Fender Parallel Universe Jaguar Stratocaster Candy Apple Red 2018
Fender Parallel Universe Jag-Strat, candy apple red, made in USA 2018. Many moons ago, I attended 2018 NAMM show, when Fender debuted their quirky Parallel Universe series... there was a bunch of weird and wonderful models, including this one-year-only high end offering. It's a Strat body, made of alder, joined with a Strat-style full scale C shaped neck, paired with some Jag style appointments: offset tremolo, Jaguar pickups and some funky switching. It's all nicely done: nitro finish, American Vintage pickups, locking tuners; good stuff. The switching is fun too. You get a Strat style five way blade, with a volume and tone control, as well as some extra options on the top horn. The first switch toggles position three (middle) on the blade switch between standard middle-pickup-only and a pair of fruitier offerings, all-three-pickups or neck-and-bridge only, as denoted by the second slider switch. The wheel is a dedicated bridge pickup tone control. If all that sounds a bit confusing, you get used to it soon enough. The best thing is that this guitar sounds great. It's full and fat on the low end, with a wide and shimmering clarity on top and plenty of kick and growl in the midrange. No matter what you do with all those switches, you're starting from a good base. The red, tort and cream combo is a great look too, this is sure to turn some heads. My only gripe: Fender should've channeled Austin Powers and called this the Shaguar.
Model: Fender Parallel Universe Jaguar Stratocaster
Made: 2018, Corona USA
Serial: US18011027
Finish: candy apple red, gloss nitro
Body: alder
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 25.5" scale, 9.5" radius, 'deep C' profile
Weight: 3.920kg
Mods: none
Pickups: American Vintage '65 Jaguar single coil x3
Accessories: original case and docs
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a couple of minor dimples on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and some rub wear on the back only. The back has minor dimples in the elbow area and along the back edge, as well as some scuffs along the belly carve, top horn and bottom corner. The sides have minor dimples on the elbow area and bottom horn and a pair of dents and some scuffs near the jack. The front has minor scuffs near the jack and in the elbow area, as well as some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: excellent condition (9/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only