FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

The Fender Jaguar was designed by Leo Fender to update and improve upon the Jazzmaster. It was made from 1962 to 1975 and was the top of the line Fender until 1968-69 when Jimi Hendrix's use of the Stratocaster redefined the Fender line-up. The Jaguar’s pickups were more powerful and shielded which alleviated some of the electronic hum problems associated with the Jazzmaster. The shorter (24 inch) scale was favored by many guitarists for its playability. The Jaguar shared its unique rhythm circuit with the Jazzmaster which provided a presettable tone for rhythm playing. However, the slide switches on the Jaguar are not easy to use while playing and make a lot of noise when switching from one setting to another. The Jaguar, along with the Fender Dual Showman amp and Reverb Unit, were de rigeur for surf bands in the early 1960s. Like the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar was given a bound fingerboard and block markers in late-1966, and polyester lacquer finish in 1968. The Jaguar pictured is a very early model from April 1962. It has a slab rosewood fingerboard and was made during the first month that Fender switched from pencil dated necks to ink stamp dated necks.

 Body: Solid, 2-piece alder

 Finish: Sunburst, nitrocellulose lacquer

 Neck: 1-piece maple, bolt-on

 Fingerboard: Brazilian rosewood (slab), clay dot markers

 Number of Frets: 22

 Pickguard: Tortoise/white/black/white plastic laminate

 Bridge: Fender steel with mute; Floating Tremolo tailpiece, chrome

 Nut: Plastic

 Tuners: Kluson Deluxe, enclosed, nickel

 Pickups: Two, Fender single coil

 Controls: Master tone, master volume, two 3-way pick-up selectors, mute switch, rhythm circuit selector, tone and volume for rhythm circuit

 Scale Length: 24 inches

 Neck Width at Nut: 1 5/8 inches

 Body Width at Lower Bout: 14 inches

 Body Depth: 1 5/8 inches

 Weight: 8.5 lb