Jaguar Fakes

These Filipino made Jaguar fakes are often referred to as "Vietnam serviceman guitars". Funnily enough, there is a picture of Mick Jagger playing a black one on the cover of the Rolling Stones compilation album entitled "Rarities 1971-2003". Instead of the screws being countersunk into the neck plate, they just go through the body.

The Fender logo is stamped on the tremolo and there is a Fender decal on the headstock. The tuners have exposed gears. The dots are larger than a normal Jaguar. The heel of the neck looks more rounded and the neck appears not to be as wide at the heel. The slide switch on the tremolo is non functional.

The pickguard screw to the upper left of the neck pickup is absent, which is perhaps the best way to tell if a Jaguar is a serviceman at first glance (see pictures to the right. Filipino on the left, real Fender Jaguar on the right). A Filipino Jaguar in a type of red finish.

The one I saw was Lake Placid Blue with an unbound neck and matching headstock, and was practically mint with the original case, mute, trem bar etc. Also, the one pictured on your site has the hole for the mute slug underneath the bridge like on a real Jaguar.

However, the fake one that I saw did not have a hole underneath the bridge, but on the treble side of the bridge between the bridge and pickup. Lastly, the neck plate on the fake Jag was mounted like a regular Fender, not in the bizarre fashion that your site describes. Whew!