Jaguar advice please

suspiciousminds

For some time now I’ve had a hankering for a jag.
The player jag looks good especially in tidepool but not having all the switches puts me off a little.
The current vintera ocean turquoise jag really takes my eye and with 7.25” radius, and ticks the boxes as does the vintera with humbuckers but I guess it has to be single coils really, and the ocean jag seems to be “on order” everywhere.
Up from that it’s over a grand then for a jap or usa?
Squier would be fine, as long as I don’t have to swap stuff out to upgrade the spec etc.
Apologies if this has been asked before but have you guys any advice pls.
Ide probably have to sell or p/ex a couple of guitars for the right one but I’ve fancied one for ages now.

Funkfingers

As the owner of a Fender Jaguar with “all the switches”, I would much prefer the convenience of a lever pickup selector switch à la Johnny Marr. 

The Player series model with the splittable humbucker has a 9.5” fingerboard radius.

timhulio

I'd hold-out for the Vintera, or look for used MIJ Jag. Actually the rosewood fretboard on the MIJ would likely swing it.

JD50

Maybe go for a 2nd hand Avri or Marr (never played a Mexican or Squier so can't comment).. I had a Fender Japan  Jag about 20 years ago and the pickups were microphonic...plus the prices are ridiculous.

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

As the owner of a Fender Jaguar with “all the switches”, I would much prefer the convenience of a lever pickup selector switch à la Johnny Marr.

I much prefer 'all the switches', but they need to be modded to give you the series wiring with both switches down, instead of mute. I do actually find the bass-cut switch very useful - more so than modding it to a phase switch, which can also be done.

JD50 said:

I had a Fender Japan  Jag about 20 years ago and the pickups were microphonic...plus the prices are ridiculous.

This. MIJ Jags and Jazzmasters have excellent woodwork and fretting, acceptable metal hardware, and terrible electrics. They are not as good as US ones and still won't be even if you do replace all the electrics, so they shouldn't be priced as if they are.

stickyfiddle

I don't mind "all the switches" but don't like how you can't go from neck to bridge (or back again) in one quick movement - that puts the 4-way in the "No" pile for me as well.

So for it's Cobain switch FTW!. JM toggle with a single slide switch that you can use for series/parallel or high-pass. I actually have one of those plates plus a set of Staytrem hardware waiting for me to source the other bits to bolt them on to... 

GavRichList

stickyfiddle said:

I don't mind "all the switches" but don't like how you can't go from neck to bridge (or back again) in one quick movement - that puts the 4-way in the "No" pile for me as well.

So for it's Cobain switch FTW!. JM toggle with a single slide switch that you can use for series/parallel or high-pass. I actually have one of those plates plus a set of Staytrem hardware waiting for me to source the other bits to bolt them on to... 

you can though - that's what the rhythm circuit switch is for. 

Funkfingers

My CIJ Jaguar and the stock pickups from my AVRI ‘62 went to a well-known hoarder on this forum. 

I vaguely recall testing the replacement pickups connected in series directly rather than via the slider switches but not being overly impressed by the result. Perhaps, I should reconsider?

stickyfiddle

GavRichList said:

stickyfiddle said:

I don't mind "all the switches" but don't like how you can't go from neck to bridge (or back again) in one quick movement - that puts the 4-way in the "No" pile for me as well.

So for it's Cobain switch FTW!. JM toggle with a single slide switch that you can use for series/parallel or high-pass. I actually have one of those plates plus a set of Staytrem hardware waiting for me to source the other bits to bolt them on to... 

you can though - that's what the rhythm circuit switch is for. 

Yeah but not really though - they don't sound the same!

GavRichList

@stickyfiddle shouldawouldacoulda. get a proper one  

stickyfiddle

GavRichList said:

@stickyfiddle shouldawouldacoulda. get a proper one  

:P 

francer

ICBM said:

Funkfingers said:

As the owner of a Fender Jaguar with “all the switches”, I would much prefer the convenience of a lever pickup selector switch à la Johnny Marr.

I much prefer 'all the switches', but they need to be modded to give you the series wiring with both switches down, instead of mute. I do actually find the bass-cut switch very useful - more so than modding it to a phase switch, which can also be done.

JD50 said:

I had a Fender Japan  Jag about 20 years ago and the pickups were microphonic...plus the prices are ridiculous.

This. MIJ Jags and Jazzmasters have excellent woodwork and fretting, acceptable metal hardware, and terrible electrics. They are not as good as US ones and still won't be even if you do replace all the electrics, so they shouldn't be priced as if they are.

This.

The market for MIJ/CIJ offsets in the UK is insanely overpriced, especially for custom colours. Yes, they are great guitars, I had a CIJ Jag a couple of years ago and I still regret selling it, but over a grand for a Japanese offset is insane considering for an extra couple of hundred quid you can get a much superior AV/AVRI series guitar (don't forget your getting a USA made guitar + hard case for that as well).

This all seems to have started when a particular importer popped up on ebay a couple of years ago and started bumping up the prices, admittedly for some nice looking guitars, and since then everyone else has followed suit. 

jonnyburgo

A used Squier VM with a decent setup, probably a neck shim is a fine guitar especially if you are testing the waters you will always get your money back

Gerz6558

If you're testing the waters I'd also agree a squier vintage modified/classic vibe is a good place to start. Classic features, decent pickups and the newer classic vibe variant has a mustang type bridge stock. No real modding necessary, and if you then decide you like jags and want to try a more expensive model you'll be able to flip it without losing much at all.

I've had them at all price points, and I have a fsr shell pink classic vibe on order from Andertons. Cannot wait.

Henrytwang

I’ve never owned a USA or Mexican Jaguar but I currently own a Classic Vibe one that is an excellent guitar. I think that it’s nicer than the Japanese Fender Jaguar that I owned for a couple of years.

suspiciousminds

Great info, thx fellas.
Has anyone tried any of the vinteras?

TADodger

I just bought a Squire Classic Vibe Jaguar to try the 24"scale and it seems like a really great guitar for the money. I guess if the electrics fail I will curse it, but atm I cant put it down. And, it has all the switches.

Gerz6558

suspiciousminds said:

Great info, thx fellas.
Has anyone tried any of the vinteras?

I haven't but there's been a few over at the offset forum who have bought one. They seem to like them a lot, expect the usual standard mexican build quality (very good).

Musicman20

I'd try get an AVRI if you can.... But the build quality on the Japanese instruments is superb... They really know how to properly deal with fit and finish.

Get ALL the switches!!! 

UnclePsychosis

TADodger said:

I just bought a Squire Classic Vibe Jaguar to try the 24"scale 

Cheaper to buy a capo and put it on the first fret of a guitar you already own... 

... A lot less fun though. 

stickyfiddle

I forgot I had one of the early Squier Jags. Great little thing, it needs a bridge or saddle swap as all Jags do, but was otherwise very gigable even with everything else stock.