ilovefuzz.com

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!

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...

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!