ShortScale.org

So I have started looking at Jag-Stangs and I know the main difference between the original run and the reissue is that the original was made out of basswood and the reissue was made out of alder. Is there any other differences to be concerned about? I hear the paint on the original sonic blue tends to be a little more green which is cool. People who own either or who have played both? Are the pups the same, necks feel the same, etc.?

Thanks for the info. All these threads is really helping me find what I want.

Both made out of basswood AFAIK, but that really doesn't matter, don't get too hung up on body wood. Seriously.

Maybe the older ones look greener due to aging? I've owned 2 both from the reissue run (a 2002 and a 2004) and they were definitely basswood, I remember obsessing on this too. Both great (feeling) instruments, that were missing a little something from the sound side (for me, personally).

I would buy another in a heartbeat now I have a stable job. Sucks having to sell guitars to pay bills.

JordanD wrote:Both made out of basswood AFAIK, but that really doesn't matter, don't get too hung up on body wood. Seriously.

Maybe the older ones look greener due to aging? I've owned 2 both from the reissue run (a 2002 and a 2004) and they were definitely basswood, I remember obsessing on this too. Both great (feeling) instruments, that were missing a little something from the sound side (for me, personally).

I would buy another in a heartbeat now I have a stable job. Sucks having to sell guitars to pay bills.

Yeah I am not obsessing too hard over it. I have heard the RI plays and sounds better than the original was the main reason I wanted to put the question out there. The interwebs says that the RI is indeed Alder. The RI of course is also cheaper than the original too so I was figuring if the RI plays better and is cheaper, then thats what I will go for.

The reissues I had both had very soft wood, which apparently is an indicator of basswood. Fender spec sheet from 2003ish lists it as basswood too I believe. Will have to trawl through my hard drive to find it at home, but I'm pretty damn certain they're basswood. Again, not like it matters.

The reissues I had both sounded pretty much the same. The single coil was nice, but the guitars themselves always had this bottom end "boom" to them that I wasn't too fond of. I really couldn't comment if they sound better or feel better than the "originals" though. They're the same guitar, with a production stop in the middle. I assume and expect they are exactly the same.

They are the same but some are wired slightly differently (given the redundancies with Mustang wiring it doesn't change the sound, just the switch positions), and the "designed by kurt cobain" sticker was changed to a stamp.

I have always heard the reissues were alder instead of basswood, but on a Jag-Stang it wouldn't make a difference anyway.

All i can say is i've sold many guitars.
I don't miss the jag-stang. I never miss it... It wasn't a very good guitar.

the best feature was the neck.

never understood how you tell how soft the body wood is when there is a whole bunch of layers of paint/clear over it.



i have had mine since it was first built and played it more than half my life now. it predates any stamps or stickers, none of that 50th anniversary junk....


never even seen a RI in person.


so this post was pointless

So as I said before, I do have a 2002 Jag-Stang. Not sure if it sounds/plays better than a 1996 Jag-Stang, but it doesn't sound great stock. I like to play open chords and then add something more by hammering on the high E with my pinkie. With the stock Jag-Stang, those high notes really don't ring through... they're barely audible.

If you get a Jag-Stang, I think you're almost definitely going to have to make some changes. These are the basic options:

1) Do a Robroe and just focus on the neck pup

2) Do what most people do and put a JB in the bridge

3) Follow Paul's advice and put in 500k pots


At some point, I'm going to switch to 500k pots, put a Duncan 59 in the bridge, and put a Little 59 in the neck. Or something like that.

It really might be easier to just get a 69 RI Mustang and call it a day. I think the Jag-Stang requires a bit of love and commitment.

singlepup wrote:So as I said before, I do have a 2002 Jag-Stang. Not sure if it sounds/plays better than a 1996 Jag-Stang, but it doesn't sound great stock. I like to play open chords and then add something more by hammering on the high E with my pinkie. With the stock Jag-Stang, those high notes really don't ring through... they're barely audible.

If you get a Jag-Stang, I think you're almost definitely going to have to make some changes. These are the basic options:

1) Do a Robroe and just focus on the neck pup

2) Do what most people do and put a JB in the bridge

3) Follow Paul's advice and put in 500k pots


At some point, I'm going to switch to 500k pots, put a Duncan 59 in the bridge, and put a Little 59 in the neck. Or something like that.

It really might be easier to just get a 69 RI Mustang and call it a day. I think the Jag-Stang requires a bit of love and commitment.

Yeah I am willing to do some upgrades although for starters I would be fine with the somewhat shit sound. I mostly want to play lo-fi stuff with it anyways and I have a squier CV tele and my super sonic if I want to play something that sounds better.

I really enjoy the look of the axe and I want to experience how great the neck is. I will look to upgrade it down the road I just want to find one thats in relatively nice condition without too many issues.

There is one on Ebay Listed for 900 in the Original run model in great condition. I am considering making an offer for it. $750 a good offer you guys think? Or should I hold out and wait for a RI to pop up on reverb for cheaper?

if it's in good condition, $750 for 20 year old guitar is still a little high. i see them go for $500 every now and then.

dots wrote:if it's in good condition, $750 for 20 year old guitar is still a little high. i see them go for $500 every now and then.

yeah, I paid about $700 for my 2003 model last summer (closer to $950 after conversion/customs but whatever) they retailed new for $650-$950 depending upon when in the run, s they have manager to hold their value.

the shades of paint were different between the Originaks and reissues. The reissues were painted the contemporary common versions of sonic blue and fiesta red. The Originaks were aqua and a weirdo tomato Color

Decals were slightly different too.

But even the originals were different from each other . The cutaway on the neck pocket changed at some point around 95 or 96 you see it on mustang s from that era as well

The changes I saw between the two were......

Originals: Basswood Body, the pickguard texture changed when they moved from MIJ to CIJ, these also had DiMarzio or DiMarzio style H3/H8 pickups in them that were weak and around 7.x K ohms. Also, I recall Jag-Stang.com had a coil-split shown on the bridge pickup switch as a part of the original wiring taken from a member's guitar back in 97' (could have been misprint though)

Second Run: Alder Body, different pickguard texture, these also had a different bridge pickup IIRC, Fender "Santa Ana" which may or may not have been a remake of the older pickup or a entirely new thing and apparently sounds better than the originals, and if what I said about the wiring above is any indication, they went to a more "teh kurdtz" accurate wiring without the coil split with the bridge switch just being on/off.

Still love my beast after all these years, EMG's and all. Some things never change.