ShortScale.org

I've been in the market for my first Jag lately and I think I've nearly got a CIJ model ready to buy, but I've also given some thought to the current batch of brand new AVRIs.

Am I crazy, though? The currently available 1965 AVRI is gorgeous, but for god's sake, the MSRP is THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. I love Fender's guitars, but wasn't the whole point of the company to mass-produce them at a lower price than their competitors? I've seen Les Paul's for less than that, with all their violin-like arched surfaces and edge binding.

Selling what is ultimately a bolted-together guitar for that price, American-made or not, especially when it's never been a very mainstream product anyway, just seems mind boggling to me. With enough saving and a little sacrifice here and there, I could probably afford one (although I'd really prefer not to drop that kind cash on a single guitar), but my real hesitation is whether or not ANY Jaguar—as badly as I want one—is worth that kind of price.

I'm curious what the more experienced short scale owners around here think.

The prices of Japanese and American Jaguars/Jazzmasters have been on the rise in the last couple of years.

I would definitely look to the used market, especially for AVRI '62 Jags.

I agree about going the pre-owned route for sure, I'm just curious if the consensus would agree that, all things being equal, it's a little silly to charge $3K for even a brand new American Jag. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how the MSRP got that high in the first place.

It used to be that all you had was Japanese and American Jaguars and Jazzmasters.

In the last few years, Squier and Fender have introduced a lot of cheaper and intermediate models. Squier introduced their Vintage Modified Jags and Fender Mexico introduced the Classic Player and various other Jags. The Mexican jags were priced around where the Japanese Jaguars used to be priced, which drove up the prices on the Japanese and American models.

You also have to account for the increased popularity of Fender Offset guitars, which is what has driven all the new models coming out. When nobody liked them, they were cheap. Now that people like them, the prices have steadily risen.

I would love a gold '65 Jazzmaster but I am not paying those prices.

Check your local Craigslist for used ones, I see them pop up here anywhere from 800-1500.

I would never buy a new guitar ever again period.

Watch Guitar Center's used section. I got my AVRI Jaguar for $700. I bought a 1967 Coronado II used for $800 in the store.

They often misprice items.

i paid $1500 for my avri new in 2005 when the list price was $2200. that was already expensive, but i felt it was almost worth it at the time. street price for new is around $2200 now (old list price), and, no, it ain't worth that. that has had the effect of making my used jag worth about $1300 - 1400 which sounds like a lot for a reissue anything. however, it is easily the best built guitar i've ever owned.

Fender has done to the Jaguar what they have been doing to Strats and Tele's for years. They create so many different levels of instruments that it drives up the prices of the high end models.

I concur that my AVRI Jaguar is one of the best built guitars I have ever owned. Only thing better would be a nice vintage Jaguar.

and my praise of this guitar comes from having owned three jags and having played dozens. it's not a jingoistic slam against imports. i adore my hh jag and have found the classic players i've noodled with at guitar center to be very nice. still, they aren't as good in terms of fit, finish, or parts used on the avri. definitely not an extra grand or so worth of extra love, though.

taylornutt wrote:I concur that my AVRI Jaguar is one of the best built guitars I have ever owned. Only thing better would be a nice vintage Jaguar.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Try a few!

taylornutt wrote:.

I would love a gold '65 Jazzmaster but I am not paying those prices.

Stratosphere on eBay recently had a loaded gold avri jazzmaster body brand new for something like $600. I almost bought it but it came at a bad time.

Nick wrote:

taylornutt wrote:.

I would love a gold '65 Jazzmaster but I am not paying those prices.

Stratosphere on eBay recently had a loaded gold avri jazzmaster body brand new for something like $600. I almost bought it but it came at a bad time.

That would have been a great buy.

dragnet99 wrote:I love Fender's guitars, but wasn't the whole point of the company to mass-produce them at a lower price than their competitors?

That's always the thing that annoys me a bit. I love the designs bought they ought to be cheap and clever.

If you're patient enough you can generally get a decent vintage Fender for less than the spendy modern reissues (aside from strats and Tele's)

robroe got some bargain basement deal on the rarest AVRI color, fiesta red. i think it was virtually new for like a grand or maybe 1200. i hated his balls for that for a long time.

dragnet99 wrote:... I'm just curious if the consensus would agree that, all things being equal, it's a little silly to charge $3K for even a brand new American Jag?

You'll get NO disagreement from Shortscale on that point.