Fender Japan Jagstang, crafted in Japan 1997-00, heavily yellowed 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 a trusty Duncan JB in the bridge slot, 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 with plenty of knocks and sticker marks lend 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, 1997-00 (serial O070301)
Finish: sonic blue (heavily yellowed), 3-ply white pearl guard
Body: basswood
Neck: maple with rosewood board, 24" scale, 7.25" radius, slim C shape
Mods: bridge pickup replaced, adjust-o-matic bridge installed, tort guard installed
Pickups: Fender Japan ST-Vintage single coil, (neck), Seymour Duncan SH4 JB humbucker (bridge)
Case: none, note the trem arm is also missing

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a chip and some dents on the end as well as some dents and dimples on the top and bottom edges. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has some dents in the middle, elbow area and bottom edge, as well as widespread light scuffs around the body. The sides have a scuff on the top horn, a dent on the top side in the waist area, some dimples in the elbow area, dimples and scuffs near the jack and some dimples on the bottom horn. The front has some sticker fade marks near the knobs and behind the bridge, some dimples along the back edge and in the elbow area, a dent on the edge of the bottom horn, fading on the top horn and some standard play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: good condition (7/10).

Playing condition notes: Action is low, intonation is good, neck is straight, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. The frets have some normal wear but appear to be recently dressed and levelled, so they're playing well, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.