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Something seems odd here. The Jazzmasters have dropped to $399 yet the
Jaguars stay at $499? Why?
Also, if this was a limited run of 350, how come MF says they are back
ordered till April 1st? I can't really see them buying stock from other
dealers. Are they importing more in from Japan? Or are these totally
different? Maybe a new low-cost production item?
I wonder how long this $399 price will last?
Hmmm...
BTW,
Mine came in today but my wife grabbed it and hid it for my birthday
(April 8th). Damn. I did see that it was blue, though.
---------------------------------------------
Phil Tiki
The Cocktail Preachers
On Mar 22, 2004, at 5:14 PM, Marty Tippens wrote:
> Do you know if the $699.00 Jazzmasters are CIJ or MIJ?
>
I just found out that my $399 Jazzmaster is a CIJ.
---------------------------------------------
Phil Tiki
The Cocktail Preachers
I would have to agree with supertwangreverb on this one. I've read
all the info back and forth on these "limited run" CIJ jags and
jazzmasters. It would be cheaper to use standard CIJ hardware and
pickups, and build them in the regular factory, then it would be to
retool and make "cheaper' hardware, or use a cheaper factory.
Especially if there are only 350 of each made.
Although I am not in the music retail business, I do own a retail
bicycle business, and I know how the wholesale / retail part of it
works. I would say that $399 is about the "landed" cost of the
Jazzmasters after MF had them shipped. The $699 they were selling
for is about a 42 point margin, which I am sure is a little more than
their standard markup, but thats why they brought them in. The whole
idea of these guitars for them was to make a bunch of quick
money,justify the whole thing by calling them "limited", then when
sales start to slide, mark em down till they sell out. Pretty
standard marketing, I would say. You see an opportunity, you take
it.
US dealers saw an oportunity to sell a cheaper model jag and
jazzmaster, and Fender obliged them by bringing in some. Fender
makes money, dealers make money. Thats what this is all about. As
to why these guitars are cheaper than ordering from Ishibashi direct,
it all about the wholesale vs. retail aspect. Ishibashi isn't
closing them out. If they were, the price would be close to the
same. When you buy a guitar direct from Ishibashi, you are paying
full retail. no deals. It's not a wholesale price, or a "factory
direct" price. It's full retail. Ishibashi has huge retail stores
in Japan.
People tend to forget that everyone has a cut in the final price
of that product. It doesn't cost Ishibashi $700 to produce that
guitar, probably more like $150 -$175. then they sell it to fender
for $275 - Fender sells it to MF for $399. MF sells it ( or tries to)
for $699. Everyone has their hand in it. I think a lot of
people are thinking about this too much, and making a bigger deal out
of it than it is. These have to be standard issue CIJ Jags and
Jazzmasters.
Personally, I think you can hardly go wrong for $400 bucks for a
jazzmaster, or $500 for a jag. I have owned both MIJ and CIJ
jazzmasters and jags, and they are great deals. I've played
American reissue as well, and it is hard to justify the difference
in price ( esp. right now with the deals) It almost three times the
price for the American guitar.
Anyway thats my angle on it, I could be all wet. Of course this
is a surf forum..... Thanks for the space to rant.
Chris ( kahunatikiman)
--- In , "supertwangreverb"
<supertwangreverb@y...> wrote:
> "On the other hand, both the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster are not top
> sellers like the strat and the Tele, so I'm not sure if it would be
of
> Fender's economical intrest to have two contract Japanese guitar
> factories building these models."
>
> I agree...however I think the Jazzmaster is bigger in Japan than
here
> just because of the Ventures fame.
>
>
>
>
> --- In , "Jerry" <jerry.soetewey@b...>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > "The Ishibashi ones are MIJ while the limited ones are CIJ."
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm not sure this is correct (but it could be). I think that MIJ
> guitars
> > are no longer produced.
> > MIJ is pre "97 Japanese production and stands for "Made In Japan"
> > In "97 The Japanse changed from MIJ to CIJ "Crafted In Japan"
and
> is
> > using CIJ ever since.
> > It seams "Crafted In..." is considered a beter sounding name
> then "Made
> > In...."
> >
> > Although I heard that MIJ and CIJ are still used by different
> factories,
> > but I'm not sure it really is.
> > Squier also went from "MIJ" to "CIJ" (Vista series also
> have "Crafted In
> > Japan" on the back of their necks.)
> >
> > Fender doesn't have a factory in Japan, a well known guitar
factory
> > produces guitars for Fender there. (Sorry forget the name of the
> actual
> > factory) Unlike Fanders Mexico factory, which is an actual Fender
> > factory.
> > But it is possible Fender has contracted several Japanes guitar
> > factories. (so MIJ and CIJ could be used by different factories)
> >
> > On the other hand, both the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster are not top
> > sellers like the strat and the Tele, so I'm not sure if it would
be
> of
> > Fender's economical intrest to have two contract Japanese guitar
> > factories building these models.
> >
> > Perhaps it is really a matter of "overstock" or "stock clearance"
> >
> > All the above are mere observations and do not rely on actual
> knowledge.
> >
> > Perhaps a "educated guess"
> >
> > -Jerry S.
thanks Phil,
I'm thinkin' ,as was previously posted, that CIJ is probably the replacement
for MIJ and that there is no more MIJ.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: Phil Kucer
To:
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Cheapo Jags
On Mar 22, 2004, at 5:14 PM, Marty Tippens wrote:
> Do you know if the $699.00 Jazzmasters are CIJ or MIJ?
>
I just found out that my $399 Jazzmaster is a CIJ.
---------------------------------------------
Phil Tiki
The Cocktail Preachers
.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Are the $399 Jags really a good deal if you have to replace the pups
for an additional $120, put in a mustang bridge or get a buzz stop
for more $$$, and buy a case for another $120? That adds another
$200 - $300 to the total price.
What does everyone think?
On the upside, these do have an alder body and $399 is a great price!
It's better than buying the JM for 699 and still having to do those costly
adjustments.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: San Barry
To:
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 7:56 AM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Cheapo Jags
Are the $399 Jags really a good deal if you have to replace the pups
for an additional $120, put in a mustang bridge or get a buzz stop
for more $$$, and buy a case for another $120? That adds another
$200 - $300 to the total price.
What does everyone think?
On the upside, these do have an alder body and $399 is a great price!
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I have played stock CIJ jags, and some with SD Antiquity pickups,
and I don't think you absolutely "Have to" change the pickups. Same
with Jazzmaster. My absolute favorite surf guitar I own is a MIJ
Jazzmaster with the stock pickups. It sounds perfect! I bough it on
a whim ( I went to the store to buy some picks, and it was sitting
there all alone. I played it for two seconds, and I knew this
guitar was it.) It's more of a personal preference, I think. Same
goes for the Mustang bridge and the buzz stop. My own personal
favorite setup is Graph-tech saddles. ( they adjust for individual
string height - mustang bridges don't) and heavy strings.. 11 or
12's on a jag. The other cool thing about jag's is they fit in a
standard Fender gig bag - $25-35 dollars online. You still might have
to replace saddles, add buzzstop, etc. to an american reissue, if
you wanted.
Jags and jazzmasters are tough to set up - I think thats part of
the allure, for me. Knowing the Surf forefathers had to put up with
buzzing strings and such only makes these guitars cooler. If it was
good enough for them, it has to be good enough for my hacky playing
abilities.
Chris (kahunatikiman)
--- In , "San Barry" <sbarry@c...> wrote:
> Are the $399 Jags really a good deal if you have to replace the
pups
> for an additional $120, put in a mustang bridge or get a buzz stop
> for more $$$, and buy a case for another $120? That adds another
> $200 - $300 to the total price.
>
> What does everyone think?
>
> On the upside, these do have an alder body and $399 is a great
price!
> Are the $399 Jags really a good deal if you have to replace the pups
> for an additional $120, put in a mustang bridge or get a buzz stop
> for more $$$, and buy a case for another $120? That adds another
> $200 - $300 to the total price.
>
> What does everyone think?
>
> On the upside, these do have an alder body and $399 is a great price!
Well its not a given that you need a Mustang bridge and buzz stop. Try a
good setup and some heavy strings first.
The pickups are subjective as well.
BN
