Buying advice for CIJ/American Fender Jaguars

[Kasper Pauley]

Good morning/afternoon/evening depending on where in the world you are,

 

I’m in the market for a Jaguar after recent infatuation with the tone and look. I’m a touring musician and tend to prefer investing in American Fenders as 9/10 the slight bump up in quality goes a long way for me. However I understand how limited the options for American made Jags at the moment. The CIJ Jags are looking like a great alternative, especially considering I would love to get my hands on a custom colour one with a matching headstock! Thankfully, here in London there is a decent selection of FSR and 90s Japanese Jags on the market. 

 

For anyone who has experience with these Jaguars: are the Japanese Jags any good? I have read about the basswood bodies that some of them have, and I’ve never been a fan of basswood personally. I wouldn’t mind upgrading tuners and possibly electronics, although I would prefer not to have to swap pickups out. 
 

I’ve seen 2 different lake placid blue Japan Jags up for sale, both without binding and with dot inlays only (which is the look that I prefer). One is a 1997 model and the other is from this year 2024 and is a FSR. I love 90s Fender guitars, but would go for the FSR from this year if it means I’ll get better electronics and body wood.

 

Is it worth seriously considering the Japanese ones? Or spending more for an American made guitar if one pops up for sale with the visual specs that I’m after?

 

sorry for the long read, just want to make sure I can get the right advice to make a justified decision. 
 

Any responses would be massively helpful as I’m a bit in the dark here. Thanks!

 

Rock on people!

Edited October 3 by Kasper Pauley

[randythoades]

I know nothing about Jaguars specifically, but from my own experience, the Jap strats are 90% of the US instruments. I prefer some of the more vintage appointments (neck profile in particular and different colours) compared to the generally more modern US versions. But they are let down slightly from cheaper electronics. When I was gigging much more regularly I had electrics fail on 3 different Jap strats, and ended up replacing all the pots and pickups for US ones. But the build quality and feel was top notch.

As a disclaimer, I actually really like basswood as a body type, I find it more airy and lighter than alder ones.

So I would say, get one you like the look of (cause you can't really change that) and if you need to spend the extra £100 on replacing the wiring loom.

[Kasper Pauley]

This is good to know thanks! Thats a shame about the electronics, especially the pickups. I’ve just noticed that the 2024 FSR model jag I was looking at actually comes stock with all US electronic components, compared to the 90s model that doesn’t. Annoying, they’re from the same shop and neither listing states the body wood type. 
Build quality is the most important factor here though. Good to hear that you praise the Japan guitars in that sense. 

[Chiliwailer]

Considered Mexican?

 

I spent years selling Japanese and Mexican reissue Fenders in London, the difference was so negligible or random between track country. Some Jap gear that gets rave reviews, while being good, is sometimes hyped up far too much. 
 

Have you played a Jaguar btw? Just checking you’re cool with the smaller scale length? 
 

Some players find a Buzz Stop is really helpful on models with a vintage style bridge, as it stops strings popping off the saddle if you hit hard. 
 

The Mex one is definitely Alder btw, could be nice with a good set up and new pups - https://www.fender.com/en-GB/electric-guitars/jaguar/player-ii-jaguar/0140580518.html

Edited October 4 by Chiliwailer

[Kasper Pauley]

In all honesty, I haven’t actually played a jaguar before! But I have numerous guitars both electric and acoustic that have similar or even shorter scale length (which all suit me well since I’m not a very tall person) so I’m confident I’ll enjoy the feel of a jag. 
One of my 2 main guitars on tour is a Mexican tele and it’s brilliant. It’s got bare knuckle pups and electronics as well as better tuners but build quality and woods are just as good as my vintage and custom shop strats. But I do definitely prefer the classic jaguar with lead and rhythm circuits and individual pickup switches as opposed to the new stripped back player series ones. 
If I found a Mexican one for sale with standard layout I would really consider it

[randythoades]

4 hours ago, Chiliwailer said:

Considered Mexican?

 

I spent years selling Japanese and Mexican reissue Fenders in London, the difference was so negligible or random between track country. Some Jap gear that gets rave reviews, while being good, is sometimes hyped up far too much. 
 

Have you played a Jaguar btw? Just checking you’re cool with the smaller scale length? 
 

Some players find a Buzz Stop is really helpful on models with a vintage style bridge, as it stops strings popping off the saddle if you hit hard. 
 

The Mex one is definitely Alder btw, could be nice with a good set up and new pups - https://www.fender.com/en-GB/electric-guitars/jaguar/player-ii-jaguar/0140580518.html

I agree with this too. I have had both US and Jap models as well a custom shop one too, but get bored with instruments quickly so have always had a high turnover of buying and selling. I defaulted to Mexican in the end. I found the build quality just as good and to be honest I found it more consistent too.

I have found some USA (and MIJ) built shockers and passed on them, but not found any poor instruments in the Mex range. Again, my suggestion is just choose the one you like the look of. The electronics can be changed easily and cheaply if necessary.

[Chiliwailer]

Maybe worth a try in Camden?

 

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/240610425143008--fender-player-ii-jaguar-rosewood-fingerboard-aquatone-blue?store=7

[Kasper Pauley]

I tried out 2 of those player series ones yesterday, and a vintage 63 jaguar. Definitely sure about getting one now. The player series are surprising nice guitars and feel real high quality for the price, but I just need that classic rhythm/lead circuit layout. The player series doesn’t do it for me on the features side of things. Plus, the finish on all the player series jags looks and feels really cheap compared to what I’m use to. 
 

think I need to wait for an AVRI model to pop up for sale, they’re peaking my interest at the moment since im not prepared to spend £10k on a vintage jag 

Edited October 6 by Kasper Pauley

[Merkin2024]

Not sure if it helps, but I had a MIJ Jazzmaster from the early '90s until a few years ago, and absolutely loved it - it was a total dream guitar for me - so basically I'm a fan.

 

However, I recently bought a Mexican Player Jaguar- one of the '2014 Fender Classic 60’s Road Worn Jaguar' ones with the nitro finish, and to be honest it was streets ahead.

 

Key things for me about the MIJ are:

 

1. The finish is poly, compared to the nitro of the MIM (which matters to some, although I think most of the MIM ones are poly too)

 

2. The Electrics and pickups aren't great on the MIJ. I upgraded these to both from Mojo Pickups ages ago, and it was like taking a blanket off the amp. The Japanese pickups didn't really sound like a Jazzmaster at all - more of a Strat sound. The Mexican one has the American pickups and electronics, and these sounded great.

 

3. The Tremolo on the MIJ is a lot thinner/lighter metal. I put an AVRI one on it and it improved the feel and tone no end. I'm not sure the MIM is USA specification, but it certainly feels more solid in use and I never felt the need to upgrade it/

 

4. The MIJ  scratchplate is a different size to the USA, MIM or Squier ones, so if you choose to replace it, is a bit of a PITA. Not sure if that is the same with the Jaguars, but worth checking.

 

5. The MIJ was basswood and the MIM alder. I couldn't say I could tell a difference in terms of tone, but the MIM was about two lbs lighter.

 

I realise I'm comparing a Jazzmaster to a Jaguar, but - hopefully it helps. Certainly I'd factor in some upgrades on the MIJ that I wouldn't bother with on the MIM.