How much is too much for a Vista Jagmaster?

lopsided · Post by **lopsided** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:49 am

First of all, hi everyone.

While I've been an infrequent visitor to the forum for a while now - I've finally signed up in the hope of getting some of your advice on my next guitar purchase.

My first ever guitar was a 2002 Chinese Jagmaster bought that same year, and while I've amassed a few mid-range electrics since then, I've finally saved enough for a high-end guitar. Trouble is, I have a real craving to put some of the money towards also getting a Vista series Jagmaster. I really love the look and contour of my Chinese Jag, and besides having huge sentimental value, it doesn't play too badly either! After reading so many positive things about the Vistas over the years, I think it would be a shame not to own one at some point in my life.

Having read the price that some of you have paid for your Vistas on the other threads, I decided that using those prices as my base point, to bid on this Jagmaster listed on eBay last week.

My final bid on the auction was Â£350 - the guitar ended up selling for 430! Granted it had been modified with some SDuncan Phat Cats, and the price (and rarity) of guitars is generally higher here in the UK than US, but doesn't this still seem like too much to pay?

I realise that a fair price is, of course, however much a guitar means to the person buying it - but it should also be said that I've never even had the chance to play a Vista Jag and my only real means of getting one will be through an Internet auction or classified - so resale value is something I have to consider in case she turns out to be a dog. And besides, going up to near Â£450 ($720!!) for a Squier (albeit even a Vista) just seems like WAY too much money to be digging out my main guitar fund.

Any of you guys know how rare Vista Jags really are in the UK? I've been checking gumtree and ebay about once a month for the past year at least now, and this was the first one I found.

P.s apologies if I should have put this post in a preexisting thread. I will learn. Probably.

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:02 pm

I just got a used one for $240, but it is missing a pup.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:26 pm

you just put a bid on Excalibur.

its priceless and such

the red ones are ugly, the sunburst ones are ugly, the white one is ok i guess. but the blue one is fucking excalibur

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:43 pm

Hehehe, i like the sunburst and white personally. The red looks like a bag of smashed assholes. Blue is okay.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:54 pm

Love my red one.

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:58 pm

They are nothing particualy special, i'd save my money & time & look at something else if was spending over Â£350 on a guitar.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:09 pm

lopsided wrote:near Â£450 ($720!!) for a Squier (albeit even a Vista) just seems like WAY too much money to be digging out my main guitar fund.

That's what Supersonics and Venus XII's sell for. Get the brand snobbery out of your head - these are Japanese Fenders with Squier decals.

lopsided · Post by **lopsided** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:18 pm

robroe wrote:you just put a bid on Excalibur.

For a second, I thought you meant this:

Eye bleach necessitating levels of ugliness.

But you're right, sonic blue was/is awesome. Still not sure if it's Â£430 awesome - but awesome nonetheless.

I feel like it's going to be years before I find one again (sigh)...

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:19 pm

For their time, the Jagmasters solved a lot of problems that could only be afforded by modding expensive reissues or vintage guitars. Nowadays, there are quite a few options available for people that want a twin humbuckered, simplified electronics, non Jazzmaster bridged/tremolo, offset guitar... True, the Jagmaster is maybe a bit redundant, now yes. ... Except the necks on them are amazing (the Vistas) and if you're one of those people the people that appreciate them, the synchronized tremolo bridge is a rather unique feature on this body styling. So yeah, as far as i'm concerned Jagmasters are totally legit.

Anywhere between $450 and $600 (top end being for rare coloured first runs) would be reasonable.

lopsided · Post by **lopsided** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:30 pm

mkt3000 wrote:
lopsided wrote:near Â£450 ($720!!) for a Squier (albeit even a Vista) just seems like WAY too much money to be digging out my main guitar fund.
That's what Supersonics and Venus XII's sell for. Get the brand snobbery out of your head - these are Japanese Fenders with Squier decals.

I'm not being snobbish - it's just that I've seen 90s MIJ Mustangs and Jaguars go for less. Hell, I picked up my 78 Musicmaster for nearly the same price. I'm sure they are great guitars (hence why I would like one), I'm just asking opinions on whether the Vista prices have become more inflated than some other models/brands.

Also on the same note, for anyone interested...

lopsided · Post by **lopsided** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:40 pm

Thanks laterallateral, $600 does seem a sensible limit for a luxury-poor person like myself.

Although, $601 then does become a massive dilemma area of course...

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:00 pm

Right, i totally sympathise with that. Gotta make those dollars work for you and if you get a Vista at a sensible price, you will.
I'm sure if you're patient and thorough enough, you'll be able to snatch a sunburst or a CAR for under $500.

PRO TIP: Try using "Squire" instead of "Squier" in your search queries.

Gargamale · Post by **Gargamale** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:29 pm

I am selling my black 1996 Squier Jagmaster on craigslist for $250, so I can buy a Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster. I feel this price is quite low compared to the auctions I've seen on eBay. However, most of those were for rarer colors than mine. In the spirit of the OP, what is the lowest you'd take for a CIJ/Vista Jagmaster?

George · Post by **George** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:33 pm

To be honest my pedigree chum, I would get the Vista stuff out of your head unless you're willing to pay a premium. It's depressing what they go for in this country. Think of all the things you could get for Â£430. Mod the shit out of a Squier Jag etc.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:10 pm

lopsided wrote:While I've been an infrequent visitor to the forum for a while now - I've finally signed up in the hope of getting some of your advice on my next guitar purchase.

OH SO NOW YOU WANT SOMETHING YOU SIGN UP EH?

(the other colours sell for less, blue is very uncommon)

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:22 pm

George wrote:To be honest my pedigree chum, I would get the Vista stuff out of your head unless you're willing to pay a premium. It's depressing what they go for in this country. Think of all the things you could get for Â£430. Mod the shit out of a Squier Jag etc.

I agree.
Had a Vista Jagmaster years ago and whilst it was a nice guitar it was not a Â£430 guitar, never. In my opinion they need modding too as the pups are lacklustre, although some folk claim to like them.
There are way better deals about for Â£430.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:22 pm

I look at them from time to time and most Vistas (excluding the Made in China Musicmaster) go for around Â£300-370. A Venus ended recently for about Â£310 inc. shipping, and the Jagmasters are a similar range.

I think the Supersonics tend to go for a little more (under Â£350 is cheap, around Â£400 typical) but there haven't been many around lately and a lot of sellers aim for crazy prices and, of course, get no buyer like this auction. So when a regular sale does comes up the price is a bit harder to judge.

They're pretty much the same feel as an MIJ Jag or Mustang in terms of the neck and general playability. You can't really go wrong with them but a modern Squier is an equally good shout and much more available.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:29 pm

There's one in Sonic Blue on eBay now, 0 bids, reasonable price:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Fender-Squier-VI ... 1c2bc06aed

If I had spare cash I'd snap it up... but I just had my income tax reassessed and Revenue Canada has decided I owe them ~$1800!

wadeaminute · Post by **wadeaminute** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 11:05 pm

I had one in sonic blue about seven years ago. The super-extra rare one with the bullet truss rod. I was thinking at the time that it would be like a upside down Super-Sonic. I kept it for about a month, didn't get along with it, and sold it for what I paid for it - $300. I love the Super-Sonics because they are so small. The Jagmaster was full Jaguar-sized, which I found annoying at the time. It would have needed new pickups and electronics.
Last year I bought a VM HH Jaguar in Fiesta red. Much better, in my opinion. I was going to mod it with new pickups and a new bridge and a new pickguard, but it really is perfect the way it is. Sustains like a Les Paul. Hardtail (which I prefer). Better colour. These sell for $300 new.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 12:28 am

i wouldn't give anyone 50 bucks for any jagmaster other than a Vista.

now that i can get a squier VM jaguar for 200 bucks friends and family price at Zzounds.com

excalibur on the other hand is that one gutiar that i want more than any other guitar but im not willing to pay any more than the 400 i spent for my super sonic 10 years ago.

How much is too much for a Vista Jagmaster?

How much is too much for a Vista Jagmaster?

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