Fender Jaguar Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1965), made in Fullerton, California, black lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a fantastic custom-ordered *just* CBS-era Jaguar, showing very little wear and in superb playing condition. The instrument represents the absolute top-of-the-line Fender guitar available in 1965-a custom-color Jaguar with the extra-cost option of gold-plated hardware. In addition, it is finished in black, which was a very rarely ordered color in the mid-60's compared to the brighter-hued reds, whites and blues. This guitar was built not long after the Fender sell-out to CBS in January 1965, and is practically identical to a Pre-CBS example. The stamped neck date on this guitar is March 1965 and the pots date to the 8th week of that year. The typical '65 features include an unbound fingerboard with pearloid dot inlay (just changed from the earlier "clay" dots"), lacquer finish on the body and matching headstock and the gold transition logo headstock decal. The pickguard is still the older nitrocellulose "greenguard" style, as used on custom color instruments since late 1961 but just then being phased out at Fender in favor of a thinner (and less flammable!) ABS plastic unit.
Even having undergone a revival of sorts in recent years 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 two-circuit wiring and floating vibrato are shared with the Jaguar's ancestor, the Jazzmaster but the guitar actually feels quite different. The unique Jaguar pickups with the metal "claw" baseplate" are optimized for clarity and crispness�factors that led to the Jaguar losing popularity in the late '60's as twang went out and distortion and crunch came in! Nevertheless this was the top-of-the line 60's Fenders and a very high quality guitar. With its gleaming black-and-gold hotrod finish this is simply one of the coolest (and most badass slick looking) Jaguars we have ever seen, a fantastic package including the original case, strap, polish cloth and time-payment receipt from July 1965.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 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 is extremely clean and completely original showing no repairs or alterations at all, and only some very light play wear. There are a few tiny dings to the edges and just one larger chip on the side/back junction at the lower treble bout. The finish shows typical fine checking overall. The very fragile gold plating (which is extremely susceptible to wear) is largely intact with some general occlusion overall from contact with the player's hands over the years, and some small rubbed-away areas. The only exceptions are the vibrato arm and most notably the bridge cover, which has nearly all the plating worn off-someone used it all the time, the saddles look basically new! The lever-action mute still has the original foam, which amazingly is still functional. The gold headstock decal (which only reads "Fender", correct for the black finish only) has greened somewhat, making it hard to notice on the dark background but it is fully intact. The case and strap are original with some light average wear, and the original purchase receipt is included-this was an expensive package (bought with a Twin Reverb!) and the buyer's wife (or, we'd love to think, mom) had to co-sign for it. A absolutely stunning looking, great playing guitar that's a wonderful piece of Fender history. Excellent + Condition.
