Stagg JZ120

mschafft · November 2018

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum and just getting started with gypsy jazz guitar. I own many guitars and am used to setting them up and repairing them. I found a used Stagg JZ120 which had rusty metal strings on it. I ordered Argentine 1610's for it. In the process of fully cleaning the guitar, I noticed that the fretboard has a perfectly flat radius which is common on classical guitars. Hence my question: will this guitar accomodate for silver/copper strings or should it have nylon strings? Thanks for reading this post. I'm so glad I found this forum, I have so much to learn about gypsy jazz and DR in particular.

crookedpinky · November 2018

Nope it should have steel Argentines or similar. You'd struggle to attach nylon strings. A lot of old Gypsy guitars have a flat fingerboard. Good luck with your Gypsy Jazz adventures.

mschafft · November 2018

Thanks a lot !! I'm practcising the chords to Minor Swing for a start.

Russell Letson · November 2018

It's not fingerboard radius that affects string choice but overall structure, particularly top bracing. FWIW, my Michael Dunn Daphne has a flat fingerboard but is otherwise a steel-string instrument--in fact, I understand that Michael used to put phosphor bronzes on his instruments.

mschafft · November 2018

That makes perfect sense. Thanks for chiming in!

mschafft · December 2018

Hey. This is just to say that I've cut a bone saddle for the adjustable rosewood bridge. Action and intonation are spot on. Very comfortable 2 1/8' string spacing with accurately spaced slots. The neck is straight and plays well. The tone is very nice with the 10-45 Argentine and 1.5 mm Dunlop crocodile pick. I'm practicing the first bars to Minor Swing at 150 bpm, it's as addictive as it is challenging. I'm working on the rhythm guitar as well. Now that it's been set up right I'm digging the Stagg!

mschafft · December 2018

And even cut rosewood mustaches on this rainy Sunday. Sounds, plays and looks much better now!

crookedpinky · December 2018

Great stuff. Did it come with an adjustable bridge ?

Buco · December 2018

Yeah if it's an archtop thumbwheel adjustable bridge, you'll likely get even better sound if you get a bridge for gypsy guitar.
Sounds like you're good with your hands so you could modify the top of the bridge to use different height bone inserts to adjust the action. That's what Hahl is doing on his guitars.