Because everything is relative, Ralf. If we're attempting to identify the magical points of one guitar, it could be argued that comparing it to a similar guitar that has a much different following is helpful to the process.

Also, I don't have a Jaguar but I do have a Mustang and I wanted to know how people might compare the two. I haven't been bitten by the Jaguar bug but I might be open to getting one some day if it seems like I'm really missing out.

StillSourDiesel wrote:

Does my jaguar bass count? Be easy I'm new.

always the troublemaker!

The Jaguar does have that blobby shape. There was an article I had once read online but haven't been able to locate it again. It was less on the actual guitar and more on design aesthetic.

Where in a lot of us associate beyond the sound and music with the visual, the tiki culture, surf culture, whole Sputnik 50s/60s look and feel. The Jaguar's silhouette alone brings a lot to mind without being heard.. Part of the magic.

When did the prices go through the roof? '90, '91?

I honestly don't remember. I got my '63 in '89, (With the OHSC) for about the same price as one of the new American Professional Series Jaguars.

And yes Matt, they are very sexy. (Although at the time, the store owner was thrilled to have it out of his store. He told me I was the ONLY person who thought it was remotely cool. In fact, the salesman and other customers thought I was a goofball, which I took as a badge of honor. I'm not going to deny being a goofball.)

-Cheers, Clark-

-Less Paul, more Reverb-

Why is the Jaguar so magical? Let me count the ways.

First, there’s the name. Nothing so pedestrian as Musicmaster, Country Gentleman, ES-335, 330, or BR-549. This thing was named for a jungle cat, just like the exotic sports cars of the early sixties. The ‘r’ on the headstock decal even has a tail – what other guitar is gonna give you that?

The Jaguar is an exact contemporary of first-wave surf music, when cars had chrome, men were men, and guitars were k-o-o-l. With its chromed surfaces and offset curves, the Jag resembles a shimmering wave. And there’s plenty of substance behind the image; all the pick-up selections on a Jag sound great in surf music, and the synchronized floating vibrato is the perfect complement to its unique sound.

It has a great ‘riches-to-rags-to-riches’ story, going from flagship to flop and, finally, triumphant return in the hands of another generation of players. Thanks to Fender’s attempts to accommodate all these new customers, we can choose from a collection of updated versions that address the Jag’s many eccentricities, or we can build character and test our sanity by opting for the original, unneutered animal:

Eight switches and knobs for two pick-ups; switches that activate, mitigate, modulate, or negate other switches; an impossible, tottering, cross-indexed, metallic bird’s nest of a bridge – all contriving to produce a guitar with more parts than Babbage’s Difference Engine. Add to this a bizarre 7.25-inch radius, 22 frets on a 24-inch scale, and a truss rod that defies adjustment until the neck is removed, and you have a beautiful but neurotic prima donna that will dazzle the eyes and ears of anyone intoxicated enough to put up with her.

Strats sound great, and Jazzmasters are cool, but there’s nothing like the Jaguar experience!

P.S. Sincere thanks for Jake Dobner for suggesting TI Flat 11s, and noting that D'Addario Chromes eat frets and have high tension. That's about the 1,111th thing I've learned from surfguitar101.com, folks.

I'm familar with TI and Pyramid via their different yet fine bass strings, and think either would be a good match for my Jag and the new Jazzmaster.

Last edited: Apr 19, 2017 10:47:11

MissingLink wrote:

Why is the Jaguar so magical? Let me count the ways.

First, there’s the name. Nothing so pedestrian as Musicmaster, Country Gentleman, ES-335, 330, or BR-549. This thing was named for a jungle cat, just like the exotic sports cars of the early sixties. The ‘r’ on the headstock decal even has a tail – what other guitar is gonna give you that?

The Jaguar is an exact contemporary of first-wave surf music, when cars had chrome, men were men, and guitars were k-o-o-l. With its chromed surfaces and offset curves, the Jag resembles a shimmering wave. And there’s plenty of substance behind the image; all the pick-up selections on a Jag sound great in surf music, and the synchronized floating vibrato is the perfect complement to its unique sound.

It has a great ‘riches-to-rags-to-riches’ story, going from flagship to flop and, finally, triumphant return in the hands of another generation of players. Thanks to Fender’s attempts to accommodate all these new customers, we can choose from a collection of updated versions that address the Jag’s many eccentricities, or we can build character and test our sanity by opting for the original, unneutered animal:

Eight switches and knobs for two pick-ups; switches that activate, mitigate, modulate, or negate other switches; an impossible, tottering, cross-indexed, metallic bird’s nest of a bridge – all contriving to produce a guitar with more parts than Babbage’s Difference Engine. Add to this a bizarre 7.25-inch radius, 22 frets on a 24-inch scale, and a truss rod that defies adjustment until the neck is removed, and you have a beautiful but neurotic prima donna that will dazzle the eyes and ears of anyone intoxicated enough to put up with her.

Strats sound great, and Jazzmasters are cool, but there’s nothing like the Jaguar experience!

And so it has been written. May your vibrato always shimmer. Amen.

Three cheers for Missing Link..
I do beleive that you have provided a beautifull overall summation of why the Jaguar is so magical answering my question that started this thread.
However I am sure mileage may vary and kets hear more of personel experiences,msuccess and woes of taming the mighty jaguar.

I am not obsolete, I am RETRO....

I love jags !

They have tons of character in tone! I would call the Jaguar the sexiest guitar alive :-D...

There is something about the combination of construction (bridge, scale, etc.), pickups and the 1MegOhm Pots, which makes it so cool. However I believe more than for other guitars: it has to be a good one.

My favorite Jag even sounded great with 10s on it, when she came to me. And I think the middle position also delivers really great squacky funky sounds. Using the upper control-circuit CAN be useful. I once used that for running an old Aria Diamond Fuzz (fuzz-heavy settings) with great results.

It also sometimes varies from Jag to Jag, which setting do work and which dont. Nobody here seems to be a fan of the highpass-filter-switch / bass-cut switch !?

But some of you might like Professor Volcanova from the Kilaueas. I was already guessing, but years later, when I met with Volker Kilauea for a Jaguar shoot-out in the rehearsal room, he confirmed, that he is almost ALL THE TIME playing on the neck-pickup with the bass-cut switch active. So: if you like what you're hearing, you might want to give the bass-cut switch another try. When I listen to the trashmen's version of Malaguene, I think they could have used a Jag in middle position with the bass-cut-switch active !?!?

But I think this switch does not work equally great on all Jags. With some its just naaahhh - with others: Yeahhhh

Love Jags.... I already told, didnt I ? ;)

surfing-matze wrote:

I love jags !

They have tons of character in tone! I would call the Jaguar the sexiest guitar alive :-D...

There is something about the combination of construction (bridge, scale, etc.), pickups and the 1MegOhm Pots, which makes it so cool. However I believe more than for other guitars: it has to be a good one.

My favorite Jag even sounded great with 10s on it, when she came to me. And I think the middle position also delivers really great squacky funky sounds. Using the upper control-circuit CAN be useful. I once used that for running an old Aria Diamond Fuzz (fuzz-heavy settings) with great results.

It also sometimes varies from Jag to Jag, which setting do work and which dont. Nobody here seems to be a fan of the highpass-filter-switch / bass-cut switch !?

But some of you might like Professor Volcanova from the Kilaueas. I was already guessing, but years later, when I met with Volker Kilauea for a Jaguar shoot-out in the rehearsal room, he confirmed, that he is almost ALL THE TIME playing on the neck-pickup with the bass-cut switch active. So: if you like what you're hearing, you might want to give the bass-cut switch another try. When I listen to the trashmen's version of Malaguene, I think they could have used a Jag in middle position with the bass-cut-switch active !?!?

But I think this switch does not work equally great on all Jags. With some its just naaahhh - with others: Yeahhhh

Love Jags.... I already told, didnt I ? ;)

I've found that the composition and exact value of the strangle switch's cap affect how "good" it sounds, and that of course will vary from one guitar to another. If you're unhappy with it and you have the means, collect an assortment of .003 mfd caps of various types (poly, metal film, ceramic - the vintage material and widest tolerance) and try them out, you will hear a difference.

In my Sherwood Green Jag I have a hi-pass and a lo-pass filter. Lots of fun sounds. I put it up top though, no rhythm circuit. Both the hi and lo are up top.

Also regarding the hi-pass cap, you can score some of the 'legendary' caps in .003 value for dirt cheap. I have black beauties and bumble bees in a couple of my guitars. Hell, those caps are all cheap in not .022 value, so try out the .01 and .015 for the Jag tone cap.

It won't let me put these in line... so here are links.

Jag with Black Beauty hi-pass and bumblebee tone: https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/11251825_506814776159986_2063632051_n.jpg

Jag with black beauty tone and something else high-pass: https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/11910544_910806032347395_839304390_n.jpg