Jagstangs?

[LoudLove]

Been listening to Nirvana for a while but never once questioned his guitar. What are jagstangs and why are they so hard to find? What's a good price? What should I know about them? Etc.

Because....I want one soooo bad :/

[In Absentia]

Originally Posted by LoudLove

Been listening to Nirvana for a while but never once questioned his guitar. What are jagstangs and why are they so hard to find? What's a good price? What should I know about them? Etc.

Because....I want one soooo bad :/

I had a Fiesta Red one back in the day. Honestly, they aren't great guitars. I still love 'em because it reminds me of being a teenager, but the tuners broke off, the trem was terrible, and the pickups were anemic, at best. Still if you want one and find it, I'll still recommend getting it because I love it. Warts and all.

[LoudLove]

If you were to replace a few of the parts like tuners, etc. would it be a decent guitar? How cheap can you get them? What's a good price?

[In Absentia]

I paid $600 new the first year they were out.

You could replace the parts, but it still isn't a "great" guitar. But if you like 'em, by all means, grab one. I'd say you should be able to get one for around $300, but that is just speculation.

[snorider]

Had one about 10 years ago, picked it up used for about $150. For the price i paid it was a fun guitar and (I thought) pretty cool looking.

Finally sold it because the neck was just to damn thin for my hands.

Good news, by the time I sold it i think i doubled my money.

Bad news, they're going for $500-$700 on ebay.

But still, cool little axe if you have smallish hands...

[jcmark611]

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Jag-Stang: http://www.jag-stang.com/guitars/jag...stang-history/

It should be noted that the guitar was never quite finished and Kurt rarely played the prototype he was given. Fender and Kurt were still working on the guitar when he committed suicide.

[LoudLove]

Very cool. Well I do have small hands and I am a HUGE Nirvana fan. My birthday is coming up in a month and a half and I would love one in this color. Absolutely love that blue.

[101Volts]

I haven't played one but from what I can tell Fender just pulled it out to make a buck on Cobain's death. Also, They did a miserable job at it because it didn't have the pickups Kurt liked (THe stock pickups sound worse than First Act pups too) It had a Mustang vibrato (Kurt always replaced the vibrato on his guitars with a stoptail, The Mustang vibrato isn't bad but Kurt didn't like it) And on top of it, Cobain wasn't satisfied with the prototypes he got. (No contours in the body, For example) So if you want a project guitar this is a good one, However you'd be farther ahead just having one custom built.

[LoudLove]

Another question. What would be a decent offset type guitar such as this that you would recommend? Seeing that many people are bashing this guitar.

[Kestrel]

Originally Posted by LoudLove

Another question. What would be a decent offset type guitar such as this that you would recommend? Seeing that many people are bashing this guitar.

I was never a fan of Nirvana, but I used to have a Jagstang. Good looking guitar for sure, but the stock pickups were most disappointing. Still, it was a fun guitar to play. Honestly, if you're looking for an offset short-scale guitar then just get a Jaguar. Far more sexy-looking than a Jagstang.

Here's a pic of my old Jagstang.

[Third Stone]

no expert here but i'm guessing he used a jaguar on the records?

[captain_bob]

You would be better off buying a Japanese Mustang or Jaguar if you are looking for the Nirvana sound. The Jagstangs were a gimmick created only to make money.

[jeffwith1f]

I had an early first year Jagstang, I was a huge Nirvana fan, but yeah, never bonded with the pickup. Kurt had only just recieved prototypes before he died, so these are not instruments that he recorded with.

I think price for clean all original examples still runs around what they cost new. about 500 give or take. I kind of wish I had held on to mine for longer, it is possible these will be worth more in 10-15 years +

[In Absentia]

I'm not bashing 'em, per se. I love 'em. They just aren't what I would call a "great" guitar.

[grungebob]

Ok,
So I had a Jagstang a few years back and pretty much everything everyone has said is true, The tuners will need replacing if your going to use that trem, and Yes the pickups are very very weak sounding including the Humbucker. Its a narrow nut width guitar on 24" scale with vintage frets, once set up correclty it plays great, no sustain to it to speak of but still nice sounding. I replaced the singlecoil in my for Lace Gold and got amazing tone out of it I also replaced the Humbucker of a Seymour Duncan JB - a perfect fit for this guitar (im a huge Nirvana fan and with these pickups in it the guitar sounds cover nevermind to In utero with ease). I also locked down the trem with some washers to make it in essence a stoptail (details can be found on the jagstang website), in the end though I got rid because I play quite hard with my strumming hand (being a lefty playing righty) and the 24" coupled with the Eb tuning needed to play along with most Nirvana songs wasn't so great. As for the question on price I cant help you there except to say that here in the Uk they go for £350-400 so I'd guess the same in $ ?




What I would seriously suggest you look into is the Fender Cyclone. Its a Far superior guitar that has very similar stylings to the Mustang and the Jagstang but in a much more functional format


It has a great Fender Atomic Humbucker and a Texas Special singlecoil as stock that will give you all the sounds you need, the trem can be locked down for improved sustain and tuning stability and its just a brilliant guitar full stop! Its 24.5" scale on a 9.5" radius board and 100% the better guitar than the jagstang.

In fact im off to go try and buy another (my last got stolen)