Starting A New Project

[Pep]

I recently purchased a Squier Jaguar Bass Body loaded with a MM style humbucker. I also located a Squier 32" scale Jaguar neck.
I've always loved the Fender Stu Hamm Urge I Bass with the 32" scale neck so my idea is to do a similar configuration. I'm going to rout for J-Bass pickups in front of and behind the MM humbucker.

I'll reshape the headstock a bit to make it smaller and then paint it black to match the body. I ordered a custom orange pearl pickguard from WD with the MM routed in it. I'll rout it for the front J-Bass pickup.

I've ordered 2 sets of J-Bass pickups (Wilkinson WOJB and Tobias Toby Jazz). I also ordered a Reverend SplitBrick Pickup which is a reverse P-Bass pickup in a MM humbucker housing.

The controls are going to be volume, 3-way mini toggle (to choose the P-Bass pickup, the J-Bass pickups, or all 3), a blend for the J-Bass pickups, and a Stellartone Bass 10 ToneStyler.

I think I'm going to install a Wilkinson "bent" bridge in black. I still need to located some black tuners.

I'll post progress as I move forward.

 

[Sharko]

Love this idea.
Quick check tho, have you played one of these Affinity Jags yet? They have a really small body compared to the neck, even shaving the headstock may not mitigate the neck dive issue. That may be a problem you have to solve for

 

[Pep]

No I haven't, but I'll solve it. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[SactoBass]

Sounds like a nice build! I'm a big fan of assembling basses from various selected parts. As stated in my sig, all basses are parts basses.

 

[yodedude2]

love this concept! i like the idea you have for switching, and the tonestyler is also a great idea. my old beat-up urge 1 has a passive config with 3 volume/off-on switches, wired for stereo if desired, and one tone control (but only on one side of the stereo outputs). i can run any combo of pickups, but they have to be 'blended' manually ~

 

[crazycloud]

Best of luck with the project and I'll watch with interest.

even shaving the headstock may not mitigate the neck dive issue. That may be a problem you have to solve for

I had one and it was a submarine. I'd fill the tuner holes, reduce the size and add some lightweight HS or Gotoh tuners.

 

[Pep]

Best of luck with the project and I'll watch with interest.


I had one and it was a submarine. I'd fill the tuner holes, reduce the size and add some lightweight HS or Gotoh tuners.

Was yours a 32"scale or 34"? If it was a 34" I can understand it.

I have some Delrin sleeves that are a bit tight on the OD but the ID is perfect for the Gotohs. I'll hand sand them a bit with some extra fine paper and give them a shot.

 

[Sharko]

Was yours a 32"scale or 34"? If it was a 34" I can understand it.

I have some Delrin sleeves that are a bit tight on the OD but the ID is perfect for the Gotohs. I'll hand sand them a bit with some extra fine paper and give them a shot.

The 34" Jaguars use a different larger body. The affinity jags use the same body as the 30" Squier Jag SS and the 30" Fender Mike Kerr. So there is an inherent mismatch in the neck size and body size.

 

[crazycloud]

Was yours a 32"scale or 34"?

30" Squier.

The affinity jags use the same body as the 30" Squier Jag SS and the 30" Fender Mike Kerr. So there is an inherent mismatch in the neck size and body size.

^^ this. The 30" I had, had a headstock the same size as a full size Fender. This with the huge and heavy tuners meant it dove badly. What I meant with my earlier comment about this was to fill the tuner holes, reduce the size of the headstock so it was proportional, even better with a 3+1 and lightweight tuners to improve the balance.

 

[Pep]

30" Squier.

^^ this. The 30" I had, had a headstock the same size as a full size Fender. This with the huge and heavy tuners meant it dove badly. What I meant with my earlier comment about this was to fill the tuner holes, reduce the size of the headstock so it was proportional, even better with a 3+1 and lightweight tuners to improve the balance.

I'll look at doing the 3 + 1. Or perhaps I may go headless which I know will eliminate
neck-dive. The great thing is I can try all of them leaving the headless option as the last resort.

 

[Sharko]

I'll look at doing the 3 + 1. Or perhaps I may go headless which I know will eliminate
neck-dive. The great thing is I can try all of them leaving the headless option as the last resort.

This is a good idea

 

[Pep]

Well I tried it with normal Gotohs and there was some neck dive. I have some Resolites i can try to see if there is much of a difference. Once I add the pickguard, electronics and bridge it should be a lot better. Plus I can move the back strap button up a bit and it should be fine.

Here are some pics of the progress so far. The pickguard is routed as well as the pickup pockets. Tge headstock has been slimmed down. I still have room to go to a 3+1 if needed but right now I think I'm okay as is. I doubt I'll make much progress in the next week or so. My schedule is full.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I recently purchased a Squier Jaguar Bass Body loaded with a MM style humbucker. I also located a Squier 32" scale Jaguar neck.
I've always loved the Fender Stu Hamm Urge I Bass with the 32" scale neck so my idea is to do a similar configuration. I'm going to rout for J-Bass pickups in front of and behind the MM humbucker.

The controls are going to be volume, 3-way mini toggle (to choose the P-Bass pickup, the J-Bass pickups, or all 3), a blend for the J-Bass pickups, and a Stellartone Bass 10 ToneStyler.

Your project reminds me of one of my backburner Projekts, a '70s-style Jazz body with a Stingray pickup dropped in-between them with a bit of a Jaguar-esque twist. Each pickup would get it's own ON/OFF Jag switch and whatever comes out would feed into a Retrovibe '77 Stinger preamp…so pickup-switches/volume/treble/bass/output.

This was my original "proof of concept" which will have to be revised once I figure out where to place the preamp and battery.

Good luck with your project, Pep!

 

[Pep]

Your project reminds me of one of my backburner Projekts, a '70s-style Jazz body with a Stingray pickup dropped in-between them with a bit of a Jaguar-esque twist. Each pickup would get it's own ON/OFF Jag switch and whatever comes out would feed into a Retrovibe '77 Stinger preamp…so pickup-switches/volume/treble/bass/output.

This was my original "proof of concept" which will have to be revised once I figure out where to place the preamp and battery.

Good luck with your project, Pep!

I really like your concept. There's only one thing I would change. I would mount the switches on the upperhorn. Those switches might interfere with slapping.

Thanks for the good wishes. You need to take that project off the back burner.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I really like your concept. There's only one thing I would change. I would mount the switches on the upperhorn. Those switches might interfere with slapping.

Thanks for the good wishes. You need to take that project off the back burner.

Thanks, Pep!

I see where you're coming from and it's a good point. It's a good case for nudging the plate a bit more towards the lower horn. Fortunately, I don't slap much and, more importantly, I don't want to route out anymore wood than I have to. I'll already have to dig out a fair amount for the humbucker, battery box, preamp, switches, etc. and I don't want to needlessly compromise it's resonance.

 

[Pep]

Thanks, Pep!

I see where you're coming from and it's a good point. It's a good case for nudging the plate a bit more towards the lower horn. Fortunately, I don't slap much and, more importantly, I don't want to route out anymore wood than I have to. I'll already have to dig out a fair amount for the humbucker, battery box, preamp, switches, etc. and I don't want to needlessly compromise it's resonance.

That makes complete sense. The lower horn would be another option.

 

[Deleted member 341607]

Cool project. Big fan of the 32" scale….

 

[Pep]

Cool project. Big fan of the 32" scale….

Me too, it my favorite scale.

 

[Pep]

Just a quick update. Everything is wired up but I haven't checked the circuitry. I'll do that when it's ready to plug-in and test, which could come later today.
I'm going mount the knobs and then attach the neck. That means we're close, but I found that I had "zero" pickguards screws. They will be here tomorrow and with any luck at all, everything else will be finished.

 

[Pep]

Okay it's together. There is a minor bit of neck dive. I have the Reverend Split Brick working but the J Bass pickups aren't working.i need to go back through my wiring and find where the issue is.
As far as playability it's great and the Split Brick sounds great.

PS: The pickguard is not tort. It's orange pearl. The color isn't bright because I still have the protective film on it.