2016 Jag-Stang?

[Jan Deal]

I quite like the body shape - it looks cool, not bulbous and ugly like a Toronado - but there are two big deal breakers (Mustang tremolo, switches) that put me off. If it had a Jazzmaster tremolo, a 3 way switch and a contoured body, I'd be delighted.

Then again, I've just described a guitar that isn't a Jag-Stang!

[Mad-Mike]

I had a little bit of extra time tonight and thought I'd try doing an overlay of the new and old model. Seems we got lucky and both pictures are pretty dead on straight. I had to shrink down the Instagram photo a bit (was sure to maintain the ratio) and did my best to line up the neck heels. The frets and dot markers fell into line as well. The only other change made was some cropping and auto-leveling of the colors to make them stand out a bit better against each other.

First here are the two photos, sized to match, in case anyone else wants to have a go at it.


The white body edges are from the new model.


The sort of black body outline is from the original model.


Both are with the original version over top the new version. Hopefully you can tell the two apart. I'm not too good with fancy editing and outlining .

Looks like the control plates are different, the new one is longer, or at least a slightly different shape. The new pickguard looks to be a bit smaller and it protrudes down more where it meets the control plate. Perhaps that's why the control plate looks longer/different, the placing of it is different. Seems the over all body has been adjusted too mainly around the upper horn.

That's what I'm getting from it at least. Granted they are two different pictures so maybe there is some angle play going on. Never the less there does definitely seem to be some noticeable differences between the old and new.

Here's what I noticed that's different at first glance...when I was first posting/going to post this

- Black Switches - FUCK YEAH! Build myself another Sonic Blue one or a Fiesta Red one with EMG pickups and a different pickguard and not have to replace the switches right off the bat.

- They fixed that odd fitment on the lower horn, which never bothered me, if you've ever seen a Kramer Pacer Deluxe/Kramer Focus 3000/Kramer Striker 300ST - I'm sure you've probably seen how horribly matching the standard size/issue Stratocaster pickguard looked with Kramers weird semi-offset Strat body (there was this wider gap of body top, especially on the Focus 3000, where the treble edge of the pickguard stops and the body begins).

- The control plate is definitely a Squier VM Mustang control plate - I know this as I played one a week or two ago and was facepalming at the crude cut and quality of the control plate on that guitar, it makes me wonder if this is just a Squier VM prototype with the Fender logo on it.

- The "Fender Jag-Stang" Logo script is smaller and different, especially the "Jag-Stang" part.

- The bridge is a Squier VM/Fender Laquer 60's style Modified Mustang bridge (that's what we called them back when Warmoth was the only place offering a bridge like that)

- It looks like either a diluted Surf Green instead of Daphne Blue/Sonic Blue/Foam Green, maybe they are trying out a quasi Olympic White look after all the buzz that Olympic White Jag-Stang was making on some forums awhile back.

- The Centerline looks a little better, and the upper horn reveals no neck pocket so they apparently did work to fix that whole incorrect neck sideways angle thing the early Jag-Stangs have.

- If it's a VM style prototype, it's probably basswood and has a Duncan Designed humbucker at the bridge, probably closest to the JB out of any Jag-Stang Fender made

[Ben17e]

Mike what do you mean about the upper horn revealing no neck pocket. I hung around the Jag Stang forum for a few years and don't remember ever seeing this complaint. Do you mean they tend to have a gap?

[CROSS_guitars]

I think you're wrong about the control plate being a Squier VM. The Squier ones are actually vintage correct.

The control plate on this prototype looks like it was bought from EYguitars, and it's also the same as the new Fender Olive Mustang etc.

also, I don't know if the logo is necessarily smaller but the headstock on this reissue is the same as a Jaguar whereas the originals have the MIJ Mustang design.
New neck also appears to be slabboard, not veneer.

[Subgenius]

So what's the skinny on these? Are they actually making them or did we all gobble 5 pages worth of thread over a rumor?

[Mechanical Birds]

yeah that was never really made clear i don't think?

anyone know?

[Ben17e]

The fact that it is on display at the fender Hollywood location seems to suggest it's legit.

[Subgenius]

Fender Hollywood location?Never knew there was one.

Might be just a prototype?

[arkivel]

Uh I don't see any difference between the new and old guitars. I doubt Fender made such a slight redesign to the Mustang control plate or that body. The pictures are probably just distorted like any other image you will see on fender's website.

[Mechanical Birds]

brass tacks though - are we gonna see these pop up in MusiciansFriend or whatever? That's what I'm trying to find out - Fender makes everything all the time because they can but don't always release a bunch of them for sale. I didn't really understand the context in which this was posted originally though, kind of out of the loop, so I have no idea.

[Mad-Mike]

Mike what do you mean about the upper horn revealing no neck pocket. I hung around the Jag Stang forum for a few years and don't remember ever seeing this complaint. Do you mean they tend to have a gap?

Something I saw a bit with the very early Jag-Stangs (were talking 1995-1996 here) - was that the neck slot was not perfectly centered when routed, I noticed this both on my own guitar (which is shimmed straight), and on a few other 95'-97' Jag-Stang's I've seen on E-bay and elsewhere over the years, including I think the red one on that one Fender history book even has it (you'll see the Low E coming a bit too close to the edge of the fretboard, and the position markers seem a tad off kilter too). I just stuck a Fender Heavy in mine and all's well, still my #1 after all these years.

Some people here were asking about the context. These pictures appeared on some fellow's Instagram who either works for Fender or was invited to the grand opening of their Hollywood offices. Looking at what I see - and there have been quite a few photos of this Jag-Stang since, it looks like the Hollywood office is Research and Development, at least in part - the room that Jag-Stang lives in is another room full of a bunch of other guitars including it sits among the recently released offset series Duo-Sonics and Mustangs on the wall of said department. From what I gather, it probably is a prototype for a future Mexican production of the Jag-Stang, my guess would be for the In Utero 25th anniversary but god only knows since Fender has not made an announcement for it. I have my doubts Fender would have such a completed prototype in the office without at least some intent of putting it on the market. Lest someone on staff just really likes Jag-Stangs and whipped it up just for fun, which is rare, but does happen.

That said, still hoping it would be released. actually tonight I'm having a bit of a chin scratching - I'm taking a trip with my wife to Cali in November, and she wants me to bring a TURQUOISE guitar for her photoshoot stuff, but we don't want to risk getting my #1 or the other two damaged/lost/stolen while traveling and have not a flight case. Too bad this is not out, I'm looking at a VM Mustang or Jaguar now to fit that bill.

[matthew a]

I had a left-handed model back in mid-late 90s. I don't remember too well, but I know apart from the neck, it wasn't comfortable to play and the bridge pickup was a bit weak. But I would've known nothing about tone when I was 16-17, so kinda interested in trying another.

[Dan_Q]

Anybody have any recent news on this "new" jagstang? apologies if its been posted elsewhere.

[Mad-Mike]

Anybody have any recent news on this "new" jagstang? apologies if its been posted elsewhere.

We'll probably have to wait till NAMM sometime in 2017 to see where this is going. Obviously they did not get rid of it since many more pictures have been taken of this guitar. it's at the Fender Hollywood offices so I would not be surprised if it were a prototype for some release of the guitar.

No new news, but then not many get to pass through those doors to the Hollywood offices I reckon. The guy who originally posted it was Otisserie on Instagram whom seems to know quite a few people in the industry, or at least being contact with them.

My guess is it's a prototype for a Mexican re-release, probably on In Utero's 25th anniversary or something like that. Guess we'll have to wait for NAMM and see if it turns up.

all the Pics of It Thus Far

[Dan_Q]

Hi Mike,

Many thanks for the response. I really like jagstangs, i dont think i'll be buying one but a buddy of mine who doesn't go on forums i think has a genuine interest. I wonder if the halves were shipped to mexico from china after making the musuar?

Thanks for the extra pics too