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So I'm busy saving, selling, begging and doing what not to scrape enough money to buy myself a Fender Jaguar and basically within my budget I have 2 options. A CIJ Jaguar or a Classic Player.

I'm a bit skeptical with the mexican fenders, but the mods seem to make the guitar closer to what I'd end up doing a CIJ anyway.

How are the Classic Players then?

Gabe

mexi all the way. The pups are better, and I like the general setup just fine. They are both fine guitars, but most people are not really happy with Japanese pups.

the cij jags i've picked up felt smooth to play and all like a guitar that's been played for ages but the pickups, especially if you're a fan of fuzzed out and distorted things they sounds a bit boxy, like cij stangs too.
the mexi ones felt a bit less comfortable but the pickups sound more 'open' and alive with distortion yeah.

did play them upside down with upside down strings so not like how i usually play guitar, limited in the chords i can play upside down ect but the feel of the neck of a cij is smoother than the mexi's, my opinion anyway.

cij

CP all the way

CIJ with AVRI pups.

i would go with the japan model simply based on the neck


they are 2 completely different necks.

the japan version has a vintage style roundy fretboard with vintage style thin frets.
the mexican has a flat(er) fretboard bigger frets


i like my fenders to feel like fenders. by that saying i want the neck to mimic my jagstang neck as much as possible since its the best neck ever made on a guitar.

Classic Player. The bridge works, the trem works, it sounds good. CIJ? The pickups are shit, and your strings will fly off the saddles. Unless you feel like a project, get the mim. Actually, the MIM single coil jag I had was one of the best guitars I ever had. Like, seriously. 50's tele> MIM jag >69 Jag>Tele custom II. Like a dumbass, i thought a jazzmaster would be even better and I sold it. ME SO STUPID.

robroe wrote:i would go with the japan model simply based on the neck

that.

Unless you like the mexi necks better, which is actually something nobody can tell you.

I've played a CP HH; it was nice enough.

I own a MIJ '66 Classic, and I love it. The neck pickup is pretty nice sounding, but the bridge alone is kinda thin... but with a little more playing, I've actually gotten to like it alone too The output is pretty low, though; the CP pickups are much higher output and will drive the front end of your amp better. A boost pedal with the MIJ pickups will do the same though...
As for the bridge, once I went to a heavier gauge string, I have had no issues with the bridge and strings popping out of the grooves.


Really, play them both. Each has its advantages; the CP pickups are more powerful, but the MIJ plays/feels better... and depending on your tastes, the pickups may suit just fine.

i can make my american jaguar sound thin and tinny. fairly easy just with fucking with the switches n shit on the guitar. when you turn the switch on the top horn it can cound bassy as fuck.


its the most versitle sounding guitar i have ever owned. you can make it go from a tin can to a sub woofer without fucking around with any knobs on a peddal or the amp

yep. rob gets it.

kypdurron wrote:

robroe wrote:i would go with the japan model simply based on the neck

that.

Unless you like the mexi necks better, which is actually something nobody can tell you.

i prefer the CP neck. not a fan of CIJs, really.

i'm not a huge fan of the aesthetics of the cp's myself. i've played a few of the jazzmasters and jaguars at guitar center, and they've all left me pretty meh. the only cij i've had enough experience to comment about have been my hh jags, and both have had supreme necks. electronics were so-so, and hardware was above average.

I actually like both, but like others have said, it depends on what you're looking for. If you want the classic Jag feel, go for the CIJ. If you want the Jag look but a more modern feel (and tone), go for the Classic Player. I would probably go for the CIJ and swap the pickups.

actually, i say i don't like CIJ necks; the B&B ones on hurb's faux XII and gavin's jag both felt really nice, maybe the binding makes them feel comfier to me.

Some good points on the aspect of tinkering, if your not that way inclined go for the MIM, but if you want vintage vibe the CIJ is closer but there will be a price to pay.

I think I'm gonna go with a CIJ one. I prefer the idea of a more vintage feeling guitar. Also I'm really experianced in modifying guitars therefore I think it'd be more fun and probably end up slightly nicer than a CP.

there's a nice MIJ one from the 80's going for like $500 on the bay.

mrperson wrote:I think I'm gonna go with a CIJ one. I prefer the idea of a more vintage feeling guitar. Also I'm really experianced in modifying guitars therefore I think it'd be more fun and probably end up slightly nicer than a CP.

Cool. Once you get your head around the bridge issues and whiny bridge pup you'll love it. Plenty of guides on bridge set up on shortscalegeardemos too