1974 jaguar, opinions?

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Firecat » Thu Sep 05, 2013 4:24 am

There's a lot of 60's jaguar love over here, but what about the ones from the seventies?

There's a 1974 fender jaguar in great condition for sale locally, I can't really afford it right now, but it's truly beautiful: sunburst, black guard, b&b... :? Just wondering what the opinions on 1974 jags are...

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Despot » Thu Sep 05, 2013 4:37 am

I think it's a case of try before you buy ... but then again I'd say the same about guitars from the 1960s as well - old doesn't automatically mean good. I'm not sure about Jags but I know a few on here have or have had 70s Jazzmasters and rate them.

If you can get hands on it to try it out and you like the sound of it (and you're happy with the price) then I'd say go for it.

I quite like the look of the 70s Jazzmasters with black guards and B&B. I've been on the look out for a pre-1980 Jazzmaster for a while now ... if a 70s one came up and sounded good I'd happily go for it.

The only issue I've found with 70s Fenders (and Gibsons) is the quality of the wood - iirc they used ash a lot in 70s Fenders and the quality wasn't always great (a lot of heavy wood was used). One thing I've noticed about the 60s Fenders I've tried over the years is that they tend to be quite light guitars. I've almost always noticed the opposite about 70s Fenders (there's a 74 Telecaster that's in a store here that I tend to play when I call in to have a chat with the owner - it's Les Paul weight!).

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by offkeyericdee » Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:23 am

I have two late-'70s Jazzmasters and two mid-'70s Jaguars (one of which has a maple neck with B&B) and I can most certainly say models of that vintage sound louder and more pronounced than their '60s counterparts. Some would say they are face-melters courtesy of their sharp projection.

If you're looking for the classic Jaguar sound, it might not be for you. Plus, '70s Jaguars do weigh quite a bit more than '60s ones. I'll gladly buy the '74 Jaguar, though, as I collect offsets of that era. PM me the contact info of the shop if you have it, or if you want to. :)
"If it's not a Fender, you f**ked up!"
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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Pacafeliz » Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:13 am

i used to have a mid-70s jaguar. wonderful to look at, but same prob as most fender from the era - too damn heavy.
at least for my skinny body.

but the looks are killer.

can't say too much about its sound cuz the pups were not original. but as much as i love the B&B, it was not a guitar that i loved/adored.

but check it out. if it happens, go for it. these are rare.
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by hornz » Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:18 am

Yeah, Ash was the wood of choice for CBS. Cheap and plentiful because it had'nt dried out fully. Net result: heavy bodies.
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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by g60dave » Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:22 am

Try it. I had a great 74 a few years ago, but the neck pocket was huge. worst Ive ever seen. Bought and sold it for £1000-1100 from memory. Johnny Marr was interested in it as he was buying up a few but wouldnt go higher than £800. Tight bugger lol.

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by kapepper » Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:42 am

maybe it is a myth, but i read somewhere that the quantity of jaguars and JMs build by fender towqrds the mid seventies was so small, that the ones they build were almost custom made...

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Firecat » Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:54 am

Thanks for the insight guys. Unfortunately it's not so easy to try it, as the guitar is located at the other side of Belgium (+- 250 km from where I am) and I don't really intend to buy it (don't have money right now + I already have two CIJ jags I love), so it's not worth the trip. Also the asking price seems quite high (2500 euro). I was just curious as the guitar looks delicious!

Here's the auction if anyone's interested: http://www.2dehands.be/muziek/muziekins ... e=all&afd=

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Pacafeliz » Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:20 am

Image

bass pup cover on it?! :fp:
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by eskmsaul » Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:31 am

Someone wanted as much chrome as possible!

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Puisheen » Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:10 am

My buddy Phil (he posts here, too) has a '73 Fender Jazzmaster in original natural finish that absolutely blew my mind a month of so back. He brought it in for a setup and had me install 13s, and I'm telling you that guitar was amazing! Loud, clear, sporting an incredibly comfortable neck that made me rethink '70s Jazzmasters altogether. Even better was that it was no heavier than my 8lb Thin Skin Jazzmaster. Incredible.

Image

Do love that bass cover on the Jag!

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Pacafeliz » Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:26 am

eskmsaul wrote:Someone wanted as much chrome as possible!
yes, and i kinda like that too...
it's an anti-SY-imitator guitar! heh heh
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by otis » Thu Sep 05, 2013 12:41 pm

I haven't seen the add; I supposed all people posted in the French and the Dutch part of this site(I Always do).
Apparantly a lot of people don't!(and a lot of them only search in their language, like me! :squint: )
incredible!
Thanks for the insight!

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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by khai123 » Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:43 pm

I truly adore 70's Fenders. Heavy, loud, barky like no belief. Whereas their 60's siblings were raised in the Hamptons with a 4 bedroom suite, these guys got kicked out into the street and have earned quite the rude disposition. Also, they got blocks and binding! Gotta love that.






Thanks,
Eyan :P
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Re: 1974 jaguar, opinions?

Post by Firecat » Thu Sep 05, 2013 11:32 pm

otis wrote:I haven't seen the add; I supposed all people posted in the French and the Dutch part of this site(I Always do).
Apparantly a lot of people don't!(and a lot of them only search in their language, like me! )
incredible!
Thanks for the insight!
"Zoek ook in Franstalige zoekertjes" is all you need ;)

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