Vintage Fender Jaguar 63 vs 66 HELP!

[caxelrod]

Ok... I am GAS-ing for a 60s Fender Jaguar to add to my 90s Japanese Jazzmaster... what do you guys think between a Sunburst 1963 vs 1966, both 100% original. Similarly priced. Which has better value? Are either generally a better sounding or feeling guitar? I know the '63 is Pre-CBS... but is it possible the '66 will play/feel better? Or do I judge superficially on looks alone?

Help!

[codog]

I have played a few old vintage jaguars. Two help you out I'll compare a 1964 vs 1966 I played. They are definitely very similar, its a matter of how they are set up, the 1966 was set up better therefore played better. That being said if they both feel good, or look good. I'd go for the 63 just because the older it is the higher resale. There isnt a big difference between early 60s pre cbs, and post 65 cbs until you get to the early 70s which is where the quality level went down, that being said you can still find great guitars from any era.

[caxelrod]

Thanks codog... thats pretty much what I was thinking... always tough buying vintage instruments online, but as we all know, thats really the only way to get a decent price. I could go to local vintage shops, but I'm in NYC, and their prices are considerably higher than anything I find online.

So, I'm stuck choosing a guitar based on year, amount of wear, originality, etc. Leaning towards the '63, but I've been assured by the '66 owner his guitar is something very special... but thats probably what everyone says.

[Cymbaline87]

If both of them are sunburst and equally original, then it's a no-brainer, the '63.

However, the '63 does have something better, at least in my book, and I'm talking about the pickups, I find those to be the best pups a jag can have.

[Mute]

'63, hands down.
The '63 has the blackbobbin pickups wound with formvar wire. By '66 Fender was doing greybobbins with plain enamel wire. The former are a lot warmer sounding with richer mids and are generally considered better than the greybobbins. The greybobbins, while weak sounding in the mids department, has an extremely clear top end (some may argue it's brittle sounding - I do!) and in some cases some nice lows too. While the greybobbins work nicely in some other fender models, I don't think they flatter the Jaguar very much. Some like them though. I used to too, but then I got a '64 Jag...
Also, the '63 has a better resale value.

[Jaguar018]

On a 100% pragmatic scale the 63 would probably be better with its pre-CBS pedigree, but every guitar is different, and there is most certainly a chance that the 63 is not the best example of a 63, and the 66 could be better than your average 66.

I know you're supposed to say "try each blindfolded and then determine which one sounds and feels better, but personally I'd probably go for the 66 since I prefer blocks and binding.

[caxelrod]

Ok... now I'm torn between a late 60s Lake Placid Blue and a '63 Sunburst. Obviously, theres a difference in price. Leaning heavily towards the LPB.

Which is the better investment if both are similar wear & condition?

[Cymbaline87]

Ok... now I'm torn between a late 60s Lake Placid Blue and a '63 Sunburst. Obviously, theres a difference in price. Leaning heavily towards the LPB.

Which is the better investment if both are similar wear & condition?

If you consider it estrictly as an investment, I'd say the LPB because everyone goes ape wild for custom color guitars. From a musician point of view, I'd say try them out and choose the one you feel suits you better. If you can't, go with the one that SHOULD be the best, which is the '63.

[sookwinder]

is the 66 LPB Jag with original finish ?
Of yes then this is the one to grab.... 63 sunburst Jags are a "dime a dozen" to use the old cliche'

As far as parts changes between a 63 and a 66...
obviously by 66 the neck is bound. And potentially it could have either blocks or dots.... if it has dots then that is even another reason to grab it.
A capacitor type (colour of cap) is changed between 63 and 66.
At about 64 they went from black bobbin to grey bobbin pickups.... some tonal differences here between the pups (but really only noticabel if you ahev other original jags to compare with)
The decal patent nos changed but this is not noticable
From a build and quality perspective I have seen no variation between 63 and 66 in the jags I have seen and played. The Jag was meant to be the show case model, so even though the dreaded CBS took over in 65 I have not seen any issues in quality in 66 Jags that can be related to "CBS"

I find the Januar necks with binding easy to play than the early non bound necks

[Bloke on the water]

This might be a strange angle. How's your sight? I have all the different offset food groups -slab/clay dots,
curved board /clay dots, Curved/pearl dots, binding/dots, binding/ blocks and maple board with black binding and blocks.
While my my 1960 clay dot JM is prob the best sounding one I have its often impossible to see the position markers on a dimly lit stage so I always take the dots and binding and/or blocks and binding when I play. I'm a reasonably accomplished player and can play "without looking" if you know what i mean (yeh pretty impressive I know [* ] ) but if you need to start a specific part on a higher fret sometime after a song starts and its dark you can get in trouble with those brown dots on a brown board and the same side dots on a worn/ dirty neck. Anyone else have the same issue?

[codog]

Ok... now I'm torn between a late 60s Lake Placid Blue and a '63 Sunburst. Obviously, theres a difference in price. Leaning heavily towards the LPB.

Which is the better investment if both are similar wear & condition?

I'd go for LPB, there are so many sunburst jags. Also the best deals are on cragslist, you may need to look hard but they come up.

[whitewatersky]

I'm a reasonably accomplished player and can play "without looking" if you know what i mean (yeh pretty impressive I know [* ] )

Love this !