Fender Jag-Stang
| Fender Jag-Stang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer | Fender |
| Period | 1994, 1995-2001, 2003-2005 |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale | 24" |
| Woods | |
| Body | Basswood or Alder on re-issues |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Fender Dynamic Vibrato |
| Pickup(s) | "vintage style" single coil, "Fender Santa Ana" humbucker |
| Colors available | |
| Sonic Blue, Fiesta Red | |
The Fender Jag-Stang is an electric guitar designed by Kurt Cobain, of the band Nirvana, intended as a hybrid of two Fender electric guitars: the Jaguar and the Mustang.
Origins
Cobain suggested his idea for an instrument to Fender, resulting in two left-handed prototypes built by former Custom Shop Master Builder Larry L. Brooks, only one of which was played by Cobain himself.
In an interview from January 4, 1994 Cobain talked about designing the Jag-Stang, at the time it had not been produced. He stated to Nardwuar that he designed it by taking a Polaroid of the Mustang and Jaguar, cutting them in half and combining them.
It was shipped back to Fender for repairs before Cobain brought it with him on the European leg of Nirvana's In Utero tour in 1994, where the guitar was seldom played live.
Cobain sketched a basic design that was sent to Fender, which was later published as part of his Journals in 2002.
Design
Cobain's prototype Jag-Stang had a Fender Texas special pickup in the neck and a DiMarzio H-3 in the bridge. (The H-3 humbucker is not available as an individual product but the closest sounding one is the DiMarzio DP158 Pickup.) The production Jag-Stang includes a "vintage style" single coil pickup and one "special design" humbucker, each with its own toggle switch which a player can use to switch from "on", "off", or "out-of-phase" settings. It employs the Mustang's "Dynamic Vibrato" bridge and like both of its predecessors, it has a 24" short scale neck (an exact replica of Cobain's favorite neck, from a Fender Mustang).
Originally produced in the fall of 1995, after Kurt Cobain's death, Fender Japan reissued the Jag-Stang two years after its 2001 cancellation due to popular demand. Fender once again discontinued importing the Jag-Stang from Japan as of May 2006.
The Jag-Stang was produced in two colors: Sonic Blue and Fiesta Red.
Jag-Stang users
Cobain's Sonic Blue Jag-Stang was given to R.E.M.'s Peter Buck by Courtney Love after Cobain died. He can be seen playing it (modified for right-handed playing) on "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" music video. Mike Mills, also from R.E.M., played this same guitar in concert during the song "Let Me In", itself a tribute to Kurt Cobain. An example of this can be seen on their Road Movie DVD.