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1962-1968 Fender Jaguar Guitar
Description: Fender Jaguar guitar
Available: 1962 to present.
Collectibility Rating: C
Production: no official (or unofficial) production numbers available.
General Comments:
Introduced in mid 1962, this short scale (24") guitar was (at the time)
considered a high-end instrument. Actually, it was considered Fender's
top-of-the-line model until 1967 when Hendrix change everything, with
his usage of the Stratocaster. Because of the shorter scale length, Jaguar values today are lower
compared to other full scale models. The Jaguar’s pickups are more powerful and better shielded, which eliminated
some of the hum problems associated with the Jazzmaster. The shorter (24 inch) scale was
favored by some guitarists at that time, especially the surf music players. The Jaguar
shared its unique rhythm circuit with the Jazzmaster. This allowed a pre-set tone for rhythm playing.
However, the slide switches on the Jaguar and Jazzmaster are not easy to
use while playing. They also make a lot of noise when switching settings.
If you need to figure out the exact year of your pre-CBS Fender Jaguar, use the serial number
and the general features of the guitar.
The serial number is located on the back metal neck plate.
See the Fender Serial Number Info web page
for help determining the year.
If you have a vintage pre-CBS Fender Jaguar guitar for sale, please let me know.
I am a private vintage guitar collector (not a store), and you can contact me at
cfh@provide.net
Back to the main Fender Vintage Guitar Info webpage
Fender Jaguar guitar Peghead Decals:
1962 Fender Jaguar guitar specs:
- Alder contour body, three color sunburst finish.
- Celluloid tortoise three layer pickguard with two Strat-like pickups.
For sunburst, blond and olympic white Jaguars the pickguard is tortoise shell color.
On most other custom color Fender Jaguars the pickguard is off-white.
- Serial number on neck plate.
- Veneer Rosewood fingerboard.
1965 Fender Jaguar guitar specs:
- Pearl fingerboard dots replace "clay" dots.
1966 Fender Jaguar guitar specs:
- Binding added to sides of fingerboard by late 1965.
- Plastic tortoise (or white, depending on the guitar's color)
three layer pickguard replaces celluloid.
- "F" style tuning gears replaces "Kluson-Deluxe" gears.
Note the Jaguar was the first Fender guitar model to change to "F" style gears.
1967 Fender Jaguar guitar specs:
- Block fingerboard inlays replace dots by late 1966.
1968 Fender Jaguar guitar specs:
- Black Fender decal.
- Polyester thick finish replaces nitrocellulose lacquer.
1975 discontinued. Re-introduced Japanese 1962 reissue in 1994.
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