grayn
Joined: Apr 07, 2012
Posts: 114
East Lancashire
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Posted on Mar 30 2019 04:13 PM
I went out today, to check out a delay pedal but came back with a guitar.
Went to one of my local guitar shops, run by a friend.
A couple of months ago, he'd got a guitar in from Fender, for a customer.
But the customer had reneged on the deal and performed a disappearing act.
The guitar in question was a Fender 2018 Limited Edition Jaguar-Strat, from Fender's Parallel Universe range.
Back then, whilst my friend was still waiting in vain, for the errant customer, I'd had a quick look at this strange beast.
Even had a quick strum and was inpressed with how much better the guitar looked in person.
But with all it's Jaguar appointments, I'd convinced myself it was short scale (24 inch).
But it is actually a full 25.5 inch, strat length scale.
The guitar had been in the back of my mind since then and I was thinking of getting another guitar that could get a great surf music sound.
But I definitely hadn't gone to try out this rather unusual Fender.
But seeing the beast on the shop wall got me talking about it, to my mate.
Then, out of the blue, he offers me it at an incredibly low price.
Far lower than any internet prices.
So I had to give it another go.
But rather than put it through the obvious Fender combo, we put it through one of those 1 watt, Blackstar valve amps.
Sounded nice, clean with reverb and great, all crunched up.
So after a quick word with the Mrs, who gave the go ahead, I brought it home.
Plugged it into my Fender Princeton and got some sublime tones.
Being all un-prepared and unresearched, I hadn't realised that the 2 switches on the upper horn, gave alternate pickup selections, to the conventional 5-way switch.
In postion 3 (on the 5-way), one switch gives all 3 pickups together, for a lovely, strong sound.
And the other gives the bridge and neck pickup, without the middle, to get that very cool, 2 pickup, Jaguar sound.
It's nothing more than the S1 switching does on a Strat but with these Jag pickups, it really gets sounds I've not had before.
Jaguar pickups, to the uninitiated, are brighter than a Strat's but in a very solid way.
Not screetchy or ear splitting.
I thought my Suhr sounded great for surf and ambient sounds but this Jag-Strat is something else.
The guitar came nicely set up, though I may tweak the action a fraction.
Now I know that some folk are going to hate this guitar.
Mostly for it's looks, I'd imagine.
The only other Parallel Universe model I have played, was a Tele-Jazzmaster.
Which I liked the look of but didn't take to in most other respects.
But this Jag-Strat really does look so much better up close, than it does in photos.
And as a musical instrument, in my opinion, it is such a good idea.
It feels really nice to play and tonally is bloody brilliant.
I'm not a massive fan of the Jag/JM trem system and have had very mixed results, with the various Jags and JM's I have owned.
This one is probably the smoothest and least clunky I have played.
I'm sure there are those that will say/think that this model is a botched compromise, from a company desperate to turn out something new.
I really don't agree and now I've got one at home, through my own gear, I'm doubly sure that this Jag-Strat is a a very fine, versatile and to some extent, unique guitar.
So there.
— http://soundcloud.com/graham-pike
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ldk
Joined: Nov 08, 2017
Posts: 369
San Francisco Bay Area
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Posted on Mar 30 2019 04:54 PM
Mighty fine!
— If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.
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Stoopy
Joined: Dec 27, 2012
Posts: 110
Ex SoCal -> Gainesville VA
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Posted on Mar 30 2019 06:29 PM
That is an absolutely gorgeous and insanely COOL guitar! Congratulations on snagging a fine instrument, as well as an accommodating spouse!
— Member in good standing, Mentone Beach Syncopation Reverberation Association
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11070
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Mar 30 2019 06:44 PM
Any guitar that would inspire you to write that much is worth it. Make some great music with it!
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Mar 31 2019 05:01 AM
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Sonic_Blue
Joined: Feb 22, 2019
Posts: 190
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Posted on Mar 31 2019 08:17 AM
That’s awesome! Some of the parallel universe guitars look very cool. Definitely a unique option!
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bamboozer
Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
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Posted on Mar 31 2019 08:24 AM
Nice! Really like it, hope I don't see one as I'd buy it too.
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 801
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Posted on Mar 31 2019 09:34 AM
That is really cool looking - kind of a Burns Bison look to it. Usually I don't care much for Fender's mash-ups (and I think they need to try some new things rather than continuously re-hashing old designs), but this one works for me.
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Draygore
Joined: Mar 07, 2014
Posts: 89
Reading, England
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Posted on Apr 01 2019 09:34 AM
Looks fab!
I notice it's got a Mustang style bridge. Was that how it came?
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Surfing_Sam_61
Joined: Jan 15, 2019
Posts: 1515
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Posted on Apr 01 2019 10:07 AM
It does have a Burns look to it - Its pretty cool looking,
Yeah Fender seems to be stuck in a retro mode for now...they did try to modernize their designs in the 1980's, but people were not buying the changes like the locking nut (great freaking idea - the best) and the more modern floating bridge design they had in the 1980's like the ones on Ibanez guitars . .. but people wanted only 60's retro even though the 1980's guitars are ten times better in my mind.
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grayn
Joined: Apr 07, 2012
Posts: 114
East Lancashire
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Posted on Apr 01 2019 12:37 PM
Draygore wrote:
Looks fab!
I notice it's got a Mustang style bridge. Was that how it came?
Yes, it came with that bridge.
No mods at all.
— http://soundcloud.com/graham-pike
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grayn
Joined: Apr 07, 2012
Posts: 114
East Lancashire
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Posted on Apr 01 2019 12:38 PM
Surfing_Sam_61 wrote:
It does have a Burns look to it - Its pretty cool looking,
Yeah Fender seems to be stuck in a retro mode for now...they did try to modernize their designs in the 1980's, but people were not buying the changes like the locking nut (great freaking idea - the best) and the more modern floating bridge design they had in the 1980's like the ones on Ibanez guitars . .. but people wanted only 60's retro even though the 1980's guitars are ten times better in my mind.
It does seem to be the case, that the vast majority of the guitar buying public are extremely conservative.
— http://soundcloud.com/graham-pike
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 801
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Posted on Apr 01 2019 03:15 PM
Even if guitar buyers are conservative about style (at least when buying Fenders), the company could come up with some different shapes and still keep to the vintage style cues.
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Surfing_Sam_61
Joined: Jan 15, 2019
Posts: 1515
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Posted on Apr 01 2019 10:52 PM
I think the problem with Fender is being its whole history has always been market demand type service, products get produced in what moves off the self the most. The Best guitars with the better hardware were made in limited numbers it seems as well.
Like the example I mentioned before, the 1980's bridges and locking nut design were the best ever made by Fender, but no one wanted them or at least just wanted the 60's vibe (I have to admit the colors were horrible on these guitars back then) Like black headstocks and lackluster dark green bodies with black pickguards and pickup covers etc. And even in the late 1980's when Hair Metal took over those guys didn't want these guitars either. Its a real shame Fender didn't have enough literal vision in color schemes and designs with the excellent hardware they had back then in the 80's.
Fender did put out a radical two pickup design in 1986 called the Laser or some crazy name like that - I forgot the name - but they go for big bucks now if you can even find it - and they sounded great = It had a weird triangular headstock as well....when I find it I will post here...I can't remember the name ===I saw one on Ebay once. Really well designed guitar with advanced type bridge - But it didn't sell well at all and I think was only made in 1986, but Metal was starting up then and it looked more New Wave to me and tha was old hat by then.
This is the better Strat ever made. I know the colors are a little on the lame side to me but the hardware is really good. This guy is a Country player but he played a Paisley Strat most of the time.
Last edited: Apr 01, 2019 23:39:48
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Surfing_Sam_61
Joined: Jan 15, 2019
Posts: 1515
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Posted on Apr 02 2019 12:31 AM
This 1988 USA made is pretty good too ….more Surf oriented to me
Has fairly decent Bridge and nut great sounding pickups more in line with a 60's vibe - I like the color as well...lots of sustain on these type bridges.
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Surfing_Sam_61
Joined: Jan 15, 2019
Posts: 1515
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Posted on Apr 02 2019 01:15 AM
I found it 1985-86 Fender Performer Guitar
It was called the Fender Performer not a Laser like I rememebred (must have been another guitar brand for that one)- I remember these didn't last long - it took for ever to sell these - real nice guitars
I akways thought this was a cool guitar - they should make all these again with all the crazy prices out there.
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Surfing_Sam_61
Joined: Jan 15, 2019
Posts: 1515
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Posted on Apr 02 2019 01:27 AM
Back to this Fender 2018 Limited Edition Jaguar-Strat - looks pretty cool - has a different sound than a normal generic Strat, so is definitely game changer, has a nice surf vibe to it as well....nice.
Its amazing it sounds more like a Strat than Jaguar to me, but the neck is longer too and has more lows so the strings can be set lower closer to the pickups I would imagine. Even with the Jag pickups it sounds more like a Strat to me
Its different and nice, but I wish they would make the 1985 Performer guitar again or put out a limited edition at least. Maybe they will do a 40 year anniversary model in 2025???? 
Last edited: Apr 02, 2019 01:52:20
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grayn
Joined: Apr 07, 2012
Posts: 114
East Lancashire
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Posted on Apr 02 2019 04:54 AM
That Performer does look interesting.
Although the Jag-Strat does lean more toward strat, I still think the pickups give it that something extra, especially when on the bridge and neck pickups, you get that slightly scooped Jag tone.
— http://soundcloud.com/graham-pike
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cosmonaut
Joined: Apr 02, 2019
Posts: 339
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Posted on Apr 02 2019 01:57 PM
would love to play this blindfolded. I always wanted a full-scale jaguar. this would be an interesting sounding compromise.
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Surfing_Sam_61
Joined: Jan 15, 2019
Posts: 1515
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Posted on Apr 03 2019 03:39 PM
grayn wrote:
That Performer does look interesting.
Yeah I just looked on Ebay they have three on there from $ 3900 to $ 1800 - You wonder why Fender doesn't make theses guitars again - its pretty rad - I always like the look and sounds really good.
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