Build your DREAM JAGUAR BASS for less than $280

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Facebook: / gunsandguitarsofficial
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*Prices mentioned in this video are subject to change without notice. Please check the links below for current pricing.
Here are all the parts I used for this build:
jazz bass kit: it’s sold out at the moment, but Tomtop tells me it’ll be back next month (end of February)
shrsl.com/p7tk (be sure to select the US warehouse option to see the best deal)
Or buy a better quality kit here: (Use coupon code GUNSNGTRS to save $10)
shrsl.com/13tyk
Upper Horn Control Plate:
www.amazon.com...
Bracket:
www.amazon.com...
Lower Switch Plate:
www.amazon.com...
Roller knobs:
www.amazon.com...
DPDT slide switches:
www.amazon.com...
This is the 3 position switch I used for the north/series/south bridge pickup switch:
www.amazon.com...
Artec double J humbucker bridge pickup:
www.ebay.com/i...
DiMarzio Ultra Jazz neck pickup: (not HOT jazz, I misspoke)
www.amazon.com...
Tone Monster Bass Preamp:
www.ebay.com/i...
9v Battery Box:
www.amazon.com...
Full disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, and the links in this description are affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, it doesn't cost you any more money, but I will earn a commission.
I modeled my jaguar build off of the older MIJ jag basses that had jazz pickups, as opposed to newer American made PJ setup. I really liked those Japanese jags and you can’t get them anymore unless you’re lucky enough to find one used, even still they usually fetch over $1,000. So I set out to build one of my own, for just a tad less....
I started with this basic cheapo $75 jazz bass kit I got from Tomtop, I put a link in the description for you. Just a reminder that if you live in the US, you need choose the US warehouse option for shipping to get that price. Also a quick tip, if you hang out on their website long enough, usually a coupon code will pop up to save you another 5%. Now this jazz bass kit was not bad, but definitely far from perfect. There were a few things that needed fixing. Firstly, a jazz bass doesn’t look like a jaguar bass at all, but it’s actually closer than you think. Just like my wife, it’s got all the right curves in all the right places. All I needed to do was chop off the horns a bit to get her looking perfect. The jazz bass, not my wife...I’d never chop off her horns (honk honk). At any rate, a jigsaw and a dremel with a sanding drum made quick work of reshaping the body.
The neck wasn’t perfect either. frets needed to be leveled and crowned. If you don’t know how to do this, I have an excellent video on how to make your own pro Luthier tools where I explain every step in detail, check it out, but the long and short of it is, it’s easy, it just takes some time. Lastly, because my kit came with a paddle shaped headstock, I got to cut it into my own custom design. Which I later found out is pretty close to a boutique bass company called Sandberg. (Slaps forehead)

[@GunsandGuitars]

Sorry for the terrible green screening on this one...learned my lesson. Don't film a green bass in front of a green screen...lol. Also, I misspoke, the neck pickup is not a DiMarzio "Hot Jazz" it's an "Ultra Jazz"

[@NMMShred]

Pls do dream les paul

[@airguitar1321]

Do a fretless bass (if you can find one)

[@mattbrad34]

Guns and Guitars any interest in selling this one, or any other basses you’ve built?

[@JonathonBarton]

I love that you went with the Emerald Green - I think I mentioned in a comment from my other YT account (the one I actually post videos on) that I got a JB and a PB for Christmas. For the Precision Bass, I went with a Minwax wood stain with a clear base, but had the guy at Lowes use the tint recipe for a very nice Valspar house paint color (a purplish blue) - and it came out amazing! Thanks for these!

[@Alfredo4361]

Please do a Dream Ibanez type guitar, with floyd rose and 2 humbuckers and 1 single coil in the middle, I want to do a project like that

[@upstate-settlers]

Can you do a thunderbird next

[@mr.darkpasta7018]

^^^^^^^^

[@zebfail480]

yes dude

[@olitho8602]

Or a mockingbird

[@SethPlaysBass]

Cool idea. The kits aren't realistic and expensive. Smh

[@PrototypeDriverCrash]

I absolutely love the humbucker you installed on the bass. A good choice! Especially if you love both the 60s and 70s Jazz Bass sounds! Can't wait to mod a JB with that pickup.

[@Lithuania8634]

I love these videos because they speak to me on a personal level, considering the budget factor.

[@annikjenaja1271]

Not a Homosexual I like ur username. I feel like it contradicts my very being.

[@greensmurf5000]

Awesome handle.

[@Lithuania8634]

@@greensmurf5000 thanks

[@DJPhree330]

Shoutouts to homeboy's curvy wife thooo 😲

[@americanpatriot646]

I always wanted to do a p-bass with j-neck that has 3 sting style pickups with a 5 way switch.

[@Sedd7848]

That bass is illegal in New York and California, too many features on that “Assault Bass”! Thanks for another great build! Love the finish!

[@aguyontheinterwebs3576]

Noooo not New York

[@xaza5625]

Lmao "assault bass"

[@darrylbutt2570]

@Monsterbass Why are Yanks so mad about guns?

[@lulube11e111]

Im really here for guitars not guns

[@rodgerrabbit7724]

Guns are awesome

[@davegoldsmith173]

Nice story bro.

[@Khorne_of_the_Hill]

Can't it be both?

[@anonymous-dk3um]

Nice status signalling there.

[@Ievolovel]

Who cares?

[@MST720]

I'd like to see Davie504 play one of your bass builds

[@GunsandGuitars]

Me too! I’ll reach out to him and see if he’s interested.

[@marciaferris2715]

Yes

[@f2detaboada]

FUCK YEAH

[@1106Winter]

Guns and Guitars, and? Would be awesome!

[@ratchetmaster4951]

davie 504 will reply to a comment

[@ethantrujillo9605]

There's actually a lot of those Japanese jazz basses on reverb so theyre not too hard to find BUT they do hover around the 1000 dollar price point, sometimes a few hundred less

[@michaelmcmahan4612]

Dan, I am so blessed by you and your channel. This is the most amazing bass ever. I have come back to this build video over 20 times. May Gods richest blessings rest on you and your household. Keep Jammin.

[@tayfrancis3238]

Do a custom Gibson Explorer please

[@cameronjustis3836]

YES!!!!

[@waltlorenzut6338]

Or even the Gibson Victory? Little known, but a very cool combo of a Fender P and a J, basically

[@Eclecticsignal]

What's a "Jag-Wire"?

[@waltlorenzut6338]

Jaguar + Squier?? Is that on purpose? Ha ha ha

[@craigmccomish3758]

someone else gets my pain

[@Tom-gv7hc]

Pretty sure it’s spelled Jaguar, The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar by Fender Musical Instruments characterized by an offset-waist body, a relatively unusual switching system with two separate circuits for lead and rhythm, and a medium-scale 24" neck of course the bass would have different specs but I hope you get the idea!

[@emerald_archer]

Think he's talking about how normal people pronounce it. He probably pronounces it Jag U War or something silly like that. @@Tom-gv7hc

[@prestondoring2640]

Thomas Myers wooosh

[@paulnorth5126]

Hey Dan, Love the video's, especially the custom bass builds from cheap starter kits, they're really inspiring, makes me wanna start making one every time I see a video. Could you run down a list of the tools you "must" have to put a bass kit together and then any additional tools you use to customize your kits? I want to make sure I have the tools needed before I buy a kit of my own. Thanks.

[@Deadman4818]

This would be amazing

[@GunsandGuitars]

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve been meaning to do a video on this, maybe I’ll get to it sooner than later

[@GrayMatter13]

Oh, man! First a Ric copy and now a Jaguar copy?! I've always wanted both and now thanks to you I'll be able to build my own. Thanks!

[@rachitbhengra4298]

Dan please send those crossover schematics . :-(

[@ItsMe-ic5oc]

2nd ed. I really wanna see them too.

[@cat_died]

This came out great. That emerald burat finish came out really well. I'm surprised you aren't keeping this one for yourself.

[@IanThatMetalBassist]

I just want to say, your channel has been very helpful for info on kit building and thanks to you, I've put together my first kit, a ric bass copy.

[@nerkoids]

Man, with that crossover circuit - I could imagine how this baby would sound with flatwounds.

[@nerkoids]

Also, good thing you didn't go for the double Artec Jazz pups.... then there'd be 30 feet of copper wire :D

[@daviswood259]

I’m just waiting on that concentric knob tutorial

[@MichaelUhler]

Tonal crossover circuit sounded great on this. Great channel man.

[@GuitarGod3711]

At first I wasn't in love with it. I thought it was too punchy and the high ends really stood out. After the pre-amp I fell in love with it. Great bass!

[@griffinhocker2004]

How about a DIY les Paul? Awesome build btw

[@GunsandGuitars]

Misfire first, then a les Paul. I’ve got a kit sitting in my house waiting to be built!

[@GunsandGuitars]

Just realized autocorrect changed mosrite to misfire lol

[@stevebrown1997]

That is a beautiful instrument! I had a Japanese J Bass a million years ago that I absolutely loved it got stolen from my apartment when I was on deployment :(

[@kennethschaar7024]

the blue is a nice change from your norm, VERY SEXY BASS

[@c.e.f4916]

You should try to make a Jag Strat (I’m just assuming everyone knows what that is by now) It would really just be a Strat with all Jag style hardware. It would look sic in one of the cool finishes that you do....

[@waldorfCrane]

Would love to see more of the templating, routing, and cutting of everything.

[@williamsweetland8043]

Do an explorer kit next

[@griffinedwards1404]

This is such an awesome build! I know it's a little different than your normal style but it'd be cool to to see a fretless bass build

[@danvanlandingham3854]

Did you ever think of winding your own pickups?Us old radio guys wound our own coils for years when we restored old radios or made our own crystal radios.

[@Mobiliksa]

Would love to see a telecaster build. The tele kit I bought from tomtop had a loose neck joint but in the end, I have a purple tele with coil split hot rails.

[@elonmush4793]

I feel you, Dan! I once completely rewired my Jazzmaster and it is a pain in the ass.

[@GHL30NLuzifer]

Dayum! That crossover circuit sounds sexy! Kinda like you've got just a tiny bit of chorus in there... Plus the low end really shines there! Totally liking it! :)

[@GunsandGuitars]

Yeah I’m not sure why that chorus-y effect happens. It didn’t happen on the ric bass x-over. Might be a result of being combined with the preamp maybe? Either way, it sounds very cool and unique.

[@willfowler8540]

@@GunsandGuitars that's super cool! Wonder exactly why?

[@SofiaTheGoofyComic]

the tone differences were not subtle. they were pretty noticeable. excellent sounding all around..... much respect..

[@bassimprovjams3772]

I'm having a custom bass built now and have a double J humbucker! Can't wait!! That humbucker sounds killer!! I hope mine is just as awesome!! Great video

[@user-gi5yx4kx3z]

Preamp+crossover = Awesome!

[@xfreeworld4563]

Can’t wait for that jazz master build man! Working on a strat myself at the moment, that coupon code for the fret wire was awesome greatly appreciated 👌🏼

[@LittleGenevieve]

I love that thumpy tone you get with the preamp and crossover

[@hammerjohnson4892]

This Jaguar bass is double cool! I have a Jaguar hood ornament I picked up somewhere I should send you to mount on it, but it weighs about three pounds and I've already decided to put it on my beater 2000 Grand Am. And dude! Your playing on both four and six strings has improved so much in the last year! Kudos.

[@OldHickory357]

I have a made in Japan Jaguar. Same red one as the one in the photos on this video. It's a great bass.

[@memor5514]

This guy can really play some bass... you should do a video on just you playing the shit out of one of your basses

[@TheDasbull]

Great Job! Your videos are great for those of building a bass or guitar. Awesome playing and the finished bass looks and sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing

[@jgrimsley2000]

How does this guy only have 49K subs? Another killer build!

[@GunsandGuitars]

Thanks man! The channel grows a little everyday. It’s a marathon, not a sprint

[@stringsthings]

That finish turned out really good. Might have to give that a try.

[@edwincancelii2917]

That custom made jaguar bass should also be the voice of surf rock.

[@123Ir0nman]

I love your videos as always! On the next guitar build you do that isn't pre-wired, could you do a video of how you solder everything together please? By longer video I don't necessarily mean a real time video but a video with all of the steps of wiring a guitar shown. It would probably be good to do a guitar with wiring that isn't too crazy, maybe an ibanez style guitar. I'm teaching myself how to do soldering and wiring on a guitar from scratch and I really like your style of educational videos.

[@GunsandGuitars]

That’s a great recommendation. I’ve been meaning to do a video on he basics of guitar wiring, I think I should do this.

[@123Ir0nman]

Guns and Guitars Awesome thanks!!!

[@IljavanDam]

Great work on that bass; incredible tonal versatility.

[@bigcountryjd]

Sick bass. I'm gonna build one, much simpler on the wiring though.

[@maxjpind]

Really like the way the color turned out! Just gorgeous. TOTALLY feel your pain about the wiring too. Just finished wiring up a customer’s les Paul with a full jimmy page setup (4 push/pull pots) what a PITA lol!

[@GunsandGuitars]

That sounds like a rad build though!

[@djthingsmaker]

hot damn, man definitely one of the coolest builds you did. colour, shape, and sounds. Bruh. great job man!!!

[@ItsMe-ic5oc]

1:35 "Because you know Im all about that bass, bout that bass....🎶

[@torstencorum5983]

I liked your build so much I converted my squire jazz the same way except all the electronics. Kept it simple. Love the colors.

[@MarkAltin]

Guns and Guitars - Thanks for the Rit dye tip! I'm building a Jazz Master based on your previous kit review and was having trouble with the finishing. I tried some lacquer, but ended up stripping back down to the wood to trip the trans-dye finish. I think its really looking great. Now I'm applying a wipe on poly for a gloss clear coat (I hope I don't screw it up). Keep up the great work!

[@swept180sxnet4]

oh my god that bass is so beautiful. keep up the good work!

[@lucaskenzomatsumototani3379]

man i think this one is the best build on your channel

[@AlejandroGonzalez-wo5fk]

Bruh this sound so PHAT! YOU MELTED MY FACE WITH THAT DEMO!! And damn i mean... all the combinations that are left to discover.

[@grumblyone3334]

Sweet bass. I'd get lost trying to figure any of it out, but no doubt a pro would have a field day with that thing! Doesn't hurt being astheticly awesome as well.

[@key1251]

"This 12ga Winchester..." I'll admit I cracked up at that part. Keep up the fantastic work! I'm loving the consistent quality you have going

[@reese1586]

Hey dan, remember the machine gun bass build I asked you about? Have you made any progress? Im anxious to see it!

[@hawkjohnson9500]

I was just gifted a Japanese Jaguar a couple days ago, it's amazing ! Thanks for reaching me what all the controls do !

[@cubedomatic]

this is one of your best demos yet! I love both pickups parallel and passive on this one!

[@kenjicarlos8402]

This is really cool!!! I would TOTALLY do this, but I don't know any woodworkers near me, nor do I have access to a woodworking station if I even knew how to work with it 😅

[@johnbhumphrey]

I would spend days on end trying to figure out which sound I wanted, there's so many and they all sound great. Great build.

[@studiogorilla]

Looks great, sounds even better!

[@daneguitarist1]

well done dude, i have your first whiskey if you ever come around kansas

[@Liberty4Ever]

Hey Dan! You are absolutely killing it lately. Great build! I love that emerald green finish and the sound is awesome. With a passive sound that good you almost don't need an active. I'm getting ready to start my jazz bass build very soon. Thanks for the inspiration and the education.

[@jackxero99]

Hey Dan, would you consider doing a video on how to convert a fretted bass to fretless?

[@Speedojesus]

If you do it properly the result should be fairly good. Of course if you do it like Jaco you're just going to ruin parts of the fretboard because he did it with a knife or a pair of pliers depending on your source and slapped a form of glue on it as a coating.

[@noifcustoms]

The short and sweet of it. Take a soldering iron and heat up a fret at a time (greatly reduces tearout). Use a good set of small front end snips to pull the fret out slowly. Clean the slot with a fret saw or similar and replace the fret with styrene strips. Trim, re-sand and finish to your liking. BUT, your side markers will be off. Fretted basses are marked in between frets. Many fretless are marked at the fret.

[@30Gabyz]

Beauty jaguar Bass, great sounds of Di Marzio Pickups

[@Mlee1877]

Very nice bass very well done thank you

[@delimonky12]

Hey Dan, I saw a video about improving ceramic pickups with neodymium magnets. I myself do not have the technical prowess to test it, but I think that if you could test that out, it could be an infinitely cheaper alternative for pickups (since you just can use the DIY Kit's pickups). Do you think you'd be able to make a video about that, with one of your classic before and after demonstrations? Thanks Dan, I love your videos, you picked a phenomenal idea for a KZbin channel, and your follow through has been sublime. Keep it up!!

[@StriderX04]

Looks great! Maybe I should try building a jag wire bass

[@MarktheAirsoftPrimate]

Love that color! Ive been using that harbor freight router for a few years and it’s performed beautifully.

[@fepatton]

Rit Dye! (Smacks forehead repeatedly.) Man, wish I had seen this before ordering my fifth or sixth $23 bottle of wood dye from StewMac. I kept thinking there must be a cheaper way. That, sir, is a true pro tip!

[@coyperez3924]

I’d love to see how that bass and my tele build look next to each other since we did similar finishes with rid

[@Mr.Goldbar]

Both pickups active + crossover on + parallel neck + north split bridge is my favorite Bridge south pole only is my least favorite

[@SethPlaysBass]

I think the South coil of the Humbucker jazz bass pickup sounds like the 72 jazz bass

[@joethegiant]

Such a bad ass bass. With all the different tones. It's the only bass anyone needs. Another great video!

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Omg thats the same preamp I have in my custom I just mentioned!! That us so coo!! I really like this build you did!! You kind of went lakland style on the humbucker selection

[@jacobbrown1690]

i would keep the same as you...but put a SD musicman style pick up in the bridge.

[@klojke]

Aah shit.. Not the bullet shells again...

[@HimanXK]

I hope you put some shielding in with all of that wiring

[@Shuffit]

Triple Humbucker build? Maybe a V or explorer shape?

[@anthonybird5261]

Made this but still trying to sort out the electrics !

[@prehistoricwatergun0136]

On your next bass build could you try using a Seymour Duncan jazz neck pickup

[@jerbear97]

the channel we didn't ask for but needed

[@KISSFanDan1995]

I think it'd be cool if someone made Gibson Moderne style bass with Ripper pickups and a Thunderbird headstock.

[@troythompson1621]

I'm thinking monster J. A cross between this and the Warewolf. Can you on /off switch each coil, (4 for HH, 5 for HPH) so you don't have a mess of knobs? Rectangular lighted rocker panel would make it easy to see in the dark. A 5 way switch is not enough.

[@afqnzrn]

This is awesome! 2 years ago i was lucky enough to have found the Japan Jaguar for just $750, got it cheap because the previous buyer backed out but he didnt claim back his deposit. I love my jaguar!

[@GunsandGuitars]

Lucky!

[@anthonysclafani3963]

That color looks awesome

[@gringogreen4719]

Great build! The one thing I could recommend that makes a difference is to either line the control cavities with copper foil or use shielding paint. This will help reject stray signals and noise sources so you can get the most out of those crazy electronics you have. Also do the same with the pickup cavities. You see this in high end guitars and basses. Really it looks like a top notch bass! Also give your wife shoulder rubs and scalp massages. You might be surprised the results this yields!😉

[@tsiggy]

There are these shops in my hometown, that are selling paints and spices. Kinda like your channel name.

[@yiwen9041]

Love your finishes. And the way the chrome plate interferes with the "greenscreen" is pretty cool too!

[@GunsandGuitars]

Haha

[@dawsonheinbaugh5730]

Where did you learn all of your skills? I'm 19 and I'd really like to learn how to do this kind of stuff

[@hammerjohnson4892]

Watch Gran Torino and follow Clint's advice. You spend a lifetime learning to fix things until you have a shop full of tools and a head full of skills. Dan will get there in a few decades.

[@robertwahlroos6976]

So finally dipping into the kit build thing, and picked up this kit. I'm debating if I be daring and attempt to route out the curve on the front and give it a binding.

[@axemurderforhire1]

The passive output sounds brilliant

[@juiceneck69]

yo this guys got some pretty great bass chops

[@titobalkani8240]

This really might be the best channel on yt. Thanks man!

[@michaelproctor8777]

Have to admit, that is one good looking and sounding bass. I love the tones coming out of that beast. A very versatile little thing. A good job well done.

[@maxb9167]

When's a collection video of all your badass guitars and basses gonna come out? Love to see one!

[@johnpick8336]

Great Build and Chops !