NEW Fender Blacktop Jaguar

[Fran]

It's ugly and boring. Fender needs to get their head out their ass and stop trying to do "new" things by changing colours and pickups for the modern age.

[Pens]

It's ugly and boring. Fender needs to get their head out their ass and stop trying to do "new" things by changing colours and pickups for the modern age.

What would you suggest? Providing a guitar that a segment of players would want sounds like they are doing what a company should do, providing what people want.

Now they just need to work on the whole "left-handed option" thing.

[Thom]

Now they just need to work on the whole "left-handed option" thing.

They really do. It's insulting as to how few left handed options there are.
You can't even buy a US rosewood board left handed Tele?!!!
Not a single one, not even a black or sunburst one. Fuck. Fuck you Fender.

[Justyn]

Seeing as how options are slim for guys with small hands who like to shred, I might pick up the black one.

Still wish it had like a matching headstock and a bound guard though. And open coils, but I might end up throwing something else in there anyway.

[Pens]

Now they just need to work on the whole "left-handed option" thing.

They really do. It's insulting as to how few left handed options there are.
You can't even buy a US rosewood board left handed Tele?!!!
Not a single one, not even a black or sunburst one. Fuck. Fuck you Fender.

Yeah, I know. I'd so rock a Tele except I can't deal with a maple board.

[Fran]

It's ugly and boring. Fender needs to get their head out their ass and stop trying to do "new" things by changing colours and pickups for the modern age.

What would you suggest? Providing a guitar that a segment of players would want sounds like they are doing what a company should do, providing what people want.

Now they just need to work on the whole "left-handed option" thing.

Its a small segment though dude, i mean, the Jaguar is a niche market guitar as it is and most of its users aspire to own a vintage model and were drawn to it because of its classic looks in the first place. I seriously think they will struggle to shift these in any significant numbers.
I'd suggest they design something new. A 60 year old leading guitar company can do better than the Jag-Stang, Toronado, Performer and what other else obscure offerings in the last 30 years surely?

Definitely agree on more lefty's.

[Grant]

Bleh. I saw a kid fucking ROCK a Jagmaster on stage. Talked to him afterward, he was ASHAMED to be playing "just a Squier."

Kid like that would rock the hell out of this and feel good about playing "a real Fender."

[endsjustifymeans]

Bleh. I saw a kid fucking ROCK a Jagmaster on stage. Talked to him afterward, he was ASHAMED to be playing "just a Squier."

Kid like that would rock the hell out of this and feel good about playing "a real Fender."

Kid like that needs a kick in the teeth. If you just tore up a club, and are pissed because of the name on your headstock... there's just no help for you.

[Fran]

Bleh. I saw a kid fucking ROCK a Jagmaster on stage. Talked to him afterward, he was ASHAMED to be playing "just a Squier."

Kid like that would rock the hell out of this and feel good about playing "a real Fender."

Nothing wrong with Squier, did you educate him?
Anyways, if you want to get anal about this the Fender snobs wont see these as real Fenders. That kid may as well put another decal on his headstock if that is what really matters.

[Grant]

Bleh. I saw a kid fucking ROCK a Jagmaster on stage. Talked to him afterward, he was ASHAMED to be playing "just a Squier."

Kid like that would rock the hell out of this and feel good about playing "a real Fender."

Kid like that needs a kick in the teeth. If you just tore up a club, and are pissed because of the name on your headstock... there's just no help for you.

Ashamed (in call caps no less) was too strong. Acknowledging that it was "just a Squier" when I mentioned it (as if I were pointing out the fact that it was, indeed "just a Squier" and not "a real Fender") wasn't nearly bombastic enough for me.

Plus, kid lives in a consumerist capitalist society, what's he gonna do?

[wwrrss]

Plus, kid lives in a consumerist capitalist society, what's he gonna do?

REFUSE.

[Fran]

Eventually buy a vintage model and forget these things ever existed. Like 90% of the rest of us.

[Grant]

I did my best to educate. I'm just saying: that sort of kid would buy this sort of thing if that sort of kid is buying a guitar from Guitar Center. Lots of kids get their guitars from Guitar Centers, at least here. Opt for a Fender Blacktop over a Squier Jagmaster for the name alone. I dgaf.

It's absurd that people snoot* at things that aren't aimed at their market. Maybe snoot because the guitar wasn't aimed at their market bracket? I don't know.


edit: *snoot here meaning "act all snooty towards"

[Pens]

What would you suggest? Providing a guitar that a segment of players would want sounds like they are doing what a company should do, providing what people want.

Now they just need to work on the whole "left-handed option" thing.

Its a small segment though dude, i mean, the Jaguar is a niche market guitar as it is and most of its users aspire to own a vintage model and were drawn to it because of its classic looks in the first place. I seriously think they will struggle to shift these in any significant numbers.
I'd suggest they design something new. A 60 year old leading guitar company can do better than the Jag-Stang, Toronado, Performer and what other else obscure offerings in the last 30 years surely?

Definitely agree on more lefty's.

Maybe they are taking a bet that the reason they are a "small segment" is because of the a)price and b)switching complexity of the Jaguar, and are trying to expand that by making it more appealing? The numbers on the Jagmasters and Jaguar HH sold might be indicating that people want something like this.

I'm just a bit disappointed that this community, dedicated to Fender Shortscale guitars, would be pissed off and dissing Fender for making more shortscales. Are we going to start requiring amber pickup covers next?

[Rhysyrhys]

What would you suggest? Providing a guitar that a segment of players would want sounds like they are doing what a company should do, providing what people want.

Now they just need to work on the whole "left-handed option" thing.

Its a small segment though dude, i mean, the Jaguar is a niche market guitar as it is and most of its users aspire to own a vintage model and were drawn to it because of its classic looks in the first place. I seriously think they will struggle to shift these in any significant numbers.
I'd suggest they design something new. A 60 year old leading guitar company can do better than the Jag-Stang, Toronado, Performer and what other else obscure offerings in the last 30 years surely?

Definitely agree on more lefty's.

Maybe they are taking a bet that the reason they are a "small segment" is because of the a)price and b)switching complexity of the Jaguar, and are trying to expand that by making it more appealing? The numbers on the Jagmasters and Jaguar HH sold might be indicating that people want something like this.

I'm just a bit disappointed that this community, dedicated to Fender Shortscale guitars, would be pissed off and dissing Fender for making more shortscales. Are we going to start requiring amber pickup covers next?

I don't think that everyone here seems to be gripe-ing over the fact that its a new shortscale. IMO I think that its more that this guitar doesn't deserve to be Jaquar because it doesn't have the things that are synonymous with Jags but also doesn't fall fair enough away from the tree to have its only model name. A half-ass Jag, if you will. Where's the heart and soul in this build?

It strikes me (same as the HH did), that if you didn't want the switching system and floating trem then buy something else. Fender don't need to dumb down the Jaguar, they fly off the shelves as it is. Reminds me of the thread for the Thrice cunt's guitar.

However, I would by the Jazzmaster, it's fresh and meaty looking. Interesting pickup configuration and it just kinda feels like someone has put some loving care into how its been designed. They should have stuck a 24" neck on that and changed the decal around to say "Jaguar" and I would douche my own mother to get one.

[Rhysyrhys]

Also, I don't think that Fender short scales and the Jazzmaster are any more "niche" than any other guitar, save the big three (Strat, Tele, LP). Nearly everyone I know that plays guitar, loves, owns and/or rocks a Jag, Mustang, Toronado, Cyclone etc. etc. etc.

This Jag say to me Fender are not recognising the iconic pedestal that said shortscales have come to occupy and are desperately trying and failing to make them "cool for the kids" or some shit.

Fuck this guitar, reissue the Cyclone and the Supersonic. Then bring out a reverse Jaguar and have fucking done with it. The cunts.

[Fran]

Also, I don't think that Fender short scales and the Jazzmaster are any more "niche" than any other guitar, save the big three (Strat, Tele, LP). Nearly everyone I know that plays guitar, loves, owns and/or rocks a Jag, Mustang, Toronado, Cyclone etc. etc. etc.

The only people i know are the people on the forums. Although in my 20 years gigging experience i've come across the odd local young shoegaze band that are trying to reinvent My Bloody Valentine circa 1989.

I'm not against more short scales, just disagree with the re-hash of a classic losing quite a few of its best features. What's next? A Floyd Rose and EMG's on a Jag? Would that be cool, i dunno, but its not gonna be a Jaguar as we know it.

[endsjustifymeans]

Why is this any less a jaguar then a strat with a three way, a hardtail and 'buckers is a strat?

Get hold of yourselves. You know what this is, it's a jaguar that you don't have to block the trem on. It's a jaguar that you don't have to tape over the fiddly switches on. It's a jaguar that you don't have to route for buckers. None of these are unheard of modifications to Jags.

Pens is spot on. They gave us another shortscale, and you lot are chastising them for it. And there's clearly a market for it, because... well, I like it.

Time to change you pad, I think you guys are on your period-correct.

[jagsonic]

Why is this any less a jaguar then a strat with a three way, a hardtail and 'buckers is a strat?

Get hold of yourselves. You know what this is, it's a jaguar that you don't have to block the trem on. It's a jaguar that you don't have to tape over the fiddly switches on. It's a jaguar that you don't have to route for buckers. None of these are unheard of modifications to Jags.

Pens is spot on. They gave us another shortscale, and you lot are chastising them for it. And there's clearly a market for it, because... well, I like it.

Yeah! You've right - and i like it, too.

[Ankhanu]

To me, one of the defining features of the Jaguar is its switching. The body and scale are obviously very important, but the switching is part of what makes it what it is.

I kinda like the Blacktop Jaguar, but not as a Jaguar. It's pretty much a hardtail Fender Jagmaster. Nothing wrong with that at all, it's just not quite Jaguar. For the price point, however, it is seeming like a good piece of guitar.

Like many others, I think they hit on something pretty cool with the Blacktop Jazzmaster; that was a pretty solid move, though still missing the switching! The Tele just looks sweet; very good move on that end, and the Strat just looks like another dual humbucker Strat version, nothing particularly new there. Really, these guitars aren't really breaking any real new ground, the Tele is essentially a Deluxe with classic controls rather than LP style controls, the Strat is pretty standard stuff, and the Jaguar and Jazz are dumbed-down versions of their namesakes (losing some of what makes them what they are)... but they are providing options that aren't commonly available, AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICEPOINT. This is a really important factor in what makes these decent. If they were more expensive, they'd be pretty mank, but, as an affordable instrument, they're decent.