School me on MIJ Jaguars from the 80s

DrippyReverbTremolo Joined: Mar 11, 2023 Posts: 149	Posted on Jan 22 2025 10:07 AM What can you tell me about these? I'm clueless. Date code makes it 1988/1989. Quality compared to MIJ and USA jags from this century?? Points of interest? Fair price for one in original condition, with play wear? Came op for sale locally and I want to check it out. Last edited: Jan 22, 2025 10:09:29 Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2684 Ventura, CA	Posted on Jan 22 2025 11:01 AM I have one of those, excellent guitars, a very good year. I bought mine new in 1988 and it had cosmetic damage so I got it for only $200. Nobody wanted Jaguars at the time. I've modded mine with Fender 57/62 pickups but I don't think it made much difference. I also bought a Mastery bridge and Stay trem collet for the trem arm, mods that I'd probably do on any USA Jaguar. E series Japanese Fenders have excellent reputations. Last edited: Jan 22, 2025 11:01:54 Top
eddiekatcher Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2776 Atlanta, GA	Posted on Jan 22 2025 01:29 PM I had one of those in the mid-late 90's. I thought it was a pretty good guitar. I was and still am a big fan of the neck shape on those MIJ guitars. I thought it's pickups were ok as well. Better than the pickups that came stock in the matching MIJ Jazzmaster that I bought at the same time. Replacing the Jazsmaster pickups from that era made a big difference it the sound of that guitar. I think my two olympic white MIJ guitars were '95 or so models. Whould those be "vintage" now? Ed — Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps? Last edited: Jan 22, 2025 13:30:19 Top
cirecc Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 310 seattle, wa	Posted on Jan 22 2025 02:41 PM They were pretty great guitars. Eddie, funny you mention the necks, I am about to list a nitro refinished one with tuners in the next few days. They are a little thinner than the ones I think they are making now. They have really smooth transitions from the headstock and the heel that you don’t find on others (you can see this in the photo above). — -Eric New music! https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases Spotify Also: https://theverb.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/ Top
DrippyReverbTremolo Joined: Mar 11, 2023 Posts: 149	Posted on Jan 23 2025 12:33 AM Thanks for commenting. Was Fender Japan making fretboards with 7.25" or 9.5" radius? Top
cirecc Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 310 seattle, wa	Posted on Jan 23 2025 08:42 AM They had a 7.25” radius. — -Eric New music! https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases Spotify Also: https://theverb.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/ Top

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School me on MIJ Jaguars from the 80s