1996 Fender Japan Jag-Stang Electric Guitar

Overview: I bought this Jag-Stang off of a local fella because -- you know? -- they're so dang cool. Look out, haters, because if you've never tried one of these properly setup, you have no idea what you're talking about! The blend of tones you can get with the slider switches lets you go straight from surf and '60s jangle-pop sounds right into grunge and modern styles. Plus, it looks different from everything else on the block. It's also a Fender Japan product from the '90s, so the quality is way up there and the feel is '60s-delicious.

Tone: It sounds a lot like a punchier traditional Mustang (relaxed, brighter, but chunkier single-coil sound) in many positions but with the bucker fully-engaged and on its own, you get a modern, more aggressive sound at the bridge.

Feel: The neck is like a carbon-clone of '60s-style Mustang necks. In fact, we have a '66 Mustang in the shop right now and this feels so dang close it's not even funny. The finish (poly, here) is different, of course, but the dimensions are correct.

Interesting features: The offset, elongated, strange body shape is at first offputting to a Fender purist, but once you get it in the lap, you find that the extra body beyond the tailpiece helps with balance vs. a normal Mustang-style guitar and the narrower waist and overall smaller dimensions helps it with weight and comfort vs. a normal Jaguar. It's got good ideas all over its design.

Repairs included: I leveled/dressed the frets and set it up to play spot-on. Part of that, for me, includes fitting some ferrules that "lock" the bridge in place in its posts so that the bridge itself can't rock (Mastery bridges work this way, too). This both adds sustain and also improves tuning stability a lot.

• Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz
• Scale length: 24"
• Nut width: 1 9/16"
• Neck shape: slim-medium C
• Board radius: 7 1/4"
• Body width: 12"
• Body depth: 1 3/4"
• Body wood: basswood?
• Bridge: Mustang-style
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: maple
• Pickups: original single (neck) and bucker (bridge)
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 50w-11
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-narrow

Condition notes: Aside from some light-medium scratching on the back, pickwear on the pickguard, and some flaked finish on the upper horn near the strap button, it's otherwise very clean and completely original. It's missing its whammy bar, however, but if you watch to the end on the video you can see where I simply "palm the whammy" instead. I love the subtle, Bigsby-like sound of that on a 'stang and it works perfectly here, too.

It comes with: It even has a Sam Ash 1996 gigbag to boot.

Consignor tag: JW -- though this is already sold, sorry!