Trying to date a Jaguar solely from photos

[Johnny Burrito]

Hey guys, a few months back I saw Hamilton Leithauser play at Lincoln Hall, and his fellow ex-Walkmen member, guitarist Paul Maroon, played a black Jaguar all night. It was the best sounding Jag I've ever heard, and since I'm in need of some new pickups for mine, I thought I might try to get some as close as possible to the ones in his vintage black model with matching headstock. Trouble is, Paul Maroon is something of a recluse, and doesn't do many interviews, so I can't nail down a precise year of manufacture. Are there any telltale signs in these photos that one of the more experienced users in this forum can point out?

As big vintage gearheads, I'm 100% sure that the guitar is an authentic vintage model, and almost as sure that the pickups are original.







So:

Mute, clay dots, matching headstock with simple gold Fender logo, back of the headstock is blank. Is this a '62?

[AwesomeWelles]

I'd say a little later, maybe 63 or 64...afaik matching headstocks weren' t yet all that common by 62.

Beautiful guitar...wonder why he play without the trem arm though. One of the best features in a Jag!!!

[Pacafeliz]

yep, clay dots. so... pre '65 or so.

[kosmonautmayhem]

I'd say a little later, maybe 63 or 64...afaik matching headstocks weren' t yet all that common by 62.

Beautiful guitar...wonder why he play without the trem arm though. One of the best features in a Jag!!!

My thoughts exactly.

[terminalvertigo]

White guard? Late 64 early 65?

[mgeek]

Since everyone else has covered your question, I'm gonna be 'that guy' and say that his tone wouldn't have altered to the point of anyone noticing if there were 1969 pickups, 1962 pickups or even MIJ pickups. They are magnets with wire wrapped round them and don't make anywhere near as much difference in tone as a bunch of other stuff including technique, strings, wood, amp, amp settings...

[mordecainyc]

Since everyone else has covered your question, I'm gonna be 'that guy' and say that his tone wouldn't have altered to the point of anyone noticing if there were 1969 pickups, 1962 pickups or even MIJ pickups. They are magnets with wire wrapped round them and don't make anywhere near as much difference in tone as a bunch of other stuff including technique, strings, wood, amp, amp settings...

Not saying that the things you mention don't make a difference in sound, or that one is able to distinguish different type of pickups in a live setting, but I can tell you this: I've tried actual vintage '62 pickups, American Vintage 65 reissue pickups and actual vintage '65 pickups in the same Jaguar and it made a world of difference in sound each time.

Anyway - that guitar is droolworthy....

[Johnny Burrito]

Since everyone else has covered your question, I'm gonna be 'that guy' and say that his tone wouldn't have altered to the point of anyone noticing if there were 1969 pickups, 1962 pickups or even MIJ pickups. They are magnets with wire wrapped round them and don't make anywhere near as much difference in tone as a bunch of other stuff including technique, strings, wood, amp, amp settings...

Of course, I'm a firm believer in the old "tone is in the fingers" cliché, but I'm about to have some Jag pickups made for me and I'd like to have a similar set-up if possible.

[Johnny Burrito]

And thanks for the help, everyone!

[kosmonautmayhem]

White guard? Late 64 early 65?

Good point. But, looks like flat pole pickups and the 12th dots are pretty wide. Could also be mint or parchment, the last pic, the lighting is a little over exposed.

[PJazzmaster]

White guard? Late 64 early 65?

Good point. But, looks like flat pole pickups and the 12th dots are pretty wide. Could also be mint or parchment, the last pic, the lighting is a little over exposed.

Yes, the lighting is over exposed. It is a mint guard indeed...so most likely a '63 or a very early '64

[Johnny Burrito]

You guys are the best. Thank you!

[kracdown]

Yes - the flat pole pickups are a dead give away for being a '63 or very early '64. When I went looking for a vintage Jag I decided on a '63 because I thought the pickups sounded so sweet...... Had to have the neck rewound by Novak but equally as sweet!

[SignorNessuno]

Hi, i'm a fan of Paul's guitar tone too...especially that jag tone. He previously played a rick and a gretsch with The Walkmen but that jag tone is definitely my favorite. I completely ignore the guitar manufacturing year but i have some more (pretty obvious for any Walkmen fan) info about Paul's guitar playing. First of all he plays without any pedals (he only used a vox tonebender for a few Walkmen tunes, but not anymore), he's clearly not a fan of effects (he didn't even use his jag tremolo arm), this clearly goes in favor of his pure vintage jag tone. I've also read in some old interview that he had that jag painted in black...his favorite guitar color. He also uses his inseparable Blackface Pro Reverb, the original Pro Reverb, dated 65 or 66, because from 67 Fender only made Silverface Pro Reverb. I've never played one but they surely have an exceptional reputation.

I really hope to see Paul back on the road asap!

[kosmonautmayhem]

Is he playing flatwounds by chance?