Muff's Modules & More

MrBiggs · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:15 am Post subject: Johnny Marr Jaguar?

I've been reading and gassing a bit for this Johnny Marr Jag that Fender introduced recently.

http://www.fender.com/products/johnnymarrjaguar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPizQJ_z8l0

In the short time that I've been playing guitar, I've typically been disinterested in signature guitars, almost specifically because they're signature guitars. The idea of playing Pete Anderson's specific Reverend, or Zakk Wylde's circular Les Paul always seemed goofy.

But this Marr Jag is interesting to me for a few reasons. One, it's orange. I like that. w00t

I've got a friend with some Bare Knuckle pickups he put in his SG and it just sounds so great. I've never heard such a change from stock to new pickups. In fact, it was what led me to this Jag, googling Bare Knuckle pickups. I like that it's got the Tele-style switch, and it's got that fourth position which puts the two single-coils in series, creating a humbucker. Also it's orange.

Things that concern me are the short scale, 24" vs 25.5" that I have on my ASAT as well as my acoustic, and the fact that even on sale the thing is $1450.

I have a G&L ASAT, which I really love. But as my only guitar it's pretty limited in tonal variations and tricks. It's a Tele. Twangy, chimey, and even when overdriven, pretty happy sounding. The kinds of stuff I lke to play go into two categories. One being Black Keys kinda blues riffy stuff, and the other weirdo long loopy stuff with three delay pedals, fuzz, and the modular as an effect. The ASAT isn't really great at either, so even though I really like the guitar, I've been thinking about replacing it with the Jag, which while likely not covering the former, as it's not gonna be a bluesy thing, will hopefully very much cover the latter. The thing is that this Marr Jag is impossible to find, anywhere. So I'm wondering has anyone experience with it at all, or a Jag in general? I think I may head down to Guitar Center this weekend and play one of their low-end Jags, just to see how I feel about the 24" scale. Thought I'd troll for some thoughts here in the mean time.

shred · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:35 am Post subject:

I'm not seeing any orange hmmm.....

I've played some Jags at GC, lower end and higher and they're pretty nice in terms of playability. I've never been one to fuss with changing pickups so I can't really help there, but in my opinion most guitars can be used for any style. Obviously some sound better than others for certain things but I think it's mostly down to the playing of the individual. I'm not so sure signature models are worth it compared to similar standard models, but thats just an impression. In any event, I def wouldn't buy a guitar without playing it first. I think if you try some other Jags you'll find something you like that's well under the ~1500 range. Leaves some $ for more pedals twisted

Danotranto · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:45 am Post subject:

Ive read a lot of good things about the marr jag...like you, its probably the only signature gutiar Id like to own...well that and a elliot easton duo jet because their not just stock guitars with names put on them with a 50% markup but the two musicians had a lot of input on how to change the guitar for the better-

Id definitely go check out the lower end jags...definitely check out the squires too, they dont have the cool tremolo system but are probably worth a look just because the recent squire stuff has been awesome.

I dont think theyres gonna be a whole lot of tonal variation between a tele and a jag...if there is, the jag will probably have a lot more body to the note instead of so much twang

Theyre pretty comfortable too, more so than a tele

ps- orange

MrBiggs · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:51 am Post subject:

Kent · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 9:18 am Post subject:

I tend to like and buy signature guitars that aren't garish and I've never found Jaguars to be something that I like. I love Jazzmasters and lots of Fenders but the Jaguar, partially due to the short scale, has never found my G-spot.

The Johnny Marr signature Jaguar has changed that. It looks to be really fucking cool and the changes make it much more practical.

I like signature guitars because they are something different from the bog-standard issue whichever-model that everyone owns. My current stable includes a first year Eric Clapton Strat that I've continued to modify. It is my favorite guitar of all time. Next is the Will Ray Jazz-a-caster mutant. It has a 4 position switch like the Johnny Marr Jaguar and does similar. Plus it has a B-bender and a pair of high output Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster pickups.
I also own an Eastwood Joey Leone guitar.

One can view these two guitars here.

I'd grab a J. Mascis, Thurston Moore & Lee Ranaldo Jazzmaster in a second and the Johnny Marr if I were one to still be in the buying of guitars mode.

P.S. the video demo sucks balls but at least it is something to see on this new guitar. The mush-mouth narration and long-winded babble are just painful. Plus, I find it kind of ironic that he's playing the Smiths stuff on a Jaguar. Yeah, it makes sense, but is still kinda hmmm.....

Spir4L · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 9:30 am Post subject:

In my opinion it is better not to buy signature guitars because you wan't ever know how their value will oscillate in the future.
This is not obviously true if you look at some signature models (like jimmy page lespauls or bb king lucilles) but it's in general often true...

By the way I think a jazzmaster is exactly what you're looking for!

FlameTop · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 9:42 am Post subject:

I have had a white one for about six weeks now. I think the main point about the MarrJag is that its not just his name plonked on a certain vintage year spec. I was very impressed by watching his videos that a lot of thought had gone into tweaking the Jag design into being a better guitar. It worked for me; I had tried some Japanese and US Jag re-issues and had not been impressed. The MarrJag is much better IMO.

Oh and I have yet to hear a Bare Knuckle pup I dont like. Very high quality and very well chosen specs.

MrBiggs · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 10:04 am Post subject:

MrBiggs · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 10:26 am Post subject:

There's a Classic Player (MIM) Jazzmaster on the Craigslist here in Phila. I may have to investigate further. He's looking to trade for a Road Worn Strat or a Standard Tele, so I don't know if he'd be interested in my G&L, but I may offer cash and get some GAS relief for a lot less than $1450...

dkcg · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 11:47 am Post subject:

Ranxerox · Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 12:09 pm Post subject:

I have a Squier J Mascis jazzmaster and it is a peach. It's basically a classic player with P90s for half the price, if you can get past the fact that it's made in China and only comes in one colour. Build quality and setup are excellent as well, surprisingly nice to play even straight out of the box.

Kent · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 1:44 am Post subject:

These Fender "Offset" guitars have caught my eye as of late.

Click here to go to the product page.

EMwhite · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 10:09 am Post subject:

I'm a Bass player and have a Jazz Bass re-issue, a Musicman and one of Fender's Artist/signature basses. It's a Fretless Tony Franklin and I love it.

But seeing this Johnny Marr makes me want one. Beautiful. A bit outside of my budget (mainly because I have 0$ in it) but that thing is beautiful and likely a dream to play. At least the marketing of it conveys that.

dkcg · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject:

numan7 · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 7:07 pm Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 8:06 pm Post subject:

That's what I always imagined too. When I think Marr I think Rickies.

Kent · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 1:57 am Post subject:

Vintage Marr recalls Rickenbackers, Telecasters and a Gibson ES-335/345 variant for me. Oh, and the odd Gretsch.

MrBiggs · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:49 am Post subject:

Yeah except Ricks come from the factory the way Marr wants 'em. The Jag is a weirdo so he got to design his own. seriously, i just don't get it

In any case, after starting this thread about the Jag, I bought a used Classic Player Jazzmaster yesterday. It's not orange, but I'll live.
Haven't spent enough time with it to learn what it's all about, and it sounds more like my G&L ASAT than I thought it might. The kids were asleep (alas) so I wasn't able to turn up the amp which might have something to do with that. The pickups in the CPJM are supposedly hotter than vintage JM pickups. I think I might go hotter still and get some Novak or Lollar P90s, at least on the bridge, unless these stock ones start singing to me. I got the guitar cheap enough that I can afford to add some bling, so I'm even looking at the Mastery bridge cause, you know, why not?

jules · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:29 am Post subject:

Dropping in:

Got myself a classic player a few years ago, and all I can say is: don't listen to the purist going "made in mexico, not worth, blah blah...".
It's an excellent instrument, very pleasant to play with. You can really go in a lot of direction, very versatile sonically.

And if you want to change the pickups, I cannot recommend enough these guys:
http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/wide-range-humbucker-for-jazzmaster.h tml

Suddenly it sounds like... I don't know, but it's close to perfect to my hears. Totally masochistic dynamic response: from null buzz (which I was not expecting) up to be able to shake the room when whipped. The range of frequency response is amazing. Clean and wide. And still in the jazzmaster style ("there's something very difficult to describe in the low mid range") even if they're humbuckers.

The equation is: Classic player plus these guys equals a vintage sub 3 to 4000$ guitar...
But as usual, it's a matter of taste.

MrBiggs · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:05 am Post subject:

This Johnny Marr Jag thread turned into a Jazzmaster thread, didn't it?

I have no issues with purity or any of that stuff. The Classic Player is a hell of a $800 guitar. I ended up buying two Jazzmasters in the space of a few days. One was the CP in black and tort from a guy on Craigslist I talk about two posts up, and the other off of eBay which is a nice blue sparkly with matching headstock CIJ Jazzmaster with Lollar vintage-sounding JM single coils. The CIJ is closer to a vintage JM in that the tailpiece is in the correct place and the bridge isn't a tune-o-matic. Those details and the pickups make it a very different guitar than the Classic Player. Plus did I mention it's sparkly blue with matching headstock?

I'm keeping the blue one mainly because it's more different than my G&L ASAT than the CP one is both in tone and looks. It's more mellow and has a honkier neck pickup. I'm getting a Lollar Jazzmaster P90 to put in the bridge and I'll likely stick a Mastery Bridge on there as well. I don't play hard and I knock the strings off of this stock JM bridge all the time.
So I got the CP for $600 and I'll be selling it for the same amount. My guitar instructor is digging it and has it currently, deciding if he wants to buy it from me.

Yeah it's a good guitar.

jules · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 3:56 am Post subject:

Hey,
The DIY christmas project:
Got myself a second hand chinese made jagmaster for 80$.
After some massive tosser-like cramps to sand it (had to remove close to 1mm of varnish), I went for blue...something.
Added some parallel/split switches for the humbuckers (not so bad by the way) and some volume controls for each of them.
Here we are, another weirdly tuned jazzmaster shaped thing: