patronage.

PorkyPrimeCut wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:07 am

Just make sure those WRHBs are decent. Would you be willing to buy a vintage set, or are there perfectly good repros available?

I have a set of Creamery repros on the way but am actively trying to find some vintage ones to use instead.

Just do it, who cares what people think. It is your property, you can do what you like with it. Also yeah, it would look badass as fuck.

Resale only matters if you don't want to keep it. If you want to keep it, make it however you want.

Probably an unpopular opinion, but these things are original only once, and they're not making any more 1967 Jags. This guitar has been around for 54 years - a lot longer than you - and will most likely outlive you. Do you want it to go forward as it was made or change it to suit yourself? I guess I'm saying if you could achieve it by finding a substitute body and transferring the neck and running gear over, wouldn't that be better?

Hurry up and put the pickups in. We want pictures already!

Have you heard WRHBs in a jag?….I have some in a JM build and they’re pretty good. But definitely not good enough to mangle a vintage guitar over (for myself that is).

The reason I asked if you’d had them in a jag is because they might take on a different characteristic with the short scale. You might find you could have lived without doing that. Then again, maybe not. I’d ask that you at least set aside the original pickguard and get a spitfire to mod.

I wouldn’t do it on the premise that I respect those old ones so much and everything about them is perfect to me. I would swap pups out if they needed it, but I wouldn’t go as far as chipping away wood and cutting the vintage pickguard. I personally would feel guilt of excess consumerism for doing something of that nature. A feeling that I get when I treat gear with slight carelessness that other people would kill to have. Then again, they’re just objects. Why take life so seriously. Do what you want man. If you can live with it, do it. If not, don’t.

MatthewK wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 3:36 pm

Probably an unpopular opinion, but these things are original only once, and they're not making any more 1967 Jags. This guitar has been around for 54 years - a lot longer than you - and will most likely outlive you. Do you want it to go forward as it was made or change it to suit yourself? I guess I'm saying if you could achieve it by finding a substitute body and transferring the neck and running gear over, wouldn't that be better?

I have been offered a replacement body & guard, at a very reasonable price, by Dan Deedpoll in an effort to swing my decision. As much as it's an option, it definitely takes away the overall 'this guitar' feeling of doing it to this particular guitar that I love. It's a hard feeling to put into words.

Unicorn Warrior wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 9:45 pm

Have you heard WRHBs in a jag?….I have some in a JM build and they’re pretty good. But definitely not good enough to mangle a vintage guitar over (for myself that is).

I've not heard them in a Jag, no. I have had multiple JMs with them in as they were/are my go-to in those every single time. They're everything I love about a Fender single coils, just extra.

Unicorn Warrior wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 9:45 pm

The reason I asked if you’d had them in a jag is because they might take on a different characteristic with the short scale. You might find you could have lived without doing that. Then again, maybe not. I’d ask that you at least set aside the original pickguard and get a spitfire to mod.

This is probably only concern. The element of uncertainty. There's no examples of proper/accurate repros in a Jag that I can find to analyse online...making this a bit of a blind test.

The only thing I'm thinking is to maybe find the cheapest jaguar body I can find online and quickly bolting them in, slapping on the neck and giving it a test drive.

I think it’s sacrilege. But if the routing is clean then I guess it’s not the worst thing ever!

I’d sooner do this to the Mustang you’ve got up.