I have no idea why fender is doing the bare minimum with the Jaguar, makes no sense. I would like to see a SHerwood green , rosewood fretboard Jaguar widely available for sure
What I don’t understand is why they make several versions the models they do but refuse to give people what they want - such as a Sherwood green reissue. I also loooove that color
@@AudiomoMusicthey already did the ocean turquoise lately (since most frusciante lovers have always mistaken his sherwood for an OT in the under the bridge videoclip, they were super happy)
Fender has no real competition for Jags. PRS Silver Sky is putting strats under pressure but Fender is the only show in town for jags and jazzmasters. So if you don’t like their cheap jags - yes you have to go up to a Johnny Marr etc
Literally was just in the market for a jag, but when I get a guitar I want it to be the way it was designed…am going with a custom builder who will make me a nitro finished jag any color I want rather than waiting on fender anymore
Yep, which also impacts Japanese customers. Fender USA's lack of supply to the west for desirable Jaguars hurts the domestic Japanese players ability to get the guitars that were meant for them in the first place. It's all so ridiculous and easy to fix but they won't do it.
This player 2 series is sad for the jag. Fender doesn't understand its like enjoying cruising around in an old classic with tons of chrome. Switches, and style.
@@AudiomoMusic i imported one from japan for less than the cost of American and Mexican and it came in 3 days with no customs costs. i feel like yall are stuck in the past. The Japanese models aren't like out of stock or anything they've been restocked a ton of times already this year.
If Fender isn't going to do anything cool for the Jags here, then they might as well make the MIJ ones available here for the US domestic market. But we both know that's not going to happen, justice for the Jag, Fender, come on!!
I don't think it's logistically possible for Fender Japan to increase production to a number that would satisfy the demands of the US market without sacrificing quality control and other production Quotas they have. The other thing that we all know would happen is they would be marked up by a minimum of 50% if some new ones were sold here in the US which wouldn't really fix anything
Flipping has existed since the instrument was first released, the flippers just had a store front where the buyer could come in and see it first. Again, it’s down to the buyers. Buyers regularly spending 2 grand on these guitars from shops when they cost about a grand to begin with gave shops the green light to continue and also buy more inventory. If the buyers didn’t spend the two grand in the first place, it wouldn’t have become the norm. It also allowed others in the know the then get the same guitars and undercut the bigger stores who created these norms. All of this was enabled because buyers willingly chose to pay the asking prices and some still do. It is what it is.
@@AudiomoMusic But those shops also bore the brunt of the customer service end of the business, today's sellers just have to say "as-is no returns" and if you buy sight-unseen you have no recourse
@jasondorsey7110 which is the exact same policy that anyone gets when they order from Japan directly to get the guitars in the states or UK. Trust me, I get where you’re coming from but there is a lot to this whole thing.
Bah, it's actually a lesser Jaguar vs original form. They need to reissue both Jaguar and Mustang in correct specs. It is time. There are dedicated, large groups to those instruments now, there is zero excuse to keep pretending their value isn't recognized, because they have been for decades now.
Fantastic video as ever, and a great tangent. Here’s hoping fender do put these in the next vintage line at the very least (probably won’t be long until vintage 3 line I imagine so fingers crossed they are finally added) And I feel your pain- Gibson often post ‘which is your fav from the original collection lineup’ with no Firebird even pictured (guessing as they stopped making them but it was still part of the collection and original release) - is funny how some guitars get very little love (and annoying they’re often my favourites 😂)
@@AudiomoMusic yeah it really does - get its divisive but its also a guitar with a lot of interesting history and a growing following but hey, very very grateful I have mine at least :)
Great video man. I’m so glad you started this conversation. I, and evidently so many others, have been thinking the exact same thing. Hoping a Jaguar joins the American Vintage II series soon 🤞🤞
The fact that "get a mod shop" guitar is floated as a way to get a Jaguar in its classic form is very sad. Fender loves to flaunt its legacy, and them not offering the most attractive form of a pre-CBS jaguar in either Vintera or American Vintage II boggles the mind, especially in the latter case. Let's say that okay, they don't want to offer options for MIM guitars because they want to push buyers towards MIA, then at least make the Vintage II line truly representative of the best of classic Fender.
Oh it always makes me laugh when people tell me to just "go to the mod shop" because they have clearly never looked at the Jaguars options on the mod shop to see it's not the answer to any of the requests a lot of players want. Awesome, I can get a modern spec'd guitar in Plum Metallic then replace all of the electronics with stuff I'd actually want and be 2300+ in the hole for a poly finished guitar... Make it make sense
Thing is also, if they want to push people towards MIA then why bother having MIM or Squier? The choice is there for Classic Vibe Strats, Teles and JMs, so players aren’t being pushed towards MIA for those, it’s just not for Jags
Not having basic options like non-marr electronics in the mod shop is a crime, let alone there not being binding/inlay choices and an option for painted headstocks or more than one pickup choice. They're REALLY dropping the ball here, regardless if they're trying to push people towards custom shop or not
I was waiting to hear your take on the PSII Jaguar. I'm super disappointed that they didn't include the rhythm circuit and at this point I'm probably going to have to buy a Squier CV Jag and put the new PSII rosewood neck on it once they're available. Edit: I'd want either a Sherwood Green, Shell Pink, or Lake Placid Blue Jaguar. I adore the RUclipsr Nisebelle's blue Jaguar. You should check her out if you never have!
It's something a lot of people do, I did it on a CV. Replaced everything except the body... in the end it wasn't exactly what I wanted and sold it. Just kinda sucks we have to go through that much effort to make something that should be offered from Fender on a regular basis.
@@AudiomoMusic I actually rewatched your video on that a couple days ago and thought it looked like more work than it was worth but it's the only way to get a brand new traditional Jaguar setup for under $1000. It's too bad yours still didn't end up what you wanted. I'm a sucker for dark fretboards so I don't have any interest in the Vintera II line either. I think Fender's Professional II lineup is overpriced but I'd probably buy a Jaguar from that line if they'd just make it. The Marr is cool but I'm not a 7.25" radius guy. I've been looking at '90s Jags and Japanese ones but it's almost impossible to find the colors (Sherwood Green or Shell Pink) I want.
I think the reason why the Jaguar is not manufactured in the USA is because it does not sell well, this is what some distributors have told me in the country where I live, which is why most of them only bring Stratocasters or Telecasters to the country. The Jaguar is usually a person's third or fourth guitar, I think you buy a Stratocaster, Telecaster and Les Paul first. Also the lack of famous/popular guitarists who use the Jaguar as their main guitar on stage would be another reason. Cheers Jim!
@@omarfranco8426 weird, cause a Japanese after import taxes is comparable to an American price wise. Why wouldn't we just buy the one made here? Oh that's right, they still wanna pretend all the new guitarists are buying Telecaster and Stratocaster or that old hat musicians are attracting new players to these two models, they aren't, but Fender cannot change. It only deletes or fucks things up now. I been faithless in them since the 90's, when they completely threw the last genre to mean anything and organically change the entire entertainment scene under the bus making ZERO EFFORT, to reissue during the grunge years. What a fuckin miserable bustard of a company. I hope they get sold, management has been stupid for years about what we want, the way we want it. See the Vintera 2 Mustangs, note they are NOT matching headstock, and are the 73' model, not the 69', the only one of the bunch we ASKED FOR FOR DECADES.
I share your concerns. I ended up scoring an FSR in Sherwood Green (rosewood, bound neck, 7.25 neck radius, etc.) in late 2023 from Kinko Music and absolutely love it; in total it cost me $1207 USD. Your videos introduced me to this series and led me down the path to figuring out how to order one of these successfully. Thank you.
It makes me happy to know I have helped people like yourself discover guitars like that and at the original prices available. If you ever want to sell it let me know, of all the runs I missed the Sherwood green was also my favorite haha
You *certainly* aren't the only one feeling this way about Jags bro! That blue japanese model you have is absolutely beautiful 😍😍 I, on the other hand, am one of the people who absolutely adores the maple board on the vintera II... that's on my wish list. You're right about the colour choices though, i don't mind white... real white... that vintage egg shell almost off white sickly cream colour is not at all my colour. One of the first guitars i ever bought was a Squier Vintage Modified Jag, White, (real white) with a tortoise shell guard. Soooooooo nice. But I sold her to a friend... I wish i had kept it. 😒
I think a 3-tone burst Jag is THE Jag, but I know some people like the custom colors and the matching headstock so Lake Placid Blue is cool too. There are some recent artists using Jags, Kurt Vile (tuned up to F standard), and Courtney Barnett (though she plays a lefty Cobain model). One of the guitar playing twins in The National had an LPB Jag with matching headstock as well.
I have an MIJ Jaguar (97-99) Love it. It’s my main guitar. Bought on reverb for 1200 two years ago. Got delivered to me in like four days. No big deal. There’s usually 20 good ones to choose from on any given day for 1200-1500. I agree it would be awesome to Fender Japan stuff in our shops here in the US - or even better - for Fender US to make better stuff (as you stress here) but Reverb has made getting stuff from far away super easy.
Even better is skipping reverb entirely and getting the same guitars from Japan for well under a grand 😁 It’s just sad that’s the only viable and consistent option. All the AVRIs are priced to the moon unless they are beaten to death or three tone sunburst.
It is indeed a beaut, I have it listed for sale now as I'm going to try to fund an actual vintage Jaguar and call it a day so I don't need to rely on Fender to make anything new at this point
I've had several of those both production and FSR models, some of the hybrids, and numerous older MIJ and CIJ jags over the years. They are absolutely what is missing here in the market.
I agree with you so much on this. It's so infuriating that Fender has decided to treat the Jaguar this way. I own a '66 Jag and have been looking to get a comparable re-issue as my second guitar, and while there are countless reissues of Teles, Strats, and even Jazzmasters, with true vintage specs, there's nothing I've seen for the Jag.
I've never understood this. All I want is a regular Jaguar in player or player II form Edit to say with vintage correct custom colors and control layouts
I got one of the Fender Classic 60s Lacquer Jaguars with the rosewood fingerboard on fb marketplace. It was a really good reissue with the only difference to my eyes being the non-locking tremolo system, which is easily replaced. Fender needs to bring that line back. No other affordable Jaguar is nearly as "correct" as that one to my knowledge.
Great video! FMIC took over Fender Japan LTD in 2015. It's now officially called Fender Music Corporation (Japan), but some Japanese Fenders are still exclusive to Japan, so maybe not much change in availability
I'm with you. I'm currently in the process of building my dream jag, which I need to do through parts. It's going to be a 70s-ish spec build, with some fun outside the box and/or blasphemous things. I love the look of the rosewood, but I've always felt a better connection with maple fretboards and I love the feel of raw wood, so I'm doing my first roasted maple neck guitar. I have a cheap one now I'm working with, but planning to eventually get a Warmoth roasted maple neck with black blocks and binding, vintage small frets, and probably a 9.5 radius to better jive with the rest of my parts. I think the darker color of the roasted maple will help it sit a bit more close to rosewood visually compared to normal maple. I plan to paint the headstock, so sanding and painting it won't be painful like doing the same to an old neck or USA neck. I have an AVRI trem and an american pro bridge (seems to be the staytrem copy), a vintera 60s body in factory sunburst, and it'll have vintage spec wiring. I'll be painting a thin nitro sherwood green with a tinted amber clear over the current sunburst, which will hopefully wear really nicely over time. Tort pickguard, which I had never been too sold on before, but I think looks ultra good with the sherwood green. I'm also considering checking the finish, since realistically I don't think that will actually happen naturally. Jaguars have always been one of my favorite guitars and I'm SUPER excited for this project. I just got enough parts to have something playable and it's been so fun. I feel like jags are becoming more and more popular these days and that Fender would start selling a ton more if they'd just start painting those damn headstocks!
Great video, agree with everything you said. I recently got a Classic Vibe 70’s Jaguar and I love it, though I don’t know what to compare it to cause I’ve never even held a Fender. I wish the Player 2 Jaguar had the chrome and vintage controls. I would buy one of those in that Hialeah Yellow for sure. I love your passion for these guitars it’s contagious, keep up the great work.
I have the Fender Japan Late 60s Traditional II like you used to have and there is no way I am selling it for the very reasons you mention about why won't Fender make a proper Jaguar. The Trad II has a 9.5 inch radius neck I believe and a real one would be 7.25 but that is okay, I accept it because the rest of the guitar is pretty accurate.
What a beautiful Jaguar that is, I must say I'm jealous of that matching headstock and the color is superb. As you know Jags got discontinued and used to be on the resale market for cheap. A lot of players like Cobain would modify them significantly which brought back the popularity but also confused Fender it seems. They're on a mission to fix something that wasn't broken by "modernizing" whatever they can. Although I did like the original Player Series I just don't understand anything about this new offering other than the rosewood. The pickups aren't even Jaguar pickups. Your observations about the used market now on these things speaks volumes.
Maybe the Jag just doesnt sell as much as other offsets, so there less need for fender to do it 'right'? I can understand why the player 2 series isn't vintage correct though. It's entry level stuff. However the vintera 2 Jag offerings are indeed very limited. Good shout!
When they did the 60th anniversary Jaguars they sold out within days of being listed and a lot of people were angry they made so few. Fender said not to worry because they would be making vintage spec models for the Jaguar in full production shortly - that was 2 years ago.
I remember there was a “lacquer” series with MIM guitars with nitro finishes. It was such a beast for the money. I’ve seen a very good deal on this one around 8 years ago and still regret not picking this one up. And they even had a road worn jags back in the day. MIM in late 00s and early 10s were really nice instruments. Baja tele is legendary at some point
I had one of those fiesta red lacquer MIM jags as a backup I brought to gigs in San Diego! I paid $600 for it new as a "dent and scratch" and it even had a hardshell case, and i ALSO had a baja 60's tele in sonic blue shortly after that! It is insane to me the steps backward Fender has taken since that era with the Mexican made guitars
My thoughts exactly. That is the reason I went with a 1999 CIJ in lake placid blue with Matching Headstock as my first jag. Fantastic instrument and very beautiful. That being said, I ended up getting a great deal on a new Johnny Marr, and it's also amazing. They are both Jags, yet are quite different in the way they feel and sound. Love them both!
In a perfect world, they'd just make both. i have no issues with Marr jaguar outside of the fact it's the only available US option outside of the custom shop. Happy you got lucky with two Jags!
@@AudiomoMusic I agree, Fender USA/Mexico having no options for a standard configuration Jaguar makes no sense to me, or the people that tell me that they like the look of the Jaguar but are put off by "too many switches and and knobs that are confusing." The classic Jag layout is awesome, very intuitive.
@@72chevelle530ss I think the people that say things like that have just never played a Jag & taken the 2 minutes it requires to figure it out. If you’re put off by 4 switches & 2 roller pots you may have some attention span issues you need to look into.
American Original 60s and AVRI 62s are tough to find in more desirable colors. You're going to pay $2K+ for those models because they are vintage spec and have nitro finish, but realistically Fender is not going to charge any less than that for a vintage spec production model so I don't think there's any reason to wait on it. Best thing I did on mine is add a Halon bridge with brass saddles. Magic. Highly recommended.
They didn't make nearly as many custom color runs for the AO line compared to the original AV's which makes those even a bit harder for people that want the modern radius but man... the models I'm most interested in - the fsr thin skin 65 jaguar or one of the limited edition thin skin 62 reissues are either out of this world expensive ( 3k-5k) or go months without being listed. Happy you got what you wanted, never tried the Halon bridge that's good to hear
Loving my 60s American Original jaguar that I bought 2022. My local finnish guitar shop had installed 11. gauge strings. I think originally that had 10., but 11. is working too good. Most likely my favorite guitar, liking even bit more that Marr's Jaguar that I also have. Marr Jaguar is great but american original feels bit more Jaguar. Rythm circuit is great, liking the 3 switch toggle and no issues with the jaguar bridge. Planning to get 3rd jaguar and try lollar pickups for it.
Lollar make great stuff, big fan of their pickups for every Fender honestly. Happy to hear you enjoy the more traditional style Jag - there's absolutely nothing wrong with it imho just a lot of user error from people that don't understand how they work.
@@AudiomoMusicWhile Marr jaguar is great, the 4 position switch and mustang bridge definitely feels quite artificial. Forgot that American Original had one fun problem, had to set tremolo screws upside down or E-strings would break. Hope to find Japanese Jaguar some day.
I bought Marr Jaguar used for 1000 euro and deMarred it using my 50th anniv US Jaguar, now it looks like 60s one and I really like it, even tho it doesn’t come out on stage very often…
Chrome plates are quite expensive, but my best guess is that they go for the bare minimum, and also they want to milk out as much as they can, I mean profit wise.
Yep, it's all money driven thanks to penny pinchers designing guitars and not guitarists anymore, but to think they went out of their way not to route the body underneath like all of the other Mexican Jaguars is just silly.
@@AudiomoMusic I have the older player series mexico jag, the top is routed, but there's no room for rhythm circuit. You can choose if you want to stick to the coil split or install in 'n out phase. The problem is made way worse.
Totally agree! It is so frustrating to be a Jaguar fan these days. First of all... don't put Jaguar on the headstock unless it has all the chrome plates! It is the one of the main things that sets it apart from other Fender offerings. I have been waiting for over a decade for Fender to put out a Sherwood green Jag (hopefully with matching headstock). I would even be happy if it was a Squier Classic Vibe Jag, which I am shocked they haven't refreshed the colors on in years.
Honestly, so is the strangle. A lot of people don't realize how it is a staple of surf music and even in country for a time in the 60's and 70's. Those two features are part of what make the Jaguar the Jaguar indeed
Except they aren’t remotely vintage spec. They are nyatoh bodies, laurel boards, wrong fret wire, modern radius on the neck. They are the best way to “look” like a vintage spec offset from far away that’s about it.
Dude even the Kurt Jaguar is entirely wrong. The fingerboard radius is 9.5 when the actual one was 7.25. Even though it likely was a custom/heavily modified neck, there’s no evidence that points to it being a 9.5 radius. Fender also did the same thing to J. Mascis signature guitars even though his was 7.25. The pickup placement is wrong. The original has the pickups very close up to the neck and the bridge, and it’s missing the extra strap button on the other horn. The tune-o-matic is wrong. It’s supposed to be black chrome with brass saddles. The bridge pickup should also be a JB. Yeah it had a super distortion when he originally got it, but he obviously changed it out for a JB for a reason. Even the fucking sunburst color and pick guard color are wrong! They couldn’t be bothered to put any work into the thing because they were too busy jerking each other off over how much money this shitty approximation of Kurt’s Jaguar would make them. There’s the same kind of problems with attention to detail on Fender’s Jag-Stang and Signature Mustangs as well. The mustangs never had the “Mustang” on the headstock, just Fender logos. The switches weren’t shortened, but filed all the way down. The pick guard colors and patterns on the sonic blue models are wrong, and the holes for the phase switches on the pick guard of his fiesta red mustang were rounded as it was a custom made piece. There was obviously no lake placid blue mustang with that set up (single coil-JB) and even as an “inspired-by” guitar the color is wrong and the headstock should match. Shit, the Jag-Stang’s don’t even come with the Texas Special and Seymour Duncan JB, just shitty fender pickups. The body shape is off, the pick guards are wrong, and so is the bridge. This is the kind of shit we should come to expect from Fender because this is what we’ve collectively allowed Fender to get away with. But hey who cares, we just want that sweet sweet Nirvana money! Fuck the fans. Fuck putting in the work to make accurate representations of iconic Fender guitars for a signature model. And most of all, fuck making these guitars for a reasonable price, we need to bleed our customers dry and then make it limited run so the resale market is even more outrageously expensive.
Most of my guitars are vintage Fender style guitars and the reality is most people do not want a vintage spec jaguar. Most people do not want the 3 switches. The 3 switches system doesn't work for 90% of players and is not ideal live. Prices on japanese ones on reverb are bizarre scalper prices. Go import one through an online dealer.
Live I actually preferred the sliders playing surf and garage rock. It took a bit to get used to coming from a Telecaster but it became second nature really quickly and it's really intuitive in it's own right albeit I agree - not for everyone. I've been importing direct from Japan for a long while now, my problem is they haven't ever made a production nitro finished vintage spec'd jag. They've done it with the Jazzmaster and it is absolutely superb - if they ever add the Jag to the Heritage line i'll be the first one to import it haha.
You cant expect Fender to come to the party just to make you happy! Simply save more to purchase a pre CBS Jaguar. Living in Sydney, Australia i paid $10,000 for my 1964 jaguar with case. Its the only way you'll ever own the real deal!
@AudiomoMusic I love how some people think we all have thousands of dollars laying around to blow on trivial shit. If I had $10k of disposable income, I wouldn't be spending it on a guitar. And if I were to buy a vintage guitar, it wouldn't be a Jaguar.
I feel your frustration brother!. Fender are all over the shop with regards to historic accuracy, even the custom shop get features completely wrong?. Fender Japan have always done it right!.
They make very few custom shop Jaguars annually, it's sad the majority are relics and have modern neck specs but at least it's something I guess... for the rest of us there is Fender Japan haha
It's always been Fender Japan, even before F.J was a thing!. I've got a lot of love for Tokai and Greco. You have to try a Galanti Grand Prix, a classic 60's Italian twist on the off-set shape and fantastic pickups!.
saw the thumbnail and thought it was an ad just based off design and skipped over it, wasn’t til i read title and wanted to watch!! make ur thumbnails more personable and ditch the watermark on the thumbnail looks very very commercial and easy to skip over.. great video tho! very educational!!
everything in fact! Finding a new canonical Jaguar is very difficult now; there are many guitars on the used market with different bridges, pickups, tuners, guitars that are 20-30 years old. I recently picked up a Fender 2021 Traditional II 60s Jaguar Matching Head Black Japan, almost new, very happy about it, the Japanese really care about Jags p.s. In my country the import is closed, it is very difficult to order guitars, so things are even worse(
Great GREAT video. Only time they remotely even thought about it was the Johnny Marr Jaguar, and that guitar is a little off of the beaten path for Jaguars. Honestly, I would say it's Fender's R&D team probably attempting to avoid a repeat of the model's inception run by reissuing Jaguars without the original obscure design features - features which ironically give the Jaguar it's character. And while Fender can dodge that very same bullet with the Jazzmaster (i.e. the Squier J Mascis, which was put out with P-90 pickups was a remarkably versatile yet popular guitar) it's just wildly reluctant to with regard to the Jaguar, success of the Player Series model aside
@@AudiomoMusic Legitimately quite fascinating - you and me both on that. Other than Fender litigating business decisions from *1962* (which is insane given that the 90's happened lol) literally every argument you present in this video is air-tight and it makes zero sense to reissue something that is iterative of the idea instead of the genuine article. Fender, amirite lol
We're doing alot better than when I started playing. They didn't even make jaguars or mustangs in a standard format at all in the US. Fender Mexico is diversifying the jag just like it does every year. The vintera 1s are still readily available with more classic aesethic if you like and even a dual humbucker you can split. Theyre just going for a slimmed down simplified but practical approach this year. The modified versions are filling in a good mid price niche, and the more classic looking style ones are very available in squier at low price and the fender at mid to high price.
I suppose that's relative to when exactly you started playing, but from when I started the dowgrade is comical. Even just looking back 10 years Fender didn't have this problem and they were doing it right at multiple price points.
I think the player II makes sense, they talked about how neither the jazzmaster or the Jaguar have one so it’s simpler for players, hence the name of the guitar. Also not even to forget how much fender messed up the Kurt cobain signature, it’s incredibly inaccurate to his actual guitar.
All of the models kind of make sense in their own way, it's the lack of a traditional spec'd alternative that makes very little sense to me. Yeah they really botched the KC jag haha
The Mustang has it even worse than the Jag, there has never been a proper spec'd vintage reissue of the mustang with the Dynamic Vibrato or pickup switches made in the USA - ever. Player series makes even less sense because they offer a duo sonic that is really similar to the Mustang, but they both have hard tail bridges. I agree with you, it should be offered with the dynamic vibrato.
They treat the Jag’s like the lefty’s. Which being left handed myself, means I’m equally screwed since the only option they have for lefty’s in Jags are the Mod Shop or Custom Shop. The MIJ FSR’s are like finding a needle in a haystack.
Some Fenders they add the logos before the lacquer, some they don't. Never had enough interest in the Marr to grab one in person to see but that's good to know
I think the issue is Fender isnt looking to win over the offset fans with these guitars. They are looking to get people who play strats, telecasters, and les pauls with something different but not too different. Fender seems to hate their original offset designs and the ayers who love them. The guitars didnt sell well in the 50s and 60s and thus are viewed as failures and Fender doesnt want to take a risk on them. Similar to Gibson refusing to reissue Norlin era guitars and specs.
Great video calling out the lack of Jaguars...I did a similar video a year ago or so. I think I have a more optimistic opinion on the current models though. Yes, the Player II Jaguar has no rhythm circuit (or routing) and is lacking 2/3 chrome plates, BUT at least Fender actually designed new pickups AND they're actual Jaguar pickups! It's also not aimed at the vintage Jag fans. The Vintera II isn't that bad IMO, maple is kinda sick, and the vintage white is pretty cool looking. Black is boring. The lack of American Jaguars IS a problem...but I think it's a symptom of poor sales. Consistently, the Jaguar undersells the Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Jazzmaster. So, Fender just doesn't want to spend R&D money on them if no one is buying. It's too bad that the Japanese Fenders aren't available to us.
Fender sold out of the 60th anniversary jags within days of them being listed ( the actual jaguars not the black one that was nothing like a Jaguar ) and went on record saying not to worry to those that missed out as there would be similar vintage specd American ones available for everyone “soon”. Over two years later and nothing has changed. It’s also worth remembering at the time those were released, there were still some American Original Jaguars available on a regular basis both new and used so it’s not like there was a big gap between production as there is today. In an ideal world they’d add it to the AV ii line but they make strange bets financially on models or gear that has zero following or demand so I can’t understand their logic at times. It is what it is
I actually dig it, however, the new Squier Affinity Jaguar coming out is essentially the same thing as this new player series. I do wish they would bring back the contemporary jaguar with a TOM style bridge. That bridge with Jaguar pickups would be my cup of tea. I wish fender would bring back the toronado too.
You are right about Fender Japan. I just got two. I got the FSR Inca Silver Jaguar. I also just got a limited run Cyclone. Both guitars are awesome. Build quality is fantastic. I spent a little too much on the Jaguar through a reseller. However, I ordered the Cyclone over a broker on ebay and it was only $1,150 (including tax) with free shipping. This is all to say that they are doing it right in Japan and anyone thinking about buying directly from there really should not hessitate.
I've been saying it for years, that's where the value and quality are if you're into Fender guitars. It's a tall ask to order something blind and I understand why some are hesitant to do it but man, all it takes it that first one to show up and you think "why haven't I been doing this for years?" haha
Very nice hearing your opinion on the Jag Jim, the only "fender" I have is the Vintera II White with the black inlays just like my squire jazzmaster, I do have a squier Jaguar '60 s with the white headstock that I got from Sweetwater. I tend to use that more than the '70 V😁🎸 Nice video on the Jag in your opinion. Jim, keep rocking man 😎👍
The Vintera color criticism is kinda nitpicky. It has everything else and, frankly, I've been waiting *years* for a Jag with vintage load out and block inlays
I don't really feel it is nitpicky at all, I'm happy it's exactly what you wanted but I'd confidently wager the overwhelming majority of Jaguar players don't exactly have 70's maple board black block inlays on their dream vintage Jag wishlist.
The collector/music fan/music maker in me wants the vintage specs but the professional musician in me brings less finicky things to work. The short scale, rocking bridge, lack of 3 way switch, etc etc are huge deal breakers for my job. The matching headstocks are not a deal breaker though. They please the entirety of my being.
At its core, the player series was never about things being vintage correct. The Vintera line should have a Jag with a rosewood board, but the Player tele has the six saddle ridge, the strat has the modern three screw humbucker, these aren't trying to be vintage correct Also that's not what Down Bad means
So you didn't actually get the point of the video - got it. I've been playing poker in casinos since the late 90's where the term down bad has been used long before I started and easily works here to describe the state of the Fender Jaguar, but i'm sure you are the beacon of knowledge and understanding so sure yeah, you got it man.
Yeahhh agree on everything. I’m no where near a traditionalist when it comes to guitars I prefer a 9.5 radius with narrow frets. The 7.25 kinda screws me up a bit. But to be honest fender jags that we can buy are super boring. I go with a Sherwood green with black pickguard jag or Jazzmaster any day of the week. I’ve been on the market for a jaguar for awhile the squiers sound great but every single one I’ve played can’t hold tuning or is never set up in the shop it really turns me away from buying any of them. Personally I’m a Jazzmaster guy but having a jag would be sick for layering tracks and using it for leads.
I couldn't agree more. All very well said. I ended up buying a Vintera 2 70's that was B stock but I was really after an American version with a rosewood board. I do like my Vintera, it's the colour of custard!
Glad you brought this up! I little to no option when looking for a jaguar with a rosewood fretboard, binding and dot inlays… had to settle for the Kurt Cobain model
It's a shame you had to settle, that's still a decent amount of money to spend and you should be able to get exactly what you want from a massive company like Fender on one of their oldest designs.
You can get the MIJ 60s jaguar (only one option) here in Australia for less than the Vintera II. Jags look best with all the chrome and a dark fingerboard.
Might just be, but on the other hand maybe I'm a fool and they're on pace for another record year of sales against all the odds . Anything is possible haha
So bummed I didn’t grab the olive when they had American standard run in like 2019 or something. I have no Jag in my collection! I’ll either buy a used olive or build a jag-caster
Interesting video, I play bass but none the less, was gonna say it's it about the money after watching but it seems more like bad management or just not understanding the market !
I had a Vintera Jaguar in Ocean Turquoise with tort guard for like 8 days... That is my only experience with a Jag. The vibrato was garbage. The Pau Ferro was dry and ugly. The neck had a thick gloss and thin shape. I did like how it looked A LOT, and the sound was pretty usable. I luckily got almost all my money back as I found someone locally who was interested. One of the quickest times where I bought and resold a guitar right away. I just knew it wasn't for me... I think...that sonic blue Jaguar is one of the most BEAUTIFUL guitars I have ever seen. Tell me it's staying. If not, I will give you my parent's address in the US so you can ship it to them for me. 🤣
I strongly disagree. Finally the player series 2 created a very good jaguar and I actually prefer a more modern version of the Jag. Additionally, you have option to change pickups to humbuckers. The only improvements could be nitro finish and stainless steel frets. The standard jag switches just look very ugly and if you really like the sound, you can still mod it. You're missing the point about Player series, the vintera is more of their traditional guitars , but I agree that they could include a more traditional Jag version in Vintera lineup.
Yeah for sure I actually am totally cool with the Player series as a whole, but the fact that I had to look at it and hope it would be possible to mod it to it's traditional electrical layout is the problem. If they just offered a standard control layout on a rosewood board which they had done for a while even in mexico - the lacquer 60's series of JM and JG - there would be no issues.
@@AudiomoMusic Yeah, I guess it would be nice if they routed the bodies for traditional layout. Hopefull they will add a rosewood Jag to Vintera series in the future :)
You all will probably skewer me, but I’m actually excited about the player ii jag. I currently have an olympic white mustang 90 (with the rosewood FB). These were $500 new when I bought it. I absolutely love it and fell in love with short scales. I’ve been wanting another short scale but with a trem. The AM Pro Jag or Mod shop jag has been on my radar for some time. I like the simplicity of the controls. But for me, the price is too much. I would totally buy a player ii jag and I dig some of the colors. I know I’m in the minority, but I’m also probably the exact type of person they are marketing to. 🤷🏻♂️
I don't think there is anything wrong with liking the player ii or any of the other versions of Jaguars in the video, my problem is with Fender refusing to give the Jaguar the same vintage options they do with the Jazzmaster because they are more than capable of doing so and just won't do it.
love the JG66 but I'd happily take a AV65 or AV62 for the right price and custom color JG66's are overpriced to absolutely comical levels these days because Fender won't make good ones for the US market so there's not even a big price difference between the american reissues and a jg66 at this point if you wait it out.
the reason they all dont look like a true jaguar is because they want you to pay the premium to have the Fender logo+ classic look, you come to a certain age and you want your guitar to look and feel the part and they just arent gonna give you that for 800 euros. Kids are just gonna get a Squier or perhaps some used mex. I'd say buy a used vintera online for the price of a new player II. Mod later if you feel like it or sell for the same price.
I’m sure to some people absolutely, all depends if you want the bigger fret wire, flatter radius, and relicing. They get the hardware and electronics right either way
I absolutely will grab a '70s Vintera 2 to go with my '60s Vintera. Those things are badass with the maple board and blocks. Cool to see Fender mixing it up. (PS: They know what sells and what doesn't better than anyone, including you. Stop pretending you have some special insight into the market.)
Yeah man, they know the guitar market so well they managed to screw their financials so badly ( due to moronically thinking the massive covid guitar boom was going to last forever and over manufacturing guitars ) that after their best sales year in history they fired 300 workers in the Corona factory in a single day late last year for purely monetary reasons. Also the massive acoustasonic launch and investment really did well for them hahahahahaaha really knew the market for those
@@AudiomoMusic LOL If they weren't selling enough Strats and Teles to stave off layoffs, offering a new Jag with your favorite specs and color was never going to do it.
The rhythm circuit, toggle switches, matching headstocks, and pickups I’m talking about in this video are not selectable options on the mod shop design site, and the last time I emailed about it they told me the options they had were all they offered at the time but to always look out for updates…
Ok, yeah, was going to say Fender Japan. Looks like you might have got one of those. Japanese imports are kind of underrated, or at least overlooked. If you hadn't an import, I guess for you getting a Squier CV Jaguar, and modding it might have worked. Though, I guess you might want to change the neck, then it becomes quite a high cost project. Importing a guitar from Japan can give you access to lots of cool stuff it's near impossible to get anywhere else. Other things you can more often find in Japan are the good Korean made Epiphone Firebirds. Thinking about importing one of those.
I've been a huge Fender Japan fan since I started playing in the 90's so I've known the juice was always over there it's just sad to see what's available here compared to there. I tried the squier thing recently and did in fact put an american original neck on it with lindy fralin pickups and americna hardware... still didn't do it for me preferred the jag in the video to it by a lot.
@@AudiomoMusic Yip, me too. My first electric guitar that my mom bought me when I was around sixteen was a mid-90s MIJ Fender '69 Strat reissue in sunburst, with a rosewood neck. It was an really good guitar, even my guitar teacher who had a US really liked playing it. Especially their woodwork is top quality, and finish was impeccable. What the Jaguar needs is another great new guitarist or band that plays a standard vintage 60s Jaguar as their main guitar. On that note, I've noticed that the great young Irish band, Fontaines DC play Jaguars, sometimes both guitarists, or sometimes with a Mustang. My Bloody Valentine is definitely an influence, and Keving Shields also played Jaguars, not just Jazzmasters. Fontaines D.C.'s star is rising fast. There's been a resurgence in interest in shoegaze / dreampop music and even surfier rock, and the Jaguar with the trem is one of the staple guitars there, along with the Jazzmaster (they make good pairs Jaguars+Mustangs or Jazzmaster).
You got me curious about recent Fender Jaguar versions. Isn't there the original Vintera that was more the original 60s /custom colour style? I've seen one in Ocean Turquoise with the matching headstock and tort pickguard and it looks great for under 1k. And it's Pau Ferro board, not the 70s maple, which I'm personally fine with. There's a Surf Green version too, without the coloured headstock. They don't look as dark, but they play really nicely. I have original Vintera I Telecaster and Stratocaster in Seafoam, and they're two of my better guitars, especially once the Strat was professionally setup (Telecaster was perfect).
My best guess as to why jaguars dont get as many models as jazzmasters is relative popularity and percieved quality. While obviously jaguars have their fans, to the general guitar player they are a novelty at best. The short scale is a turn off but the chrome plates and funky switches add manufacturing cost - which is why you get the player i and ii. On the other hand, jazzmasters kind of look and function like a "normal guitar" if you never touch the rhythm circuit. Mustangs and duo sonics can be made on the cheap and marketed as student guitars. It comes down to there is enough demand to make used prices surge but not enough for fender to do more than theyre doing right now. Also look at squier - they get a ton of FSR jags, my guess is to boost sales on low run guitars. The wild colors like silver and gold sparkle make me think novelty - we dont see as many limited runs of jazzmasters because people are already buying the handful of colors offered.
When Fender did the 60th Anniversary run of vintage spec Jaguars they sold out within days of being listed and people were angry they didn't make nearly enough - Fender said to be patient and they would offer other vintage spec versions soon in the AV ii line. This was two years ago. The demand is there, they just won't do it and a lot of people want nothing to do with the Squires even as a mod platform and are willing to spend the money on an american reissue there are just none available to buy so here we are.
I have no idea why fender is doing the bare minimum with the Jaguar, makes no sense. I would like to see a SHerwood green , rosewood fretboard Jaguar widely available for sure
What I don’t understand is why they make several versions the models they do but refuse to give people what they want - such as a Sherwood green reissue. I also loooove that color
Honestly it’s because they’re just going to get sold for Johnny Marr Jaguar lol That’s the holy grail Jag
@@AudiomoMusicthey already did the ocean turquoise lately (since most frusciante lovers have always mistaken his sherwood for an OT in the under the bridge videoclip, they were super happy)
Fender has no real competition for Jags.
PRS Silver Sky is putting strats under pressure but Fender is the only show in town for jags and jazzmasters.
So if you don’t like their cheap jags - yes you have to go up to a Johnny Marr etc
I would buy a Vintera Jag in Sherwood green in a heartbeat as long as it has rosewood. Been waiting for years for that one.
Finally. Someone called this out.
Hopefully the rumors about an AV ii jag that have been floating since even before the release of the entire series come true at some point.
Literally was just in the market for a jag, but when I get a guitar I want it to be the way it was designed…am going with a custom builder who will make me a nitro finished jag any color I want rather than waiting on fender anymore
I live in Japan. The FSRs are often limited to as low as 10. I think many of the people who buy them are living overseas.
Yep, which also impacts Japanese customers. Fender USA's lack of supply to the west for desirable Jaguars hurts the domestic Japanese players ability to get the guitars that were meant for them in the first place. It's all so ridiculous and easy to fix but they won't do it.
And many of these FSRs went to oversea scalpers for reselling at ridiculously high prices.
This player 2 series is sad for the jag. Fender doesn't understand its like enjoying cruising around in an old classic with tons of chrome. Switches, and style.
@@AudiomoMusic i imported one from japan for less than the cost of American and Mexican and it came in 3 days with no customs costs. i feel like yall are stuck in the past. The Japanese models aren't like out of stock or anything they've been restocked a ton of times already this year.
I’ve imported countless and am aware of the prices… you are also speaking to people in this particular comment that live IN Japan, they also know.
Fender should hire you to design these year over year changes...
Perhaps but I don’t think it’s very likely haha
Based on what experience designing guitars? Oh just because he wants a vintage correct jag? 🤦🤦🤦
@@J.C... 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
The boy's pissed. And who could blame him.
I'm not angry, I'm disappointed hahahaha
Even after 60 years it’s not getting enough love
One day man, one day.
If Fender isn't going to do anything cool for the Jags here, then they might as well make the MIJ ones available here for the US domestic market. But we both know that's not going to happen, justice for the Jag, Fender, come on!!
I don't think it's logistically possible for Fender Japan to increase production to a number that would satisfy the demands of the US market without sacrificing quality control and other production Quotas they have. The other thing that we all know would happen is they would be marked up by a minimum of 50% if some new ones were sold here in the US which wouldn't really fix anything
@@AudiomoMusicFlipping for profit has ruined the used guitar market, each new flipper expects more than they paid
Flipping has existed since the instrument was first released, the flippers just had a store front where the buyer could come in and see it first. Again, it’s down to the buyers. Buyers regularly spending 2 grand on these guitars from shops when they cost about a grand to begin with gave shops the green light to continue and also buy more inventory. If the buyers didn’t spend the two grand in the first place, it wouldn’t have become the norm. It also allowed others in the know the then get the same guitars and undercut the bigger stores who created these norms. All of this was enabled because buyers willingly chose to pay the asking prices and some still do. It is what it is.
@@AudiomoMusic But those shops also bore the brunt of the customer service end of the business, today's sellers just have to say "as-is no returns" and if you buy sight-unseen you have no recourse
@jasondorsey7110 which is the exact same policy that anyone gets when they order from Japan directly to get the guitars in the states or UK. Trust me, I get where you’re coming from but there is a lot to this whole thing.
Hit the nail on the head. Fender has their head where the sun don't shine on this one.
nonsense, i've been told this was nothing but a clickbait video
*The Johnny Marr signature* is the only Jaguar that really matters.
I owned 2 Johnny Marr Jaguars I sold both. I never liked them they don’t feel like the American Vintage 62 Jaguar which are really good Jaguars
I like Johnny Marr, but his modified version of the Jag isn’t to my liking, so it doesn’t matter to me.
@artamussumatra6286 agreed. Dig his music no interest in his signature model.
Bah, it's actually a lesser Jaguar vs original form. They need to reissue both Jaguar and Mustang in correct specs. It is time. There are dedicated, large groups to those instruments now, there is zero excuse to keep pretending their value isn't recognized, because they have been for decades now.
@@caiusmadison2996 Marr or nothing. Don't be a nerd.
Fantastic video as ever, and a great tangent. Here’s hoping fender do put these in the next vintage line at the very least (probably won’t be long until vintage 3 line I imagine so fingers crossed they are finally added)
And I feel your pain- Gibson often post ‘which is your fav from the original collection lineup’ with no Firebird even pictured (guessing as they stopped making them but it was still part of the collection and original release) - is funny how some guitars get very little love (and annoying they’re often my favourites 😂)
The poor firebird gets treated even worse than the Jaguar 🥲
@@AudiomoMusic yeah it really does - get its divisive but its also a guitar with a lot of interesting history and a growing following but hey, very very grateful I have mine at least :)
For the vintera iii series, they should bring back the musicmaster and bullet guitars and basses
@@IanNorsworthy phil manzanera
Custom colour Jag has to be black with matching head stock, dots and binding would be so sick too!.
Great video man. I’m so glad you started this conversation. I, and evidently so many others, have been thinking the exact same thing. Hoping a Jaguar joins the American Vintage II series soon 🤞🤞
One can hope they do it, but at this point I'm not holding my breathe as they've teased this for over two years now
I was watching this waiting for the Fender Japan moment. I love my 90’s CIJ jag.
It was inevitable, Fender Japan are the only ones trying with the Jaguar imho.
The fact that "get a mod shop" guitar is floated as a way to get a Jaguar in its classic form is very sad. Fender loves to flaunt its legacy, and them not offering the most attractive form of a pre-CBS jaguar in either Vintera or American Vintage II boggles the mind, especially in the latter case. Let's say that okay, they don't want to offer options for MIM guitars because they want to push buyers towards MIA, then at least make the Vintage II line truly representative of the best of classic Fender.
Oh it always makes me laugh when people tell me to just "go to the mod shop" because they have clearly never looked at the Jaguars options on the mod shop to see it's not the answer to any of the requests a lot of players want. Awesome, I can get a modern spec'd guitar in Plum Metallic then replace all of the electronics with stuff I'd actually want and be 2300+ in the hole for a poly finished guitar... Make it make sense
Thing is also, if they want to push people towards MIA then why bother having MIM or Squier? The choice is there for Classic Vibe Strats, Teles and JMs, so players aren’t being pushed towards MIA for those, it’s just not for Jags
Not having basic options like non-marr electronics in the mod shop is a crime, let alone there not being binding/inlay choices and an option for painted headstocks or more than one pickup choice. They're REALLY dropping the ball here, regardless if they're trying to push people towards custom shop or not
I was waiting to hear your take on the PSII Jaguar. I'm super disappointed that they didn't include the rhythm circuit and at this point I'm probably going to have to buy a Squier CV Jag and put the new PSII rosewood neck on it once they're available.
Edit: I'd want either a Sherwood Green, Shell Pink, or Lake Placid Blue Jaguar. I adore the RUclipsr Nisebelle's blue Jaguar. You should check her out if you never have!
It's something a lot of people do, I did it on a CV. Replaced everything except the body... in the end it wasn't exactly what I wanted and sold it. Just kinda sucks we have to go through that much effort to make something that should be offered from Fender on a regular basis.
I want a Sherwood Green jag like you wouldn’t believe. Looks fantastic!
@@AudiomoMusic I actually rewatched your video on that a couple days ago and thought it looked like more work than it was worth but it's the only way to get a brand new traditional Jaguar setup for under $1000. It's too bad yours still didn't end up what you wanted.
I'm a sucker for dark fretboards so I don't have any interest in the Vintera II line either. I think Fender's Professional II lineup is overpriced but I'd probably buy a Jaguar from that line if they'd just make it. The Marr is cool but I'm not a 7.25" radius guy. I've been looking at '90s Jags and Japanese ones but it's almost impossible to find the colors (Sherwood Green or Shell Pink) I want.
I think the reason why the Jaguar is not manufactured in the USA is because it does not sell well, this is what some distributors have told me in the country where I live, which is why most of them only bring Stratocasters or Telecasters to the country. The Jaguar is usually a person's third or fourth guitar, I think you buy a Stratocaster, Telecaster and Les Paul first. Also the lack of famous/popular guitarists who use the Jaguar as their main guitar on stage would be another reason. Cheers Jim!
@@omarfranco8426 weird, cause a Japanese after import taxes is comparable to an American price wise. Why wouldn't we just buy the one made here? Oh that's right, they still wanna pretend all the new guitarists are buying Telecaster and Stratocaster or that old hat musicians are attracting new players to these two models, they aren't, but Fender cannot change. It only deletes or fucks things up now. I been faithless in them since the 90's, when they completely threw the last genre to mean anything and organically change the entire entertainment scene under the bus making ZERO EFFORT, to reissue during the grunge years. What a fuckin miserable bustard of a company. I hope they get sold, management has been stupid for years about what we want, the way we want it. See the Vintera 2 Mustangs, note they are NOT matching headstock, and are the 73' model, not the 69', the only one of the bunch we ASKED FOR FOR DECADES.
I share your concerns. I ended up scoring an FSR in Sherwood Green (rosewood, bound neck, 7.25 neck radius, etc.) in late 2023 from Kinko Music and absolutely love it; in total it cost me $1207 USD. Your videos introduced me to this series and led me down the path to figuring out how to order one of these successfully. Thank you.
It makes me happy to know I have helped people like yourself discover guitars like that and at the original prices available. If you ever want to sell it let me know, of all the runs I missed the Sherwood green was also my favorite haha
You *certainly* aren't the only one feeling this way about Jags bro! That blue japanese model you have is absolutely beautiful 😍😍 I, on the other hand, am one of the people who absolutely adores the maple board on the vintera II... that's on my wish list. You're right about the colour choices though, i don't mind white... real white... that vintage egg shell almost off white sickly cream colour is not at all my colour. One of the first guitars i ever bought was a Squier Vintage Modified Jag, White, (real white) with a tortoise shell guard. Soooooooo nice. But I sold her to a friend... I wish i had kept it. 😒
I think a 3-tone burst Jag is THE Jag, but I know some people like the custom colors and the matching headstock so Lake Placid Blue is cool too. There are some recent artists using Jags, Kurt Vile (tuned up to F standard), and Courtney Barnett (though she plays a lefty Cobain model). One of the guitar playing twins in The National had an LPB Jag with matching headstock as well.
I have an MIJ Jaguar (97-99) Love it. It’s my main guitar. Bought on reverb for 1200 two years ago. Got delivered to me in like four days. No big deal. There’s usually 20 good ones to choose from on any given day for 1200-1500.
I agree it would be awesome to Fender Japan stuff in our shops here in the US - or even better - for Fender US to make better stuff (as you stress here) but Reverb has made getting stuff from far away super easy.
Even better is skipping reverb entirely and getting the same guitars from Japan for well under a grand 😁
It’s just sad that’s the only viable and consistent option. All the AVRIs are priced to the moon unless they are beaten to death or three tone sunburst.
I have a 64 all original Jaguar, recently got a CME Blue sparkle Squire jaguar, it’s awesome, has a mustang bridge but it actually works great.
That light blue jag could be the nicest guitar I’ve ever seen
It is indeed a beaut, I have it listed for sale now as I'm going to try to fund an actual vintage Jaguar and call it a day so I don't need to rely on Fender to make anything new at this point
You nailed it with the Blue Jaguar at the end of the video.
Fender Japan nailed it to be fair, I just knew where to find it before it there
The Japanese line of traditional ii is kind of what you want but you have to arrange to import one. They look like amazing guitars
I've had several of those both production and FSR models, some of the hybrids, and numerous older MIJ and CIJ jags over the years. They are absolutely what is missing here in the market.
I really like the neck on the vintera II Jaguar
I agree with you so much on this. It's so infuriating that Fender has decided to treat the Jaguar this way. I own a '66 Jag and have been looking to get a comparable re-issue as my second guitar, and while there are countless reissues of Teles, Strats, and even Jazzmasters, with true vintage specs, there's nothing I've seen for the Jag.
I just can’t understand the decision making from Fender USA.
I think the Squire Classic vibe Jags have been great! But I think I’ve decided mod a thinline tele into a jazzy/jag trem, instead of getting an offset
I've never understood this. All I want is a regular Jaguar in player or player II form
Edit to say with vintage correct custom colors and control layouts
The Vintera 2 is based on a maple cap and those pups are by far my favorite of any jaguar
I got one of the Fender Classic 60s Lacquer Jaguars with the rosewood fingerboard on fb marketplace. It was a really good reissue with the only difference to my eyes being the non-locking tremolo system, which is easily replaced. Fender needs to bring that line back. No other affordable Jaguar is nearly as "correct" as that one to my knowledge.
I think this every day.
Great video! FMIC took over Fender Japan LTD in 2015. It's now officially called Fender Music Corporation (Japan), but some Japanese Fenders are still exclusive to Japan, so maybe not much change in availability
I'm with you. I'm currently in the process of building my dream jag, which I need to do through parts. It's going to be a 70s-ish spec build, with some fun outside the box and/or blasphemous things. I love the look of the rosewood, but I've always felt a better connection with maple fretboards and I love the feel of raw wood, so I'm doing my first roasted maple neck guitar. I have a cheap one now I'm working with, but planning to eventually get a Warmoth roasted maple neck with black blocks and binding, vintage small frets, and probably a 9.5 radius to better jive with the rest of my parts. I think the darker color of the roasted maple will help it sit a bit more close to rosewood visually compared to normal maple. I plan to paint the headstock, so sanding and painting it won't be painful like doing the same to an old neck or USA neck. I have an AVRI trem and an american pro bridge (seems to be the staytrem copy), a vintera 60s body in factory sunburst, and it'll have vintage spec wiring. I'll be painting a thin nitro sherwood green with a tinted amber clear over the current sunburst, which will hopefully wear really nicely over time. Tort pickguard, which I had never been too sold on before, but I think looks ultra good with the sherwood green. I'm also considering checking the finish, since realistically I don't think that will actually happen naturally.
Jaguars have always been one of my favorite guitars and I'm SUPER excited for this project. I just got enough parts to have something playable and it's been so fun. I feel like jags are becoming more and more popular these days and that Fender would start selling a ton more if they'd just start painting those damn headstocks!
the Vintera II and Johnny Marr Jaguar are so sweet. I own and absolutely love them both.
Great video, agree with everything you said. I recently got a Classic Vibe 70’s Jaguar and I love it, though I don’t know what to compare it to cause I’ve never even held a Fender. I wish the Player 2 Jaguar had the chrome and vintage controls. I would buy one of those in that Hialeah Yellow for sure. I love your passion for these guitars it’s contagious, keep up the great work.
I have the Fender Japan Late 60s Traditional II like you used to have and there is no way I am selling it for the very reasons you mention about why won't Fender make a proper Jaguar. The Trad II has a 9.5 inch radius neck I believe and a real one would be 7.25 but that is okay, I accept it because the rest of the guitar is pretty accurate.
What a beautiful Jaguar that is, I must say I'm jealous of that matching headstock and the color is superb. As you know Jags got discontinued and used to be on the resale market for cheap. A lot of players like Cobain would modify them significantly which brought back the popularity but also confused Fender it seems. They're on a mission to fix something that wasn't broken by "modernizing" whatever they can. Although I did like the original Player Series I just don't understand anything about this new offering other than the rosewood. The pickups aren't even Jaguar pickups. Your observations about the used market now on these things speaks volumes.
Maybe the Jag just doesnt sell as much as other offsets, so there less need for fender to do it 'right'?
I can understand why the player 2 series isn't vintage correct though. It's entry level stuff. However the vintera 2 Jag offerings are indeed very limited. Good shout!
When they did the 60th anniversary Jaguars they sold out within days of being listed and a lot of people were angry they made so few. Fender said not to worry because they would be making vintage spec models for the Jaguar in full production shortly - that was 2 years ago.
I remember there was a “lacquer” series with MIM guitars with nitro finishes. It was such a beast for the money. I’ve seen a very good deal on this one around 8 years ago and still regret not picking this one up. And they even had a road worn jags back in the day. MIM in late 00s and early 10s were really nice instruments. Baja tele is legendary at some point
I had one of those fiesta red lacquer MIM jags as a backup I brought to gigs in San Diego! I paid $600 for it new as a "dent and scratch" and it even had a hardshell case, and i ALSO had a baja 60's tele in sonic blue shortly after that! It is insane to me the steps backward Fender has taken since that era with the Mexican made guitars
Damn. This guy understands us! Fender hire this man.
I'm not holding my breath waiting for that call hahaha
I have a made in Japan E series 84-87’ jaguar that is absolutely the best jaguar I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned quite a few
Never, ever, ever sell that guitar. You really lucked out with that one
My thoughts exactly. That is the reason I went with a 1999 CIJ in lake placid blue with Matching Headstock as my first jag. Fantastic instrument and very beautiful.
That being said, I ended up getting a great deal on a new Johnny Marr, and it's also amazing. They are both Jags, yet are quite different in the way they feel and sound. Love them both!
In a perfect world, they'd just make both. i have no issues with Marr jaguar outside of the fact it's the only available US option outside of the custom shop. Happy you got lucky with two Jags!
@@AudiomoMusic I agree, Fender USA/Mexico having no options for a standard configuration Jaguar makes no sense to me, or the people that tell me that they like the look of the Jaguar but are put off by "too many switches and and knobs that are confusing." The classic Jag layout is awesome, very intuitive.
@@72chevelle530ss I think the people that say things like that have just never played a Jag & taken the 2 minutes it requires to figure it out. If you’re put off by 4 switches & 2 roller pots you may have some attention span issues you need to look into.
American Original 60s and AVRI 62s are tough to find in more desirable colors. You're going to pay $2K+ for those models because they are vintage spec and have nitro finish, but realistically Fender is not going to charge any less than that for a vintage spec production model so I don't think there's any reason to wait on it. Best thing I did on mine is add a Halon bridge with brass saddles. Magic. Highly recommended.
They didn't make nearly as many custom color runs for the AO line compared to the original AV's which makes those even a bit harder for people that want the modern radius but man... the models I'm most interested in - the fsr thin skin 65 jaguar or one of the limited edition thin skin 62 reissues are either out of this world expensive ( 3k-5k) or go months without being listed. Happy you got what you wanted, never tried the Halon bridge that's good to hear
Loving my 60s American Original jaguar that I bought 2022. My local finnish guitar shop had installed 11. gauge strings. I think originally that had 10., but 11. is working too good. Most likely my favorite guitar, liking even bit more that Marr's Jaguar that I also have. Marr Jaguar is great but american original feels bit more Jaguar. Rythm circuit is great, liking the 3 switch toggle and no issues with the jaguar bridge. Planning to get 3rd jaguar and try lollar pickups for it.
Lollar make great stuff, big fan of their pickups for every Fender honestly. Happy to hear you enjoy the more traditional style Jag - there's absolutely nothing wrong with it imho just a lot of user error from people that don't understand how they work.
@@AudiomoMusicWhile Marr jaguar is great, the 4 position switch and mustang bridge definitely feels quite artificial. Forgot that American Original had one fun problem, had to set tremolo screws upside down or E-strings would break. Hope to find Japanese Jaguar some day.
I bought Marr Jaguar used for 1000 euro and deMarred it using my 50th anniv US Jaguar, now it looks like 60s one and I really like it, even tho it doesn’t come out on stage very often…
1000 euro used I'd likely have done the same thing, new pricing is wild for a mod project
Chrome plates are quite expensive, but my best guess is that they go for the bare minimum, and also they want to milk out as much as they can, I mean profit wise.
Yep, it's all money driven thanks to penny pinchers designing guitars and not guitarists anymore, but to think they went out of their way not to route the body underneath like all of the other Mexican Jaguars is just silly.
@@AudiomoMusic I have the older player series mexico jag, the top is routed, but there's no room for rhythm circuit. You can choose if you want to stick to the coil split or install in 'n out phase. The problem is made way worse.
Totally agree! It is so frustrating to be a Jaguar fan these days. First of all... don't put Jaguar on the headstock unless it has all the chrome plates! It is the one of the main things that sets it apart from other Fender offerings. I have been waiting for over a decade for Fender to put out a Sherwood green Jag (hopefully with matching headstock). I would even be happy if it was a Squier Classic Vibe Jag, which I am shocked they haven't refreshed the colors on in years.
it doesnt even have to be about being vintage correct. the rhythm circuit is a core part of what the JM and Jag offer
Honestly, so is the strangle. A lot of people don't realize how it is a staple of surf music and even in country for a time in the 60's and 70's. Those two features are part of what make the Jaguar the Jaguar indeed
The Squier Classic Vibe Jags and JMs remain the best way to get vintage spec offsets.
Except they aren’t remotely vintage spec. They are nyatoh bodies, laurel boards, wrong fret wire, modern radius on the neck. They are the best way to “look” like a vintage spec offset from far away that’s about it.
I like that Teal color the Jag comes in but it looks funky with that huge plastic guard.
Yep, they got that color and the coral red right on the player ii series in general imo
Dude even the Kurt Jaguar is entirely wrong.
The fingerboard radius is 9.5 when the actual one was 7.25. Even though it likely was a custom/heavily modified neck, there’s no evidence that points to it being a 9.5 radius. Fender also did the same thing to J. Mascis signature guitars even though his was 7.25.
The pickup placement is wrong. The original has the pickups very close up to the neck and the bridge, and it’s missing the extra strap button on the other horn.
The tune-o-matic is wrong. It’s supposed to be black chrome with brass saddles.
The bridge pickup should also be a JB. Yeah it had a super distortion when he originally got it, but he obviously changed it out for a JB for a reason.
Even the fucking sunburst color and pick guard color are wrong! They couldn’t be bothered to put any work into the thing because they were too busy jerking each other off over how much money this shitty approximation of Kurt’s Jaguar would make them.
There’s the same kind of problems with attention to detail on Fender’s Jag-Stang and Signature Mustangs as well. The mustangs never had the “Mustang” on the headstock, just Fender logos.
The switches weren’t shortened, but filed all the way down. The pick guard colors and patterns on the sonic blue models are wrong, and the holes for the phase switches on the pick guard of his fiesta red mustang were rounded as it was a custom made piece.
There was obviously no lake placid blue mustang with that set up (single coil-JB) and even as an “inspired-by” guitar the color is wrong and the headstock should match.
Shit, the Jag-Stang’s don’t even come with the Texas Special and Seymour Duncan JB, just shitty fender pickups.
The body shape is off, the pick guards are wrong, and so is the bridge. This is the kind of shit we should come to expect from Fender because this is what we’ve collectively allowed Fender to get away with.
But hey who cares, we just want that sweet sweet Nirvana money! Fuck the fans. Fuck putting in the work to make accurate representations of iconic Fender guitars for a signature model. And most of all, fuck making these guitars for a reasonable price, we need to bleed our customers dry and then make it limited run so the resale market is even more outrageously expensive.
I genuinely love this sort of unfiltered passion with the knowledge to back it up because most people won’t call stuff out for what it is. Well said.
Most of my guitars are vintage Fender style guitars and the reality is most people do not want a vintage spec jaguar. Most people do not want the 3 switches. The 3 switches system doesn't work for 90% of players and is not ideal live. Prices on japanese ones on reverb are bizarre scalper prices. Go import one through an online dealer.
Live I actually preferred the sliders playing surf and garage rock. It took a bit to get used to coming from a Telecaster but it became second nature really quickly and it's really intuitive in it's own right albeit I agree - not for everyone.
I've been importing direct from Japan for a long while now, my problem is they haven't ever made a production nitro finished vintage spec'd jag. They've done it with the Jazzmaster and it is absolutely superb - if they ever add the Jag to the Heritage line i'll be the first one to import it haha.
You cant expect Fender to come to the party just to make you happy! Simply save more to purchase a pre CBS Jaguar. Living in Sydney, Australia i paid $10,000 for my 1964 jaguar with case. Its the only way you'll ever own the real deal!
I'm so glad you're here with your highly practical advice!
Why didn't I think of (simply) dropping $10K on a vintage Jaguar??
You're a life saver!
Yeah I wish I could justify 10 grand on a vintage guitar 🤣🤣
@AudiomoMusic I love how some people think we all have thousands of dollars laying around to blow on trivial shit. If I had $10k of disposable income, I wouldn't be spending it on a guitar. And if I were to buy a vintage guitar, it wouldn't be a Jaguar.
I feel your frustration brother!.
Fender are all over the shop with regards to historic accuracy, even the custom shop get features completely wrong?.
Fender Japan have always done it right!.
They make very few custom shop Jaguars annually, it's sad the majority are relics and have modern neck specs but at least it's something I guess... for the rest of us there is Fender Japan haha
It's always been Fender Japan, even before F.J was a thing!.
I've got a lot of love for Tokai and Greco.
You have to try a Galanti Grand Prix, a classic 60's Italian twist on the off-set shape and fantastic pickups!.
saw the thumbnail and thought it was an ad just based off design and skipped over it, wasn’t til i read title and wanted to watch!! make ur thumbnails more personable and ditch the watermark on the thumbnail looks very very commercial and easy to skip over.. great video tho! very educational!!
everything in fact! Finding a new canonical Jaguar is very difficult now; there are many guitars on the used market with different bridges, pickups, tuners, guitars that are 20-30 years old. I recently picked up a Fender 2021 Traditional II 60s Jaguar Matching Head Black Japan, almost new, very happy about it, the Japanese really care about Jags p.s. In my country the import is closed, it is very difficult to order guitars, so things are even worse(
Great GREAT video. Only time they remotely even thought about it was the Johnny Marr Jaguar, and that guitar is a little off of the beaten path for Jaguars.
Honestly, I would say it's Fender's R&D team probably attempting to avoid a repeat of the model's inception run by reissuing Jaguars without the original obscure design features - features which ironically give the Jaguar it's character. And while Fender can dodge that very same bullet with the Jazzmaster (i.e. the Squier J Mascis, which was put out with P-90 pickups was a remarkably versatile yet popular guitar) it's just wildly reluctant to with regard to the Jaguar, success of the Player Series model aside
It's fascinating isn't it? I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the board room where they make the decisions on these things.
@@AudiomoMusic Legitimately quite fascinating - you and me both on that. Other than Fender litigating business decisions from *1962* (which is insane given that the 90's happened lol) literally every argument you present in this video is air-tight and it makes zero sense to reissue something that is iterative of the idea instead of the genuine article. Fender, amirite lol
Threw up in my mouth when I saw the first ad for the new Jag. WHAT DID THEY DO TO MY BOI.
Think someone there has a vendetta against jags honestly
We're doing alot better than when I started playing. They didn't even make jaguars or mustangs in a standard format at all in the US. Fender Mexico is diversifying the jag just like it does every year. The vintera 1s are still readily available with more classic aesethic if you like and even a dual humbucker you can split. Theyre just going for a slimmed down simplified but practical approach this year. The modified versions are filling in a good mid price niche, and the more classic looking style ones are very available in squier at low price and the fender at mid to high price.
I suppose that's relative to when exactly you started playing, but from when I started the dowgrade is comical. Even just looking back 10 years Fender didn't have this problem and they were doing it right at multiple price points.
I think the player II makes sense, they talked about how neither the jazzmaster or the Jaguar have one so it’s simpler for players, hence the name of the guitar. Also not even to forget how much fender messed up the Kurt cobain signature, it’s incredibly inaccurate to his actual guitar.
All of the models kind of make sense in their own way, it's the lack of a traditional spec'd alternative that makes very little sense to me. Yeah they really botched the KC jag haha
It’s like the AM Fender Performer Mustang. There are no in/out phase slide switches; a defining feature. Why?
Yeah right?! I'd want the switches
They don’t like short scale guitars 🥲
Mustang players waiting for a Player Series with a trem: 🐎
The Mustang has it even worse than the Jag, there has never been a proper spec'd vintage reissue of the mustang with the Dynamic Vibrato or pickup switches made in the USA - ever. Player series makes even less sense because they offer a duo sonic that is really similar to the Mustang, but they both have hard tail bridges. I agree with you, it should be offered with the dynamic vibrato.
Squier is the only option with the old school trem (am I even correct on this)?
the Vintera ii has the dynamic vibrato on it
They treat the Jag’s like the lefty’s. Which being left handed myself, means I’m equally screwed since the only option they have for lefty’s in Jags are the Mod Shop or Custom Shop. The MIJ FSR’s are like finding a needle in a haystack.
Minor FYI, but pulling the sticker of the signature off of the Marr Jaguar takes three seconds and is super easy. No sanding required.
Some Fenders they add the logos before the lacquer, some they don't. Never had enough interest in the Marr to grab one in person to see but that's good to know
I think the issue is Fender isnt looking to win over the offset fans with these guitars. They are looking to get people who play strats, telecasters, and les pauls with something different but not too different. Fender seems to hate their original offset designs and the ayers who love them. The guitars didnt sell well in the 50s and 60s and thus are viewed as failures and Fender doesnt want to take a risk on them. Similar to Gibson refusing to reissue Norlin era guitars and specs.
Great video calling out the lack of Jaguars...I did a similar video a year ago or so. I think I have a more optimistic opinion on the current models though. Yes, the Player II Jaguar has no rhythm circuit (or routing) and is lacking 2/3 chrome plates, BUT at least Fender actually designed new pickups AND they're actual Jaguar pickups! It's also not aimed at the vintage Jag fans. The Vintera II isn't that bad IMO, maple is kinda sick, and the vintage white is pretty cool looking. Black is boring.
The lack of American Jaguars IS a problem...but I think it's a symptom of poor sales. Consistently, the Jaguar undersells the Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Jazzmaster. So, Fender just doesn't want to spend R&D money on them if no one is buying. It's too bad that the Japanese Fenders aren't available to us.
Fender sold out of the 60th anniversary jags within days of them being listed ( the actual jaguars not the black one that was nothing like a Jaguar ) and went on record saying not to worry to those that missed out as there would be similar vintage specd American ones available for everyone “soon”. Over two years later and nothing has changed. It’s also worth remembering at the time those were released, there were still some American Original Jaguars available on a regular basis both new and used so it’s not like there was a big gap between production as there is today. In an ideal world they’d add it to the AV ii line but they make strange bets financially on models or gear that has zero following or demand so I can’t understand their logic at times. It is what it is
I actually dig it, however, the new Squier Affinity Jaguar coming out is essentially the same thing as this new player series.
I do wish they would bring back the contemporary jaguar with a TOM style bridge. That bridge with Jaguar pickups would be my cup of tea. I wish fender would bring back the toronado too.
I love the Toronado and Coronado, I'd happily endorse getting both or even just one of them back into production.
You are right about Fender Japan. I just got two. I got the FSR Inca Silver Jaguar. I also just got a limited run Cyclone. Both guitars are awesome. Build quality is fantastic. I spent a little too much on the Jaguar through a reseller. However, I ordered the Cyclone over a broker on ebay and it was only $1,150 (including tax) with free shipping. This is all to say that they are doing it right in Japan and anyone thinking about buying directly from there really should not hessitate.
I've been saying it for years, that's where the value and quality are if you're into Fender guitars. It's a tall ask to order something blind and I understand why some are hesitant to do it but man, all it takes it that first one to show up and you think "why haven't I been doing this for years?" haha
@@AudiomoMusic For sure man. Just like you said, when you get that first one out of the way you are hooked.
Very nice hearing your opinion on the Jag Jim, the only "fender" I have is the Vintera II White with the black inlays just like my squire jazzmaster, I do have a squier Jaguar '60 s with the white headstock that I got from Sweetwater. I tend to use that more than the '70 V😁🎸 Nice video on the Jag in your opinion. Jim, keep rocking man 😎👍
You skipped the vintera1 jag. It came with a pau ferro fingerboard, but aside from that and a poly finish, its supposed to be similar to a 62'.
I didn’t skip it, it’s no longer in production
The Vintera color criticism is kinda nitpicky. It has everything else and, frankly, I've been waiting *years* for a Jag with vintage load out and block inlays
I don't really feel it is nitpicky at all, I'm happy it's exactly what you wanted but I'd confidently wager the overwhelming majority of Jaguar players don't exactly have 70's maple board black block inlays on their dream vintage Jag wishlist.
The collector/music fan/music maker in me wants the vintage specs but the professional musician in me brings less finicky things to work. The short scale, rocking bridge, lack of 3 way switch, etc etc are huge deal breakers for my job. The matching headstocks are not a deal breaker though. They please the entirety of my being.
At its core, the player series was never about things being vintage correct. The Vintera line should have a Jag with a rosewood board, but the Player tele has the six saddle ridge, the strat has the modern three screw humbucker, these aren't trying to be vintage correct
Also that's not what Down Bad means
So you didn't actually get the point of the video - got it.
I've been playing poker in casinos since the late 90's where the term down bad has been used long before I started and easily works here to describe the state of the Fender Jaguar, but i'm sure you are the beacon of knowledge and understanding so sure yeah, you got it man.
Yo Fender, no mute, no deal!
I also spend too much time thinking about this... maybe next year.
I gave up on Fender getting this right and just decided to seek out one of the older ones they actually got right.
You can route anything you want, or get a good used one, in Gibson samething happens with the firebirds and flying Vs
Yeahhh agree on everything. I’m no where near a traditionalist when it comes to guitars I prefer a 9.5 radius with narrow frets. The 7.25 kinda screws me up a bit. But to be honest fender jags that we can buy are super boring. I go with a Sherwood green with black pickguard jag or Jazzmaster any day of the week. I’ve been on the market for a jaguar for awhile the squiers sound great but every single one I’ve played can’t hold tuning or is never set up in the shop it really turns me away from buying any of them. Personally I’m a Jazzmaster guy but having a jag would be sick for layering tracks and using it for leads.
Love the Jaguar ❤
I couldn't agree more. All very well said. I ended up buying a Vintera 2 70's that was B stock but I was really after an American version with a rosewood board. I do like my Vintera, it's the colour of custard!
Custard... now I can't unsee that hahaha
On point!
Glad you brought this up! I little to no option when looking for a jaguar with a rosewood fretboard, binding and dot inlays… had to settle for the Kurt Cobain model
It's a shame you had to settle, that's still a decent amount of money to spend and you should be able to get exactly what you want from a massive company like Fender on one of their oldest designs.
Fender needs to make a American Vintage II jaguar and mustang!
amen, it's a shame they've NEVER done an american reissue of the mustang, the performers are not it. at least the jag got some attention for 20 years.
You can get the MIJ 60s jaguar (only one option) here in Australia for less than the Vintera II. Jags look best with all the chrome and a dark fingerboard.
You're damn right about that
Good honest call Jimlad. Fender USA are seriously missing the beat...
Might just be, but on the other hand maybe I'm a fool and they're on pace for another record year of sales against all the odds . Anything is possible haha
So bummed I didn’t grab the olive when they had American standard run in like 2019 or something. I have no Jag in my collection! I’ll either buy a used olive or build a jag-caster
Interesting video, I play bass but none the less, was gonna say it's it about the money after watching but it seems more like bad management or just not understanding the market !
I had a Vintera Jaguar in Ocean Turquoise with tort guard for like 8 days... That is my only experience with a Jag. The vibrato was garbage. The Pau Ferro was dry and ugly. The neck had a thick gloss and thin shape. I did like how it looked A LOT, and the sound was pretty usable. I luckily got almost all my money back as I found someone locally who was interested. One of the quickest times where I bought and resold a guitar right away. I just knew it wasn't for me...
I think...that sonic blue Jaguar is one of the most BEAUTIFUL guitars I have ever seen. Tell me it's staying. If not, I will give you my parent's address in the US so you can ship it to them for me. 🤣
I would love for it to stay but ahem some other things are on the table going foward without the big F logo on the headstock...
@@AudiomoMusic 😬😬😬
I strongly disagree. Finally the player series 2 created a very good jaguar and I actually prefer a more modern version of the Jag. Additionally, you have option to change pickups to humbuckers. The only improvements could be nitro finish and stainless steel frets. The standard jag switches just look very ugly and if you really like the sound, you can still mod it. You're missing the point about Player series, the vintera is more of their traditional guitars , but I agree that they could include a more traditional Jag version in Vintera lineup.
Yeah for sure I actually am totally cool with the Player series as a whole, but the fact that I had to look at it and hope it would be possible to mod it to it's traditional electrical layout is the problem. If they just offered a standard control layout on a rosewood board which they had done for a while even in mexico - the lacquer 60's series of JM and JG - there would be no issues.
@@AudiomoMusic Yeah, I guess it would be nice if they routed the bodies for traditional layout. Hopefull they will add a rosewood Jag to Vintera series in the future :)
You all will probably skewer me, but I’m actually excited about the player ii jag. I currently have an olympic white mustang 90 (with the rosewood FB). These were $500 new when I bought it. I absolutely love it and fell in love with short scales. I’ve been wanting another short scale but with a trem. The AM Pro Jag or Mod shop jag has been on my radar for some time. I like the simplicity of the controls. But for me, the price is too much. I would totally buy a player ii jag and I dig some of the colors. I know I’m in the minority, but I’m also probably the exact type of person they are marketing to. 🤷🏻♂️
I don't think there is anything wrong with liking the player ii or any of the other versions of Jaguars in the video, my problem is with Fender refusing to give the Jaguar the same vintage options they do with the Jazzmaster because they are more than capable of doing so and just won't do it.
the jg66 is the only jag i would buy
love the JG66 but I'd happily take a AV65 or AV62 for the right price and custom color JG66's are overpriced to absolutely comical levels these days because Fender won't make good ones for the US market so there's not even a big price difference between the american reissues and a jg66 at this point if you wait it out.
the reason they all dont look like a true jaguar is because they want you to pay the premium to have the Fender logo+ classic look, you come to a certain age and you want your guitar to look and feel the part and they just arent gonna give you that for 800 euros. Kids are just gonna get a Squier or perhaps some used mex. I'd say buy a used vintera online for the price of a new player II. Mod later if you feel like it or sell for the same price.
Great video Jim 🎉
Thanks 👍
what about the Nash JG63, is that a viable alternative?
I’m sure to some people absolutely, all depends if you want the bigger fret wire, flatter radius, and relicing. They get the hardware and electronics right either way
I absolutely will grab a '70s Vintera 2 to go with my '60s Vintera. Those things are badass with the maple board and blocks. Cool to see Fender mixing it up. (PS: They know what sells and what doesn't better than anyone, including you. Stop pretending you have some special insight into the market.)
Yeah man, they know the guitar market so well they managed to screw their financials so badly ( due to moronically thinking the massive covid guitar boom was going to last forever and over manufacturing guitars ) that after their best sales year in history they fired 300 workers in the Corona factory in a single day late last year for purely monetary reasons. Also the massive acoustasonic launch and investment really did well for them hahahahahaaha really knew the market for those
@@AudiomoMusic LOL If they weren't selling enough Strats and Teles to stave off layoffs, offering a new Jag with your favorite specs and color was never going to do it.
"PS: They know what sells and what doesn't better than anyone"
I'm still having a laugh at that, thanks I needed it
They will if you order and spec it out via the mod shop ( even for lefties).
The rhythm circuit, toggle switches, matching headstocks, and pickups I’m talking about in this video are not selectable options on the mod shop design site, and the last time I emailed about it they told me the options they had were all they offered at the time but to always look out for updates…
@@AudiomoMusic maybe the custom shop (at a price)!
Ok, yeah, was going to say Fender Japan. Looks like you might have got one of those. Japanese imports are kind of underrated, or at least overlooked. If you hadn't an import, I guess for you getting a Squier CV Jaguar, and modding it might have worked. Though, I guess you might want to change the neck, then it becomes quite a high cost project. Importing a guitar from Japan can give you access to lots of cool stuff it's near impossible to get anywhere else. Other things you can more often find in Japan are the good Korean made Epiphone Firebirds. Thinking about importing one of those.
I've been a huge Fender Japan fan since I started playing in the 90's so I've known the juice was always over there it's just sad to see what's available here compared to there. I tried the squier thing recently and did in fact put an american original neck on it with lindy fralin pickups and americna hardware... still didn't do it for me preferred the jag in the video to it by a lot.
@@AudiomoMusic Yip, me too. My first electric guitar that my mom bought me when I was around sixteen was a mid-90s MIJ Fender '69 Strat reissue in sunburst, with a rosewood neck. It was an really good guitar, even my guitar teacher who had a US really liked playing it. Especially their woodwork is top quality, and finish was impeccable. What the Jaguar needs is another great new guitarist or band that plays a standard vintage 60s Jaguar as their main guitar. On that note, I've noticed that the great young Irish band, Fontaines DC play Jaguars, sometimes both guitarists, or sometimes with a Mustang. My Bloody Valentine is definitely an influence, and Keving Shields also played Jaguars, not just Jazzmasters. Fontaines D.C.'s star is rising fast. There's been a resurgence in interest in shoegaze / dreampop music and even surfier rock, and the Jaguar with the trem is one of the staple guitars there, along with the Jazzmaster (they make good pairs Jaguars+Mustangs or Jazzmaster).
No binding 😢
You got me curious about recent Fender Jaguar versions. Isn't there the original Vintera that was more the original 60s /custom colour style? I've seen one in Ocean Turquoise with the matching headstock and tort pickguard and it looks great for under 1k. And it's Pau Ferro board, not the 70s maple, which I'm personally fine with. There's a Surf Green version too, without the coloured headstock. They don't look as dark, but they play really nicely. I have original Vintera I Telecaster and Stratocaster in Seafoam, and they're two of my better guitars, especially once the Strat was professionally setup (Telecaster was perfect).
Agree 100%.
My best guess as to why jaguars dont get as many models as jazzmasters is relative popularity and percieved quality. While obviously jaguars have their fans, to the general guitar player they are a novelty at best. The short scale is a turn off but the chrome plates and funky switches add manufacturing cost - which is why you get the player i and ii. On the other hand, jazzmasters kind of look and function like a "normal guitar" if you never touch the rhythm circuit. Mustangs and duo sonics can be made on the cheap and marketed as student guitars.
It comes down to there is enough demand to make used prices surge but not enough for fender to do more than theyre doing right now.
Also look at squier - they get a ton of FSR jags, my guess is to boost sales on low run guitars. The wild colors like silver and gold sparkle make me think novelty - we dont see as many limited runs of jazzmasters because people are already buying the handful of colors offered.
When Fender did the 60th Anniversary run of vintage spec Jaguars they sold out within days of being listed and people were angry they didn't make nearly enough - Fender said to be patient and they would offer other vintage spec versions soon in the AV ii line. This was two years ago. The demand is there, they just won't do it and a lot of people want nothing to do with the Squires even as a mod platform and are willing to spend the money on an american reissue there are just none available to buy so here we are.