Fender Offset fans...."They're here....."

[wj350]

Fender Classic Players Jag

Classic Players JM

The Jag also comes in a 2HB config. Both use a tun-o-matic style bridge vice a regular JM/Jag bridge, but if the quality is similar to other Classic series Fenders, these might be pretty attractive alternatives to the A/Vs.

I didn't even know they were coming out....

Bill

[1965]

Are they gonna be MIM or MIJ? Hopefully the latter

[sloop_john_b]

Ah, cool! I hadn't heard about these either. Nice to be able to buy a new Japanese one in the States. Don't like the TOM bridges though. Also, wider color selection would have been cool.

[wj350]

They're MIM--ala the other Classic series--more specifically the Classic Players series. I've had both CIJ and MIM Classic Fenders--I'd honestly say they're easily on a par with each other, as their price points would suggest. Higher quality hardware and electronics (to be honest, I'd give the nod to the MIM Classic pups over the stock CIJ pups), finished necks, etc..

Don't confuse them with the Fender Standard instruments--very nice in their own right, but the Classics are in a different league.

Bill

[mgauction]

I saw that they were coming out with these. I'm not surprised. Anyone tried one?

[1965]

Well, the Mustangs and '51 P's were MIJ. and yeah it is too bad that you don't get even a cheaper version of the real deal bridge, but oh well

[octagon]

They made some changes to the original designs,neck has flatter 9.5 radius w bigger frets,hotter pickups,TOM bridge,screw in trem and then moved the trem closer to the bridge.

[paologregorio]

I was never all that happy with the pop in tremolo arm. I had a MIJ `62 RI and the arm would not stay put; it would flop around loose. I know they're not supposed to do that, but mine did. I bought it used, so I couldn't return it. At least I was able to sell mine back to the original owner for even money.

[brianeharmonjr]

I don't care for the color selection, but great to see other options available for Jag's and JM's. I REALLY dig the J. Mascis signature also. And there's the MIA Elvis Costello signature that's recently become available as well.

[jingle_jangle]

So now Fender copies MIJ offsets in Mexico. Well, OK, fine, I guess. I would have hoped for better colors. The TOM bridge is a huge diasppointment to a Jag/JM traditionalist like me...pickups should be better, though. The original bridges, which get such heat from players, are easily fixed in 5 minutes with a sharp knie-edged file so strings stay put. Properly centered and adjusted, they don't buzz; Loctite is the key here to getting all of those Allen screws to stay put.

I was never all that happy with the pop in tremolo arm. I had a MIJ `62 RI and the arm would not stay put; it would flop around loose. I know they're not supposed to do that, but mine did. I bought it used, so I couldn't return it. At least I was able to sell mine back to the original owner for even money.

This problem with MIJ and CIJ arms is very easy to fix. I simply put the arm into a vise, short end first, about 1/2" in, and give it a tweak to put a kink into the short end. A very slight kink. A less than 2° kink. This results in an interference fit of the arm into the socket, with just enough grab to be useful. Also, the socket threading into the plate, needs a drop of red Loctite, or it will unscrew and render the arm worthless, usually in mid-gig.

[wj350]

I agree on the color selection Paul--they offer the Classic Strats and Teles in some very nice colors. I don't get the bridge thing myself, but I guess I can understand why they're doing it this way. Still, it seems like they could use the RI Mustang bridges (they're also MIM, correct?), allowing a buyer to drop a JM/Jag bridge in if they should choose.

I'd still like to check them out, but I suspect my Jag itch will be cured via a used A/V or CIJ.

Bill

[paologregorio]

So now Fender copies MIJ offsets in Mexico. Well, OK, fine, I guess. I would have hoped for better colors. The TOM bridge is a huge diasppointment to a Jag/JM traditionalist like me...pickups should be better, though. The original bridges, which get such heat from players, are easily fixed in 5 minutes with a sharp knie-edged file so strings stay put. Properly centered and adjusted, they don't buzz; Loctite is the key here to getting all of those Allen screws to stay put.

I was never all that happy with the pop in tremolo arm. I had a MIJ `62 RI and the arm would not stay put; it would flop around loose. I know they're not supposed to do that, but mine did. I bought it used, so I couldn't return it. At least I was able to sell mine back to the original owner for even money.

This problem with MIJ and CIJ arms is very easy to fix. I simply put the arm into a vise, short end first, about 1/2" in, and give it a tweak to put a kink into the short end. A very slight kink. A less than 2° kink. This results in an interference fit of the arm into the socket, with just enough grab to be useful. Also, the socket threading into the plate, needs a drop of red Loctite, or it will unscrew and render the arm worthless, usually in mid-gig.

Sage advice once again Paul W! Thanks for the info. I'll know what to do if I encounter any problems when I buy my next `62 JM!

[jingle_jangle]

I've got two Jags and two JMs, all CIJs. Two have hopped-up pickups; my main Jag has Duncans and my main JM has a set of Curtis Novaks. Vintage sound from those two, through my OB reverb and Dual Showman. I have one Japanese-made Mustang, too; a 3-color burst unavailable in the USA.

[brianeharmonjr]

I didn't even know they were coming out....

Bill, I work at a Fender dealer. I called my outside sales rep today and asked him about these guitars. He had to go look for himself. He said he'd not even heard anything definite about their release. He had heard about a potential release in the future, but nothing for sure. He said, and I quote: "These don't even officially exist yet". I guess they're not available for independent dealers as of yet. Then I called our inside sales rep. She said that she didn't have any information on them yet, but that there should be info at summer NAMM. I let both of the reps know that this is pretty bogus. The Fiend already has them listed in stock and Fender can't even email me a cut sheet with some information yet? Pardon my language, but that's ********! I hate to say it, but it seems to me that Fender is slowly going the way of Gibson. They now own Gretsch, Guild, Tacoma, SWR, Jackson/Charvel, KAMAN, and some smaller brands, and they're even distributing Taylor outside the US. I think they should focus more on their product and dealer service and less on monopolizing the music business. Okay, that's my rant. I feel better. Let me say, as a disclaimer, that I have always loved Fender products, and I've always sold them with confidence and affection. But, it's getting harder.

[jingle_jangle]

Fender will soon own Taylor, too. They're positioning themselves and testing the waters...