Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster Upgrade | Gunstreet Wiring Shop

[@williamdesilva67]

Hey eric.. thx for filming my son's graduation.. I'm the guy who said hi today at shs... and gunstreet harnesses are really nice.. I'm putting one in my vola and tele both

[@EricMerrow]

Hey William, it was great to meet you man! Thanks for saying hi and congrats to your son!!

[@tylerwelker]

I bought a classic vibe Starcaster as a mod project and was impressed at how far squier has come. That being said, it still was a $400 guitar, so lots to be desired. I added the cunife wide ranges from fender cause I assumed this would be the first cost cut. For some reason, I couldn’t ever get the neck pickup to work with the existing wiring (I’ve modded probably 25 strats and teles since ‘04, never once have had a problem so this was disheartening.) so thank goodness the guys at gunstreet made a wiring harness for the Starcaster. 1meg pots over the 500k were a great addition. Such an easy wiring install, and now my $400 guitar with $450 in upgrades sounds great! Going to paint the body and headstock based on the Porsche Carrara white with Porsche nato green accents. Can’t wait!

[@EricMerrow]

Sounds like an awesome project!!!

[@C0nnie]

digging this jazzmaster ''series'' of yours. as an idiot with 0 experience maintaining a guitar, learning on the classic vibe doesn't sound like a bad idea. Worst case scenario my local shop takes care of it right haha

[@EricMerrow]

Absolutely! So glad you’re enjoying the videos! All the maintenance is very doable if you’ve got some patience 👍👍

[@shnsltr6853]

Great video! As a fellow lefty and long-time offset guitar fan I was beyond stoked to see the release of the lefty CV Jazzmaster as vintage and Japanese lefties were always out of my reach. Picked up one as soon as they were available in Canada. Out of the box it was awful but after a proper setup, neck shim, fret ends cleaned up and some loctite on the bridge thimbles, it's smooth playing and very stable. The electronics also left a lot to be desired and the vibrato on mine was super clunky but since I had plans to use this as a modding platform I ordered an AVRI tremolo, new pick guard (brighter than stock vintage tortoise shell) and a wiring harness (simple 500k pots/no rhythm circuit, also from Gun Street). Huge improvement over stock and easily competes with a higher end Fender! No shame rocking this Squier! I'll buy some new pickups for it eventually but for now I'm very content with it and will likely keep it for a very long time.

[@EricMerrow]

Right on!! My cv Jazzmaster was also absolutely awful out of the box 😂 so much so that I went ahead and made a video about some routine things to get it up to playing shape (everything you mentioned). I’m glad you’re digging it! I bet that new pickguard and the gunstreet harness are making it a great instrument!!

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

REWIRED MY STRAT WITH EMG'S AND BOY OH BOY I HAVE THAT DAVID GILMOUR SOUND AND IT CAME PREWIRED NO SCREWDRIVERS OR WRENCH'S NEED TO REWIRE YOUR AXE..ITS CALLED SODERLESS CONNECTIONS I HAVE A GUITAR COLLECTION OF 33 GUITARS AND SOME DAY I WANT TO HAVE 2O GUITARS W/EMG AND STILL KEEP THE ORIGINALS FOR VINTAGE VALUE....GREAT VIDEO ERIC.....

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

I REALLY LIKE YOUR 2ND SETTING WITHOUT TO MUCH FUZZ ?? AND I AM NOT YELLING AT YOU MY CAPS ARE STUCK ON MY DELL COMPUTER !!

[@EricMerrow]

That sounds like a cool setup! I’ve never tried any active pickups but I’m pretty interested in them. Thanks so much for watching!

[@j.a.s.1416]

Had to do the same thing with my player's series Stratocaster. Shielding paint very nicely put on. No contanuity at all and took an hour or 2 to shield the cavities etc lol. Great video exactly what I was looking for. 🎸

[@EricMerrow]

Glad you liked it!! The shielding video will be out very soon!

[@manunautes1839]

Those wide range pickups sound great!

[@EricMerrow]

Thanks!!

[@CornPaws]

just found this channel! awesome to see another lefty and also i like how you don’t just play blues leads like most youtube guitar channels

[@EricMerrow]

So glad you found the channel! Thanks for watching!

[@jambajoby32]

I swapped the mascis metal pickguard for a white one and one thing to know is the length of that metal rhythm-circuit rollers (volume and tone rollers) frame don’t match across squiers so I had to swap the frame.

[@chriscurran1967]

Very cool video Eric!!! I was not aware that there are Jazz Master pickups that were actually wide range. As far as wiring goes, after you recommended Gun Street, I’m not looking back. Sean did the custom harness for my 3 pickup SG Junior and it works great!!! His prices are fair and workmanship was excellent. No need to go anywhere else. Keep up the great work!!!🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@EricMerrow]

Hey Chris!! Yeah man, there are TONS of pickup options for Jazzmasters because the pickups are so physically big. That lets pickup makers stuff pretty much any pickup into that housing. Also, I totally agree about Gunstreet. Sean is a great dude making great products! Thanks for always watching man!

[@TheChristafershawn]

Hey there, What brand pots did you go with? I am considering going with 500K Bourne's in their simple no rhythm JM harness and wondered if the pickguard would need the holes widened. It didn't look like you had to but just thought I'd ask. Thanks

[@EricMerrow]

Hi there! Thanks for checking out the video. I got the Bournes pots in mine and I don’t think I had to modify the holes. Next time, I’ll probably stay away from the Bournes bc I don’t like how they feel when turning - they don’t have enough physical resistance so they turn too easily for me.

[@TheChristafershawn]

@@EricMerrow Ahhh......thanks for the heads up. I will have to rethink that choice then. I appreciate you getting back to me. Peace.

[@joncheuvront5487]

I have GunStreet in both my SG's and Tele/Esquire. Absolutely love the quality of his product. I really look forward to getting a new harness for one (then my other) Jazzmasters. I have a setup widerange humbuckers (JM sized) by Curtis Novak. I also went down the work hole of "I'k going to shield the pick guard" and ended doing the whole body cavity.

[@EricMerrow]

Right on!! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@KeithShelley1]

Awesome video! I've been thinking about upgrading the wiring in my J Mascis but have been a little intimidated by all the extra wiring. Your video is a big help!

[@EricMerrow]

I'm glad the video was helpful, Keith! Thanks for watching! The J Mascis JM has the rhythm circuit, so the process would be every similar to this video for sure

[@robertfields1964]

Very interesting. I use masking tape around my pliers to soften the contact. I wonder what your thoughts are on replacing the bridge pickup - too much treble for me - with a neck pickup in the bridge position.

[@EricMerrow]

There’s nothing technically wrong with replacing the bridge pickup for a neck pickup in the same position but it’s likely that the neck pickup in the bridge position will be significantly quieter than the stock bridge pickup. I would probably suggest trying to find a pickup with a different voicing. That would probably achieve the desired voice quicker than putting a neck pickup in the bridge position.

[@robertfields1964]

@@EricMerrow Thanks for your fast reply. I just did so and ordered a Q-pickups '58 Jazmaster pickups, made in Croatia. By the way, I measured a slight difference of 0.5 mm regarding the distance of the pole pieces between neck and bridge pickup. I'll write here what the result is in sound.

[@WalterStoermer]

Greetings, I play left-handed guitars and have gone the Warmoth route for 20 years. I have wired several guitars, but the Jazzmaster has me a little confused and needs help. I have a set of Fender 65' pickups, I want the traditional wiring, and I already messed up one ToneShaper wiring kit. Also, which solder do you recommend?

[@EricMerrow]

Whenever I wire a Jazzmaster from scratch, I’ll pull up the Seymour Duncan diagram to follow. Admittedly it is a bit confusing bc if you want to wire it for lefty, the pot terminals have to be reversed - but that’s also why I recommend the gunstreet harnesses so much. They take all the guesswork out of it. For solder, I typically use kester brand solder

[@snicker576]

Wow, that fuzz on the first sound demo sounds phenomenal!! What is it?

[@EricMerrow]

Ah man… I wish I could remember but unfortunately I’m not totally sure. Sounds like it could’ve been a rat-type circuit or something. Sorry I can’t remember

[@AdaSoom]

I recently traded a bass I got for $50 bucks for a sonic blue classic vibe jazzmaster and a weird ibanez guitar. The jazzmaster was missing a pickup and entire parts of the rhythm circuit but that's alright because I basically got a sweet jazzmaster project for 50 bucks. I plan on getting some fender pure vintage 65 jazzmaster pickups, one of these gun street wiring harness and a tortoise shell pickguard for it.

[@EricMerrow]

That's awesome!!

[@jspaceman71]

I have the same guitar. I'm thinking of upgrading the wiring harness to the Gunstreet harness as well. I take it that you can use the stock Squier pickguard without any issues? On the Gunstreet website it says: "CTS pots will require you to have a US spec Pickgraud as the pot holes have to be 3/8th. Double check if your pickgraud is already 3/8th before replacing. Some guitars come stock with a US spec pickguard even though they have metric pots." Also, I notice you reused the stock volume and tone knobs with the Gunstreet CTS knurled pots. I thought the Squier came with 18 spline pots, and the CTS pots are 24 spline?

[@EricMerrow]

Great questions, but I’m not sure how much help I’m going to be. My kit came with Bournes pots so they may be different sizes. As far as the knobs, I’m sure you could find the right spline count knob online pretty easily if the ones you already have do not work

[@5150show]

Well done

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

AWESOME VIDEO AND GREAT NEWS FOR US FENDER PICKERS...

[@srockerboy1]

Hi Eric, I’m currently doing the same thing to my 60’s vibe jazzmaster. I just finished the copper in the cavity. I did run into one issue. I bought Seymour Duncan antiquity II pick ups. I noticed on the video you only left the bridge ground wire in the cavity. I’m unsure if I need to do the same thing? From what it looks like in the video , you didn’t need the other two ground wires.

[@EricMerrow]

Yeah that’s correct. Once the pick guard is installed (provided there shielding tape on the back of the guard) it’ll make contact with the cavity ground

[@nealpobrien]

Cool video but I actually liked the stock sound, that happens though.

[@gae7081]

Hi, what about the more affordable jazzmaster affinity series? Thanks!!

[@EricMerrow]

Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with that series. But I would assume that they more than likely need the same sort of attention

[@jpi6668]

Eric, Did you ever consider the “920D” wiring harness? I like the pick-ups on my Squire Jazzmaster, but am thinking that the pots, switches, and wiring may be the weak link to achieving the best performance out of our Jazzmaster models…

[@EricMerrow]

Great question! I was really happy with the stock electronics in my classic vibe. I wanted to change pickups so I just went ahead and upgraded my wiring harness with a gunstreet wiring shop harness. Sean makes incredible harnesses and he’s a good friend so I went with his. 👍

[@jpi6668]

Thanks, I’ve never soldered a connection and I really liked the instructions that the 920D comes with… I watched your video but I didn’t feel there was enough detail to make me feel comfortable… The diagrams for the 929D show exactly where to cut existing wires and the exact spots to solder… that being said, I don’t know about the quality of the pots…. I mean what size is best? Sounds like your guy put a bunch of thought into it. I am left with a quandary.

[@kevinalexpeek4020]

Which version of the Gunstreet wiring kit did you install?

[@EricMerrow]

Im pretty sure mine was the modern wiring harness

[@R1GAMBLER]

looks like the RED vintage kit. do you have a preference between vintage/modern in Jazzmasters?

[@johnbanks2275]

solo has left me out in the cold with their jazz master diy kit need updated wiring set up thank you if u can

[@EricMerrow]

I definitely recommend you check out the gunstreet wiring website! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, shoot them an email and they’ll get you taken care of!

[@MichaelJWolf-ku3kv]

Great video and I’m now following and exploring your channel. Looking at maybe getting one of these for my J Mascis Jazzmaster. In looking at their website options, what is the difference between the harness with or without the rhythm circuit? I assume I would need the one with. That’s the one you’re installing as well right? Also, is yours the low pass filter or the modern high pass filter? Thanks for the great videos!

[@EricMerrow]

Thanks so much for checking out the video! I am installing the harness with the rhythm circuit in this video. The rhythm circuit is the bit that sits above the strings on the upper bout of the guitar. You could absolutely install a harness without the rhythm circuit so you’d just have a 3-way toggle and the upper controls wouldn’t do anything - or you could install something like a treble and bass control instead of the normal vol+tone of the rhythm circuit. I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to gunstreet through their site! They do a lot of custom work and they’ll be able to help you get the right harness!

[@billcarson4749]

i own a vintage modified jazzmaster from 2017/2018 maybe and it is wonderful... first of all replaced pickups with duncan vintage standard model and it was a great upgrade... also upgrade all the electronic parts with high quality ones bypassing the rhythm circuit and putting 500k pots. lat year i replaced the body with an alder handmade one and paint it with nitro in sherwood green.... and at last i replaced bridge with a mastery...now it is a great guitar... night and day difference...

[@EricMerrow]

Sounds like an incredible guitar!!!

[@CMHobbies]

Well yeah, it’s not even the same guitar anymore with a body swap. It’s a parts caster with a vintage modified neck.

[@LeftyPem]

Did that harness have lefty pots? I’ve done all of my own wiring and upgrades, on every one of my leftys. Even managed to find 1MEG lefty pots for my bass Wide Range humbucker in my Jazz Bass.

[@EricMerrow]

I believe this one had a mix. The rhythm circuit is wired up righty but the main circuit is lefty. Aside from the lefty/reverse taper of a pot, you could just switch the hot lug to the opposite side to get a lefty pot. Funny enough, that’s what my collings guitar has. It’s a very steep audio taper that they just reversed the lugs. Haha

[@R1GAMBLER]

Eric, wanna try this in a Squier JM I picked up... which kit should I go for & why? *Red 50’s Wiring* or *Blue Modern Wiring* ? I have modern & vintage wiring in LP's, but which one is better in a Jazzmaster? Thx, JM noob

[@EricMerrow]

Great question! From the way that Sean has described it to me, the 50’s wiring is about retaining high end when rolling down the controls. And the modern wiring is a bit darker sounding as you roll the controls down. Now with all the controls maxed out, you won’t get any difference. It’s only when you start to decrease them. I would probably go with a modern wiring harness in a Jazzmaster just because the pickups are already pretty bright and things can be harsh in a hurry. I think either way you’ll get a good harness though!

[@R1GAMBLER]

thx

[@cdreyes81]

Whats that clean tone in the intro? Is that just straight amp? Its a nice sound

[@EricMerrow]

It’s been so long since I filmed this video but I’m fairly certain that it was the Jazzmaster I took the super lead clone. Simple as that

[@cdreyes81]

@@EricMerrow super lead clone. Is that a pedal?

[@EricMerrow]

@@cdreyes81 no, I’m sorry. It’s an amp. The rockitt retro rr100 is a clone of a Marshall super lead. It didn’t sound like I had any pedals on in the clip so I think it was just guitar into amp

[@e.connorpeterson9439]

Can you post the tabs for the jam at the end? It sounds awesome and I can’t figure out the chords

[@EricMerrow]

Thanks for watching! I don’t have any tabs for that little bit, but I will tell you that I was in drop D tuning and I was playing chords that were made up of major and minor intervals

[@robatsetsfire]

Hi Eric. Great Video. What is the name of the pickups? Is it possible to link them? They sound really nice.

[@EricMerrow]

Hey Robert, the ones that I’m using are from Gemini Pickups and they’re great! I also recommend Brandonwound pickups and Lollar pickups for these wide range humbuckers in JM casing.

[@craigbragg2842]

Can I send you my lefty CV Jazzmaster and have you rewire it? Lol. Great video, as always!

[@EricMerrow]

Haha, I’ve contemplated it before but I’m just not setup to do that type of work on a regular basis unfortunately. Thanks a ton for watching though!!

[@craigbragg2842]

@@EricMerrow, too bad because you clearly do great work

[@EricMerrow]

@@craigbragg2842 Well thank you so much! I'll absolutely let you know if anything changes

[@rosshart5880]

Eric, would you say the harness was worth it? I’m modding my CV Jazzmaster and I would love to upgrade it.

[@EricMerrow]

I think it’s definitely worth it! The stock wiring in those classic vibe guitars is quite messy

[@mistershabadoo]

Especially at the price point, you can’t beat that guitar! Sorry finding affordable left handed guitars is challenging for you, my man! Those pups are a huge upgrade! Really dig watching the setup! I’m looking forward to more videos like this in the future, if you do them! My next axe will definitely have a p90 setup and an offset body. Loving the riffs as always, Eric! Cheers!

[@EricMerrow]

Thanks for watching Zach! I’m really digging the new pickups in this CV. It is a nice guitar once you get all the kinks worked out!!

[@mistershabadoo]

@@EricMerrow I know exactly what you mean! For the first twenty years I played electric guitar, my main axe was an Epiphone Les Paul Special ii. (Brand new, it was $130, I think and in need of every upgrade imaginable.) I changed out all the hardware and electronics on it and ran it till the wheels fell off! I miss it. Lol

[@chromosomegun5845]

Can you put P90's in a JM?

[@EricMerrow]

You would probably want to get pickups that are p90’s in a Jazzmaster casing

[@rossco-dps5392]

I love your playing style man! Really cool indy sound. I'm left handed but I play righty. Lucky me hey?

[@EricMerrow]

Thanks so much for watching!! You’re totally lucky! You’ve got all the righty guitar choices now! 🤘🤘

[@richardwalley2862]

Upgrades are nice but you never get any of that back if you ever sell it

[@EricMerrow]

You’re definitely right. Personally, I don’t tend to sell many guitars so I don’t factor that in when buying. Plus I dig projects!

[@mindbodylightsound10]

Might as well go for a cooler pick guard as well if you're doing all that. for next time!

[@EricMerrow]

you don't dig the tort+white combo? I definitely dig it! but I could totally see a really bright color being a great look too

[@gourabshow3993]

👍

[@EricMerrow]

🤘🤘

[@chromosomegun5845]

Us poor lefties!!! But poorer me bc the wife won't let me get a new guitar. I'll be rockin on my MiM tele telling myself Page used a tele lol. I did the pups in series mod and that sounds slick for blooz. Love your videos Eric! Keep it up!

[@EricMerrow]

I bet that MIM tele is great! Probably way better out of the box than this JM out of the box.

[@chromosomegun5845]

@@EricMerrow yeah after setting it up it is pretty great! You know the rule with guitars though, the number to have is always N+1