Menu
Hey Marty, I used the '58 Strat for the entire first Slacktone CD
{Warning:Reverb rInstarmentals}, except for "Goldfinger", which is my
1957 Strat. I used to play my '58 at Slacktone gigs, but I bagan
using a 91? Mary Kay Strat, and then the white Jaguar. I also used
the white MIJ Jag for all the "Slim Jims" commercials we did. That
was the stock Japan pickups through two '60s Marshall amps. I really
liked how crazy those pickups sounded, not "Classic Rock" at all! I
can't subject those old guitars to the gallons of sweat, and risk. I
have used them a lot in the past, but the last few years I've backed
off from taking them out.
That Mosrite wasn't mine, it was John's. It had the most powerful
pickups I have ever used! That amp I used on "Live at the Whiskey"
was a rental, and by the end of that gig was about to blow up. Listen
to how it sounds at the end, compared with the beginning.
I'll see if I can figure out how to post pics of the '58,'57 Strats,
and my '63 Jaguar.
-dave
--- In , "Marty Tippens"
<mctippens@e...> wrote:
> 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" <stickmandw@y...>
> 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 <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...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > .
> > Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
