Best Fender Jaguar? American Vintage 65 vs Crafted in Japan vs Johnny Marr Comparison
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- Опубліковано 12 бер 2020
- Additional info on the gear I used: paulreno.de/best-fender-jaguar
About the Marr Signature Jaguar: paulreno.de/johnny-marr-signa...
What is the best Fender Jaguar?
In this video, I am comparing Fender's American Vintage 65 (2016) with a JG-66 Crafted in Japan (1997) and a Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar (2018). I am playing the Tube Screamer of my Ibanez UE 300 Multi-Effects and a Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion through a VHT Special 6 Combo. A tad of reverb is added by a Roland SRE-555.
00:20 Rig Rundown
00:37 Fender American Vintage ’65 Jaguar
02:40 Fender Crafted in Japan Jaguar
04:38 Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar
07:01 Conclusion
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The best one is definitely the Johnny Marr model simply because Johnny says so!!!
First class. Huge thnx. Just what I was looking for❤
Hi Steve, you are very welcome!
Very excellent work!!!
Thanks Adam. I am glad you liked it!
I wish people would only demo guitars without this or that pedal so I can hear what the guitar itself is all about.
Hi Hanskung, None of my amps really makes want to leave my pedals out of the signal chain :) Maybe a handwired Fender 64 Custom Princeton Reverb? A man can dream...
thanks i am trying to decide between the two...leaning towards the JM one
You are in a good place then :)
I hope this video helps with your decision. The JM is a great guitar and the one that my friend ultimately kept out of the three. He has also written a blog post on my website about the JM if that’s of interest for you. Let me know which one you get!
The classic sound of '1000$ guitar, 100$ amp'
Actually, the amp has been retrofitted with a 100$ Jensen Jet Series Tornado Speaker :) The Amp was around 200 $ at launch over here in Europe. It's not a bad amp as long as you stay in clean territory. It's also hardwired and there are some Mod-kits around which I might try out at some point. Here's a review by the guys over at Soundonsound: www.soundonsound.com/reviews/vht-special-6.
@@PaulReno Awright
@@PaulReno couldnt help but notice a silverface fender behind you though....
@@sunsetjunior9313 Hi, that was brought in on the day we shot the video by my colleague Michael Miller. I used that on some of the newer Videos (f.e. the Jazzmaster Video).
Excellent Demo so if you could only have one of the 3 which would you keep :) I just bought that very identical CIJ and I'm wondering why if it's a 1997 they still have the trust rod adjustment screw buried at the butt end of the neck ? any idea about this ? Peace !
Hi Moda Mont, sorry for the late reply. All three guitars belonged to a friend of mine. He sold of the CIJ and kept the AV and the Marr (which is also the only one still at my studio). If I owned these guitars, I would probably keep the Marr :). Regarding the Truss Rod adjust ment, I guess that passes for "Vintage Spec" or period correct. From what I remember Fender started using the "modern" Truss Rod Adjustment in the early 80ies.
The Johnny Marr hands down (for me!). It is more versatile (more usable tones) and has less fret buzzing than the other two (surprise, surprise). But overall the differences are marginal.
Thank you for this video.
You're welcome!
great video!
Thank you!
I have the Johnny Marr jaguar so I'm biased but it delivers far more range. Roll the tone off in position 4 and you get close to that gorgeous jazzmaster rhythm tone.
Would you care to elaborate on that?
@@anthonyfrancis2374 Pickups in series in pos. 4
I also have the JM Jag in Metallic KO.
It is all I’ll ever need from a guitar and hands the best guitar I’ve ever had…I just want one in LP Blue now
I like guitar videos. Even though I don't like Jaguars because of the way they look, I really enjoyed that surf-style sound in the neck position. I think now I'll finally have to google what all these switches are about.
Looking forward to seeing the next video.
Thanks Marty! The Marr Jaguar has an updated switching system which is much better than the original one imo. If you are interested, I have written a post about the Marr Jaguar at paulreno.de/johnny-marr-signature-jaguar
I was gonna buy the AO jaguar in daphne blue but I changed my mind and went with the American pro 11 jazzmaster in dk knight colours.
Love the american original jaguar though.i will get one,one day!
Great choice. I have a Jazzmaster video in the pipeline!
Def the johnny marr. Kinda regret not buying it now. I got the Cobain version and it's great now but I had to do a LOT of work to get it here. The Marr seems pretty good from the get go however (from playing them in store imo), pickups seem a little hotter too
Hi G, yes I had the Marr for about two years in my studio. During that time I didn‘t have to do anything regarding setup, it just stayed rock solid. And I like the PUs and the sound possibilities.
65! i like the others too but the 65 has the most full sound i think ;)
Thanks for your comment Josef!
Johnny Marr is a vegan and animal rights activist. I imagine that is why he chose artificial vs actual bone nut.
That's cool, I try to eat plant based as often as possible, however I did retrofit my Vintera Tele Modified with a Bone Nut (See my video featuring that guitar). Shame on me!
The Johnny Marr Signature takes it for me.
Would you happen to know if the CIJ jag's body is made of basswood? Have the opportunity to snag one for $800.
Hi Marcus, it depends when the Jag was made. I know that the MIJ Jazzmasters up until the mid 90ies were predominantly made from Basswood (I own one and featured it in my MIJ vs CIJ Jazzmaster shootout). I've read this also applies to the Jags, though there's not as much info on this floating around as with the Jazzmasters. To be shure you can try to get your hands on a Jag that you know for sure is made from Alder and compare the weight. Basswood is noticably lighter than Alder. Another indication would be if the body has a lot of dents, since basswood is also softer than Alder. Apart from that opinions vary on which is the better tonewood. I'm happy with my Jazzmaster.
@@PaulReno from the serial number it indicates that its probably from 97-98 and since it has a sunburst finish, i could see the prominent grain in the wood. i'm totally trying to convince myself that its alder at this point but all my digging up has led me to conclude that lol
The Johnny Marr for me but they're all excellent guitars. However, my budget only extends to a Squier Classic Vibe. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.
I think the Classic Vibes are a good choice. I haven't checked out the Jaguars yet, but when I was looking for a Tele I also considered the Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom. It played very well and actually was set up better than the guitar I bought on after some testing (the Vintera btw, see my other Video on that on). I liked the sound of the Vintera better (more clarity and output), but if you are looking for something vintage sounding, the CVs are fine. The PUs on the Tele I tested sounded fairly warm, however, I have a 92 MIJ Jazzmaster that covers that ground.
Budget?! Keep saving up and work over time..then find a used Johnny Marr that has some dents in it. A guitar/musical instrument is not some thing to buy on a budget.
And a guitar that is not good enough to be worth doing a fret job on is land fill material.
I love Classic Vibes (I’d tour a strat or tele stock without a second thought) but the hardware and pickups on the Jaguar, a more complex guitar, just don’t nail it as well. I’d find a used Japanese at the very least.
I‘ve yet to get my hands on a Mexican Classic Player and see how those compare to MIJ/ CIJ.
whats that song you playing with the hammer ons? thanks for the vid btw
Hi caivs, that's part of an original composition of mine with a touch of Bach :) cheers
wow very cool i like :) i love offset guitar btw
I have been looking through the comments for this! Beautiful composition
Thanks for the video. So good to compare the sound before buying one. I consider buying Japanese jaguar cuz I cant afford American. But I hope to know what you think about Mexico fender. 97 Japanese jaguar (used)vs 2018 Mexico jaguar (new). Which do you think is better?
Hi. Glad you liked the video and thanks for reaching out! I have not played a Mexico Jaguar yet but I have played several from Japan. The general consensus seems that Fender Japan is really good. But then Fender Mexico seemed to have upped their game. Do both have the same specs?
@@PaulReno thanks for the reply:) I'm not sure about the spec, but heard Mexico jaguar is 60s jaguar series, and Japanese jaguar has the equal spec as it was first released.
You are welcome. If I was in your shoes I would try to play both of them. If you don’t have a chance to you could check the specs and try to play something comparable. If you are comparing a 97 Japan to a Vintera 60s Jag they both should have a 7.25" radius and vintage-style frets. I guess the biggest difference would be that the Japan Jag probably has been played for about 20 years and therefore feels more like a real vintage Jag than a completely new Vintera. But the Vintera is supposed to have ”better” electronics. I hope this helps. Make sure to check out offset.guitars/the-goodies/how-does-a-97-crafted-in-japan-reissue-jaguar-compare-to-an-original-1965-model where John compares a 97 CIJ to an original 1965 Jag!
@@PaulReno wow it's really helpful. Thanks a lot :)
Nice demo! :)
I‘m pretty sure I‘ll buy a used CIJ Jag from 1994, got a new bridge and some service done, would you recommend buying one?🤔 (I‘m pretty much a strat guy, but I want to try something different, but not too different, if you know what I mean :D)
Hi Mick, I'm glad you liked the video! If you get a decent price for the Jag I think it's worth giving it a try. The main point of criticism theses japanese Fenders get is usually the electronics, and these can also be upgraded to taste. The PU's usually have lower output than the american made Jags, which in my opinion doesn't work that well for getting good clean tones when going directly into a valve amp. On the other hand some pedals seem to work better, especially Big Muffs. The woodwork is usually fine.
@@PaulReno thanks! :)
Hi there! How can you spot a japanese jaguar if someone try to disguise it as an USA for the sell?
Hi Luiz,
Thanks for reaching out. To my knowledge, a Japanese Jaguar should have Made or Crafted in Japan stamped on the neck. A USA Jaguar has a serial number on the bridge plate (if it is an AVRI or AV) or on the front or back of the headstock. Furthermore, you can always check the date stamp on the neck and body, tuning machine, bridge, potentiometer, and pickups. I hope this helps!
Cheers
Fantastic
Thank you very much!
Between the two American Jags, which one plays better feel wise in your opinion?
Both played great but I prefer the sound of the Marrguar. I am also not too keen on the neck binding of the AV. Hope that hepls 🙂
Johnny Marr hands down. Lovely sound
Good demo.
Thank you!
Would have Loved to see a sonic blue vintera jaguar modified in the mix I'm tossing up between that and it's versatility vs the JM Guitar there is a big price difference too the vintera is by no means a bad guitar
Hi there, yes the Vintera line is definitely a good alternative. I myself have the 50s Telecaster Modified which is a great guitar (a bit dark for a Tele, maybe, but I can compensate for that). After purchasing it I had it set up properly and now it's an absolute joy to pick up and plays great.
Hello! The first one (American vintage, if I’ve well understood) for me! 😀
Hi Olivier, good choice! Yes, that’s the American Vintage😀
johnny marr definitely others sound a bit muffled for me. would you suggest buying from ebay?
If possible I would suggest buying at a local store. But I have bought from ebay too and never was unhappy. I would suggest to ask the right questions beforehand, inspect the pictures carefully, and use Paypal though. But I guess there is always a bit of a risk when buying online. I hope this helps!
Hey Paul! I just got an 62 reissue jag and I was surprised by how heavy it is, feels like a les paul. I was wondering are all jags heavy guitars? Are yours heavy as well? Cheers!
I’ve read that the 62 reissues varied in weight. Some were heavier than others. The 62 line was in production for quite awhile so may explain the differences.
They tend to be relatively heavy
They are huge bodied, so generally pretty heavy.
Avri 65 sound like a hold jaguar.
Best guitare for me.
For the look and the sound 💪
i have the original 64 jaguar pre cbs era, i like the sounds but i dont like the playability, idk but i prefer for playing is the johnny marr signature, but that just me mate! btw good vid, send hi to Osman an your mom!
Hi Tommy! ya, saya akan kirim salam :) A vintage Jaguar is of course always nice to have :) I actually would like to make an episode on how vintage instruments compare to their reissues, but due to the availability and the connections I have here in Munich that will probably focus on Bass guitars.
@@PaulReno idk why the vintage jaguar bridge is sucks some people replaced them with mustang bridge, just like J. Marr did for his vintage jags, same as well like early years of Jazzbass pre 74 i think, they had the same problems just like the jags, unreliable bridge
@@botherangel try a mastery or staytrem bridge, i have two johnny marr jags and thought about trading one for a vintage jag but i like the playability of the marr so much more
what? you can speak bahasa?@@PaulReno
Hanya sedikit, sudah lupa banyak. It‘s been a while😄
I'd like one of each! I think the Japanese one is my favorite. I'm not a fan of tremolo.
Hi Dan, judging from the comments I think most people here prefer the Johnny Marr. However, the Japan did play well.
I liked the JM tone
The 3 sound good! I'm now on the market for a Jag or a Jazzmaster. Maybe the Player Series Jaguar (but it has a humbucker) or the Squier CV Jaguar...
Thanks. Good luck on your hunt! I would be interested to know which one you choose and why :)
The Player Jag splits the ‘bucker and matches the other single coil nicely
Johnny Marr hands down
JM sounds the best.
Wish the Princeton amp was used
Hi Robert, the cool thing about the VHT is that it works well with single coil PUs as it saturates nicely without me having to drive it too much. What you don't see in the picture is that my son (9years) insisted on operating the 3rd cam :) So we wanted to keep volume at reasonable levels. But you've got a valid point there, if I can crank it I'll steer towards the Princeton. Btw I used that one on my last video on the Japanese Jazzmasters again.
@@PaulReno lol. Completely understand. Sounded great
I kinda walked away thinking " Buy them all, amd play them all, too." Is that bad?
I think the Marr would be enough for me. I also think that one also holds its value best. But hey, if Jags are your thing, go for it😄
American vintage all the way!
Clean sound the American sounded better and fuller but woolier on distortion, I think the Japan sounded better and clearer with distortion but wasn't much different than a strat.
Surprisingly I didn't like the Johnny Marr as much.
For what I do I would prefer the American since I don't play that high gain.
I wonder if the did the same thing with the PUs on the CIJ Jag like with the MIJ Jazzmaster. Here they wound the PUs taller like in a Strat.
Best jag is the classic player one with the humbuckers.
I'm guessing he does not use a bone nut because he is vegan. Of course there are probably plenty of other materials in that guitar that come from animal.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Apples to oranges. Guitars are not stock
Hi outlawamps, yes, but these modifications are quite common, I think these Instruments should be heard. The Mustang Saddles on the Marr are stock, that's how Marr design his Jaguar :)
Answer Kurt cobain Jaguar
That's actually one that I would love to check out! If I can seek one out in my guitar playing community I'll definitely make a video on it.
Kurt cobain Jaguar is the best one. I have it I’ll make a video on it soon.
Yes, that one already got mentioned here on the comments. I would really be interested in hearing (and seeing) it. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who has one, otherwise I'd included that one here.
Marr, without question.
I think the American takes it- seems more sonically focused. But they are all pretty close. Could always throw some AVRI, antiquity, or Novak’s in the MIJ. Marr would be my last choice, here. Great comparison. It was very close.
Thanks Matthew!