Reviving the Jagstang 2.0
Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 3:34 am
Hello, everyone. I'm new to this site. I wanted to share a project I'd like to get started in the hopes that you may guide me in the right path.
So, I'm really interested in the various "Jagstang done right" projects I've seen over the years. While I appreciate all of them, there are a few details I haven't seen that I think the ideal Jagstang needs.
I put together this crude drawing to show what I mean.
Here are a few bullet points that delineate my priorities:
-I think a Mustang bridge and bridge plate are quintessential. The newer jag trems are probably better in terms of playability, but the "Mustang bridge on an offset body" is the centerpiece of the Jaguar-Mustang combo. With a Jaguar bridge, it's too much Jag and not enough Must.
-The control plate must be the convex mustang shape, rather than the concave jaguar shape. One of the things that gives the design that funky dissonance is how the convex control plate rubs against the outer shape of the offset body.
-The bridge humbucker should be offset. Not only is this in keeping with the original release, but it balances the overall design aesthetically. The slanted pups are a part of the mustang's profile.
-finally, I superimposed a jag over a Mustang to get this shape, but had to make some alterations. A straight up Jaguar body with a Mustang cutaway throws the proportions off when you put a mustang pickguard and assembly on top.I can see why Fender took the sides in. They went WAY overboard, but I needed to take the sides in ever so slightly to balance the shape with the Mustang assembly. Second, the butt of the body, by the control plate, needed to be tamed a bit and made a bit more convex to balance the negative space.
Anyway, this is my rationale, and I'd love to have this body built if I can. Obviously I'd need to clean up the design and get more precise measurements.
Any thoughts? Any leads?
Thanks for reading, everyone, and hello!
*UPDATE*
With the help and feedback of the community, along with my own fastidious and fussy eye, I have gone through six iterations, and landed on this shape. You can read the whole thread if you want the explanation for these developments. I have to say I'm pretty proud of this, and am very excited about getting it made! Thank you all for your help and support!
*UPDATE 2*
I know it's been a while, but I have recently come back to this project with a new set of eyes.
For this pass, I decided to be bolder and, rather than simply to sticking to the original drawing, truly go for a jaguar-mustang blend. What do you guys think of this direction?
The body shape is the same, which I think is perfectly balanced. The left side of the mustang pickguard has been "reversed" in the direction of its skew. This sort of morphs it into more of a jag pickguard, but keeping it close to the mustang. I put jag controls on the right, but still screwed right in to the guard, rather than into a chrome plate.
Most noticeably, I added a jag vibrato. In Kurt's original, he did say "whichever one works best." I think we can all agree the jag trem is a superior design.
Anyway, Id' love to hear your thoughts. I think this direction "justifies its existence" a bit more. I think the other one, while more loyal to the drawing, is mustang-heavy. This is a true blend.
btw keeping the mustang control plate was intentional and that's a keeper! The convex control plate against the offset body is one of the my favorite elements of this design!
*UPDATE 3*
The Jag trem was a good experiment, but my eye keeps taking me back to the mustang trem. That said, it's still "mustang-heavy. For this pass, I took the "flipped" mustang pickguard, which gives it a bit of an upward skew, and put it on the mark VI body.
This blends Kurt's design with a jag more, but stays more in keeping with the original spirit. I also moved the switches up to compensate for the pg angle, and I also turned the jag switches to 2-way.
*UPDATE 4*
Mark VIII is out. In this pass, I was a bit bolder in blending the two shapes. I flattened the right horn. The Jag's right horn is REALLY flat, so I wanted to influence the mustang horn a little bit. Kurt wanted something similar. I think he went a bit too far, but I think the thrust of the idea is good.
Very subtle difference, but effective.
So, I'm really interested in the various "Jagstang done right" projects I've seen over the years. While I appreciate all of them, there are a few details I haven't seen that I think the ideal Jagstang needs.
I put together this crude drawing to show what I mean.
Here are a few bullet points that delineate my priorities:
-I think a Mustang bridge and bridge plate are quintessential. The newer jag trems are probably better in terms of playability, but the "Mustang bridge on an offset body" is the centerpiece of the Jaguar-Mustang combo. With a Jaguar bridge, it's too much Jag and not enough Must.
-The control plate must be the convex mustang shape, rather than the concave jaguar shape. One of the things that gives the design that funky dissonance is how the convex control plate rubs against the outer shape of the offset body.
-The bridge humbucker should be offset. Not only is this in keeping with the original release, but it balances the overall design aesthetically. The slanted pups are a part of the mustang's profile.
-finally, I superimposed a jag over a Mustang to get this shape, but had to make some alterations. A straight up Jaguar body with a Mustang cutaway throws the proportions off when you put a mustang pickguard and assembly on top.I can see why Fender took the sides in. They went WAY overboard, but I needed to take the sides in ever so slightly to balance the shape with the Mustang assembly. Second, the butt of the body, by the control plate, needed to be tamed a bit and made a bit more convex to balance the negative space.
Anyway, this is my rationale, and I'd love to have this body built if I can. Obviously I'd need to clean up the design and get more precise measurements.
Any thoughts? Any leads?
Thanks for reading, everyone, and hello!
*UPDATE*
With the help and feedback of the community, along with my own fastidious and fussy eye, I have gone through six iterations, and landed on this shape. You can read the whole thread if you want the explanation for these developments. I have to say I'm pretty proud of this, and am very excited about getting it made! Thank you all for your help and support!
*UPDATE 2*
I know it's been a while, but I have recently come back to this project with a new set of eyes.
For this pass, I decided to be bolder and, rather than simply to sticking to the original drawing, truly go for a jaguar-mustang blend. What do you guys think of this direction?
The body shape is the same, which I think is perfectly balanced. The left side of the mustang pickguard has been "reversed" in the direction of its skew. This sort of morphs it into more of a jag pickguard, but keeping it close to the mustang. I put jag controls on the right, but still screwed right in to the guard, rather than into a chrome plate.
Most noticeably, I added a jag vibrato. In Kurt's original, he did say "whichever one works best." I think we can all agree the jag trem is a superior design.
Anyway, Id' love to hear your thoughts. I think this direction "justifies its existence" a bit more. I think the other one, while more loyal to the drawing, is mustang-heavy. This is a true blend.
btw keeping the mustang control plate was intentional and that's a keeper! The convex control plate against the offset body is one of the my favorite elements of this design!
*UPDATE 3*
The Jag trem was a good experiment, but my eye keeps taking me back to the mustang trem. That said, it's still "mustang-heavy. For this pass, I took the "flipped" mustang pickguard, which gives it a bit of an upward skew, and put it on the mark VI body.
This blends Kurt's design with a jag more, but stays more in keeping with the original spirit. I also moved the switches up to compensate for the pg angle, and I also turned the jag switches to 2-way.
*UPDATE 4*
Mark VIII is out. In this pass, I was a bit bolder in blending the two shapes. I flattened the right horn. The Jag's right horn is REALLY flat, so I wanted to influence the mustang horn a little bit. Kurt wanted something similar. I think he went a bit too far, but I think the thrust of the idea is good.
Very subtle difference, but effective.