Any Jaguar mute users?

[dots]

this could've gone in the playing technique section, but i figure more jaggists check this forum.

like most jag owners i've come across, the mute on my '62 AVRI Jaguar was removed shortly after i bought it new in '05 (many folks get them secondhand with them already pulled off). the hardware (minus the plunger and spring which are still intact in the hole) has sat in the case ever since.

i've been invited to play guitar for local theatre production of Hadestown, and the guitar charts call for "modifications" to the instrument to create that mutey, sizzly sound with suggestions ranging from weaving a wire or strip of paper through the strings to a FOAM MUTE! eureka! finally, a purpose for it. since i have to do a full setup to re-intonate for standard tuning anyway, i'll just re-install the device in the next few days.

any playing/performance tips for using this thing? charts don't call for it the whole time (and, sorry roober, they call for a capo on about half the tunes), but i've never used it beyond the first week or so i had the guitar and then only for a few seconds at a stretch before saying "TOO WEIRD, I'll JUST USE MY HAND" (which i say a lot anyway).

[plopswagon]

Our pal Mike (Puisheen on the socials is an avid user of the Jag mute.

[benecol]

I loved it when I used to have my AVRI! I found I fitted it cranked up too high/tight: you don't need to wring its neck, there's a big sweet spot in the middle of its adjustment where it sounds just fine, and engages and disengages nicely (mine was a bit like a beartrap). I only took it back off because a) I'm a fusspot and b) I tend to rest my hand on the bridge when Im playing (which is a terrible habit and I'm not as bad as I was).

[dots]

that's helpful, Tim, thank you. i was afraid there wouldn't be a dialing in available and that it would just be on or off.

plops, good idea, i'll reach out to Mike.

[sunshiner]

I believe Hurb has it on one of his Jags

[Hurb]

Yeah I have them on all my jags. I have a video on fitting one on destroying amps YouTube.

I don't really use them if I am honest. But I like the aesthetic.

[dots]

Nice! I'll have to check that out and see what improvements I can make.

Did this yesterday...

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Went OK, but I had a heckuva time getting it to intonate and stabilize. At some point as i was having it worked on many years ago, someone (I think it might have been Aug) wrapped the bridge posts in tape to keep it snug, but the mute wouldn't rest right until I removed that.

Will take another round or 2 futzing with it to get it right, but this should be a good point from which to jump off. Heading to the MD's place this afternoon to jam on this stuff and come up with a game plan for tones. Already told him I don't sight read, so there's that to contend with, too.

Checking the vid shortly...

[paul_]

Haha, I remember the taped posts as a general JS forum recommendation.

[NickS]

“That's what Jagulars always do," said Pooh, much interested. "They call 'Help! Help!' and then when you look up, they drop on you."

[dots]

^tr00 words there

Haha, I remember the taped posts as a general JS forum recommendation.

Even though haven't yet found my groove or completely functional setup with it, I think leaving the mute on turns out to help with stability. Just need to dial that in more. May need to shim the neck a bit.