Pre/Post CBS Jazzmasters and Jaguars

[Azzmaster]

I know pre-CBS Fenders are sought after as the CBS take over meant lower build quality, but what exactly changed with Jazzmasters and Jaguars? I see CBS vintage Jazzmaster and Jaguar pickups sell for about the same price as pre-cbs, were these guitars unaffected by the change?

[mynameisjonas]

it took a while before the changes had an effect on the build quality, i've heard a lot of people say it started going downhill around '68.
apart from the build quality, the most obvious changes were the bound necks in '65-'66 and then the block inlays soon after. the pickguard material changed from celluloid to vinyl to avoid warping, shrinking and discoloration. and then finally (in '68 i believe) they made the switch from nitrocellulose laquer to a thick polyester finish.

[Pacafeliz]

yes... and then somewhere along the line they changed the body wood and they became boat anchors.
and in the mid-70s the pickguards and/or pickup covers changed to black.

Pat.