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Hey Dave,
I'm drooling over the mention of a '58 strat. I don't beleive I've seen you
play that one at any Slacktone gigs.
Now the big question:
What happened to your Mosrite that I saw you playin' in the early '80's with
J&TN? What did you think of that guitar?
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "dave wronski" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 4:48 AM
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Cheapo Jags--upgrading parts, America
First! Blah, blah...
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 <> 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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