(SOLD) Fender Jaguar Left Handed Sunburst 1963
Fender Jaguar, left-handed, three colour sunburst, made in USA 1963. Yep, the real deal... this is certainly not one you see everyday. The Fender Jaguar launched in 1962 as a 'top of the line' offering, incorporating some then innovative features like the dual circuit electronics and offset tremolo bridge developed for the Jazzmaster in 1959. The pickups were a new idea too: they housed a single coil in a toothed metal surround ,allowing for a better signal to noise ratio and therefore a lower wind, allowing for a clear, bright, open tone. To state the obvious, finding a left handed example of a pre-CBS Jaguar is no mean feat. This one is mostly original and in pretty tidy shape. A previous owner installed a brass nut and set of sturdy Schaller tuners several decades ago, otherwise it appears to be original including frets, electronics and finish. The original 'LH' stamps are still visible in the pocket and on the heel, which shows a 1 May 1963 birthday. The finish has plenty of marks, rub wear, dimples and checking lines, as you'd expect for a guitar from this era, but those original sixties colours still pop beautifully under the lights in the shop. The neck is a comfy slim C style shape, with just a hint of a soft-V in the middle; it's very comfy. There's some gorgeous birdseye grain all the way up the neck and on the headstock too, which is a nice bonus. Fender didn't offer a left handed version of the offset tailpiece, so you get the right-handed version: quirky, but it works fine once you get used to it. The tone on offer is gorgeous. The rhythm circuit offers a thick, juicy richness with a talkative attack and a tight, tuneful low end. The lead circuit delivers snap, sizzle and sweetness in generous quantities, with a convincing growl and bark when you dig in hard. As best I can tell, this is the only left handed pre-CBS Jaguar on the market in the world currently, and even finding examples of previously sold listings isn't easy. It's serious cash, but being such a rare and iconic item, it certainly makes an exciting prospect for an investor or collector. What an absolute dream.
Model: Fender Jaguar, Left Handed
Made: Fullerton USA, neck date 1 May 1963 (serial L43376)
Finish: 3 colour sunburst, 3-ply tort guard
Body: alder
Neck: maple, Brazillian rosewood board, clay dot inlays, slim C shape, 24" scale, 7.25 radius
Weight: 3.795kg
Mods: brass nut installed, tuners replaced with Schallers, front strap pin moved
Pickup: Fender single coil x2, original
Case: 1960s era non-Fender branded hard case, good quality and condition
Extras: tremolo arm, bridge cover, Fender vintage strap
Not included: original tuners and mute plate
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a filled hole from a since-removed strap pin on the back, some scuffs on the end, a dent on the front underneath the D-tuner post, a dimple near the high-E tuner post and some checking lines on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and scuffs and some rub wear on the back and some finger wear on the fretboard up to the tenth fret only. The back has a couple of bald patches along the belly carve, top horn and bottom edge, as well as widespread light scuffs and dimples and checking lines around the whole body. The sides have minor chips and scuffs around the whole body, most notably in the elbow area and near the jack. The front has some dimples in the bottom corner near the jack, around the tailpiece and along the top edge from the elbow area to the top horn, as well as widespread light scuffs and checking lines around the whole body. Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. The frets have some minor wear but are in pretty decent shape and appear to be original, 7/10 for fret life left. All electrics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.