Feline Hybrid Custom - update (pic heavy)

[Philly Q]

I'm not a fan of all the Jag/Jazzmaster stlye switching and the way it has to be arranged  under the pickguard
however I think I would like to make a simpler 2 humbucker version - would be so much easier to do

Are all those switches and rollers functional, or is some of it just cosmetic?

[Deadstar]

Cheers for all the compliments guys  :D

I knew it would cause some level of controversy but I wanted something unique that utilised classic elements rather than something that could just be bought off the shelf.

The tailpiece is admittedly kind of an aesthetic thing - that went through the most changes during design was trying to get something different that worked, but I'm sure it'll get used for subtle trickery at some point.

The controls are all functional though but slightly different to the normal Jag design and there's the MIDI pickup in it too.

As for the control layout I think it was done that way cause it had to be because the swing arm gets in the way if I remember, had a thought about it (see attached) as there is still an extra switch to be put on Jon told me, so if the current knob above the jack is displaced below it to create the 3 in a row look plus the switch is put in place of it - that may create a slightly better flow, will need to consult Jon to see if that could be done or not. What are peoples thoughts?

It does look like the opposite of Grant Nicholas's guitar a bit, I'd not seen it till after I'd originally handed in the design - it's a bit creepy that it's about the same colour mine's will be plus I look vaguely like Grant Nicholas - long blond hair as well.

I'd just discovered the bass that looks like it's cousin too.

[Elliot]

How does the control layout differ - is it still Lead: Neck/Bridge/Low Pass and Rhythm: volume and tone rollers, or is there something new?

Have to say, having just got my Jag - the two circuit thing is pretty cool - do go from an P90 sounding neck sound to a ultra bright Fender sound at a flick of switch - I can see what Leo was thinking, even if he didn't pull it off. 

[38thBeatle]

I like it. It isn't for me but I think you have succeeded in coming up with something that is unique but without being outlandish. 

[Deadstar]

That's all I hope to have acheived 38th, if everybody had the same thing life would get a bit boring.

From what I know (I fired a whole load of ideas at him then give him a bit of free reign toput in something that would work)
- The lower horn has three switches; one turns on the bridge the other the neck and the last switches the bridge pickup between series and parallel.
-The upper horn is like a lead/rhythm but the values are 500k and 1Meg (I think)
-The section beneath the trem is the main volume/tone control and blend for the midi plus switch (not yet added)
Jonathan might be able to correct any of this if I'm mistaken - think it gave him a bit of a mindf#*k

[dave_mc]

very nice :D

[d1dsj]

I had a look at this thread yesterday and just kept coming back and looking (this is something I normally do when I can't make my mind up!) ...... only to find I liked it more and more! That is very cool, I'd like it trans blonde myself, but excellent choice of mixing the specs up. Love it.

[FELINEGUITARS]

That's all I hope to have acheived 38th, if everybody had the same thing life would get a bit boring.

From what I know (I fired a whole load of ideas at him then give him a bit of free reign to put in something that would work)
- The lower horn has three switches; one turns on the bridge the other the neck and the last switches the bridge pickup between series and parallel.
-The upper horn is like a lead/rhythm but the values are 500k and 1Meg (I think)
-The section beneath the trem is the main volume/tone control and blend for the midi plus switch (not yet added)
Jonathan might be able to correct any of this if I'm mistaken - think it gave him a bit of a mindf#*k

Martyn is correct in the function of the switches and controls and the addition of MIDI is an interesting move - there is a 13 pin socket on the side for the synth access.
I like the guitar but it has caused a few "development headaches" to make things work the way they ought
Having done all that if I now made templates all that I have thrashed out to make it repeatable then it wouldn't be a problem next time around, but I have learnt that doing this much R&D for each guitar we build is not a sound practice commercially speaking.
It has taken a bit longer than anticipated because I have had to step away from it a few times so I could look at it again with fresh eyes to get things right and my colleague Tom has been a great help with it too.

The biggest difficulty that we encountered is that the vibrola tailpiece was a touch long for the regular Jaguar body shape - if we had been making a 24 fret neck version it wouldn't be a problem as the bridge would have been another cm or so towards the neck.
 As it was we had to doctor the body contours to make it more seamless- once it is all painted it will be fab

[FELINEGUITARS]

I'm not a fan of all the Jag/Jazzmaster stlye switching and the way it has to be arranged  under the pickguard
however I think I would like to make a simpler 2 humbucker version - would be so much easier to do

Are all those switches and rollers functional, or is some of it just cosmetic?

All functional Philly!

[Ian Price]

I'm not a fan of all the Jag/Jazzmaster stlye switching and the way it has to be arranged  under the pickguard
however I think I would like to make a simpler 2 humbucker version - would be so much easier to do

Are all those switches and rollers functional, or is some of it just cosmetic?

All functional Philly!

And how dare he ask such a question!!

Actually, I think I might tut (in private) if someone asked me to build something cosmetic in to the guitar.

[Philly Q]

I'm not a fan of all the Jag/Jazzmaster stlye switching and the way it has to be arranged  under the pickguard
however I think I would like to make a simpler 2 humbucker version - would be so much easier to do

Are all those switches and rollers functional, or is some of it just cosmetic?

All functional Philly!

And how dare he ask such a question!!

Actually, I think I might tut (in private) if someone asked me to build something cosmetic in to the guitar.

No insult intended!  :lol:

I was just thinking if I had a Jag I'd probably disconnect most of the electronics, but leave it there because it's part of the "look".

[Ian Price]

Actually, now I think of it, so would I. I'm such a hypocrite  :D

[Deadstar]

Ha, none taken Phil - I was really adamant about the chrome jag style plates though - Jon kept trying to get me to do it more 'jazzmastery' but I was trying to keep the balance right having the huge vibrola there.

I'm quite the tweaker though, I know a lot of people get scared off by controls but I teach undergraduates how to operate huge multichannel both analogue and digital mixing desks for a living - that's a breeze in comparison.

I'm lucky enough to have had Jonathan let me do such an ambitious project though, so thanks to him again.

To Ian: what is paint but cosmetic???....lol you posted in the middle of me writing that.....never mind

[Elliot]

Philly and Ian I would say you would be wrong to gut a Jag, because I now know there are some great untapped sounds in the Jaguar's circuitry.  BTW have you seen this Joe Pass + Jag vid on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5K6s7h-kSo

[Philly Q]

Philly and Ian I would say you would be wrong to gut a Jag, because I now know there are some great untapped sounds in the Jaguar's circuitry.  BTW have you seen this Joe Pass + Jag vid on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5K6s7h-kSo

Ah well, I'm never likely to buy a Jag anyway!

Great video!  :D