Fender Jag-Stang with Full Kurt Cobain Mods | Demo and Specs

[@AaronRash]

Cool vid man! Proto sounds awesome 🤟🏻

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you that means a lot coming from you, I really enjoy your videos!

[@Sandwich1243]

Yes she does!

[@themoonisdusty]

I watch both of you and I never knew you guys were fermiliar with each other I've always wondered if that was the case!

[@alvaromejia9569]

The crossover we needed

[@PalmettoStateSirens]

I still can’t get over how heavenly that clean tone is. I currently can’t afford a Jag-Stang, but the second I get one I’m modding it just like this.

[@featheryfemme]

Super cool! I actually came across that thread last month and thought all the info they were able to dig up was insane. I was especially disappointed to find that the guitars they actually sold as Jag-Stangs, plus "Kurt's" red Jag-Stang weren't designed the same as the one he actually had.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I know right? That thread starts as a guitar discussion and turns into a full fledged mystery novel with suspense and surprises! I was shocked at that part too, and that the original red prototype was stolen and they just made another one quick and said it was the original red 🤯

[@patriotic80]

Dude so glad their are people like you who love and care so much about music history.I remember those days well. Been a nirvana fan since day one. He, dave , and krist made music history.

[@mirata7748]

Just saw the notification pop up and got excited af for this video and proto sounds heavenly. and proto feels completed with the tom and gotoh tuners great video as always man!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much! You're right, It definitely feels complete now. Having this guitar is a dream come true, I love it!

[@Amon7.L]

Well done with the further modifications! Proto sounds G R E A T. Thanks again for the precious support, not only for putting together this accurate demo and give us a proper sonic reference of the actual pick-ups combo the original prototype came with but also for spreading the fruits of our research. It's quite a reward to see & know how such a guitar has affected and still is inspiring people in a way or another. No matter who we are... Nirvana fans, luthiers, musicians, guitar collectors, it all comes full circle right here, right now enjoying and keeping Kurt's legacy alive for the years to come. Keep on rocking, guys! Live Loud!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I can not tell you how much it means to me that you and AcrylicSuperman watched and enjoyed this video, thank you so much for the kind words! It’s all because of you two and your intense investigation for the truth that I was able to realize my dream of having a Kurt accurate Jag-Stang. It’s something I’d always wanted to do, but never did because so many things about it’s specs where up in the air for years. Thank you for the putting the time and research into the Jag-Stang prototype. You two are the authors of it’s definitive history and no one will ever changed my mind about that!

[@jmdean_]

Nailed it friend, love it -- This was also the only demo I needed to see for the Tone Master Twin! So pumped when it came out.

[@chilenskbjorn8737]

I loved the "serve the servant" part, one of my favorites from In Utero even though it was never a single nor listed as one of the "popular" ones (same with "drain you", though Nirvana used to play it very often).

[@webb-hill1610]

Killer job man! I think it sounds way better with those pickups in it.

[@thestratman9]

Proto sounds amazing! Thanks again for spreading the word about the years of research we've compiled. It's amazing to hear this guitar as it was meant to be and how it was at the time of Kurt's passing. I'm glad the truth is finally out there and widely available for anyone that wants to find it. I'm glad that fans like yourself care enough to make sure this guitars true history and legacy live on for generations to come. Thanks again for the love and support and long live proto!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I can not tell you how much it means to me that you and Amon watched and enjoyed this video, thank you so much for the kind words! It’s all because of you two and your intense investigation for the truth that I was able to realize my dream of having a Kurt accurate Jag-Stang. It’s something I’d always wanted to do, but never did because so many things about it’s specs where up in the air for years. Thank you for the putting the time and research into the Jag-Stang prototype. You two are the authors of it’s definitive history and no one will ever changed my mind about that!

[@JWinnie04]

Lomic guitars is awesome! I had him make me a Bronco pickguard for my modded bullet mustang with dual angled Dimarzio X2N humbuckers and the guard is amazing

[@davidmckean955]

This is probably the best sounding guitar you own.

[@altonwilliams7117]

That’s some groovy tone you’re chasing there as well as great looking guitars!🎸🎵

[@KB24toogood]

Wow man you really nailed the guitar and tone to look and sound just like Kurt’s. Sick video my fellow Nirvana fan.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you fellow Nirvana fan! 😁

[@pattonPwr]

your best sounding guitar/tone/how you play these songs. Amazing :)

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Wow thank you so much!! 🙏🏻

[@kidwajagstang]

Unless I’m mistaken, the misconception about the bridge humbucker being a Dimarzio was most likely a result of the Fiesta Red prototype having a Dimarzio humbucker installed stock from the factory instead of a Seymour Duncan. Kurt obviously never received the red Jag-Stang, so it ended up on display at Fender’s showroom in its factory in 100% stock form for decades. Anyone could see the DiMarzio logo on the bridge pickup if they gave the guitar more than a fleeting glance. People likely just assumed that the red prototype was identical to how the Blue one must have been when Kurt initially received it. I haven’t found any interviews with Larry Brooks asking him about any differences/changes implemented on the Fiesta Red PROTOTYPE compared with the sonic Blue PROTOTYPE…. (Highlighted prototype bc people seem to always forget that the guitar was still a work in progress at the time of Kurt’s passing.) however, if you look over photos of Kurt playing his blue one, you can easily spot differences in the body and pickguard shapes, so changes had obviously been made. It would be foolish to simply assume both prototypes were otherwise identical. His blue model had received quite a few mods all thru the In Utero tour and by the end of the tour he was playing it practically the entire show, choosing it over his “Sky-Stang 1” (his main in Utero tour workhorse guitar for the majority of shows), which demonstrates how much more comfortable and fond he had grown towards his blue prototype at that point. Kurt played whatever guitar he wanted to. Sky-Stang 1 became an early favorite of his and was his main instrument for most shows. However, the jag-Stang was getting played for at least 1 or 2 songs a night and was receiving little mods and adjustments based on Kurt’s feedback, which eventually resulted in nearly entire shows played exclusively on his Jag-Stang. It’s a shame that REM won’t let Fender study the blue prototype and recreate it with all of the mods Kurt had done. Instead we all have a facsimile reproduction of the Fiesta Red prototype offered in both colors.

[@Robixino]

nice man!!! love this channel so much, i wonder how Very Ape would sound through that, would be a blast for sure!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! In my In Utero Tour tone video, i play Very Ape using this Jag-Stang 🙂

[@kenminerva]

Hey there man! Great video!! Great guitar!! Great playing!! Man, you nailed Kurt's tone 99.99%!! Thank you!! I love Kurt and Nirvana. Love the playing and the music. Your video brings the memories back 🥺🥺. Btw, what is the string gauge you use?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thanks so much man!! I make these videos for fellow Nirvana nerds, so I’m happy you enjoyed it 🙂 for string gauge (starting with low E) I use: 52, 42, 30, 17, 13, 10. On Proto I have String Joy strings but following the gauge of Earnie Ball skinny top heavy bottom

[@Anzac1]

@@NirvanaGuitars so you use .52 strings like Kurt. Cool! My black HSS strat had .42 strings but I changed them to .52 for the heavier tone.

[@alfiereeman617]

sounds and looks great man really nice job and really nice playing

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I appreciate that thanks!

[@PatrickA474]

I really prefer the sound of that 59 compared to the JB in the mustang. The 59 has more clarity. Nice Job.

[@hunterwh1980]

Very awesome! Love the work put into it.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thanks! Changed basically everything on the guitar but it was all for accuracy sake 😁

[@whodonothing]

another great video! by the way, goes well with cookies and tea, pennyroyal tea

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! But what about warm milk and laxatives? 🤔

[@h.k6781]

I can only dream of having a jagstang

[@jchunter21]

Get the squier

[@DINEEN_11]

I just bought a 2021 Fiesta red one on reverb for $700 and already had the proto pickguard as soon as you partnered with lomic. I'm planning on doing all these mods too mine and trying to get a Floyd the barber playing card to use as a schim for the neck

[@thorvelizelos]

Would be great to hear a comparison between this and an unmodded first or second edition japanese jag-stang.. To hear difference of the pickups e.t.c. By the way do you find any diffence in the neck on the new MIM from the earlier ones? Many say the japanese have superior craftmanship when it comes to neck and rolled fretboard edges e.t.c. I actually bought a new MIM and then sold it and recently bought a 2002 instead for about the same money I sold the MIM. I like the fact that its crafted in Japan and also I think I prefer the japanese sonic blue from the MIM baby blue color. But they are both great guitars. Oh and the CIJ definately feels lighter with the basswood body from the MIM alder body.

[@davidallen346]

I'd put a Texas special strat neck and SD-14 custom 5 in the bridge 🌉 for the Jagstang

[@XxStonedImmaculatexX]

The highlight; only because I’ve never seen anyone else do it, is the pickguard. Never even thought about doing that! I have a Texas Special neck pup since I thought thats what Kurt had but I just checked the site and its true he had a bridge pup in the neck. I’m like halfway doing all the KC mods to my 97 but I think I might make it stock again, I miss hearing my stock pickups lol

[@NirvanaGuitars]

The pickguard really does make the look, I couldn’t be happier with it! The was the part I was most excited to mod, I couldn’t get the new pickguard on there fast enough. I did the same thing on my red Jag-Stang haha, I have a Texas Special neck pickup and it used to have a JB cause at the time that’s what was thought that Kurt’s had. I’ve since changed the JB to an Invader. It’s my only Fender that’s not Kurt specs, I wanted something dark and heavy for my band! Have you had yours stock up until now? I don’t blame you if you that’s the case, don’t fix what’s not broken right?? 😉

[@XxStonedImmaculatexX]

@@NirvanaGuitars oh no I modded it a few years ago: Texas special neck SH-4 JB white in bridge Gotoh Kluson tuners Lowered switches (I’m mot a fan of cutting them either) I bought a TOM bridge as well but it may not be the right type, this one has bushings, the original are just posts that screw in like yours. Kurt’s Comp Mustang didn’t have the small posts though, it looks straight and with bigger studs which go into the bushings. I need to create a specs spreadsheet lol I cant remember all the info on the offsetguitars forum, so are we sure its an original TOM with the small screw in posts?

[@vandalism8591]

Hey man, that’s very cool!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! 😁

[@jhonpatrick2965]

Anorexorcist! One of my top Nirvana tracks

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Always liked it but after hearing the Ted, Ed & Fred 01/03/88 practice it became one of my favorites. Dale’s drumming makes it so heavy

[@sonicd57]

Awesome content, super helpful. Thanks man, keep it coming.. I just subscribed.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much!!

[@ilovemonstermovies]

Very nice!

[@douglasvaughn9349]

Did the TOM bridge make any tonal difference/changes? Thinking about doing the same great video !

[@owenmartbro]

do you know how high you have to have it shimmed for the bridge? please respond

[@flynnbop]

i really love the clean tone man it sounds so fuckin good, distorted sounds good don't get me wrong but i'm digging the clean tone also what picks do you use? great video and a sub from me

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much! Tried dialing in the In Utero tour tone and I’m pretty happy with what I got 😁 I use dunlop 1.14mm picks, the purple ones

[@Anzac1]

very late but I hate the fact that fender guitars are getting so expensive, the KC jag-stang and kc jaguar are examples because $1200 and $1500 are INSANE

[@deanharrison2481]

Hey sounds awesome. How did you get on fitting the tune o matic? My jag stang is a 2021 its a mod i want to do but all the tune o matics ive looked at have 74mm post holes and my stang has 72mm holes. Also the radius on the tune o matics are bigger than the 7.25 radius on the stang. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[@ash_aiden]

Hell yeah

[@NathanWoollaston]

Great vid! I just ordered a pickguard for my new left hand Jagstang, so it will look pretty legit I'm sure... One question - What string gauge do you use?? Cheers

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thanks! Ernie Ball 10-52

[@santa3468]

Love the vid

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you!

[@aydenmumm3676]

I occasionally hit the switches on my 95 mustang and it shreds my hand like cheese

[@douglasvaughn9349]

I love this channel. For nirvana nerds like meeeeee! Great stuff If you had to chose his jag or jagstang which would you choose?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I really appreciate that, Nirvana nerds unite! 🤜🏻🤛🏻 I absolutely love Proto, a lot of time was put into getting this mod just right but I’d pick the Jaguar. His signature Jag is my favorite guitar that I own, I love all my guitars but I feel that it is the most versatile

[@olivierpelletier9241]

hi great cover ..sound really cool...i want to know the Gotoh tune-o-matic ABR-1 bridge is more like the Gotoh GE 103-B or like the 104-B ..thank you...i want to do this mod to my jagstang to..

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! I’m sorry but I’m not sure, I’m not familiar with the 103 or 104-B

[@marketzero]

what's the main difference between the 59 Trembucker and the 59 with the red packaging?

[@jasperthane4226]

Drain you is out of “ time “

[@NirvanaGuitars]

How so?

[@Helena-gk4ui]

anorexorcist is one of the heaviest Nirvana songs

[@NirvanaGuitars]

So underrated! One of my favorite pre Bleach songs

[@HiroHarihara]

Hi,thank you for the nice video. I have a question. Is the recording method from the USB output of the tone master to the PC?

[@brandonpoynter7419]

Awesome video! I'm following your lead on my Jag stang. Did you lock the tailpiece or just flip it?

[@jimfromdiscord.8904]

I wonder what would happen if you added a Stratocaster to the Jagstang Fender Jagstangocaster?

[@miguelarancibia8579]

Hola, tu jagstang proto quedó finalmente con el Trembucker 59 o la cambiaste por las SH-1 Modelo 59? Gracias.

[@profile_01]

I have a 65 Mustang w/ a SD Hot Rails , I like it but now you got me thinking about putting a SD '59 in there..

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I have hot rails in my comp stang and absolutely love them!

[@profile_01]

@@NirvanaGuitars I'll leave it as is. I'd have to route it out to fit a HB anyway. I do like the Hot Rails it's just the grass is always greener ; )

[@NirvanaGuitars]

@@profile_01 I see what you did there 😉

[@prof.aggrospeed4315]

Hey, great vid. How can i contact you? I have some questions about your pickguard.

[@cbyrd2010]

Hey man! This video came up since I've been looking at buying a Kurt Jag-Stang. You rock, gotta say! You definitely have those Nirvana tunes down "pat" lol. How long have you been playing? I'm very late to the game, only been playing 2 years (I'm 32), but am loving it and I actually got a Jazzmaster HH just because it looked like Kurt's Jaguar model and I couldn't get the more expensive model at the time.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! I’ve been playing for 14 years, started out learning Nirvana songs and they are still my favorite to play 😁 it’s never too late to start playing, welcome!! I don’t have a Jazzmaster but I like the ones I’ve tried! Can’t go wrong with a Fender offset 😉 also I recommend the jag-stang! Price is steep but they’re bound to get even more expensive on the secondhand market once this run is out of production

[@cbyrd2010]

@@NirvanaGuitars Thanks I appreciate that! And I am defintiely getting one by the summertime. I have noticed 90s run is like high 2Ks and 3Ks so I see what you mean!

[@tomjoad8939]

Awesome wrk!!! Why did you flip the tail piece. Ty

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thanks! Cause that’s what Kurt had done to his

[@sabienfowler4482]

what are you using for the distortion. sounds super nice! Proto is absolutely beautiful

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you, This guitar is a dream come true! I’m using a Sansamp Classic

[@owen5974]

hi do you have a link to the single coil pickup in the neck? it is not on your amazon page

[@Leonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

did you change the pickup pots? my jagstang bridge sounds quite muddy and i was thinking of changing the pots to 500k ones

[@cathyowens1136]

You mean, fender texas special right?, I can't find a seymour duncan texas special

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Yup! Fender Texas Special

[@tiagofrotavandame]

Do you have any video playing this guitar on factory specs?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnm0XnSnfJeHors

[@TheDisturbance-ez8mf]

How much would a mexican made strat cost today compared to the late 90s/early 2000s?

[@juana1483]

Should be $500

[@kycbwoxo7845]

Hello, what potentiometers did you use in the jagstang? Maybe it was said in the video, but I don't know English well :( Thanks in advance for your answer ;)

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Hello! I did not change the potentiometers, and I believe it comes stock with 250K pots

[@kycbwoxo7845]

@@NirvanaGuitars thk you ❤️

[@miguelarancibia8579]

hello, your jagstang proto stayed with 59 trembucker or the classic 59 model?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Trembucker

[@miguelarancibia8579]

@@NirvanaGuitars Ok, that sounds great. Thanks for the videos, it's the closest I've seen to Kurt's special sound. Congratulations.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

@@miguelarancibia8579 thank you so much for watching and for the kind words! Good luck with your build 🙂

[@gooutsideband]

Sweet tone bro, did you keep the pots at 250k?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! Yes I did, I did not change the pots

[@carlb9925]

On the bridge, did they have to cut it to match radius of the board ? Or are you just using the 9.5 with no issue ?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

No, my tech did not have to cut the bridge. He was able to just drop it in and then shim the neck to match the new bridge height. So I believe it’s the 9.5 radius, but I’m honestly not 100% sure. I’m still learning the tech side of guitars!

[@whenlifehandsyou]

that 59 sounds huge. how thick of a shim did you end up needing? are the high and low e's still a bit high?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I’m not sure how high the shim exactly is, I had a tech do the install and adjustment for that. He told me that it took bit of guess work and going back forth while he was shimming. It didn’t take him long to get it right, but he didn’t say the exact thickness of it. The 2 E strings don’t feel high, the action feels balanced and great to me!

[@thestratman9]

If it helps at all, when I spoke to John Duncan, it sounded like they started with about 2 degrees. I don't know where it ended up from there, but figured the original blue was likely consistant pretty close to that ball park. Some stew mac shims will probably make that job fairly easy.

[@jakespencer431]

Hey mate I can’t find the right trem bucker to get, we’re did you get yours from? What one should I get?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I just got a Seymour Duncan 59 trembucker on eBay. A 59 humbucker would work just as well, I just decided to go for the trembucker cause that one has the Seymour Duncan logo and the humbucker does not

[@jakespencer431]

@@NirvanaGuitars thanks heaps mate I’m getting the same guy who done your pickguard! 👌 yeh I want the logo aswell so a white 59 trembucker with the logo on it thanks heaps mate! How did you go with shimming the kneck? I got a tune o magitc on its way, and gotah tuners! Thanks heaps your video is perfect! Just got to get the 500k pots aswell your proto is mouth watering!🤤

[@callmehost7594]

Did you drill the body for the bridge? And also what shim did you use for the neck

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I had a professional tech do the bridge install and adjustment. He did not drill the body for the bridge, he thought ahead of time that he’d maybe have to but he just dropped it in. And he didn’t specify which/how much shim he used, he told me it took a bit of guessing work to get it just right

[@callmehost7594]

@@NirvanaGuitars oki thank you

[@jameshealey6123]

Are the bridge posts taped or was a wooden dowel put in to install the TOM bridge ?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Surprisingly, neither! I asked my tech which of those two would be the best option. He dropped it in, said neither was necessary cause the string tension would do the rest to keep it in place. He said the stock bridge operated the same way. I was very surprised, but I trust him and I’ve had no problems with the TOM since he put it in. It’s been in for a month at this point

[@jameshealey6123]

So the factory cups are still there and the little posts are just floating in the cup? I can’t picture it

[@NirvanaGuitars]

@@jameshealey6123 I wouldn’t describe it as floating. With no strings on the bridge is a little loose, but my tech showed me that the stock bridge with no strings on was just as loose. He just said that when I restring I need to make sure the bridge is 100% vertical and not leaning and I’ll have no problems. I’m sorry if that’s vague or confusing, that’s my understanding of it 😅 I’m still learning the tech/repair side of guitars, which is why I had this done by a professional and didn’t do it myself. I know on paper this shouldn’t work, I went in having done the research and was expecting him to tape the posts. But the TOM feels just as sturdy and solid as the ones on my KC signature Jaguar and Mustang do

[@opaloid]

Alright dude, we get it. You're a huge kurt cobain fan. Jesus. I just wanted a tutorial on how to intonate my guitar, not hear a second hand nirvana concert

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Then how about you try searching “how to intonate guitar” instead of clicking on a channel called NirvanaGuitars? KZbin is very easy to navigate, You knew exactly what you were getting into when you clicked dude. If I wanted to learn how to bake a cake, I wouldn’t click on a video called “how to make pizza” and then bitch about cakes never coming up 🙄

[@beykid4427]

​@@NirvanaGuitars 💀 I'm ded

[@nothingandmore]

@NirvanaGuitars you need to replace the control plate. This new MiM control plate hurts my eyes every time when I look at it.

[@bigpimpin110011]

What degree shim did you use?

[@tomjoad8939]

Is it gotoh with standard posts or studs with bushings?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

The bridge is a gotoh TOM ABR-1!

[@cathyowens1136]

did you change out the pots to 500K? I see that some folks did

[@NirvanaGuitars]

No I did not

[@cameronvillarrealLp]

What kind of shim did you use ?

[@alexray5555]

What are you using for distortion here?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Sansamp Classic

[@soundcode0246]

Why did you cover your model number?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I don't want my serial numbers floating around, I get too many people who joke about how they'd rob me if they had the chance

[@antoniogrecogambino5469]

Suoni bene ma dovresti migliorare la mano destra.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

How so?

[@tato4612]

Great vid.....but just a suggestion, please don't play the generic grunge metal in the background the whole time. Not needed.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

That’s my band. Thanks

[@drstrangelove4925]

I would do it if you could buy a body/neck and not buy an overpriced guitar that a guy used a little bit and has the wrong specs

[@NirvanaGuitars]

He used it way more then he used Skystang II , the guitar Fender based his signature Mustang on. You can get a body and neck through Warmoth!

[@romu7999]

I find this guitar really horrible. The sunburst Jaguar is my favorite.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I like both!

[@recalone]

😂it’s such a ugly design that it’s awesome

[@luisfranco1955]

thats not how you play about a girl

[@NirvanaGuitars]

How do you play it

[@luisfrancomuzic]

@NirvanaGuitars the chords are right (Em G) but you have to strum less times on each chord. You'll hear it if you listen to the song.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

@@luisfrancomuzic at what point are you talking about this video, because I don’t play about a girl in it. But there is a difference as to how he strummed on bleach and on the in utero tour. You’ll notice it when you listen to a live show

[@Ares14]

Jagstang is one of the ugliest guitars ever but nice job on the mods.

[@gabrielfernando9689]

What string gauge do you use? Thanks

[@river_furnish7795]

What shim did you use?