A near-perfect marriage of Fender and Gibson, just what I wanted for years. 
by Gary Diamond from USA, April 2007

Honestly. Maybe it's because I just got one of these in the last week but then I used to work on Denmark Street, so I learnt how to spot a good one. And this is a very good one. Fender have given the Jaguar a new lease of life by removing the difficult vibrato system, installing some nice low output humbuckers but keeping the cool features like the 24" short scale and switching system. The none-more-black colour scheme does no harm either. Playability is excellent - the neck is butter, and as it has a 9.5" radius allows for more aggresive, technical lead work, unlike the standard Jaguar's 7.25". Plugging in is just as good. The Dragster humbuckers come across more like fat Texas Strat pickups mixed with P90s. A great sound with plenty of dynamic range and versatility from the wooliest jazz or woman tone right through to Catfish Collins/Bloodsugarsexmagik funk.The Japanese are making possibly the finest guitars in the world right now for Fender and other companies, and this is a fine example. In a way it's good these Jaguar Specials are rare because it means whoever plays one is more distinctive for it. I have two main guitars - a Jaguar Special and a Les Paul Special doublecut with P90s. I like the Jag best - it does all the tones I want and it does them with a tonal colour few other guitars have. The only thing I miss, coming from a normal '62 style Jag, is a vibrato system. I'm going to have to have a Stetsbar installed as an aftermarket upgrade - the ONLY reason this doesn't get five stars.

 
by , July 2005

This guitar is fantastic! I cannot believe the value. It is simply outstanding. Impeccable fit and finish. I cannot find a flaw anywhere on it. Quite a big difference from my 1984 CBS Telecaster, better than most current USA production I've inspected, and a magnitude better than the Mexifenders. It arrived well set up by Sweetwater's tech and the intonation is spot on. I only wish the factory had equipped it with 11 guage strings. The 10's are too light for the 24" scale and feel like rubber bands. I was expecting to have to gut the electronics and replace the pick ups, but now I'm not so sure. They don't sound like a Jag, but they aren't half bad either. They are definitely unique. Time will tell. Leave it to Fender Japan to build the ultimate Jaguar. They kept the good stuff, and eliminated the crap. Way to go!

This Thing Rocks! 
by Ben Thomas from Mooresville, IN USA, May 2005

This is a sweet guitar. The special Dragster pick-ups are hot! The bridge setup on this is way better than your standard Jag bridge. And it looks killer too. I wasn't too sure about all the black when I ordered it, but in person it looks sharp.If you wanna rock, you need this guitar.

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