Help me fix up my Jaguarillo

[leaves turn]

So I have a Jaguarillo. This one. I really like it, but it needs some work before I could ever call it my main axe. While I know a thing or two about pedal building, I'm a tiny baby when it comes to setting up guitars/pickups so please give me some input!

Problem 1: Pickguard static noise when touched. I hear this is a common problem with new guitars, and that you can solve this just by sanding down the backside of the pickguard. Is this true, or do I have to jury rig some extra grounding via copper tape?

Problem 2: While I love the humbucker on this thing, I've never liked Strat pickups sooooo the neck and middle need to go. I want to try some lace sensors. Specifically, a blue in the neck and a [???] mid. Can you see any reason why these wouldn't just drop in and work?


Thanks for your help!

[sonidero]

It probably has no or weak shielding behind the pickguard so some copper tape across the back would help... The Lace Sensors should most likely drop in but I would check dimensions to make sure...

[Jeff-7]

Just try a dryer sheet first for problem 1. The sensors should be a straight drop in replacement.

[leaves turn]

If I used copper tape, would it provide benefits beyond fighting static? Hum reduction?


Also if anyone has experience with lace sensors I welcome your input on what colors and where. Not sure if I should trust the sensor web page.

[ALLisNOISE]

I had the Lace Red, Silver, & Blue in a mahogany bodied strat copy I had. Like Lace suggested, I put the red in the bridge, the silver in the middle, and the blue in the neck.
It sounded amazing in comparison to the so-so pickups (admiditly, I hate everything strat), but they seemed reeaal compressed compared to the other PUs.
Cleans were great and even, with all the warmth you'd ever want out of a neck pickup. Fuzz and distortion would sing for days, with great clarity and a hefty amount of balls.
But I never clicked with the overdrive tone (my "clean" at the time). My overdrive needs to be raw and open, and I don't like a lot of compression with it.
So, that's ultimately why I sold it, that and the whole strat thing.
With the music I'm playing now, I'd like to give the Laces another go, but I don't have anything with strat size single coils anymore.

Why not look into widening the pickguard a little and dropping some Jaguar pickups in there?

[FuzzHugger]

She's real pretty! Probably my favorite Fender body/pickguard color combo.

I'd shield under under the pickguard with copper or aluminum tape...wouldn't hurt to do the control cavities, especially if they look sparsely painted with shielding paint. I like to overdo things for safety.

Any strat-sized pickup should work in those routs. I've never owned any Lace personally, but you've got a TON of single-coil sized humbucker options.

[leaves turn]

I found a blue-silver-red dually pack for cheaper than the single coil set, and went for it. Hopefully they ship pretty quick so I can do the shielding+swapping work over Christmas holiday.

[leaves turn]

I had to drill a few holes to make the dually fit, but the sensors and copper tape are IN! Only had a few minutes to play so far but they sound glorious. The pickguard static and RF noise seem to be improved, too. Thanks for your help, ILF!