As a lot of you know, I bought a Squier Jag from the Chappells sale... so here are my thoughts on it.
The neck and body finish is excellent - and the neck is a really nice profile. Sadly the fretting isn't *quite* up to the standards of Jap or Mexican guitars and mine chokes on bends above the 12th fret straight out the box. I haven't changed the strings (they feel very light) or the bridge, see below, yet. The relief is about right, and the action is right for the board radius (ish) but the fretting is letting it down. Shame...
The bridge - I've had dealings with Jag and Jazzmaster bridges over the last 25years... and this is a lousy one. Rattly, badly tapped for the grub screws (too loose) and terrible plating. As a result return to pitch is a bit of a lottery and the tone is generally muffly as a result of the bad break angle and the rattles.
The trem unit. It clonks. The knife edge it pivots on is bad. Nope, not good enough.
The electronics - the pickups are OK, and the variety of tones from the electronics is very good. Its the first Jag I've played where the 'Rhythm" circuit is useable... well done, Squier.
So in all - is it a keeper? Maybe. I'm considering the costs of uprating all the bits that are a bit sub standard on it vs the cost of buying a different guitar currently... a Staytrem bridge, AVRI trem and a Staytrem arm are IMHO essential to make this thing stay in tune and give of its best. Then there's the choking... yes, I can do it myself but I don't really have the time so I'll probably pass it to someone to do... and maybe with a set of 11s and a quick tweek it will be better...
Disappointed? Yes, a little. I really wouldn't say its as good as my old Jap Jag (which some have said these are as good as) but perhaps its a good basis for some mods...
I won't be sending it back though - none of the things wrong with is are warranty issues really, and it was cheap enough. I can sell it as it sits for the same cash as I paid...
Anyway - a pic for your viewing pleasure...
Never Ever Bloody Anything Ever.
Comments
I still need the thicker strings on it ( new set of 10s on there now) and I have shimmed the neck up to give a better break angle. I think it could go more, tbh but it'll do for now.
The frets deffo need some levelling as there are still some rattles and choking on bends, sadly. The finances don't look great right now so that may need to wait til the new year or if I get a few hours to myself, I may get around to it...
But big thanks again - that's made all the difference!!!
By the way, postage was just 90p! Royal mail don't always get it wrong, though me and @jookychap have had a bit of a laugh recently... When they get it wrong, they really get it wrong
Good luck with the bridge. Hope it's alright! It did have some thread lok stuff on it, but it might need redoing at some point. I used very light duty stuff...