Squier Jaguars and Mustangs? Worth it or better holding out?

Creed_Clicks

Looking around here lately at these two. The Jaguar in the lead for me currently. I have read of the differences between the VM and CV models, pros and cons etc. The old Chinese CVs seem to get better reviews than the newer Indonesian CVs and VMs.
Better to hold out for something on the higher end used? Or a partscaster? ("partsuar" or "partstang") ?

munckee

I have had a VM and a CV jaguar since the spring and sold them both, mainly because I liked them so much.

The CV was a real; step up from the VM for me, bone nut, alnico pickups and mustang bridge, bound neck, block inlays.  Both were great to play.  I did have to have the nut re-cut though

I sold the VM as the mods would have cost the same as the difference between buying a brand new CV.  I sold the CV as I came into some cash and wanted a nitro fender jaguar.

No experience of the mustangs.

mbe

The CV Jaguar pickups are especially nice. Sounds like a Jaguar and stays in tune if set up properly with at least 10 gauge strings.

No experience of the VM. I'm sure they're well made but the CV gets you the Jag sound for sure.

thecolourbox

I like my Squier VM Mustang but that has been fiddled with (and changed to better pickups) by the indomitable @Funkfingers . I also tried his Jaguar at the same time which I assume had also been fiddled with, and whilst it was lovely the Mustang was more for me at that time. Very nice guitars but then I've not played a fender one so who knows

dazzajl

The current Squire CV Jags are fabulous, probably the nicest finished guitars Squire have produced. Whether the whole Jag sound and bizarre switching floats your goat is a whole other question.

The CV jag can be a little clunky and slightly rattley at times but that’s said of Jags at every price point and I don’t tend to notice if I’m enjoying my playing. It’s surprisingly stable too, all in all, a real winner. 

Mine is with @TheMarlin right now. If you can persuade him to put down a Gretsch for long enough to take it out the bag and try it, perhaps he’ll give you an unbiased opinion? 

TheMarlin

I think there was a hint in there somewhere....

dazzajl

TheMarlin said:

I think there was a hint in there somewhere....

That would require subtlety and you know I don’t have any of that. 

Funkfingers

thecolourbox said:

been fiddled with

“I’m yer Uncle Ernie and I welcome you to Tommy’s ‘Oliday Camp.”

meltedbuzzbox

Personally speaking I would always go jaguar over mustang.

From there it all depends on your preference for radius 

Creed_Clicks

meltedbuzzbox said:

Personally speaking I would always go jaguar over mustang.

From there it all depends on your preference for radius 

7.5 maybe ... Squier never did 7.5 from what I recall. As in recently ...

Creed_Clicks

@dazzajl the more buttons the better Had a few JMs over the years but never quite settled with them. Either couldn’t tame the top end treble or just didn’t float the boat. I am thinking a jaguar might offer something different , the mustang definitely would ...

meltedbuzzbox

Creed_Clicks said:

meltedbuzzbox said:

Personally speaking I would always go jaguar over mustang.

From there it all depends on your preference for radius 

7.5 maybe ... Squier never did 7.5 from what I recall. As in recently ...

And budget? That will probably be the biggest indicator of what is possible 

thecolourbox

I liked the Jag but it just felt like a bigger instrument - the Mustang felt small and almost toylike in size, in a good way. Though I can imagine if you were a bigger bloke the Mustang would like a bit silly perhaps. I'm not very big so it's fine for me. On the flip side, something like a 335 looks enormous on me

Creed_Clicks

meltedbuzzbox said:

Creed_Clicks said:

meltedbuzzbox said:

Personally speaking I would always go jaguar over mustang.

From there it all depends on your preference for radius 

7.5 maybe ... Squier never did 7.5 from what I recall. As in recently ...

And budget? That will probably be the biggest indicator of what is possible 

Ooof that’s a good question. Sub a grand anyway that’s for sure. Maybe keep an eye on used market.

Creed_Clicks

thecolourbox said:

I liked the Jag but it just felt like a bigger instrument - the Mustang felt small and almost toylike in size, in a good way. Though I can imagine if you were a bigger bloke the Mustang would like a bit silly perhaps. I'm not very big so it's fine for me. On the flip side, something like a 335 looks enormous on me

I’m 6ft 1. JM felt a bit “big” to me as well. I wouldn’t be too worried about a small guitar 

Gerz6558

7.25 radius under a grand would take you to a used Fender Japan or new/used Mexico. Personally I would go with the Mexican models. You have some nice custom colours too. The Jaguar is available in ocean turquoise, and the mustang in seafoam green and lake placid blue.

I've had lots of variations of Mustangs and Jaguars. And a surprise to me, but I've always found the Mustangs to stick around longer. 

Creed_Clicks

Tall frets on new CV mustang seem to get a bad rap

jonnyburgo

Ive got one of the old VM Jags and absolutely love it. I think I have 10s with a wound third on it and it stays in perfect tune. What I did find though is  the trem is set to only go down and this is why it stays in tune, when the trem was more floaty it would not stay in tune at all. I had a MIJ a few yrs back that looked amazing but was an absolute dog so got shifted after 2 weeks. I guess i just got a crap one maybe?

Creed_Clicks

Hard to call. I'm gassing for a Jaguar now after this video.