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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink New 60's Jaguar (Pao Ferro) vs. 15yo CIJ JG66 Jaguar

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Ok, so I'm suffering from a bit of paralysis of analysis here trying to decide between the two guitars in the subject line. They're both about the same price, and same color, and are online so I don't get to actually handle either.

The JG66 has some nicks and dings, but also a Mustang bridge and a proper setup. Also has a matching headstock in candy apple red.

The 60's Jaguar is brand new from the dealer, so may need a setup and possibly some upgrades (bridge, vibrato).

At the moment I'm stuck, but leaning a little towards the 60's model. What do I get/give up either way?

I think...could be wrong...that the 60s Lacquered Jag will have better pickups, or least the most desired ones.

I think the 60s Jaguar comes with AV65 pups, so I agree with Bama. Where in AZ are you, OaklandA?

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

The 60's Jaguar is definitely in front after watching some videos, though I know they can be misleading.

Matt22, I'm from Queen Creek, you?

Ok, now I see you were in the Surfside 4 at one time.

60s Lacquer Jag is a MUCH better buy than the CIJ. Mustang bridge isn't a great upgrade for a Jag, despite what you read. It fixes a solvable problem, but doesn't sound like a Jag.

Only bad part on the 60s Lacquer is the Vibrato, it is on par with the CIJ.

Thanks for the responses!

Jake, re your comment on the Vibrato - does that mean it is something that is typically upgraded, or only if it's problematic? And what are the issues usually?

I'm down in Sierra Vista now, but I'm from Phoenix.

You can easily upgrade to a AV vibrato.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

OaklandA wrote:

Jake, re your comment on the Vibrato - does that mean it is something that is typically upgraded, or only if it's problematic? And what are the issues usually?

People generally don't upgrade the vibrato because they don't know the difference or because they are happy with it. Most people want very basic vibrato use, and all Jags/Jazzmasters offer this. It is a great unit, the design of how it works.

The issue is just how it feels, a personal preference. You get a vintage vibrato on one of your guitars, and all of a sudden you get picky. That is what happened to me.

FWIW I absolutely love my CIJ Jag. Its pickups and vibrato were upgraded to AVRI parts by the previous owner, and it has a Mustang bridge (and still sounds very much like a Jag to my ears). It's set up to perfection, plays wonderfully and is all I'll ever want in a Jag.

Pickups, vibrato and bridge can be easily upgraded (although the cost could be a concern), so the real difference between the two guitars is the finish -- Nitro lacquer on the '60s, poly on the CIJ. I know most people swear by lacquer, but I prefer poly, and that is one of the reasons why I like my CIJ so much -- but not the only one.

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

And I will add, the CIJ is a fine guitar. The electronics can upgraded, but the wood is great.

I really like the Japanese guitars. Other than the finish on them, they're easily upgraded. The pickups tend to be thin-sounding to my ear but throw some AV65 pups in there and you're good to go relatively quickly. The tremelo will eventually need replacing due to the "softer" metal and the pots/wiring aren't that bad, but I'd replace them when it's convenient. I've not seen the inside guts of one of the MIM 60s models, but if the wire is thin and plastic-coated like the MIJ models, I'd swap it out, too.

The one thing I never understood about the MIJ Jaguar models is why they did the decal wrong. It's black on gold instead of the other way around as it should be.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the 60's Lacquer. All in all it seemed the better choice to me. Can't wait.

Thanks for all of the input.

image

Last edited: Dec 06, 2017 12:32:38

I bought a 2016 Lacquer 60s last night off Reverb.com.
I can't hardly wait ....

And Fiesta Red is a wonderful thing! GOOD choice and congrats!

OaklandA wrote:

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the 60's Lacquer. All in all it seemed the better choice to me. Can't wait.

Thanks for all of the input.

image

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Hey Matt, congrats on the mention in the New Times...very cool. I'm going to have to catch you guys sometime.

Oh, I'm not in the Coconauts nor the Surfside IV anymore. I'm not currently playing surf music as there really isn't anyone down here in Sierra Vista.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

As much as I love Japanese made guitars (I have a MIJ ESP/Edwards Les Paul clone that's outrageously good guitar), I think I would have opted for the MIM 60's reissue. Great pu's, better electronics overall and even comes with a hardshell case. I played a MIM 60's Jag at a local Guitar Center and while the set-up was terrible (action was super shredder low, way too light strings, etc) I could just tell that with a good set-up and a set of heavier strings it would a killer guitar....unfortunately I was working within a Squier budget or I would have snagged it. I do own a Fender MIM Classic Player 60's Tele and it's a great guitar (top notch pu's, etc) it just needed a good pro set-up to get there.

Last edited: Dec 09, 2017 11:30:12

Matt22 wrote:

Oh, I'm not in the Coconauts nor the Surfside IV anymore. I'm not currently playing surf music as there really isn't anyone down here in Sierra Vista.

Oh, sorry Embarassed thought you were still in Coconauts.

I've had my '60's Lacquer Jag for nearly a year now. I'm very happy with it. All I did was add a Staytrem collet and put on some TI Flats and went to town. It was an open box deal from Sam Ash, so I saved a little cash on it.

All opinions expressed by this poster are well thought out and based on actual experience and/or scientific experimentation, except for those which are knee-jerk reactions or good sounding fantasies.

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