Squier Jagmaster - with h/b-sized Cats Whisker P90s

[JimN]

My 1998 (Japanese) Squier (Vista Series) Jagmaster, at last retro-fitted with better pickups and usable!

The originals, of course, were cream-bobbined open humbuckers, but I was never happy with the woolly and decidedly unFenderlike sound on the lower strings. I remember using it on one occasion at the Southend Club - I got a very muddy sound through the AC30 in use there. Likewise, I once played it to a couple of backing tracks at the Pipeline Convention - the amp was a bit brighter, but clarity was lacking on the low strings.

See the pics at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29785641@N07/

(Use the "slideshow" feature - upper right.)

The Cats Whisker "Phat Moggies" are usually produced in a cream finish, but the (UK) maker was happy to supply my order in custom-made white cases for a more traditional Fender look. He dubbed them the "White Pussies" as a result. There's now something very Jazzmasterish about the look of that cheap guitar, isn't there?

I auditioned the sound through a Vox Amplug and 'phones in order to adjust the string balance on those polepieces.

Then tried it out on Sunday at a local jam - what a difference! Clear, ringing, low notes.

Of course, it's a bit of an oddball guitar, unlike anything else, because of its unique features:

- 24" short Jaguar scale
- Stratocaster-type bridge (it too is a replacement - a steel-block Wilkinson with pop-in arm)
- Gibson-type P90 pickups (even if they do look Jazzmaster-ish).

So it isn't quite right for a Shads sound, but it sounds great for Ventures material and (with both pickups on) for the Jet Harris Diamonds and Scarlett O'Hara sound. If I can get to Dartford on Thursday, I'll bring it with me.

JN

PS: Read about the Vista Series Jagmasters at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squier_Jagmaster

[John Boyd]

Jim,
A fine looking instrument, indeed.
Any chance of a short sound demo, as I'm following one at the moment on eBay.
Cheers,
JB

[RUSSET]

Jim,
I too bought a Squier Vista series Jagmaster, brand new, about 8 years ago. It is like yours in sunburst with a torty scratchplate, & I bought it because it did indeed resemble the Jazzmaster that the Ventures used in their early career. I too found the supplied humbuckers not very satisfactory, so I had a set of Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P90s installed. Sadly that didn't seem to make it much more dynamic. I wonder if my brother wired it up correctly ? As for the guitar itself, the quality was superb & I would rate it way above what might be inferred from the brand name. It was made in Japan, & I believe the body was from the same stock as the 'Fender Japan' Jags & Jazzes.

Tony.

[JimN]

Hello, John,

I'm afraid I don't have any easy way to make sound files - I don't keep gear configured for use at home. As a matter of fact, these days, I rarely use my own amps, since I mainly play at jam nights where backline is provided.

I hope you will take my word for the fact that whilst the P90'd Jagmaster doesn't sound like a Jaguar (it never would, with that bridge and those pickups), it still sounds a heck of a lot better than it does with the Duncan-designed humbuckers and more in keeping with what you expect from a Fender (albeit with a fatter sound).

Russet,

I think I remember your telling us about the Seymour Duncan Phat Cats a couple of years back. It's what got me thinking about doing the job, though eventually I opted - after a lot of consideration - for the Cats Whisker pickups rather than SDs, mainly because I was never too happy with the look of the chrome cases on the Duncans. I had already installed two of the same pickups - in Jazzmaster cases - on the Jazzmaster I got from David Martin last year, so I knew what to expect tonally. At a guess, perhaps the metal cases are affecting the tone on yours? Certainly, on mine, the wiring is straightforward, with the pickups simply connected to the master tone and volume through the 3-position switch.

Best wishes,

JN