In the late-'70s, Fender was facing competition from lower-priced Japanese-made copie, so in 1982, they launched a joint venture with Kanda Shokai and Yamano Gakki to produce Fender-branded instruments in Japan. Because the American Fender brand was only a partner—and not in the driver's seat—over the years Fender Japan, Ltd. produced some of the most inventive and novel interpretations of classic Fender templates. With quality that rivals their American-made counterparts, MIJ and CIJ Fender guitars are often intriguing designs that bring about new levels of inspiration and expression.
This 2007 Fender Jaguar has the "Crafted in Japan" label, and it was made by Tokai Gakki as part of the "J-Craft" special editions. It starts with a 24" scale and standard offset body shape. While it has the traditional switches and Jaguar tone circuit, very little of the design remains traditional. It sports two Fender Dragster humbuckers, which are lower in output than other humbuckers. Their tone is beefy and fat with lots of sustain, but they still feel like a proper Fender. Instead of a Jag vibrato tailpiece, it has a stop bar and tune-o-matic bridge. In combination with the humbuckers, the rock-n-roll hardware give this Jaguar an edge you might not expect from a Fender. But Fender Japan? This wild beast fits right in.
This 2007 Fender JGS Jaguar Special HH shows some signs of play and wear, but it's in decent shape all around. There are some noticeable scuffs on the edge of the peghead, and there's some pick wear all around the playing area. There's also some buckle rash on the back, as well as some bumps around the edges of the body (see photos). Fortunately, there no repairs, breaks, severe damages, non-original parts, or issues—just good honest play wear on a great player guitar! The current setup is low and inviting with .010-gauge strings.
This CIJ Jaguar Special includes its original padded gig bag. The matching black headstock is hard not to love, and the black on black guard—contrasting with all the chrome metal parts—give this one character. It fits with the rugged, powerful tone of the humbuckers, and nerds like us will dig the Darth Vader vibe, too!