John Squire’s Custom Hybrid Jaguar (Sunburst)

This guitar was one of two custom-made guitars built for John Squire by Doncaster luthier Stuart Palmer around 1990. The second guitar was identical in design but finished in white. Squire used the white one most famously in the One Love music video and the sunburst version during the iconic Spike Island gig in 1990.

The Story

The origins of these custom guitars are not well documented. Apparently, John had some Fender Jaguars on hand and wanted to modify or customize them. Instead of doing it himself, he enlisted Stuart Palmer to handle the project.

Palmer likely used several parts from the original Jaguars, particularly the necks (both guitars featured vintage ’60s necks) and possibly some hardware, including the tremolo and metal control panels. However, the bodies were likely built from scratch, as they feature slightly different contours. Both the upper and lower horns have sharper points compared to the softer curves of a traditional Jaguar.

The Pickups

The pickups were sourced from a late-’80s Gibson and were Gibson HBL/HBR humbuckers, designed by Bill Lawrence. These pickups were briefly used by Gibson on models such as the Flying V, SG, and Les Paul from 1988 to 1989, with some spillover into 1990.

Gibson’s HBL (Humbucker Lead) was designed for the bridge position, while the HBR (Humbucker Rhythm) was made for the neck. The pickups were voiced to complement their respective positions. According to some sources, the HBR (Alnico 5) measured between 7.0–9.1KΩ, while the HBL (Alnico 5) was significantly hotter, measuring between 13.4–15.3KΩ.

In addition to the pickups, Squire’s custom Jaguars featured extra switches. On the upper rhythm plate, there were three additional toggle switches, likely used for out-of-phase modes and coil-taps, which allowed the humbuckers to function as single coils.

The Tremolo

Photos suggest that both of Squire’s custom Jaguars were originally set up with Jaguar-style tremolos. However, at some point, Squire had them replaced with Stratocaster tremolos. It’s possible that he preferred the aesthetic of the large Jaguar tremolo plate and incorporated it into the design despite opting for a Strat tremolo mechanism.

After Stone Roses

It seems both guitars were sold off when The Stone Roses dissolved and their business affairs were liquidated. There are rumors that the guitars were sold through a store in London, but further research is needed to confirm this.

If you have any additional information about these guitars, please share it in the comments below.