hatecrew
New member
Disclaimer: A while ago, I did a review on this guitar on Ultimate-Guitar. This is a newer version, that has more stuff. I don't think I'll be able to give a review as "power" as Subversion's reviews, but here's my input...
The link to the review. Look at lithium26. That's my UG username.
Jaguar Review | Fender | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com
Guitar: Fender American Vintage '62 Jaguar
List Price: SG$3,650! (Swee Lee) (bought it for $1800)
Intro
This Jaguar is the American Vintage reissue one, not the Japanese reissue. The Jaguar was released in 1962, and in the 1990s, the Jaguar re-appeared. I attribute this reason to Kurt Cobain. Most people buy the Jaguar because Cobain had one. However, his Jaguar had Seymour Duncan humbuckers in it, and Nirvana fans would be very shocked to find that the stock Jaguar has so many other options that Cobain never used.
Features
The Jaguar has two specialised single-coil pickups made for Jaguars, a rather complicated wiring system with two circuits, one for the 500k tone pot and neck pickup, and the other for both neck and bridge (2 sliders for both pickups) with the 1meg tone pot. 22 frets and a shorter scale (24") length compared with it's "mother", the Jazzmaster. The scale length is the same as the Mustang, I believe. In the begining, it is difficult to work out that sweet tone as there are MANY MANY options, but as you spend more and mroe time with it, you will start to love the versatility. No qualms about the features.
95%
Sound
The Jaguar is an extremely versatile guitar. I had to queue about 5 hours in the Swee Lee sale about a year and a half back to get this Jaguar. It is amazing. I play quite a variety of music, and I've got to say I am able to play everything with this Jaguar. From rock to metal to blues. It covers all, except maybe metal, where you'll need a tube amp and an overdrive or distortion pedal. Don't underestimate it's single coils. They really bite. It can get really trebly with the bridge pickup + 1meg pot though, so try it out before getting it as it might not be suited for you.
I can get that John Frusciante tone when using the Jaguar. His Blood Sugar Sex Magik "Under the Bridge" tone, with my Laney LC15R. I expected this guitar to hum and feedback like hell but it's pretty darn quiet. Same as my then-humbucker equipped Strat (now it's SSS). Frankly, I haven't played any other guitar that beats this Jaguar (IMO).
95%
Construction/Fit/Finish
To be honest, Swee Lee did an extremely HORRIBLE job at setting up this guitar. There were newspapers in the neck joint...and the strings rattled. However, after a set-up, it was absolutely perfect. The neck also feels really great. The power of nitrocellulose lacquer. People complain about the unstable Jaguar bridge, but the guitar sting will only slip out of the bridge's grooves if it's poorly set up. I experienced that problem too, but after the setup, I didn't experience that problem again.
85%
Reliability
As I've said before, people say the Jag is unreiable for live playing due to the bridge. However, you DON'T need to swap it out to a Msutang bridge. With a proper set-up, there's no problems. About the floating trem, I don't use the trem much, but I do use it occasionally, and it dosen't go out of tune much. Of course, it's not the trem to abuse. If you want to do divebombs and what not, go get a floyd rose for heaven's sake! This trem does surf riffs well, which is what the Jag is made for anyway.
95%
Overall
I give this Jaguar a 92.5%. Mainly for the crappy setup that Swee Lee presented me with. I don't give anything above 95% as there are uncertainites, so the maximum score for my rating is 95%.
Tone test equipment:
Laney LC15R
Johnson T-15R
Maxon OD808
Fulltone OCD
Likes:
-Awesome clean sound
-Nitrocellulose finish - awesome feel
-Steady tuning
-Versatility. Very good with my overdrive pedals.
-Fender/G&G hardcase with "case candy"
Dislikes:
-Needs constant care and attention to have a good feel and sound
-Nitrocellulose finish - must be careful. Easy to get scratched/dings
The link to the review. Look at lithium26. That's my UG username.
Jaguar Review | Fender | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com
Guitar: Fender American Vintage '62 Jaguar
List Price: SG$3,650! (Swee Lee) (bought it for $1800)
Intro
This Jaguar is the American Vintage reissue one, not the Japanese reissue. The Jaguar was released in 1962, and in the 1990s, the Jaguar re-appeared. I attribute this reason to Kurt Cobain. Most people buy the Jaguar because Cobain had one. However, his Jaguar had Seymour Duncan humbuckers in it, and Nirvana fans would be very shocked to find that the stock Jaguar has so many other options that Cobain never used.
Features
The Jaguar has two specialised single-coil pickups made for Jaguars, a rather complicated wiring system with two circuits, one for the 500k tone pot and neck pickup, and the other for both neck and bridge (2 sliders for both pickups) with the 1meg tone pot. 22 frets and a shorter scale (24") length compared with it's "mother", the Jazzmaster. The scale length is the same as the Mustang, I believe. In the begining, it is difficult to work out that sweet tone as there are MANY MANY options, but as you spend more and mroe time with it, you will start to love the versatility. No qualms about the features.
95%
Sound
The Jaguar is an extremely versatile guitar. I had to queue about 5 hours in the Swee Lee sale about a year and a half back to get this Jaguar. It is amazing. I play quite a variety of music, and I've got to say I am able to play everything with this Jaguar. From rock to metal to blues. It covers all, except maybe metal, where you'll need a tube amp and an overdrive or distortion pedal. Don't underestimate it's single coils. They really bite. It can get really trebly with the bridge pickup + 1meg pot though, so try it out before getting it as it might not be suited for you.
I can get that John Frusciante tone when using the Jaguar. His Blood Sugar Sex Magik "Under the Bridge" tone, with my Laney LC15R. I expected this guitar to hum and feedback like hell but it's pretty darn quiet. Same as my then-humbucker equipped Strat (now it's SSS). Frankly, I haven't played any other guitar that beats this Jaguar (IMO).
95%
Construction/Fit/Finish
To be honest, Swee Lee did an extremely HORRIBLE job at setting up this guitar. There were newspapers in the neck joint...and the strings rattled. However, after a set-up, it was absolutely perfect. The neck also feels really great. The power of nitrocellulose lacquer. People complain about the unstable Jaguar bridge, but the guitar sting will only slip out of the bridge's grooves if it's poorly set up. I experienced that problem too, but after the setup, I didn't experience that problem again.
85%
Reliability
As I've said before, people say the Jag is unreiable for live playing due to the bridge. However, you DON'T need to swap it out to a Msutang bridge. With a proper set-up, there's no problems. About the floating trem, I don't use the trem much, but I do use it occasionally, and it dosen't go out of tune much. Of course, it's not the trem to abuse. If you want to do divebombs and what not, go get a floyd rose for heaven's sake! This trem does surf riffs well, which is what the Jag is made for anyway.
95%
Overall
I give this Jaguar a 92.5%. Mainly for the crappy setup that Swee Lee presented me with. I don't give anything above 95% as there are uncertainites, so the maximum score for my rating is 95%.
Tone test equipment:
Laney LC15R
Johnson T-15R
Maxon OD808
Fulltone OCD
Likes:
-Awesome clean sound
-Nitrocellulose finish - awesome feel
-Steady tuning
-Versatility. Very good with my overdrive pedals.
-Fender/G&G hardcase with "case candy"
Dislikes:
-Needs constant care and attention to have a good feel and sound
-Nitrocellulose finish - must be careful. Easy to get scratched/dings
