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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Jaguar worth it? I might buy one.

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I don't know whether to get the Jaguar HH with no trem that's black from Japan or an American one.

I haven't played enough to know, but I have a smaller hand and this could turn out to be the one guitar I overlooked for years?

I used to own a Jaguar, and I didn't really end up liking it at all. I got it because everyone talked about how cool they were, but I ended up selling it like three months later. Truth be told, the best guitar I've ever owned was a '65 Mustang. That thing was amazing.

Dont buy for cool factor.. go try a shitload of guitars and buy the one that you feel is the best fit and sound for you:) And don't be stuck on fender... there are more than 1 guitar maker now...

I wanna play just like him when i grow up...

Hmmm....

I did find this Utube demo...nice playing, good sounding guitar..however...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-GVj6Q7Aac

Hardly "surf"...

image

Looks the part...but the tremolo (deleted from this model) and single coil pickups (also no longer a feature) are a big disincentive for the surf sound.

I'd suggest this is more a fender with a gibson type sound (scale length and pickup choice)...which is fine. More influenced by the grundge fashions of bands like Nirvana and Elvis costello punk stylings that were rejecting the more typical "strats and LP's" of the rock stars.

Looks like a fine guitar in other ways...other surf approved guitars are things like the Mosrite's and any number of oddball guitars that came out in the sixties, danelectro's for instance. Rockabilly associated guitars like gretsch's could also be used as "surf" guitars I suppose.

The guitar won't necessarily give you the "surf sound" anyway...it's a lot to do with the style of play...but a whole lot to do with the amplification and reverb. Modern high powered pickups tend to put the guitar at a disadvantage...and well...the tremolo is an important part of the surf sound really.

I guess it "looks" the part....but if you really get into surf, you are going to experience wammi bar envy.

I've played a bunch of cheap strats, often extensively modified electronically. My current guitar is an extensively modified telecaster...the bridge pickup is in fact an HB, but a very bright and rare fender "wide range" HB, nothing like a typical HB. It also has a tremolo, a modern Kahler (but it's all in the way you use it!)...so not a typical "surf approved" instrument but it does the job excellently. In the old days, I used to play surf sounds on a Les Paul with a clean amp...but without the trem, you are really at a disadvantage.

Also...the scale length is a big part of the "fender" sound...there are shorter scale fenders of course, many of the cheaper student models and some of the newer "retro" designs have both the look and sound...many of the squiers might be worth checking out if you have a tight budget...

image

This squier jagmaster might fit the bill. This has your HB's, but then at least it has a strat like trem and the 24" scale...and of course the "look" and the "price"... If interested in modding, there's plenty of room on that scratch plate to put coil taps and phase switching to perhaps get closer to the "surf sound" with those HBs

pete

1 Mahogany HSS squier strat with trick wiring and noiseless SD JB pups...

other 1 Baby blue telecaster with tremolo, Fender WR-HB and DIY sustainer...

amp...fender hotrod deluxe + 15" cab!

If you're unsure about buying a Jag, you need to watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH8onRUX84w

Of course, Dave (Wronski) is playing a traditional Jag with single coils and vibrato tailpiece.

In the Jag's favor:
Cool, highly surfy tone (at least w/ sc's)
Offset waist makes for comfort in playing while seated and balances maybe a tad better than, say, a Strat when slung.
24" Scale is good for small hands and easier for note bending.
Holds tune well for a vibrato-equipped guitar.

Against:
Stock vintage-style bridge can cause strings to "jump the track" with hard picking (usually remedied by using heavier strings -- .011's plus. Don't think this is an issue with the HH's bridge)
Fairly heavy -- wears a groove in your shoulder after a couple of hours.

I like the Jagmaster (used to own one) but it's not the same animal. About all it shares with the Jag is the body style. Other than that, it's more like a Strat with 'buckers.

-- Woody

It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams.

Thanks guys

Been lurking for a while, but I have to chime in here...

I got a Fender "Classic Player Jaguar Special" last December. Now having gotten through a bunch of quality control issues, I have found this to be a very versitile guitar, capable of many styles, excepting maybe metal...which I have not tried nor care to...

Neck size seems to be between that of the Fender "60's Classic Stratocaster" and the Standard Telecaster. I am having more of a learning-curve trying to get used to the medium jumbo frets than I am with the scale length, which I think is fine...with a real heavy grip with my left hand, I can easily pull chords out of tune...I am trying to learn a lighter touch.

There is a strat sound in there...Hank Marvin/Shadows is easy...Jaguar sound is in there, Carl Wilson/Beach Boys is no problem....I am now learning who/why of the "strangle switch"...well, I guess I still don't know the "why"

While a divergance from the truly "Classic Jaguar," this is a nice piece, very different from an AVRI Jazzmaster I have tried in both feel and sound, and my impression is that the Jag could be more versatile than the JM...not trying to start a war here, just my early impression.

So as to avoid the pot-hole I stumbled into, be sure to try before you buy, and remember...always go for the player!

Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most...

SuRfAcE
I'd suggest this is more a fender with a gibson type sound (scale length and pickup choice)...which is fine. More influenced by the grundge fashions of bands like Nirvana and Elvis costello punk stylings that were rejecting the more typical "strats and LP's" of the rock stars.

what? Elvis Costello? no no no no no...Elvis had a stock Jazzmaster except for the tremolo, which he loosened up so he would get more vibrations out of it. as far as i know, he even played through a Fender head, and to me, his sound does not resemble a 'gibson' sound by any means, in fact i think he sounds pretty damn 'fenderish'. how in all hell would a Jaguar with no tremolo and humbuckers be unfluenced by him?

The Tremblors on Facebook!

The Tremblors on MySpace!

I'm pretty sure the Elvis reference was attached to the "punk stylings that were rejecting the more typical "strats and LP's" of the rock stars" statement, not the grunge statement. Although much like Robert Smith, and J. Mascis, I'm also pretty sure, though not certain, that the rejection of strats was more financial than fashionable...

badash
I'm pretty sure the Elvis reference was attached to the "punk stylings that were rejecting the more typical "strats and LP's" of the rock stars" statement, not the grunge statement. Although much like Robert Smith, and J. Mascis, I'm also pretty sure, though not certain, that the rejection of strats was more financial than fashionable...

well i realize that, but i still dont understand how that guitar could have possibly been influenced by him...

The Tremblors on Facebook!

The Tremblors on MySpace!

Last edited: Mar 02, 2009 11:45:14

In the same way that Beck's Bolero could be considered as having anything to do with blues or surf. It's a mindset. Smile

JoshHeartless

badash
I'm pretty sure the Elvis reference was attached to the "punk stylings that were rejecting the more typical "strats and LP's" of the rock stars" statement, not the grunge statement. Although much like Robert Smith, and J. Mascis, I'm also pretty sure, though not certain, that the rejection of strats was more financial than fashionable...

well i relaize that, but i still dont understand how that guitar could have possibly been influenced by him...

Another jag user who modifies, like someone from MBV, Sonic Youth, Nels Kline would have been a better example, but as you said "i realize that", so you got what he was saying...

badash
I'm also pretty sure, though not certain, that the rejection of strats was more financial than fashionable...

What.. Punk UK 1977? Most bands went for some sort of humbucker with few exceptions like Joe Strummer and Generation X. Elvis wasn't really classed as punk rock but had amazing drive and firepower live.

crumb

badash
I'm also pretty sure, though not certain, that the rejection of strats was more financial than fashionable...

What.. Punk UK 1977? Most bands went for some sort of humbucker with few exceptions like Joe Strummer and Generation X. Elvis wasn't really classed as punk rock but had amazing drive and firepower live.

Talk to surface. I never called Elvis punk... I just said he ended up with something other than a Paul or Strat because it was cheap. This guy, Billy Zoom did too, though he was punk image

Though visually it's hard to say Elvis didn't look more punk at times Laughing image

Badash: Most of the punk bands i saw had good equipment so i doubt there was a money factor but to be honest i don't really know the story of Elvis's Jazzmaster. He was a country player that got re-invented by Stiff Records.

Elvis on his guitarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmW8uK1N8wk

J Masics on his, though you may want a cuppa before watching it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJMRFG7OOUk&feature=related

badash
Elvis on his guitarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmW8uK1N8wk

J Masics on his, though you may want a cuppa before watching it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJMRFG7OOUk&feature=related

Excellent! Both really interesting, i'd better not say much more else we'll be off topic. I understand that the first ever jazzmaster i ever saw was Elvis Costello's that's for sure. Thanks.

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