Fender Japan JagStang, CIJ 1997, aged sonic blue. It's difficult to talk about this guitar without going straight to Nirvana, so that's what we're going to do. The legend goes something like this: at the peak of Nirvana's fame in 1993, Kurt Cobain spliced a picture of the top of a Mustang and the bottom of a Jaguar together, and then he and Custom Shop luthier Larry Brooks worked together on a prototype to bring the vision to reality. The resulting guitar saw only a bit of daylight before Kurt's untimely death in 1994, but the design lived on. This is an easy player: short scale, slim neck, light, comfy and well balanced... it's very intuitive in the hands. The pickups, especially the bridge, are significantly hotter than a standard Mustang or Jag, so this is right at home cranking out stanky riffs and nasty chords. It'd be a shame if such an inherently grungy instrument was too pristine, the heavily yellowed finish and plastics give this one a wonky visual charm. It seems appropriate to borrow KC's own words: “Ever since I started playing, I’ve always liked certain things about certain guitars but could never find the perfect mix of everything I was looking for. The Jag-Stang is the closest thing I know... In a way, it’s perfect for me to attach my name to the Jag-Stang, in that I’m the anti-guitar hero—I can barely play the things myself.”

Model: Fender Japan JagStang JSG65
Made: Japan, 1997 (serial A030667)
Finish: sonic blue (heavily yellowed), 3-ply white pearl guard
Body: basswood
Neck: maple with rosewood board, 24" scale, 7.25" radius
Mods: none
Pickups: Fender Japan ST Vintage (neck) and Dragster (bridge)
Case: none

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. There's a couple of marks on the end of the headstock. Neck is pretty clean. Back is pretty clean, just some minor buckle rash scuffs, the beginning of some checking lines and a bit of uneven fading. Sides have a few dimples: on the shoulder up from the bridge, near the near strap pin, near the jack and on the bottom horn. The front has a rather obvious fade mark from a long-removed sticker, as well as a few dimples around the shoulder, bridge and knobs, a lot of uneven fading and mottling and some normal play wear on the guard and top horn. Overall: good condition (7.5/10).

Playing condition notes: Action is low, intonation is good, neck is straight, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have light wear only, 8.5/10 for life left. Wearing fresh 11/49s.