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Dave, your use of the MIJ Jaguar on "Into the Blue Sparkle" should
convince even the weary that with slight mods the MIJ/CIJ are good
guitars for both gigging and recording. Thanks for the gear reply.
Bill
--- In , dave wronski <stickmandw@y...>
wrote:
> My white Jaguar is a MIJ, 1996 model. The body is Basswood, the
pickups are Custom Prototypes made by Fred Stewart. The bridge is US
made, and it has brass saddles. The tailpiece is US made, and has
been modified with three flat top screws so the strings don't rub
with the lower angle caused by the Buzzstop. I re-fretted it twice,
and also had to drill the key holes a little bit larger so I could
install the Kluson copies that the US guitars use. The Japan guitars
use "Ping" brand keys which are smaller and cheaper.
> I used this guitar on almost all of "Into the Blue Sparkle",
except for "Daytona Mona" which is my '58 Strat, and "South Run"
which is a US re-issue Jazzmaster.
> My purple metal flake Jag is CIJ. It's alder, and sounds much
different. I also have a '63 Jaguar that I haven't recorded with
yet, and I just finished putting together a Jaguar with an
original '62 neck and a US prototype Jaguar body. The acoustic
sound of that old neck is amazing! I guess it's the Easter Hardrock
Maple, and Brazilian Rosewood combination.
> -dave
>
>
> supertwangreverb <supertwangreverb@y...> wrote:Dave,
>
> I thought your Jag was a Us reissue. Is this the one you use to
> record?
>
>
> -- In , dave wronski
> wrote:
> > A few thoughts: MIJ vs. CIJ may involve may more wiggle room
with
> regards to taking advantage of the International Division of
Labor.
> Any lawers out there?
> >
> > The US Jags & Jazzmasters have superior metal parts. The collit
> that holds the trem bar is brass on the imports, and hardened
steel
> on the US models. The materials and engineering involved with the
US
> Fender Jag and Jazzmaster are more costly. The magnets are a "High
> HC" material that was used by Fender for only a couple of years in
> the early 60s. For Bill Turner {Fender pickup designer} to be able
> to figure out the reason why he heard a difference in sound in
those
> old pickups would require Fender to spend some ca$h.
> >
> > The paint used on the imports is polyester {plastic} The US
guitars
> are eurathane, or Nitro laquer, depending on the model. Shooting
> lacquer in California required Fender to build a 5.5 million
dollar
> paint facility.
> >
> > Old guitars can sound better because of superior woods like
> Brazilian Rosewood fret boards that are not legally available now.
> Neck shapes in the old days, in my opinion, had to satisfy a
> professional player, not so much the less critical, casual owners
of
> today. That might be the reason why trying to copy those old
shapes
> for a small minority, is such a passion.
> > My white MIJ Jag with it's polyester paint, and basswood body
has a
> great neck, which is why I like all the Japan Fenders so much. The
> basswood on the Japan guitars is a different variety than we get
in
> the states, as I was told by the head of Fender R&D. US guitars
are
> a little too wide for my thumb-over big stretches. Too bad for me
> because everything else is so right. Of course there is always the
> Custom Shop, which has been making some great Jag and JMaster one-
> offs, which, a few I've tried.
> > I guess that's enough rambling!
> > -dave
> >
> >
> > Gavin Ehringer wrote:This is not an attack on
> Richard, just my own musings!
> >
> > ------
> >
> > I am always amused about the US versus Japanese versus Mexican
> versus
> > vintage controversies and opinions regarding Fenders. I think
there
> is
> > a certain amount of nationalistic pride and xenophobia when
people
> > assert that the standard-production U.S. guitars are better and
the
> > vintage guitars are best. And a certain amount of nostalgia too.
> >
> > Isn't it a bit simplistic to think that Americans made better
> guitars
> > in the 1950s & 60s than they do today, and also believe they
make
> > better guitars now than do the workers in Mexico, Japan and
Korea?
> >
> > I've owned a Mexican '50s Strat, a '96 Jap Jag, and an American
Fat
> > Strat. I loved the tone and feel of the imports much better
> (granted,
> > the Fat Strat didn't really suit surf/rockabilly roots music).
But
> as
> > far as set-up, finish, hardware, and overall quality, it would
be
> > impossible to say that one was better than another.
> >
> > Most of the cost differences among imports versus US made are
> simply
> > labor and I don't think US workers are any more conscientious
> than
> > the Japanese. That's why I drive a Honda.
> >
> > Certainly, these low-budget Jags and Jazzmasters won't be of the
> same
> > quality as the American '62 Reissues (nor were they intended to
> be),
> > but I am confident they aren't much worse than or different from
> the
> > original Fender Jags and Jazzes, which were made at a time when
> quality
> > control and manufacturing technology weren't at the high
standards
> of
> > today. I know Leo ran a tight ship, but I also know he and his
> floor
> > workers cut corners when need-be and it shows up in a lot of
> vintage
> > guitars. (Ever seen a sunburst pattern bleeding through under a
> custom
> > color? That's 'cause rather than strip a botched sunburst paint
> job,
> > they'd just shoot a custom color over it and add $5 to the
price!
> > Which, to me, made perfect sense).
> >
> > The only mods I made to my Jap Jaguar to get "that sound" were
some
> SD
> > pickups that were more to my liking, plus new bridge saddle
barrels
> and
> > heavier gage strings to solve a mild buzzing. Total cost for
guitar
> +
> > $425 used, plus $50 for pups, $25 for saddles = $500). To me, it
> seems
> > these inexpensive Jags and Jazzmasters might just be worth it.
> Besides,
> > they'll always hold a resale close to these bargain-basement
prices.
> >
> > Too much time on my hands,
> >
> > Gavin
> >
> >
> > > At $399.99 the Japanese JM seems like a killer deal,
> > > hands-down, but whenever you a buy a cheaper guitar
> > > there is always going to be a question of value...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > .
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> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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>
>
>
>
> .
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