Fender Jaguar Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 172774, Candy Apple Red finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.

This red-hot Candy Apple Red early-CBS Jaguar shows only some very light wear for its now almost 60 years on the planet and remains in superb playing condition, a real showpiece for the offset lover. This instrument was the top-of-the-line Fender guitar available in 1966 and in a custom color no less, though Candy Apple Red was one of the most popular custom finishes. The slightly metallic red livery on the Jaguar in particular seems to really enhance the hot rod qualities of the instrument.

This guitar was built not quite two years after the Fender sell-out to CBS in January 1965, and is somewhat changed from a Pre-CBS example. The pots date to the 17th week of 1966; the neck is dated to October of that year. Typical '66 features include a bound fingerboard with the newly added pearloid block inlay (recently changed from dots) but still the old style lacquer finish on the body and the matching headstock. The pickguard is the newer white ABS plastic unit used only on Custom-Color instruments. Other features remained as before; indeed the Jaguar seems not to suffer sonically from the CBS management's interfering ways.

Even having undergone a huge revival in recent years the Fender 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 guitar actually feels and sounds quite different.

The unique Jaguar pickups with the metal "claw" baseplate" are optimized for clarity and crispness, among the factors that led to it 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 Fender in 1966 and a very high quality guitar. It is not hard to see why Candy Apple Red was such a tempting upcharge for Jaguar buyers when witnessed on an overwhelmingly (save one scar from a long gone sticker) clean and sparkling Jaguar like this! As they used to say about 4-wheeled California hot rods, "It looks fast just sittin' still!"

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 is a largely very clean and all original guitar, showing some mostly very light general wear but no serious alteration or repair. The original Candy Apple Red lacquer finish has hardly any fade but some light checking and a smattering of random dings, dents and chips, many of which are along the rim. The only notable flaw on the guitar is a square patch just under the neck plate where a sticker once was. The glue leeched into the original lacquer in such a way that cannot be made invisible, but which could just as easily be covered with another sticker!

The neck finish is original and undisturbed by any notable chips or dents and the binding is healthy; it is a lovely and very playable neck. The original frets have been crowned down a little bit due to some typical playwear, but they are still healthy. The headstock edges have only very minor dinks, the decal has a couple of very small chips.

The electronics and the hardware are completely original from each pot and switch to the original trem arm and oft-discarded chrome bridge cover. The flip-up mute is intact and functional; the original foam is now completely hardened but can be replaced if desired. Within the original black Tolex case are a smorgasbord of artifacts including a reprint of Fender's 65-66 catalogue, the original Fender strap, a period Fender string packet and even a partial airline ticket from this guitar's travels in the 1960's. Simply a delightful example of CBS era Fender's sleek chromed 1960's hot rod from the time right before this flashy model started to fall from favor, a trend happily now completely reversed! Overall Excellent - Condition.