inkeye wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 11:31 am
I've been going through this thread but I think I missed what the specs were for the production Jag-stang neck. I haven't owned a Jag-stang but I do have a version of the Jag-stang Done Right. I'm hoping to replace the neck I used at some point with something more accurate.
Also, as a side note: Musikraft can make a Jaguar neck with a small Strat headstock as an option. I'm not sure what profile and radius specs would be the closest to the original Jenner/Cobain Jaguar D&B neck.
Well, the Jenner/Cobain Jaguar is an interesting connundrum. I wasn't initially going to discuss this openly but I feel like I need to.
In very recent history, I joined a Nirvana gear group on Facebook. Someone asked about the Jaguar neck and immediately, people gave the wrong information. I gave the information that I was given in the neck. Immediately, a keyboard warrior attacked me and asked me to prove it. I couldn't offer proof because I had a one on one conversation with the individual that worked on that neck for Martin Jenner. So I offered the one thing I could offer: the name of said individual. The keyboard warrior made a claim that a member and a mod of that group, John Pickford, made an exact replica of that neck. I asked for pics and information reguarding the neck to prove my allegations wrong and John blocked me instead.
I'm not making this post to shit talk John or that group or anything like that. We are all passionate about gear, whether it is Kurt's, someone else's or our own. But it reminded me of why I wanted to start this project to begin with. When this thread began, we both realized that there was roughly 30 years of BS, legends and myths surrounding this guitar and more so than that surrounding his other guitars. Everyone can pretend to be an expert. I'm not going to claim to be an expert. Our opinions and thoughts have changed many times on this instrument based on new and updated information. That's typically how people grow. The thing is, it is astonishing how often people will take an internet "authority" for their word and their "wisdom" and completely disregard someone like the builder of said neck, or Larry Brooks who built the Jagstangs. People to this day still claim stupid things like "Kurt hated the Jagstang because it had no contours" and yet, they cling on to the fact that a Telecaster became his favorite instument before his death. To me, it's ridiculous. I'm not an internet authority. I want to make clear that if I could find the information that I found, anyone here could with enough patience.
I know that I tagged you in this response, and I don't want you to feel like this rant is a personal attack. It's not at all directed at you. It's not directed at anyone, I just want anyone who reads this to understanf the purpose while answering your question. Early on in this thread, I said I wouldn't talk about this neck. I guess I've sort of hit a point that I don't care any more, if that makes sense. I've kind of grown tired of the John's of the community. Fans like that are toxic as hell.
I'm going to openly admit, I gave up on Kurt's Jaguar the moment it became irrelevant to our research. So what I can tell you about the Jaguar is that it appears to have been a prototype of some degree. An interesting feature is that the small switch plate only had a place for two switches rather than the typical 3. In terms of the neck, it initially had a large headstock and a bound and block neck. As it was relayed to me, the neck received some serious damage on tour. As far as I can tell, it originally had a Fender neck on it, as it even has pencil markings and still does. The maple was essentially salvaged but I am under the impression that the headstock was reshaped. The fretboard was replaced with the bound and dot board we all know today. The neck profile was reshaped to a thinner profile since Martin prefered skinny necks. The information that I personally was relayed was that the fretboard was a sort of compound radius. 12-14". Very, very subtle. But Martin seemed to believe it made all the difference in the world and if you believe it and it makes you play better, you play better. Musikraft will do that radius for you if you ask for it for an upcharge. Just pick a thin profile, your fret preferences and go with the flow. But if you use a Tom, you likely want it radiused for 16". I have no idea what Kurt did to the Jaguar, nor his techs aside from the obvious JB swap. I don't know if the radius stayed that way or anything else. But to the best of my kmowledge, that's how the guitar was under Martin Jenner pre 1991.
But at this point, you don't have to take my word for it. You also don't have to take the word of the John's of the comminty. The individual that worked on the neck was a man named Gordon Wells who works at Knight Guitars. Martin Jenner often had instruments made by them because he was a lefty and it was easier for him to have a lefty built than to obtain a lefty in the UK back then.
My point is this: the sources are out there. You don't have to rely on someone on the internet, and that includes me. So if anyone wants to hear details direct from the source, you now know where to go. I'm more than happy to be corrected or proved otherwise. I've never not been open to that but it surprises me how many people are. I've said it before, but I know that this thread is never going to change every fans mind about things. Not after 30 years. All I can do is search for the truth. To the best of my ability and knowledge, that's all I've offered in this thread. That's all that I will continue to offer in this thread. I can't tell you how many people tell me how awesome this thread is and when I hear that, I pass it to Amon because I couldn't have done any of this without him.
I do want to give a personal shout out to Sandy Ravage for being cool as hell though. For the record, I've seen a lot of useful information on the Nirvana Guitars and Gear group and I'm not bitter in the slightest about John banning me from the group. As I told the keyboard warrior before I was banned, I agree to disagree. I'll take the word of the individual at the source before I blindly take the word from a random individual. And I'm not going to turn this thread into a massive shit storm from anyone in that community. Some of you are very much part of that group and I'm happy you have a home there as well. I have nothing against any of you, including John. At the end of the day, the group may be a little too toxic for my tastes and I clearly don't need to be part of it.
But for now on, the Jagstang has my full focus unless other gear of Kurt's becomes relevant to our investigation. I won't be focusing on his other mustangs, his jaguars, stratocasters or any other guitars in this thread.
As long winded as this has been, I hope that you recieved the answers you were looking for. Much love to everyone.
-AS