Modding my Squier VM Jazzmaster

[skullservant]

This thread is awesome

[npfrs]

This thread is awesome

Thanks. I wish the parts I ordered would get here quicker - I want this guitar finished ASAP.

[skullservant]

I did a detailed reading of your plans and I just have a few thoughts:

The Freeze- while it can run off of batteries, I'm not sure how long a 9V lasts with regular use. Are you planning on a battery drawer to hold the 9V? Either way between the Freeze or the Fuzz Factory you're gonna have to worry about a 9v. You'll probably want a killswitch for the battery or wire it so that when the guitar isn't plugged in the battery disconnects. Just dont forget to unplug the guitar, cause buying batteries sucks.

The mic idea- Are you planning on the mic plugging into the guitar and somehow interacting with the pickups, or just going straight to the guitar output? The only idea I'm confused about.

I think the push pull pots are a wiser solution than the toggles for the killswitches, and it'll be easier for you to use them as well. you could always have the push pull pots and then add DPDT switches to invert how the killswitches behave- either cutting or indroducing signal. Just more options.

The bass pickup cover over the bridge is pretty brilliant. My only concern would be changing a string on the fly but ehhhhh the cover is cooler.

But those are my thoughts thus far. Off to a good start and excited to see where it goes!

[npfrs]

I did a detailed reading of your plans and I just have a few thoughts:

Sweet!

The Freeze- while it can run off of batteries, I'm not sure how long a 9V lasts with regular use. Are you planning on a battery drawer to hold the 9V? Either way between the Freeze or the Fuzz Factory you're gonna have to worry about a 9v. You'll probably want a killswitch for the battery or wire it so that when the guitar isn't plugged in the battery disconnects. Just dont forget to unplug the guitar, cause buying batteries sucks.

There could be enough room to put the battery under the pickgaurd but I'm thinking of asking them to make a route on the back, below the trem, and use it to stuff some stuff in, then wire it up through where the input jack sits. If that do-able, I'll but the battery back there with the rest of it. I had mentioned in the post of putting a mini-toggle in to turn the battery on/off, to preserve it. That way, even if I want to play the guitar normally and not use the Freeze, I'm not wasting battery time.

The mic idea- Are you planning on the mic plugging into the guitar and somehow interacting with the pickups, or just going straight to the guitar output? The only idea I'm confused about.

I wasn't sure about this at all to be honest. I was looking for an old CB-style mic, like a police mic I could clip to my guitar strap, and wanted to make a 1/4" end on it to plug into the guitar, have it run through the output after the pick-ups, have an on/off switch for it. In the end I decided this feature was a little too much for this guitar - there's always another.

I think the push pull pots are a wiser solution than the toggles for the killswitches, and it'll be easier for you to use them as well. you could always have the push pull pots and then add DPDT switches to invert how the killswitches behave- either cutting or indroducing signal. Just more options.

Good call! As a former drummer I can't quite wrap my head around cutting sound when you press a button - to my mind, and to make it rhythmic, you need to make the sound when you press the button, hence my desire for a killswitch wired as mentioned.

The bass pickup cover over the bridge is pretty brilliant. My only concern would be changing a string on the fly but ehhhhh the cover is cooler.

Thanks! It doesn't cover the end of the bridge so string changes shouldn't take anymore time than they usually would; that's the great thing about it being a pick-up cover and not a bridge cover - open on both ends.

But those are my thoughts thus far. Off to a good start and excited to see where it goes!

Thanks! I'm very eager to get this project rolling and I can only hope, when I get it to the tech, he doesn't immediately crush any of the ideas without at least some discussion. (I don't think that'll happen - on the phone he was into some of the crazier ideas).

[PetZounds]

Jesus, this is awesome.
I'd be wary about trying to cram TOO much in there.
But you have some sick ideas and I'm excited to see how it pans out.
Definitely gonna need some demos once it's all done.

[npfrs]

Latest update - more parts came in!



New knobs, switch tip, slider, and arcade button. I ordered extra switch tips to have on hand (time to start building up a parts drawer I think), extra sliders (1 for the JM, 4 for my Bass VI), 2 sets of knobs (also JM and Bass VI), and that arcade button is as awesome as I had hoped!



So, as it stands, I'm only waiting on a white trem arm tip, white jazzmaster pickup covers, and still deciding on pickups to put in it - I know I'd like a Duncan Antiquity I in the neck (and can have it here within a week) but I'm torn on sticking with a JM pickup in the bridge or a Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker. I'm also going to replace the electronics and tuners but that can be done through the tech.

I'm thinking I might be able to drop the guitar off this weekend to have things get rolling.

[funsize]

careful with that arcade button, those things are designed to be extremely touch sensitive and might go off on its own if you bump the guitar or play too hard.

[npfrs]

careful with that arcade button, those things are designed to be extremely touch sensitive and might go off on its own if you bump the guitar or play too hard.

Good to know. I'm hoping, since I bought it from a DJ site, they'll be able to stand basic guitar playing without going off, since they should be able to stand pounding beats. It won't always be in the circuit though either, only when I want to use it.

I think it might go to the tech on Saturday to start the process - I'm too excited not to get it going!

[MrNovember]

These ideas are amazing
Definitely giving me some ideas for some possible future mods to my JM

[npfrs]

Thx - if this turns out okay I have a couple more modded-JM's I want to make...

It's at the tech right now with at least another week to go before the Dano pickup goes in.

[npfrs]

UPDATE: There's somebody locally who not only knows how to make an XLR box that will deliver the audio form the guitar while delivering power to the onboard effect, but also has done it many times. Keep your fingers crossed...

[Fuzzy_Puppy]

I simply LOVE the Ehx Freeze in the guitar idea ! That will be so great !
Also the mic idea is awesome too, reminds me of one of Jack White's guitars in "It might get loud", he had a mic in it

[npfrs]

[MrNovember]

That looks amazing already man

[npfrs]

That looks amazing already man

Just getting started, haha. Hopefully the routing goes okay (knock on wood). I have the roller knobs to paint them white (and there's a matching white switch for the upper bout) plus I got a good look under the guard and fitting a Freeze in there will be tight - but so worth it.