Quality comparison of MIJ Mid-90's Jaguar Vs. Classic Player

jkmerryman21 · Post by **jkmerryman21** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:21 am

I am interested in buying a Fender Jaguar sometime in the near future. I have been a long time Fender fan and I currently own a '97 Big Apple Strat. I have considered selling mine to get a Jaguar. My price range would be around $800. I am wondering what the quality difference between the MIJ Jaguars made in the 90's and the newer Classic Player Series are. Which one would you prefer and why? and also do you think they will hold their value....The only thing keeping me from selling my American made Big Apple strat is that I'm afraid the value will go up.

Thanks

aen · Post by **aen** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:40 am

Every Japanese jag I've played except for the recent HH model has felt like a rickety bunch of parts, and had pickups that sounded really tinny and horrible, and come with a really unstable (and in my case unusable) bridge. The necks are really damn nice though.

Every classic player (I think is what you are referring to) I've handled felt amazing, sounded great, and were totally reliable.

This is my experience.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:42 am

My one experience with MIM Jaguar has made me stay away from them. Meanwhile, my CIJ Jaguar is amazing.

Pickups were already upgraded, though, which was nice of the previous owner.

That said, I had an old Japanese Mustang and it was terrible compared to my '65 Mustang RI. Something makes me think that older Japanese instruments weren't that great.

Anyway, $800 is enough to get a good used Japanese Jag, maybe one with upgrades. Mine was like $740 and it had Seymour Duncan pickups and a Mustang bridge installed on it. It doesn't even have to be old. Just keep your eye open and look for good ones.

I say get a CIJ/MIJ because the 7.25" radius is important to the overall feel IMO.

And I don't know if you're into the Mustang at all but you can often find 65 RIs in good shape for $500-550. I've never had a vintage Mustang but I have to think that the 65 RIs are some of the finest Mustangs ever made because I don't see how they could be much better.

aen · Post by **aen** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:04 am

honeyiscool wrote:My one experience with MIM Jaguar has made me stay away from them.

So weird. What was it that turned you off?

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:08 am

It was a Blacktop, so it might be a bit presumptuous of me but the Tune-O-Matic on that thing is the worst pile of doo doo I've ever come across. First of all, some genius at the plant thought it'd be fun to route the pickguard such that you can't get turn the adjustment wheel with the pickguard in, and then you couldn't pop the pickguard on easily once you took it off, which was a chore. What the hell. Secondly, no matter how I set that thing up, I couldn't get buzz free performance.

FROM A TUNE-O-MATIC.

Anyway, after all was said and done, it played OK, but it really didn't feel like a Jag to me, and it's not the humbuckers, it's just the utter lack of any bling bling. I know the Classic Player doesn't suffer from that problem, though. More importantly, the 9.5" radius just doesn't feel right to me.

Justyn · Post by **Justyn** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:15 am

CIJs are great guitars for modders I think

I'd to find one around here, as I am very much of the "try before you buy" approach.

jkmerryman21 · Post by **jkmerryman21** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:31 am

I would be up for a Mustang too. I would love to have a daphne/sonic blue with a tortoise pickguard. From the video posted on here I prefer the sound of the Jaguar slightly to the Mustang. I've played both instruments but it has been years so I would like to play them each again before I decide. I wanted a shortscale when I bought my Big Apple in 2001, but they were very expensive at the time and now they are more affordable. I may end up just buying one and keeping my Big Apple. I'm no rush to get one, so I am just waiting for the perfect one to show up on Craigslist. I live in Nashville, so you can imagine that there are plenty of guitars showing up on Craigslist. If I keep the Big Apple I will go for single coil sice mine is HH, but if I sold it I would consider a HH. Thanks for your input guys.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:03 am

i <3 my CIJ jaguar. bridge pickup isn't so bad through fuzz with strangle switch to ON.

neck pickup is tasty.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:41 am

Quality on my HH Jaguar Special is fucking awesome. Its a tighter instrument that my pre cbs jag, seriously. QUALITY isn't the same, of course, but the fit of the neck and parts are top notch. Can't say too much for the classic CIJ jaguars, just shoutin the Special is tits

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:25 am

Just add my tuppence worth purely about my MIM Classic Player Jag - it is EXCELLENT quality and I am stupidly happy with it.

The build is great, the wiring is very well done (as stated by previous owner Mike who knows substantially more than I about such things), the neck is nice and tight in the heel... It FEELS solid as a rock. It's set up with great action using the stock TOM bridge. Sure, I'm not 100% about the bridge pup at this time but am not yet in a rush to swap it out.

I honestly think it feels every bit the kind of guitar worth it's full retail value if not more so and if you can get it at used price DO IT.

Oh and the 9.5 radius is just fine and I like the 7.25 Mustang but not sure which I prefer exactly. 7.25 for chording but 9.5 for riffage ... so neither/both I guess.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:28 am

I've owned a 98 CIJ Jag for years which in retrospect I didn't really like or get on with. Have played an MIM CP Jag in s shop and I thought it was a more ready and stable guitar.

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:59 am

I have had a few Jap Fenders over the years, 72 Thinline Tele, 72 Deluxe Tele, Mustang, Jaguar & currently a Jazzmaster.
I have found them all to be great guitars & reliable workhorses. To be honest Jap Fenders are my favourite guitars, I don't think they can be beat if you buy 2nd hand. They hold value & easy to mod. You can easily live with the stock pups in Jap Fenders with the exception of the Jaguar which basically squeals like a pig with most drive pedals.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:11 am

Johno wrote:You can easily live with the stock pups in Jap Fenders with the exception of the Jaguar which basically squeals like a pig with most drive pedals.

That's a good point. They don't come wax-potted, whereas the MIM's do right?

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:18 am

GeorgeF wrote:
Johno wrote:You can easily live with the stock pups in Jap Fenders with the exception of the Jaguar which basically squeals like a pig with most drive pedals.
That's a good point. They don't come wax-potted, whereas the MIM's do right?

I should imagine/hope so given they are marketed as being Special Design HOT pick ups.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:48 am

Johno wrote:
GeorgeF wrote:
Johno wrote:You can easily live with the stock pups in Jap Fenders with the exception of the Jaguar which basically squeals like a pig with most drive pedals.
That's a good point. They don't come wax-potted, whereas the MIM's do right?
I should imagine/hope so given they are marketed as being Special Design HOT pick ups.

There was definitely waxy residue between the claws and the pup But not much on the glimse of the coils I had (a teensy glimse)

TheBurbz · Post by **TheBurbz** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:56 am

To me, Jap jags are THE jags. I've owned a standard CIJ and a Jaguar HH and they both played great, I always hold the jap guitars in higher esteem because of the mystical 'Fender Japan' thing.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:58 pm

I know they're not Jags but I have 2 Japanese Jazzmasters (Both Rxxxxxx) and I love them. I haven't played an AVRI but I did have a Classic Player a while ago and I got rid of it as I preferred the Jap JM's. The stock pickups were rubbish but I got rid of them ages ago. I love the feel, sound and playability of these guitars, even more so than my US Strat.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:58 pm

Both are pretty decent, and both quite removed from the feel and response you would get from AVRI or Vintage.

I would put it like this.

Classic Player: If you wanting a guitar to play straight out of the box then these are the best affordable Jags around in my opinion. The hotter (wax potted) pickups I think are very versatile for a lot of styles of music. The tuno bridge (can be noisy) prevents strings popping out of their saddles. The increased string angle due to the pushed in tremolo unit gives a little more sustain and applies more pressure onto the bridge. The flatter radius neck minimises string chocking out on bends. Some really nice mods which are done for you compromising very little on aesthetics. I find the finish and chrome hardware of these to be of a slightly higher quality than the Japanese guitars.

CIJ / MIJ: If you're wanting a great guitar with more traditional aesthetics which you're happy to mod a little, the these are highly recommended. First of the Pickups really need attention... they tend to be microphonic and cause uncontrolled feedback. You can get around this by removing the claws or having the entire pickups wax potted, they're not bad pickups but are quite weedy. Some also have issues with the bridge. A common mod is to swap out the jag bridge with mustang bridge to prevent strings slipping out the saddles and to eliminate rattles. Occasionally some feel it necessary or of great benefit to install a 'buzz stop'. This almost mimics the the CP tailpiece in terms of increasing the break angle and helping sustain and resonance. Personally I find one of the best features about the Japanese guitars are the necks... for me they're the most comfortable out there.

For me as I enjoy setups and tweaking guitars; and for that comfortable neck, I would opt for the Japanese Jag... if however you want to just plug in and play I would definitely go for the CP Jag.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:10 pm

The CP jag neck is extremely comfortable in my estimation - never played Jp to compare though.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:45 pm

I've got a 2009 '66 Classic Jag and love it. The pickups are a little thin sounding and low output, but I've gotten to like them, even the bridge pickup alone. That said, I have been considering upgrading to AVRI pickups. Once I swapped up to .11s and played with the setup to actually *get* it, I've had no issues with the stock bridge.
The 7.25" radius feels great to my fingers and I really think that's an important aspect of the Jaguar feel.

I've only played one CP Jaguar HH and wasn't too into it, honestly. It didn't feel right to my hands. It was the second Jag I ever played and I just didn't get on with it. I didn't even plug it in to an amp to see how it sounded. The construction seemed fine, but it felt wrong to my hands.
That said, lots of people here like their CPs, and I did like the CP Jazzmaster.