In 1962, the Fender Jaguar guitar was released as the company’s feature-rich top model to attract Gibson players away. During its first 13-year manufacture cycle, the Jaguar did not sell as well as the less costly Stratocaster and Telecaster. In the 1990s, Kurt Cobain will give the guitar another rebirth. Its popularity skyrocketed (after being discontinued in 1975), and it was used by many of the world’s most famous performers.
One of those performers was Kurt from Nirvana. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind, Fender released this limited-edition guitar, the “Kurt Cobain Jaguar.” The guitar was based on Kurt Cobain’s 1965 Jaguar, which was customized for him. Fender imitated the original’s faded look and Cobain’s modifications, including adding a four-ply scratchplate, Gotoh tuners, a synthetic bone nut, and a spaghetti logo from the 1950s.
The 2011 Fender Advert stated: “Meticulously modeled on the battered and highly unusual 1965 Jaguar that Cobain modified when Nirvana ruled rock”
Additionally, the guitar has a two-position slide switch replicating the “lead” and “rhythm” circuits found on the original when Cobain purchased it. To simulate the numerous knocks the original sustained during Kurt Cobain’s lengthy traveling, Fender also aged the sunburst, and all of the hardware was arranged to seem excessively worn from the road.
What Other Guitarists Used Fender Jaguar Besides Kurt Cobain?
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) – Known for his modified 1965 Sunburst Jaguar, which featured DiMarzio humbuckers and a Tune-o-matic bridge, Cobain made this guitar an icon during Nirvana’s Nevermind and In Utero tours.
- Kevin Shields & Bilinda Butcher (My Bloody Valentine) – Both used Jaguars and other Fender offsets to create their band’s signature atmospheric sound in live shows and recordings.
- John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) – Used a Sherwood Green Jaguar for overdubs on Blood Sugar Sex Magik and later acquired a Candy Apple Red Jaguar for Californication.
- Tom Verlaine (Television) – Played Jaguars modified with Danelectro-style lipstick pickups, which inspired many others, including John Frusciante.
- Johnny Marr (The Smiths) – Though known for other guitars earlier in his career, Marr later embraced the Jaguar, even collaborating with Fender on his signature model.
- Rowland S. Howard (The Birthday Party) – Used an Olympic White Jaguar throughout his career, known for its distinct feedback-heavy, angular sound.
- Sonic Youth – Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, and other members heavily modified their Jaguars to suit their experimental, thick-toned music.
- Win Butler (Arcade Fire) – Frequently uses various Jaguars, including a 1965 Inca Silver model, to achieve his distinctive energetic playing style.
- PJ Harvey – Used Jaguars, notably a 1965 Sunburst model, during the Dry era and, more recently, an Olympic White model in live sessions.
- Kurt Vile – Has favored a ’64 Sunburst Jaguar since 2011, customizing it for stability and sustain, and considers it the ultimate rock guitar.
Who Owns Kurt Cobain’s Fender Jaguar?
The owner of Kurt Cobain’s Fender Jaguar remains a mystery. Some reports suggest that Courtney Love sold it, which was passed around, eventually ending up in Fender’s possession before being circulated again. Other unofficial sources claim that Kurt’s Jaguar ended up with Hole’s guitarist, Eric Erlandson. This speculation is based on the fact that Eric played a similar Jaguar in the music video for the song “Doll Parts.”
