Fender American Vintage '62 Jag, ice blue metallic, made in USA 2000. Oh golly, this here is an absolute stunner! The American Vintage reissue (or AVRI for short) line launched in the 80s to critical and popular acclaim: finally, proper vintage style Fender guitars were back. This particular example was part of a very limited run made exclusively for the Japan market in 2000. Yamano, Fender's Japanese distributor at the time, ran their own notoriously strict quality control on these limited runs, so the build quality on offer here is in the Custom Shop vicinity, otherwise it would've simply been sent home for another try. These AVRI Jags have a slightly angled neck pocket from factory, so that eliminates many of the break angle related buzz and slippage issues sometimes experienced on vintage style Jags. The quality is obvious in the hands: this is super lively and resonant, the finish and fretwork are bang-on, the neck is a dream... it just feels alive. The slim neck features some gorgeous streaky rosewood and some finely grained golden maple; it's a visual delight and feels perfect. As you'd expect, there's heaps of 'Jag jangle' on tap when you plug in, but it's very nuanced and eloquent: complex and airy mids, chiming clear treble and a juicy, warm bass. The finish is surely something special: you very seldom see ice blue metallic in the wild. With a couple of decades on the clock, it's mellowed to a sage green colour. There's something special about faded nitro metallic hues like this, it's got a heap of depth and majesty to it. These come around exceptionally seldom in this neck of the woods, so if you're in love, don't let it pass you by!

Model: Fender American Vintage '62 Jaguar
Made: Corona USA, neck date 6 Jul 2000 (serial V129115)
Finish: ice blue metallic, matching headstock, gloss nitro
Body: alder
Neck: maple with rosewood board, 24" scale, 7.25" radius
Weight: 4.010kg
Mods: saddles replaced, strap pins replaced
Pickup: Fender American Vintage Jaguar single coil x2
Case: original deluxe Fender hard case, with original case candy and trem arm

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock and neck are pretty clean, no major marks. The back has some minor dimples in the middle and on the bottom horn as well as some widespread very light scuffs around the body. The sides have a few minor marks: scuffs on the top horn, minor dimples in the elbow area, scuffs near the jack, dimples on the bottom horn. The front is pretty tidy, just some dimples in the elbow area and top horn, some tarnish on the chrome and some light play wear on the horn and guard. Overall: very good condition (8/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Frets . All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have some normal wear but are pretty even and freshly polished, 7/10 for fret life left.  Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.