When it comes to Custom Color Fender guitars, everyone has their favorite. Certainly near the top of my list is Lake Placid Blue and I think it looks really amazing on a Jaguar. Like this one, for instance. This unit was produced at the original Fender factory in Fullerton, California U.S.A. in 1965. It is 100% original and 300% gorgeous! It is set up and ready to go-it needs nothing. You probably already know how rare Custom color Jaguars are-and this one is even rare than most. For the Jaguar model, Fender added binding to the neck in early 1965 and in early 1966, they changed the position markers to blocks. This one still has dots. Dot position markers with binding, a one-year only feature and yes, that is the same as Kurt Cobain's sunburst Jaguar.
The offset contoured body looks and feels stellar. The Lake Placid Blue finish is in excellent condition with a vibrant hue. There are a few small pecks and chips here and there. There is a small chip near the backside of the neck that someone touched up-see photos. Although it is nearly invisible at a 90 degree angle, there is a faint line checking in some spots-difficult to see but I did get a photo at 10 degrees with sunlight that shows it. There is also a rub mark on the side of the body, just below the strap pin-see photos. The neck pocket has a perfect paint stick shadow and confirms the originality. The neck angle is excellent as is the fitment.
The neck itself is straight and smooth. The neck profile is best described as a classic vintage C-shape. The nut measures 1.65" wide and the neck depth measures .883" at the 1st fret and .848" deep at the 12th fret. The original ink stamp denotes a build date of October 1965 with the standard "B" width. The original F-key tuners all function and the guitar stays in tune excellent. The headstock and logo display excellent! What is cooler than a matching headstock? Nothing. Nothing is cooler than a matching headstock, especially a Lake Placid Blue one. I may be biased though.
The rosewood fingerboard has a beautiful high-contrast grain that is clean and smooth with a soft feel. The frets have been cleaned and polished and present close to new condition-see photos. The binding is in excellent condition. The action is set low for an easy playing experience. The string height is .010" at the 1st fret and .055" at the 12th fret. It can be easily raised if you prefer a higher action. The guitar plays great up and down the fingerboard with no dead spots or funny business. It plays easily with a light touch.
The pickups both have an excellent signal and that quintessential Fender vintage tone.
The neck pickup measures 6.54 ohms and the bridge measures 6.03 ohms. They both have the chime and brilliance you would expect, and they balance very well. All of the switches function and the controls work smoothly and quietly. The original cloth wire harness is in excellent condition-see photos. The volume potentiometer dates to the 45th week of 1965 and the tone potentiometer has the same date. The pickguard is nice and flat and smooth. The bridge is clean and the vibrato functions smoothly. Orignal bridge cover is present.
The guitar is a great weight for an offset: it checks in at 8.45lbs. The offset contoured body provides an incredible comfortable playing experience-ergonomically, it is really so far ahead of its time. Original Fender hardcase is included. I have provided a variety of photos with different lighting and background colors so you can see just now clean this guitar is.
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