So yesterday I picked up my jaguar that I ordered from guitar center. I have never owned or really played any other Jag ever, so this review is basically the guitar as it stands on its own.

Cost: I ordered it on the 5th, had to pay $12 shipping and tax. Came to $335. Some may say "well places have free shipping, or pick it up in the store.." I just wanted to avoid salesman mix up. you call and they say they have it but they have something else. or the wrong color. you chase around and just get frustrated. Later i got the $25 instant rebate, so it came to $308. Fresh out of the box and not bumped around on the sales floor.. in the color I wanted.

Construction: Solid. No weird fit of pickguards, nothing crooked, finish is perfect, little details are clean. Frets are dressed perfectly, no buzzes or highspots. tuners are accurate, no buzzing at the bridge. The trem is light and floaty with great response.

Electronics: Switches are solid and do not wiggle. my 90s Bass VI switches are wobbley and wiggle. These are snug and quiet. Low profile too, i don't think i'll be hitting them while playing. Pots are clean, even, smooth, responsive.

Circuits: Playing through the 72 Vibro Champ. Clean, lots of drive at the higher volume. Pickups are super quiet under flourescent basement lighting. All the circuits do as Leo intended. Lots of nice tonal textures. I think it'll deliver for all of you hardcore surf players.. I need someone to put it thru those paces.

I think even at the standard street price of $300, you'll get MORE than your money's worth.

Note: It seems that the bridge is very low to the pickguard. Those wanting to add the mute may have to do some work to shoehorn it in..

I think that the sales of Xavieres and similar cheap copies will also take a serious hit. The Squiers are pretty close to the real deal, and for not much more.

Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.

I'd love to know how these guitars compare to the CP line. How would one of the Squier Jazzmasters compare to the more upscale offerings?

My guitar came yesterday while I was out of town. I never received a notice from Sam Ash Direct that it was being shipped so it was quite a surprise when I got home. I am very satisfied with the guitar I received. I did have to do a thirty minute setup of shimming the neck to get the bridge up to stop the noises coming from the front edge of the bridge in front of the saddles. Plus I had to intonate it and adjust each saddles height and adjusted the vibrato spring to set height of the trem arm. Other than that I'd say it's a outstanding bargain. Here are a few photo's. The first one is next to my MIJ Jazzmaster that I bought in 91. Of course the Jazzy has all electronics and hardware updated with AVRI parts it will remain my main squeeze.

Danny Ellison aka dubtrub

Last edited: Jul 14, 2012 20:09:04

Interesting.. mine didn't need any tweak. I'm guessing it's the standard personal tastes and individual setups. regardless.. I am not disappointed with any of it. i still have the original strings on it. I haven't stopped playing enough to replace them!

Well, I just popped for the Olympic White/Tortoise version like Danny got. Drove 100 miles today to test drive one at the nearest GC, but all they had was Candy Apple Red. It played and sounded great and looked like a quality piece of kit. When I called them at 9 am they had 2 Oly Whites. By the time I got there at 11 am they were gone. I just hope the one I get is equivalent in sound and quality to the CAR one I played. The GC guys swore it was right out of the box with no special setup so I'm encouraged.

Never had a Jag. Was tempted to buy the CAR one, but I'm a sucker for white/tort. I suppose the chances of Squier making these in a lefty are slim to none.

You're not drunk if you can put your socks on while standing.

Stokemon wrote:

Well, I just popped for the Olympic White/Tortoise version like Danny got. Drove 100 miles today to test drive one at the nearest GC, but all they had was Candy Apple Red. It played and sounded great and looked like a quality piece of kit. When I called them at 9 am they had 2 Oly Whites. By the time I got there at 11 am they were gone. I just hope the one I get is equivalent in sound and quality to the CAR one I played. The GC guys swore it was right out of the box with no special setup so I'm encouraged.

Never had a Jag. Was tempted to buy the CAR one, but I'm a sucker for white/tort. I suppose the chances of Squier making these in a lefty are slim to none.

This is EXACTLY why i just went ahead and ordered one. it was cool to be the one to cut open the box nd slide it out in it's little foam wrap. Immediately a couple sales guys took pics because they had only heard about them... day three, still plays perfect. haven't stopped to even change strings!

well at first i dreamed of walking in a store, seeing a slew of them in all the colors all the models, right? and picking it up and trying a couple and picking out the winner.

then there was the "mystery" of when they would be released.. hmm

then i got antsy and i sold some things to raise the $$... so i went ahead and just ordered it. I was a little bummed when they said shipping was $12 because we all know we can get free shipping from just about everywhere, right?

so to justify it to myself, i pictured your situation (which is a drag, uggggggggh......) i realize i saved time and gas $ getting around to vairous stores and the aggravation and frustration.

it's a guitar well worth the price, you will not be disappointed!

Exactly. I dont' consider "set up" even being a consideration. EVERY guitar would need that.