Offset King Confession... I Lied? (Johnny Marr Jaguar Follow-Up)

Okay, you caught me. There actually IS one thing I want to change about my Marr Jaguar! Tune in to find out what...
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[@killroy123]

Every mod you do comes with a great history lesson of various components. Super rad to learn about them every time

[@DaddyDisgusto]

I definitely felt that dremel part 😂 I love that you keep everything in the videos. Really appreciate the honesty of it all

[@PedalPlayhouse]

I loved how easy that is to change the angle to a slant with options I wouldn’t have thought that it was an option

[@ryaneganaus]

the mint guard and that toggle reorientation are excellent mods, great choices! gosh i wish this jag was more affordable, the limited sherwood green version of this really was my dream guitar

[@TelecasterMaster1]

Thank you for calling the Jag-Strat stupid 👏👏👏

[@Puisheen]

I try to be even-handed on most things but I really do loathe it.

[@realtruenorth]

Yeah, that's pretty dumb

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Just curious... what don't you like about it? On one hand it seems like a neat idea. You want a Jaguar sound but don't like the short Jaguar scale length but you like the 25.5" scale length of a Strat. Seems cool but the switching/pickup configuration is rather confusing 😕? I guess it maybe boils down to if you want a Jaguar just buy a Jaguar?

[@flapjack413]

I like taking the lead control plates on my Jaguars, and drilling out the neck pickup switch position to take a 3 way Switchcraft toggle. That makes switching on the fly easier for me, and frees up the middle switch for other stuff. I've done it so the middle switch can switch the phase between the pickups, and others so that each pickup can have its own treble bleed switch. Those Wronski plates are cool too. Back before Faction was around, I made one from a sheet of 1/16" thick aluminum, and polished it to a mirror shine. Worked very well, but these days I would save myself the trouble of hand milling out my own, and just buy one from Faction!

[@Puisheen]

I dig the Cobain style plate too

[@ohpotatoesandmolasses]

Some people will think you're being extra here, but I refuse to play any guitar that has a pickup switch anywhere near my picking hand trajectory, sooooo....

[@maxpeck4154]

I was thinking the exact same thing when I watched his first video of the guitar. I wouldn't like it either.

[@maxpeck4154]

@Brett I hear ya. I'd just replace it with either traditional Jag slider switches or a single slider switch, kind of like a non-reverse Firebird. Not sure if anyone makes a 4-way slider switch but for me personally I have no use for the 4th "all on" position.

[@maxpeck4154]

@Brett Hehe funny you should say that...I have both an S63 and a T63 as well as a K-Line Truxton (T style guitar) all with heel-adjust truss rods. They don't need to be adjusted THAT often but I saw a trick on a KZbin video for doing it... put a capo on the first fret, loosen the strings and just loosen the neck bolts enough to get the neck away from the body to get to the truss rod screw. It's still a pain but the capo holds enough tension to keep the strings on the posts... saves you from having to rewind them each time you do it.

[@caiusmadison2996]

Control your hand people. I play metal metronome style, amd my hand is extremely controlled. There is no gain to having a shit strum hand. There is only gains from having one that is mastered, not a master-bator.

[@maxpeck4154]

@@caiusmadison2996 That's good. Not everyone's like that. That's a stupid placement for a blade switch. It's subjective. You do you. Rock on. 🤘🏻

[@sixstringsamurai55]

That switch orientation doesn't bother me but to each their own. Thanks for the Faction name drop, always looking for trustworthy parts.

[@finboyYYC]

Huge fan of faction, he’s helped me with so many custom builds over the year (including a 7 string tele bridge which I suspect he will never want to do again lol) Edit: and a spitfire call-out, it’s like offsetguitars 2010 all over again 😂

[@Puisheen]

Haha

[@MissJazz004]

i literally just finished watching your review and then i see you uploaded this. rad

[@mikeschotte9480]

There’s a “Bare Knuckles” pickups joke in there somewhere, I’m sure…

[@mortusdominus]

I had wondered if their marauder plates were any good. Good to know they don't suck. Didn't know where else to find such a thing for my full scale bass VI marauder...thing....

[@RobCrawford23]

Mike I meant to say that if you prefer the neck pickup reverse wound the why not give the folks at Bareknuckle pickups a shout and get a reverse wound Marr neck pickup. Tim Mills and his team are excellent and have helped out many people I know get the right pickups (even if it has meant custom winds or non standard magnets.) They may also be able to help out with better looking covers (ones.which sort of match the rest of the guitar.)

[@Puisheen]

I’m sure I could! I’ve heard great things about the company, so I have no doubt they’d be up for a request like that. I’m in this weird place since my dad passed, where after digging through a mountain of things he never threw out i keep looking around at all of my possessions and thinking I need to pare it all down. So, for as much as I am loving this Marr, I want to figure out if having a third Jaguar makes sense for me first. But if it do, I’d happily hook up with Bareknuckle

[@RobCrawford23]

Was a regular on their message boards and stuff and they paid a lot of attention to what folks were thinking of and wanting to do. I can understand the strange place business, 28 years on and I still have things catching me out. All I can say is that the edges do get rounded off over time,

[@leamanc]

That minty guard does seem to work a lot better with the Olympic white.

[@rickeerie]

They really are great looking guitars. Curious to see how the finish will age over time

[@lukegreenhatch7825]

I totally concur. Ergonomics is a large part of why I changed to playing Jazzmasters 25+ years ago. I positon my switch on the diagonal, wired in the opposite way as I use the neck the most. Odd, but it works for me.

[@thecaveofthedead]

I prefer the white with the vintage white body, personally. Once the USA sticker is off it's a nice contrast, I think.

[@whwh7339]

My problem is that I can’t for the life of me find a mint green guard for this guitar that looks right. Since it’s a very off-white creamy guitar the regular mint guards look super pale. I’m looking for more of a khaki vibe and have tried 3-4 different guards ordered online and they all like mint toothpaste with way too much blue.

[@maxpeck4154]

I was thinking the same thing about the switch placement the first time I saw a Johnny Marr Jag. For me personally, I'd replace the blade switch with a slider switch a-la a non-reverse Firebird. It does the job and sits considerably more flush with the body. and much less likely to make knuckle contact. EDIT: Or just install traditional Jag slider switches...

[@Puisheen]

I do love the Mustang/Melody Maker/Firebird switch! Cool idea

[@maxpeck4154]

@@Puisheen I briefly had a non-reverse Firebird and it took all of a few minutes to get used to the slider switch. Sleeker and less intrusive than a blade or toggle. Not sure if someone makes a 4 position slider, however.

[@marknason4572]

This particular vid is giving me PBS New Yankee Workshop vibes. You're like the guitar Norm Abram.

[@Puisheen]

I dig this

[@marknason4572]

@@Puisheen Good. It was absolutely a compliment!

[@markferguson3745]

I never pick in that area, anyway.I either stay up by the bridge, or right on the neck pickup. Pretty much every design requires some mindful technique adjustments, but then, I vastly prefer the original switching. You can get all kinds of modded plates for the Jag and the Jazzmaster, so you can wire and move things around any way you'd prefer.I never use the rhythm circuits, so generally change them out.

[@Brian_Vallejo]

That intro was hilarious! Also, would love to hear you review the CV Mustang. Looks like such a great guitar

[@hotrod54chevy]

Great video, Mike! 👌

[@daveroberts1099]

I have that reducing the size of the knob as much as possible can help.

[@frankkissane1908]

I like the new switch plate orientation, (Telecaster metal plates also can be obtained with the same angle). I like the idea of the mint pickguard, or even parchment could work. I might also consider using a Strat switch knob, it's a little smaller and less obtrusive. Love the videos.

[@lunamatic9775]

Nice and easy, it only took about 5 hours longer than you originally expected to swap out 4 screws. I know the pain!😁

[@matt_ess153]

Mac and Jack's? I will have to search for one of those! Great video as always

[@amandacatherine793]

Wasn’t going to say anything about mine, but when my Fever Dream arrived, I got no sound from it. I discovered that if the selector switch is screwed down too tightly, the bottom of the switch shorts out to the shielding at the bottom of the cavity. My guitar arrived shorted, and I had to troubleshoot. Fortunately, loosening up the screws just a bit was enough to resolve the issue. Since it’s still snug, I’m not bothered by it.

[@ianwfowles]

Glad to see the plate getting some use!

[@Puisheen]

Ian I am forever grateful to you!

[@Ottlovesyou]

Literally hit the kill switch on my vintera jag last night during our gig and took me too long to figure out what happened 😅

[@likethehotels]

CAME FOR THE THUMBNAIL. STAYED FOR THE PUISHEEN.

[@PatrickGeneLeBlancHardy]

Thanks For Sharing 🎸🎶

[@breun]

I also replaced the white pickguard on my Olympic White Johnny Marr Jaguar, but I picked a tortoise pickguard. Still happy with that choice after 10+ years.

[@christophernoia5197]

Oof that mint guard looks weird to me on that guitar, probably because the Olympic white on the Marr model is a little bit more yellowed/mint tinted than other Olympic white guitars I've owned and seen. Maybe I'm just crazy, but my white 65 reissue Jazzmaster was pretty white when I got it new. It's been yellowing a bit over the past 8 years of use, but every white Marr jaguar I see is yellower than I'm used to seeing on new nitro guitars

[@recordingwhiz]

Next time might want to re-consider dremel-ing the pick guard instead of the chrome plated switch plate as now the switch plate has un-chromed exposed metal that will rust if given the chance. just a thought

[@FoardenotFord]

Interesting mod - I’ve had my Marr since 2016 and have not really run into a problem, but I might have a different strumming technique than you. Either way, interesting video! I absolutely adore this guitar - if I had to get rid of my entire lineup and keep only one guitar, it would be this one.

[@davidkristyhaan3178]

Yea I’ve angled my JM switches too, as well as when I did my series/parallel mod, I threw a a strangle switch cap on the series link a la marr jag. It’s much more useable that way, though I may still play with the cap value, almost cuts too much low end now, but it’s more useable than before the mod.

[@nickcabrera3982]

I'm with you. I honestly can't stand any controls or knobs forward of the bridge.

[@GamerPastHisPrime]

cool mod, and yeah, I think you need to put that guard on there. Looks awesome.

[@colmkelly5524]

I’m not a fan of the location of the regular 3-way toggle switch on a standard Jazzmaster guard as I find it can get switched accidentally if you are playing sitting down. It’s happened in the past in studio situations where I am listening back to takes to find that that somewhere between the end of say Take 3 and the beginning of Take 4 the sound has changed completely 😂

[@willclarke4631]

What about the trem arm? I changed mine to the screw type. I prefer the horizontal switch on the JM, like a tele. I have never hit it. My main problem with strats is the switch and knob position.

[@kootenaystringworks1765]

Hi Mike, not sure if this would have applied here or not. Jaguar switch plates have a bevel on them that matches up to the bevel in the pickguard so that when installed no gap would be present between the two. The switch plate is meant to be fitted from under the pickguard for the bevels to match up, if installing it from the top of the pickguard the switch plate will appear to be too large.

[@AL_KING777]

I would still shut that on and off, same reason I can’t play a Les Paul, that toggle is always getting shifted.

[@costasarantidis4499]

Did this on my Tele with a plate from Rock Rabbit (diagonal switch and in between volume and tone)...for some reason I clear the volume knob (just) but when the switch was up front, WHACK!!!!

[@dandan0o0]

Mike, did you get a new camera? Looking SHAAARP! Love your content so much.

[@Puisheen]

I’m using a GH5 these days and I love it! Thanks!

[@TheEchomaker]

@2:28 that's how you get that bare knuckle tone

[@LordFuzzman]

Looks like it makes only about a cm lower difference in the bridge position, no change in middle and worse in the neck but most importantly it looks much more cool, which as we know is king… good work 👌

[@TK_100]

That dang switch stopped me from buying an American pro when they were in production.

[@boco1951]

Once again you have climbed the offset mountain and survived!

[@edgarmezavids]

I feel the same way about the abundance of control knobs on BC Rich Mockingbird basses.

[@Puisheen]

Haha now that’s even too much for me

[@IsabellaCatherine19XX]

Well done. Nice guitar! Great video. :)

[@grantandrews4826]

That's one of the best thumnails in youtube history.

[@jessekitts3976]

The moment when the mint guard has a wider space to accept the new plate...

[@2dazetake]

That definitely put the switch a lot further away,especially in the bridge mode.

[@chardschoice]

In my opinion this doesn’t really solve the problem of the switch being in the way. And the fact, that the angled orientation just trades one problem - an obstacle to bust one’s knuckles on - for another - inadvertently switching pickup positions when one doesn’t want to - would make me want to think of other options for the Johnny Marr Jag. The bank of three low profile pickup switches of the original Jaguar is, in fact, the one thing I like about the Jaguar over the Jazzmaster. The location of the Jazzmaster toggle - right where I naturally want to make sweeping strums, has long been an issue for me. In several of my Jazzmaster builds I have experimented with different locations of the toggle, and different switching mechanisms with varying degrees of success. If I had a Marr Jaguar, I would probably restore the three switch plate below, and then add a third switch up above for the series setting. Not sure how complicated the wiring would have to be, but I think that is how I would approach it.

[@SteveMcDonald-f6p]

I want the old switches!!! Can't help it.

[@capitaldharma]

I’ve also been thinking a mint guard would work on my Johnny Marr Jag in Olympic White. Please show us how it looks!

[@In_MT]

works great on a Tele also. A vote for the Mint Guard

[@Hardtimes330]

That sound acoustically. Wow!

[@WilliamHaisch]

“Oh my God! The whole planet is on a plate! Get back in the spaceship!”

[@THEFALLOFEVEMUSIC]

Great little mod, definitely change the white guard, mint one looks good 👌🤟

[@garybratton7756]

Needs tort. :D I also immediately put a black tele switch tip on. The silver one really bugs me for some reason.

[@adrianfumi]

I can definitely understand why you'd want to change that if you play the in a style in which you strum too hard... JM doesn't really play in that fashion, therefore it doesn't get in the way. He did designed it to his liking. If he strummed hard he may have come up with a completely different design... So I can see your point. I guess I don't strum hard on my JM Sig because it reminds me too much of JM and The Smiths. I got mine at a cheap price because a friend of mine is an Ambassador for Fender, but still couldn't touch it a dremel... 😂 Looks killer though!

[@jordan2833]

Mint green pickguards are a MUST for me! Either mint, Spitfire tort, or gold anodized. That CBS era white is too bright for my taste so I agree with that decision! We all have our tastes and preferences :)

[@sub-jec-tiv]

I just want to thank you for never saying ‘jaguwire.’

[@tonyevans9999]

I think it's way more ergodynamic now and plus one for the mint guard

[@duncanmaccoll8336]

Heaven knows you're not miserable now😊

[@thoott3952]

Hello Mike, I have a great idea for that pick-guard if you’re interested. I did it on my strat. For some reason. I can’t send a photo rep on here?

[@ceygu4878]

Mike that T-shirt !! Dinsey all the way

[@Puisheen]

That was my mom’s!

[@chickenlickin3820]

thanks buddy : )

[@tcelikyay]

a black plate would look so good on that :)

[@hallyconn]

Do you have any plans to review the Fender Wide Range Cunife Jazzmaster pickup set?

[@alexcorona]

The stock tele and Strat switch is the worst for me because I always end up hitting it. With the tele is an easy mod to get it out of the way. Not so much with the Strat.

[@taylornutt]

Would it have been possible to use the standard 3 switch plate, have the first two switches turn on/off the the two pickups and have the third switch switch between series and parallel when both pickups are on? I know that would require swapping out the blade for switches but it would keep the classic look.

[@Puisheen]

There’s actually a great custom wiring scheme using the stock jag switches that keeps all original functionality and simply adds series with both pickup switches in the off position. I love that one.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

I've always felt this about the Johnny Marr Jag' & also felt it about every telecaster that wasn't a thinline! -But here's a question for you: would you prefer three(or 2?)sliding switches to this Tele style selector..?!

[@johnnyguitar7921]

hey man, please do a review of he JD-33 guitar

[@reijerlincoln]

Thx for the Slacktone tip.

[@mattdoliver1984]

Im surprised Johnny didn't get onto this in all honesty....Its definitely a worthwhile upgrade.... Johnny Marr purists may want your head on a stick though Mike 😂I've used similar on Tele's in the past

[@sixbladeknife44]

Now you can play along with the Ronski Beat and no more sore bare knuckles! 🤠

[@chrisburch3808]

Mod shop jags have the switch like the stock Marr to.

[@benford1726]

You'd think with a name like Mod Shop they'd have some options for that kind of thing

[@Jayrawk]

L I A R ! ! ! I totally agree though. Good call.

[@danielbell4007]

Rock rabbit makes some cool stuff too for jags, and other guitars too.

[@LeO31135]

The only thing I changed in this guitar was the bridge, I found it annoying, it wouldn’t return and get stuck in some weird position where it would buzz. Nothing like a mastery bridge after all

[@strangebirdsir]

Mint for the win!

[@archeryandstuffwithstevela3423]

Even if it’s not ergonomically significant, it’s way cooler aesthetically!😊

[@guysmiley7289]

Hey, I got one of these and I accidentally (and foolishly) left my vinyl guitar strap on it when I put it in a case for an extended time. The Nitro is bubbled pretty badly. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks!

[@dantheface2986]

Mike what's you're opinion on the firebird I just got one an Epiphone "Gibson inspired" version and I wanted to ask

[@Puisheen]

Dan, I don’t know that I have one-haven’t played that yet. Epi makes a good guitar though

[@notyurrealdad8743]

Im very nervous with that can there 😅

[@telecasterbear]

Is that Randy up on your wall? Nice.

[@Puisheen]

The framed photo? No! That’s Glen Hansard playing the Jag I refurbed for him!

[@telecasterbear]

@@Puisheen Nice. I thought it was Mr Bachman from up north, eh.

[@Brannington]

Hey, Mike!! ive been curious about the Staytrem bridge. would i be able to just drop it into my Classic Vibe Mustang? the factory bridge has been giving me the runaround and won't stay tall and its making notes near the higher end of the neck choke out

[@Brannington]

Many thanks in advance of course!!

[@Puisheen]

Staytrem should drop in, absolutely! You may want to add a dab of Loc Tite or clear nail Polish on the threads of the bridge post height adjustment screws of your stock bridge first, just to see if it’s the screws vibrating loose as you play

[@benford1726]

I got one of those Jazzmasters with the 4 way switch and I hate that switch placement soo much It's the only JM I own (out of 4) that doesn't have the wiggle stick on it because there just isn't room

[@CamiloSinger]

IS THAT ENOUGH?!?

[@Edward-MTBKR]

Is that really an improvement? It seems like your concern was the elevation of the switch, not it's direction of travel. I would get out a soldering iron and some sliders, keep it real low.

[@inkeye1]

Glad the plate worked out, even with some Dremel work.

[@davidsmith3907]

Have a first issue Marr jag.never hit the switch once! Lol

[@ThomasGeist]

Is the new plate stainless steel? Otherwise didn’t you strip off some nickel or chrome plating when you dremeld it down, inviting some oxidation?

[@Puisheen]

Stainless!

[@Reprodestruxion]

Ok now to play the chords to Heaven knows I’m miserable now

[@urdanoff123]

Is there a Puisheen video reviewing the CME jazzmaster somewhere?

[@RaiynStorm]

​@Puisheen I love your work, but you do realize that a plastic guard is easier to work than grinding a metal plate, right?

[@benford1726]

Also not reverse-able if you ever want to go back to stock (Resale value and all that)

[@42069G20911Boobz]

Do you know if the Marrguar bridge is similar to the 7.25 radius am pro bridge that fender offers? Just got a second jag (avri 62) for a different tuning. I love the staytrem, but need something sooner, hoping american pro bridge with mustang saddles is close?

[@42069G20911Boobz]

(I will probably still order a staytrem, but need similar bridge in the meantime)

[@keiranbradley3238]

The switch will now be a fraction of an inch farther away?. What was the point in this?.