Fender Jaguar Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1968), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 240144, Sonic Blue lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.

We rarely describe vintage guitars as "near mint" but this one is pretty much there. It is a stunningly beautiful CBS-era Jaguar from 1968 finished in one of the most sought-after Fender Custom colors, showing only some very minimal wear for its 50+ years on the planet. This instrument was the top-of-the-line solidbody Fender guitar available in 1968; a Jaguar in Sonic Blue which was a very rarely ordered Custom Color compared to the flashier hot-rod metallic shades. While quite popular through the mid-60s by 1968 sales of the Jaguar were in deep decline; the model was finally officially discontinued in 1975 but very few were actually made after this year.

This guitar was built just about 3 1/2 years after the Fender sell-out to CBS in January 1965, but is still fairly minimally changed from a Pre-CBS example and actually has some holdover pre-CBS components. The stamped neck date is August 1968, so the instrument was likely assembled in the fall of that year. Typical 1968 features include a bound fingerboard with the new pearloid block inlay and new black Fender logo decal with a gold border. The neck is still finished still the old style clear lacquer, applied just a bit thicker than in the pre-CBS period.

The body and matching headstock are finished in Sonic Blue with a clear lacquer overcoat, looking pretty much unchanged from the earlier 1960s. On the underside of the neck heel "S.Blue Bld #4" is written in pencil, beneath the finish; the original factory shims are still in place. Oddly enough the pickguard is NOT the newer white ABS plastic unit used from mid-1965, but the older greenish nitrocellulose piece. The larger pots are a matched set dated to the 50th week of 1964, also indicating parts held in stock for some time before assembly. This guitar has a bit of the feel of a "floor sweep" instrument, built using up parts at the bottom of a stockpile for the now slower-selling model. In the late 60's this was fairly common at Fender, as the CBS managers were famously keen to clear out overstocked parts inventories. In 1969 special guitars including the Custom and Musiclander were specifically designed to use up surplus components.

Even having undergone a popular revival in the last decade or so the Jaguar remains a somewhat under-appreciated guitar with several interesting features. The scale length is shorter than other professional-grade Fender guitars at 24", a feature designed to enhance playability. The twin-circuit wiring and floating vibrato are shared with the Jaguar's ancestor, the Jazzmaster, but the guitars actually feels and sound quite different. The shorter Jaguar is handier for many players, and the flashy chrome look has returned to favor decades after the "hippie wood" aesthetic became passe.

The unique Jaguar pickups with the metal "claw" baseplate" are optimized for clarity and crispness, and the short scale/floating bridge does not perform as well with the very light strings coming into favor in 1968. All these factors led to the guitar losing popularity in the late '60's as twang went out and distortion and crunch came in! Nevertheless this was still the top-of-the line 1960s Fender (retailing at $409 in 1968, plus $57.50 for the case) and a very high quality guitar. This one was either custom ordered by a dealer or made up as a showpiece, with components otherwise languishing in stock. With its stunning blue-green chrome-accented look this is simply one of the coolest late-60s Fenders we have had, truly a time machine Jaguar for the ages.
 
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).

This guitar appears to have only been very lightly played since new; whoever got it in 1968 or '69 seems to have not used it much at all. The clear lacquer finish overcoat has yellowed enough to give the entire guitar a lovely "ghost green" patina that is practically impossible to re-create without 55 years of ageing. It shows some very minor checking and staining (mostly on the back edge) here and there. The original Sonic Blue hue can still be seen full strength in the body cavities.

The guitar shows some very minor wear marks, including one ding into but not through the finish on the upper body, another small one in the center of the back, one very small chip off the lower edge of the headstock, a few other tiny dinks in the peghead face. The finish and metal work show some very light scuffing here and there. The neck and back of the headstock show some very light checking.

There is one small divot to the first fret under the B string and a bit of wear to the fingerboard in the lower positions, so somebody played this guitar carefully along the way. All hardware is original, clean and complete including the trem arm and bridge cover. The original flip-up mute is intact and functional, although the foam has hardened to the consistency of old chewing gum and so does not actually mute the strings any more.

This guitar plays and sounds delightful, and is simply one of the most beautiful Jaguars we have seen (or heard) even considering its later '60s CBS-era background. It is housed in the original Black Tolex Fender case, also in excellent condition with a passel of period case candy including an Ace strap, Fender 1968 pricelist and "Teen Fair" edition catalog. Close to museum grade but still an enjoyable guitar to play, this is a wonderful package of 1960s Fullerton goodness and a very rare find well into the 21st century. Excellent + Condition.