A Guide To The Fender Jaguar Guitar
In 1962, the Fender Jaguar Guitar was released. Originally the design was based off the Jazzmaster. The only big difference related to the floating tremolo system in addition to the offset waist. The Jaguar additionally had a shorter scale as well, which came in at 24 inches.
There were only a small amount of changes that were made with the Jaguar compared to the Jazzmaster, since the body only differed slightly, as well as the scale length. With the Jaguar, it was the first to have 22 frets. Other additional changes had to do with the appearance.
This related to a metal control plate that was added. Also the assembly changed as well. This had to do with the way the components were assembled and installed. Components of the guitar were no longer assembled and soldered on the outside anymore.
Now each section was drilled and wired through each of the sections in order for them to be able to pass through. Other additional features were also added in order to keep up with the competition as well. This related to the addition of the flip switch which was offered by other competitors at the time.
The very first month of 1962, the Jaguar was made. Originally, many think the main idea behind the guitar had to do with promotion. Larger amounts of the guitar were not made until march of the same year. Most of them made related to custom colors and matching headstocks.
The first time the guitars had any kind of identification for the month, model, year, and nut width put on them was in April of 1962. A carved veneer rosewood replaced the slab rosewood in July. Part numbers became common on pontentiometers in the same year.
Pearloid dots completely replaced the use of clay dot starting in January of 1965. Another big change within the same year had to do with the material that was used with the pickguard. Nitrate was no longer used for a vinyl material.
Many upgrades occurred over the years to the Fender Jaguar Guitar. However, it never reached the popularity as hoped. Eventually, after producing the guitar for thirteen years, the guitar was taken out of production in 1975.