Fender Jag-Stang

2003 (maybe 2004?) Japan model. Everyone else has put all the specs and stuff! The neck is gorgeous, the bridge is a bit tricky - not the easiest guitar to re-string. Obviously looks great, but looks arent everything. Came with a gig bag which i would like to replace with a hardcase but i'll have to spend a fortune on a Fender one that will fit the damn thing in!

Don't really play a massive range of music styles but used it for the 'Nirvana Immitation' years when i was mid-teens but play very different stuff now; sort of a poor mans Mogwai with more lyrics. Didn't have any influence or guidance in terms of sound when i got this and have only really in the last year or two learnt a thing or two about what sound i like/where to get it from. Have a Fender Classic 60's Telecaster (Mexican) in the post which, after actually testing it before buying, is much more what i am after.

Not a guru, but obviously the pickups are a bit lame on the Jagstang - i like a kinda bridge twanginess, which is lucky because thats roughly the only sound you can get out of this guitar and even then its not very defined or overly pleasing. My fault but still not really sure on what configuration to set the pickup switches to get oposite sounds, but this is more likely to be the limitation of tones the guitar offers.

Went to Uni and mingled with people who have taught me a thing or two about sounds and guitars so have increasingly got frustrated with my Jagstang. Don't get me wrong, i'll always love it and would never sell it (girls love the look of it :P) but ever since i picked up my friends Strat and actually played a great sounding guitar ive been looking for a guitar that actually makes me happy and satisfies me in terms of sound. As i said, that one is ariving next week! Yey!

Dunno wether 5 for sound is too harsh - its just too limited and doesnt nearly have the "wow" factor that you should at least have a little of for #300

Again, not an expert, but rfom stuff ive read and everything its clear that Fender have just thrown it together so its not a 'great' at all. I love the neck (love rosework fingerboard and the finish it has - my very first guitar, a squier bullet of some sort, had this neck - weird to say its an appaling guitar - so have been in love with these fender necks ever since that)and the frets are good. Have quite small hands but i dont really think it matters. Remember it took a little while to adjust to the mini frets, but soon got used to them! Makes me smile when my friend with the Strat has a play on it and is a bit confused why his fingers are a bit out of place!

Looks and feel wise its great - comfortable to play and everything. I dont have a clue what to do to it but someone said once you "set it up properly" it sounds and plays a bit better?! The bridge is a bit annoying - its ok now but in the early days i had to get the alan key out every time i played it and raise the bridge to stop the strings buzzing and the action is a bit dodgey. My highest pitch E-string goes out of tune the when i play the octave - apparently i can sort that out but dont know how!

If i had a bit of spare cash i'd defiantely replace the pickups - had some suggestions what to get but thats personal really! A bit paranoid that the jagstang would only fit a certain pickup as it is a unique shape but will have to chck that out. Im sure it would be a great guitar if you got it all sorted and setup like you yourself want it. Wont have the money or chance to do that in the near future though sadly!

Has been my primary guitar for practise, gigs and studio for a good few years, not that i have a choice! Only broke one string on it live so had to borrow someone elses guitar! Its niec and heavy, the same if not heavier than a standard telecaster - the is good cause you know its not gonna nsap or anything if you give it a good thrashing. Its great for staying in tune, even if you give it hell a few times during your set as i do. Few problems on the tuning front although i do have a tuner pedal, as everyone who plays live should, so im sorted anyway.

The finish hasnt faded at all - a few marks on the back from belt buckles but no chips yet. Never had a problem with strap buttons although im cursed for my straps jumping of the guitar whenever they feel like it but about a year ago i solved that by taking two of the little red rubber ring things on Grolsch bottles and slipping then on the strap buttons over the strap and they work perfectly to keep your strap on!

Never got intouch with anyone about my little questions, and nothing major has happened to it to make me need to get in touch with anyone.

It looks great - and i will always keep it and be in love with it to look at so im not gonna ditch it or anything when my telecaster comes. Being really honest if i could turn back time to when i was shopping for this guitar i would have tried to find a mustang instead as they look pretty much just as good but although someone i know has one i have never played on it - im sure it sounds a lot better than the jagstang though. Then again im pretty sure the price difference is a bit too much.

I would be absolutley gutted if anything happend to my jagstang i.e it got broke or stolen, but im pretty sure i wouldnt replace it. Its insured so i would get the money to simply replace it, but id be sooo tempted to get a mustang or another fender model instead.

So, the jagstang looks amazing, absolutley gorgeous and cool as funk - BUT, the sound lacks variation and there are a number of potential probems with the bridge and action which are just annoying really when youve forked out a load of cash for a guitar!

Bought it the first day it was available in Montreal( mid 90 ).. Sonic blue..
The vibrato bar is way too high so i dont use it... pretty smooth vibrato but not my style of playing.
I love the neck with their vintage frets.. but they wear rapidly for this kind of playing

I play extremely loud music, grungy naturally..
I love the pickups which are perfectly designed for Nirvana style
Incredible thin sound .... on phase mode wow..
The bridge pickup tested at 8.6 when cold...
THe neck pickup looks like a Texas specail to me..
This guitar is not noisy at all....
I use a mid 90 Fender Stage 112 160 w with a 4x10 Tweed Cabinet...which is powered by the stage 112 too..
Run Ds-1, Hm-2, Tech-21 i love this fuzz...
Sounds incredibly Loud and with good definition... a rare trait
This guitar delivers well through my amp which is quite good sounding...

Nice neck
Body not perfectly routed
Nice paint but should have been Aqua Seafoam

Soft basswood body ...soooo.....
Repaired the humbucker (solder) due to abuse with my palm..

Suits my style but more of a specialty guitar..
This is Real punk guitar designed by a real Punk which is not designed to be accepted by popular mass. Thanks for this guitar to exist...

This guitar should have a painted peghead...
And shell pink.

I've got a 2k4, sonic blue, stock, reissue Jag-Stang. 22 vintage size frets (I love these frets!) on a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. The neck has the awsome small 24" scale which my small hands love. The body is basswood, which was surprizingly heavier than I first expected. It only has two pickups. A special design humbucker in the bridge meant to copy the dimarzio pickup on Kurt's original and a Vintage Strat single coil in the neck position as they don't use Texas Specials on Japanese guitars (Kurt's Custom shop Jag-Stang had a Texas Specail). Its got a very simple control configuration that yields a very versitile range of tones: one master volume knob, one master tone knob (both situated on a very cool looking control plate), and two 3-way slide switches; one for each pickup. The first slide switch controls the bridge humbucker and the positions are: on, off, on. The second slide switch controls a fender Vintage Strat single coil in the neck postition and the positions are: on, off, out of phase. Vintage style tuners, which hold their tuning well, so long as you take care of them. The bridge stays in tune well as long as you never use the tremelo, but if you do, it better have been an intentinal excuse to go off and make noise or other avant-garde piece as you will no longer be in anything close to in tune. While it may be a horible bridge design, it is one of the main reasons for this guitars unique tone and is absolutely essential if you are after that "Cobain" tone.
Came with a gig bag, which I replaced w/ a hard case as soon as I could find one that fit the guitar. WORD OF CAUTION: to anyone who wishes to purchase this guitar, be prepared to spend a long time searching for a hard case as most guitar cases wont fit this guitar's oddly shaped body. Bass cases are also way too large, so you can't take that route out. Your best bet is to get the Fender case for the Jag-Stang (which you still have to CRAM, and I do mean CRAM, the guitar in to fit it).

I play alot of blues, rock, and punk type styles. It suits all these styles well. The out of phase single coil neck with the bridge humbucker yields a wonderfully thin sound that is great for Greatful Deadish jams or avant-garde/experimental tunes. It's a very unique tone to play with. I play mostly through a Fender Twin Reverb reissue, and I use all settings quite regularly. This guitar is definatly NOT a metal type guitar at all. If you play metal, you will not enjoy this guitar's sound at all. It's very bright and punchy, with a bit of growl in the humbucker.

The setup on mine was great right out of the box. Very low action, perfect intonation, had to adjust pickup height to my liking, but thats to be expected. I suggest switching the standard strap knobs with strap-locks as I don't trust standard strap knobs at all. I've had the guitar for almost six months and put the same guage strings on it that it shiped with and intonation is still right where it should be. No truss rod issues, or neck bows of any kind. I've heard many accounts of paint chipping off easily on the Jag-stang, but something tells me this happens only with the original nineties issue of the guitar, as mine has been accidentally dropped and has clipped a few corners and still has a pristine paint job w/o any scratches or wood showing.

I really cant comment here as I have yet to gig with it. It's the guitar I baby, and it only travels with me to the studio. I never play without a backup as no audience likes waiting for you to fix a string. But it seems like a very solid guitar, like most Fenders are known to be.

it's apparently limited lifetime warranty, so thats a very good thing. I doubt I will have to ever deal with Fender as all my other Fenders have survived much use and abuse.

Ive been playing about six years and am a complete gear nut. I own mostly fender gear as it is reliable and for the most part, inexpensive. The quality vs. the price is incomparable to other brands on the market today.
I bought this guitar b/c my mustang had been stolen and wanted to see how similar/different this guitar was to my mustang. I miss my mustang. I do love this guitar, but my mustang is my most favorite guitar I have owned to date. I am still fervently hunting the thief of my mustang and would do the same to anyone who would dare steal my Jag-stang. I would definatly buy another one if stolen, but only if it came up cheaper than another competition blue mustang. I love everything about the Jag-stang except for the lack of rib and arm contours. Even w/o the contours though, it is surprizingly comfortable, thanks to its shape which almost goes just under your rib cage. The body shape also has a balance that is as close to perfect as I have found on any guitar. When on a strap, it balances itself to the perfect angle to your arm and hand.
This guitar is perfect for the indie guitarist with small hands, who focuses mostly on chords and progressions, and who doesn't want a death metal sound or anything super heavy like that. It also would not suit a shredder-type at all. So if "Eruption" is part of your ruitine, pass on this one. Luckily, I'm not a shredder, I'm not into playing anything super heavy sounding, have small hands, and am into mostly indie type stuff, so this guitar suits me perfectly (other than my stolen competition Mustang floating around somewhere in the world...) For Me personally, it's a ten, but I know that for most other people it will be less than perfect to thier needs, so I give it a eight here to compensate.

I have a Fiesta Red Japan made model with the Serial starting with "U" so I have dated it to either late 1995 or early 1996. Regardless, since Kurt only developed it in 1993 and Fender only had the Sonic Blue ready for him to test, he only played it a couple of times people! It wasn't like he slept with the damned thing. Anyway, Fender was working on a Fiesta Red in 1994 for Kurt to test when they learned of his death. So, with this, I think I have one of the original ones, at least original as you can get from Japan. It's got all of the original factory features as well (take this as you will Fender lovers, I think the pickups suck). I have since gotten a hard shell for it, I think it originally came in a pretty flimsy gig bag. The damned tuning pegs are crap and I have had a few guitar doctors check it out to make sure it wasn't something that I was doing, and they all said its a terrible mix of guitars. I agree. The premise was very noble indeed, especially if you have small hands and fingers but if that is the only reason you get one then I recomend going for a regular Mustang. Anyhow, I have since had it prepared for storage because playing the damned thing frustrates me so much that I can't get through one song without getting pissed at the guitar. So, I probably ought to sell it since it is one of the early ones but all those guitar gurus around me tell me to hold onto it, especially since they made some minor modifications and re-released them. I haven't seen any of the new re-issues but from what I hear they are 100 times better than the first ones. I ran into a 2000 Sonic Blue just yesterday at the guitar shop, plugged it in and the action on it was terrible. Someone probably just strung it wrong. Oh yeah, for those who say that I hate it because I play out of the wrong amp---WRONG!--I have had this thing plugged into over 20 different amps, even Fender tube amps, and it just doesn't get it done. Sorry. Maybe it's my guitar, maybe they shouldn't have made them, unfinished (without Kurt's comments--from what I hear he had the same problems that I have). Oh well. I'll be as nice as I can and give it a 6 or 6.5

See above. You have to have one hell of a head or at least a decent box to get this thing to rock. Amps have no effect, at least in my experience with this year jag-stang

Without sounding too harsh, there is a good thing about the pickups and that is that they are easy as hell to change and adjust, same way with the bridge, I think Kurt had that in mind. The strings are easy to change as well. The guitar is as good as it can be as far as manufacturing. It wasn't the factory problem, it was the overzealous decision makers at Fender to push out a guitar just because they could sell it to any moron kid who worshiped Kurt Cobain. They pushed out an unfinished guitar and you can really tell. Maybe I ought to embrace this, maybe it is part of its charm and distinction.

Hell no I would never use this at a gig, especially without backup. One of my favorite guitars is a cheap little 1992 Washburn, which I would rather play 9 out of 10 times over this Fender JAg-STang. As far as the durability it's very good and very strong. I have had no problems with it falling apart or parts breaking. I have played it enough in jams and practice that it will prove to last, however, as I have said, I am ready to put this thing to bed and maybe one day my kids or grandkids will find it in the attic and maybe someone will pay them for it. If not, it will rest in peace but I don't worry that it will fall apart.

The warranty is long expired. I never had to use it. The only interaction with Fender that I had concerning the guitar was that I called them once, in 1998 or 99 and voiced the complains that I have stated above. But, since I was only 21 back then and had high expecations for this guitar, I wasn't as nice or as clean as I have been here. Off the record, the poor guy who had to sit through my rampage about this axe ended up agreeing with me and said that his experience with them was similar. I have been on numerous web-sites and have found very little negative response, why? Is everyone so afraid that Kurt might have not made the perfect guitar? Well, he didn't. And to my knowledge, and when I saw Nirvana in 1993 in Akron, Ohio for the In Utero tour with the Meat Pupets (it was Halloween eve and Kurt came out on stage dressed as Barney the dinosaur) all he played was his collection of Mustangs.

If it were stolen or lost I would try to find the guy and really let him have it, not because I would miss the guitar or would die because it was gone, but simply because of all the crap that guitar has put me through I am going to be the one to decide its fate, not some punk thief. If it is to be destroyed, I must be the one to pull the sleg hammer down. There is nothing you can do or ask about this guitar. You have to know that an idea like this hybrid of two classics (the Mustang and Jaguar) is a neat idea but theoretically impossible. If you didn't figure it out by now, I am going to start to collect Mustangs. The Mustang is the best Fender and in the top three of my collection. Like I said, surprisingly that cheap Washburn is a hell of a guitar.

2003 model sonic blue made in japan
22 frets(i tink), very solid and versitile body
has volume, tone and a 3 way selector switch for each pickup
comes with fender floating tremelo
came with a padded fender gig back and more strings :D
has bass style tuning pegs( stay in tune to the max :P) the neck is thin and feels like so much fucking quality.
single coil in the neck and humbucker in the bridge!!
i bought this to be different im sick of seeing all these rich boys who think they can play guitar with their les pauls and strats ( pisses me off so much)

My band , we play grunk(grungy punk)and i think it suits our style like hellll( beautiful sound love this thing)

im using a PA system but im gettin a tube amp or a valve amp i use a boss ds2 and a ehx small clone full chorus pedal.
no problems with the sound of this

The guitar was set up by the shop really well , dont know why all these fuckers are whining about the tuning issues(WHAT FUCKIN TUNING ISSUES-these people must be usin the tremelo like fuck)should just shut up.
it had no flaws and the body is nice!!

i replaced the strap buttons with locks but id do this on any guitar anyway :P safety first.
I can see this guitar lasting me an ageeeee
id deffo gig it without a backup no problem i can resting this guitar in 2 mins without a string winder so i wouldnt waste time if i snapped a string!

never delt with fender but it has a 10 year warranty

ive been playin a yeer, and i own a start copy, tanglewood i think and the jagstang wipes the floor with it ,
i have played a gibson les paul and jagstang kicks its ass by milesss.

i wish it had more colour variety thats all :D

Sonic Blue 2004 Jagstang. I like the features on it, the vibrato is really cool. The pickup selectors are a little odd, but overall it's a really well done guitar. The volume/tone knobs are kind of ugly, but those can be replaced. ^ ^ Came with a gig-bag, which was nice. Got the retailer to knock off 60 or so bucks, so it cost me a nice 699.00 (CDN).

It his a very full sound, probably because It's made of basswood. It can have a bit of a twang, but by adjusting the tone you can get an awesome sound. However, it does have a bit of a buzz from the low E string. I'd say it's perfect for the grunge sound, which is what I'm into right now.

The guitar has a very nice finish. Everything is very well done.. Can't find a single dent on the guitar.

This guitar is built incredibly solid. It could probably take several strikes against the ground from Kurt. :p I can see this guitar lasting a loooong time. Unless a string broke, I can't see any reason for a back-up guitar.. After playing with this guitar for a while, I must say the finish looks just as good as when I first got it. The reliability and durability that this guitar his is definitely the best feature it's got.

N/A

I've been playing for almost 2 years, and have played on several different guitars in that time. My old guitar was a Baracuda Strat copy, and that thing doesn't even compare. :p I've also played on some other nice guitars, some twice as expensive, and they play as well as this one, but feel less solid. For the relatively cheap cost, I'd say I'm going to be playing this guitar for a loong time, or at least until something as unique looking as this one comes along and catches my eye.

Pretty standard Fender feattures. The red glossy body is nice but the finish shatters like glass when its knocked. Doesnt stand up. A good feature to put in would be a kickstand.

Real nice for twangy sounds and sloppy post rock. The neck pickup is amazing, fat when clean and rough as hell with the filth. The bridge 'bucker IS rubbish though.The switches give lots of variety but the tones are difficult to control with the muddy tone knob.

Plays real well with big fat 0.12 strings. All pretty good, but the finish is way too delicate. Ive replaced my nut once as it broke. Plays nicely all along the neck and its got a nice deep neck with isnt too wide.

THis guitar is weak and the switches are shite. Not only do the crackle and buzz but they get punched through the body when strumming a little hard and the sharp edges have cut up the side of my hand. I know a couple more Jagstang owners and they have all had problems with the switches. Plus the horn strap button just fell out the body leaving it with a loose fit. The tuning on mine is pretty sound though...

Repair is not easy cos its a little bit differnent eg:the switches and fiding replacements

I love this guitar for its easy neck and unique sound. Its makes you play in a certain way.

2003 Sonic Blue. Bought Used but still had the shrink wrap on the pickguard.

Okay, all of you who bitch about the pickups sound like crap- look at the amps you are using! No wonder. Get a real damn amp with tubes! Run mine through a 1969 Fender Deluxe Reverb and it kick royal fucking ass! The humbucker growls a deep gritty tone (thin???) and the single vintage coil sounds just like a Strat or Mustang coil should. So quite your bitching, can those stupid Crate pieces of shit and get a real goddamn amp you wimps!!! Then your Jag-Stang will sound great. Get it dumbasses???

Flawless. The CIJ are probably better thant the MIA Fenders!

Gig with it all the time!!! It Rocks like a bastard!! Blow a fricking Les Pauls ass across town buddy!!!

Haven't needed any.

This is probably one of the most under-rated guitars of all time. The only reason a bunch of people don't like it is that they think you want to be a Kurt Cobain wannabe. Obviously, they are morons with a successfull lobotomy operation! Let's see, the Jag-Stang came from the 1962 Jaguar and 1964 Mustang. Hmmm, a little before Kurt's time right? So, Kurt had the taste to choose something different than a goddamn Strat that every momma's boy plays or panty waist Les Paul wimp. He loved the Mustang (I have 2!) and Jag (got a '64 Red one). However, both could use a little more grunt. The Humbucker in his custom Mustangs and Jags set the design for the Jag-Stang. So, the sound he copped was really from two historic vintage guitars that you don't see every dumbass out there playing!!!

The other bitch you mamma's boys need to get over is the Dynamic Vibrato and tuning issue. Here's the deal girlie-men- take the damn whammy bar off, and use your palm on the bridge! That is what Kurt did and I do it. You get the nice vibrato and it NEVER EVER EVER goes out of tune! I use this on both my Mustangs and the Jag-Stang. You don't have to be a pussy and lock the bridge down for Chris-sake! Learn to play the goddamn instrument you woosies!! So there.

So if guys like Buddy Rogers and other wanna chuck ther Jag-Stangs, send'em my way. I will take them all off your hands!! The guitar looks like it would not be comfortable to play, but it really is the way it hangs on the strap. I thought I would hate the fact it is not contoured like the later Mustangs and Strats, but that doesn't bother me at all. Lemmee tell you one more thing- for Friggin Blues, this axe rocks ass- and hard you motha-fuckas!! So start appreciating what I think will be a definite classic guitar someday.

Now, you have been set straight!!!!

first thanx to mr. kirt cobain for making the best guitar any one has ever made! sence kirt is the best guitar plyer of all time its only right that he should make the best guitar ever. my dad has a startocaster from the early 1940s and is wirth a lot of $ but this jagstang blows it rite away. ill never play a nother guitar.kirt is a guitar genuis!

it sounds fcking AWSOME! way better than my buddies 65 les paul wich is a wimp ass tone. the jagstang is a MANS tone! im amazed that kirt found time in his buzy scedule to make so many great guitars! i see them evrywhere! the man nows tone and the man nows how to biuld a guitar!

fit like a glove! pickups are AWSOME i dont now what evry one is biching about - kirt made GREAT pickups! hes a genuis. he nows his shit!

i havnt played live. will start soon. if it can stand kirt playing it on stage then it can stand N E one playing it on stage!

i wont never need them. this guitar will NEVER dye!

im not some snot nowsed 15 yer old kid thats trying to be something that thay are not. ive been around with YEARS of ixpeereance. im 19 and played for 5 whole years. so you now that i now what im talking about. if you are not awere of kirts genuis than you woodnt be here reading about his guitar.kirts the best.his guitar is the best! nice to hav something made buy his one hands.

Take a look at the other reviews.
Nothing special here.
The switches aren't easy to handle during playing.

The pick-up are pretty bad.
Maybe it would sound a little better if got them replaced. I never replaced them because i dislike the vibrato-bridge as well and i don't think this guitar will ever suit my needs.
Got myself a Gibson Les Paul now, don't even wan't to use my Jagstang for backup.

The action was pretty bad as well, can't get a decent solo out of this one. But for rythem i think it's ok....don't go past the tenth fret.

Don't really know, didn't use it much.

Don't know

Advice: Don't buy a Jagstang. Ain't worth the money, unless you want to do KC-imitations (just the looks, not the sound).
I bought it because I was obsessed by Nirvana at that time, but the guitar is just crap.....waiste of money.