Kurt Cobain Fender Jaguar History | Guitars of the Gods

[@SecretsofRock]

To support please visit: www.buymeacoffee.com/secretsofrock

[@sonicobsessions947]

Imagine your heavily modified guitar is so iconic that the company start selling it as a stock and normal production guitar.

[@SecretsofRock]

I've had the chance to play one and it's rad and a pretty surreal experience.

[@krisfrederick5001]

Imagine cutting a picture of 2 of their guitars in half, sticking them together and saying "Hey make this" and they make you a Jagstang

[@mattm8689]

@@krisfrederick5001 💯bad ass guitar!!

[@pontius2000]

@@krisfrederick5001 yeah, that was an atrocious guitar. I think secretly even Cobain was embarrassed by it

[@eterna1ashtwan]

@@pontius2000 uhhhh

[@Darklord-et9xz]

I do own a right handed Kurt Cobain signature fender jaguar and it is one of the best guitars I’ve ever played.I understand why Kurt loved his Jaguar.

[@HAMMERHEAD-g3h]

You know he loved it when it was one of the few he never smashed.

[@HaohanH7BranDy]

too heavy for me, play strat a lot more.

[@thewedge8823]

A dead giveaway that the Jaguar indeed belonged to Cliff Richards' guitarists is that he drilled a third guitar strap button into the bottom horn of the jaguar (you can see it in the video, his strap is connected to the bottom horn).... If you look at Kurt playing the jaguar, you can still see this strap button on the bottom horn! come on! who else would do that? thats too much of a coincidence.

[@davidpahtoon2277]

Damn. That's pretty confirming to me. Like I tour and whatnot, and you do thinglike that to your workhorse guitars. You make make them work. Idk. I'm a bit convinced by this, though.

[@toffeetone77]

Is that the strap button or is it just the lighting?

[@thebobhollyband]

That is the exact guitar minus the neck. How do I know? The tortoise pickguard has the exact same pattern as Kurt's tortoise pickguard (minus the play wear under his left hand). Original tortoise pickguards were made by spinning multiple colors of celluloid in a large vat until the desired outcome was achieved. From there the material was dried and made into thin sheets where it would then be attached to the other layers and cut into pickguards. Being spun with multiple colors in a large vat, no two pickguards would ever be identical. This is 100% the same guitar

[@thebobhollyband]

@@lastbestplace8112 Thanks for educating me on that.

[@cymbaline87]

You are right, I checked the recent photo Fender released of the real guitar when they were promoting the signature jag, and there's a lighter part on the pickguard between the neck pickup and the toggle switch that totally matches.

[@StandbyCymbalist]

The unique knob mods are what confirm it to me. Case closed. However, if you wanna geek out about it fully, start looking for unique wood grain shapes in the light area of the sunburst. That is how many guitars are authenticated based upon photo and video evidence.

[@thebobhollyband]

@@StandbyCymbalist Anybody can add the mods, but grains and tortoise patterns are a guarantee. Can you see the grains in this video?

[@jasontaylor5061]

@@thebobhollyband these are some really particular mods to have to a lefty jaguar of that era.

[@David01.d]

Funnily enough, Fender reckons it's a 65 model, Kurt has said that it's a 66, although in his journals he mentioned obtaining a 67 Jaguar.

[@VashStarwind]

He probably got it and thought (or was told) it was a 67, then someone told him that it was a 66 later

[@321doucheface]

i believe fender was wrong. i think they were assuming it was a '65 because of the neck inlays, but the neck from the martin jenner video with the block inlays is from at least '66 or later. and that's probably the original neck. it just seems really unlikely that the neck would have been swapped twice in such a short period of time.

[@0000song0000]

techniacally you can buy (now, in 2021) a 2020 guitar brand-new. And if you don't read the inner stickers or serial number you may think it was a 2021 unit. Fender tags the bodies inside, so maybe (surely) they have had access to the Jag themselves and they dated it accordingly (remember pickups were done manually too, and you could identify which lady made them).

[@Wolf_K]

IIRC, Kurt owned two Jaguars…the well known one and another that kept at home and thus he never played it live. Both were vintage.

[@nostalgiaregret]

@@321douchefaceexplain the “swapped twice” thing. Why not once? From the 66 neck to the neck Kurt had?

[@relevo86]

"I reached out to Courtney Love, and she told me to fuck off" I laughed, I genuinely laughed out loud

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

This damn guitar was my holy grail since I was 14 years old. I saw the film Nirvana, Live Tonight, Sold Out and it was the first time I had ever even seen a Fender Jaguar. I would watch that film over and over, watch what Kurt was doing on guitar to try to learn the songs. I could never get over the Jaguar with humbuckers. I played with the idea of maybe getting a Jazzmaster but it just wasn’t right. It had to be humbuckers. I was so stoked when I found out Fender was making replicas of Kurt’s Jaguar. When I finally got the money together to buy one, while I was researching I found out the replicas controls were just like a standard Jaguar, with the whole rhythm and lead circuits thing. I didn’t want that at all. It really pissed on my parade for a minute until I started researching all the other kinds of Jaguar with humbuckers Fender has been putting out. Last year I came across a Fender Classic Players series sunburst Jaguar with a tortoise shell pick guard a coil split humbuckers. Perfect. I was always more of a Gibson guy since I learned how to play on my big brothers mid 60’s ES-175 plucking out Lithium and Say It Ain’t So. So this was my first Fender guitar. The thing is so versatile that it blew all my other guitars out of the water. When you have the pickups set to single coil it gets that classic Strat Jimi Hendrix tone right on the money. Then you can roll them back over to humbuckers and it’s like the strength of the guitar doubles (which is exactly what’s happening electronically) and get all fat and warm sounding. Then it has this switch called a tone cut. On some amps the switch ends up working like an overdrive switch. It ups the tone and gives you crunch. This guitar was the only thing in my life that lived up to all my expectations and more. The only other guitar I play now other than the Jaguar is my Epiphone Wilshire for when I want something light weight. I put the Telecaster knobs on it, and I’m going to put the three-way switch in eventually.

[@peterheinzelmann3335]

Yeah, almost the same here. I wanted to buy the Jaguar so bad and when I finally had the money together. I called this big guitar shop and I said I want to order a lefthanded Jaguar. They just answered: Sorry, they are no longer produced! That was in 1999. So I found a Fender Mustang instead. 10 Years later I discovered an offer on the internet: lefthanded Jaguar for 200 EUR (About the same in dollars). Fuck yeah. A friend of mine bought it for me because lived near that guy. At that time I was working till midnight. So my friend was finally in town with that Jaguar and I called past twelve if I can come around and get it. He: Nah, come on...it's a bit late. Me: Yeah, you're right. Hung up the phone. Called him again. Sorry dude, I NEED THAT GUITAR RIGHT NOW! - He: Yeah, ok. :D Got also humbuckers on it meanwhile. Fucking awesome guitar.

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

@@peterheinzelmann3335 I love it. “Nah kid, I need that!” I’m left handed too but somehow I play right handed. My brothers the same way. It’s such a right handed world out there that I feel like I finally caught a break for once. There’s a list of great artists who are that way as well. David Bowie, Billy Corgan, Mark Knophler, Duane Allman, Joe Perry, Noel Gallagher, Gary Moore. There’s something about lefties. Our brains are wired toward being more creative and artistic. They’re our dominant traits.

[@thinmanthewise]

That David Spade mural is hilarious.

[@michaelwoods9005]

My somewhat-educated guess is the neck is an 80s replacement from Fender Japan. They did offer replacement necks but they were different enough from the stock necks that someone couldn't make a convincing copy of an original with them. That could account for the strat headstock shape and more generic logo.

[@0000song0000]

totally, maybe the block-inlay one broke or needed refretting, so a replacement neck was a quicker / cheaper / more effective way to resucitate the guitar

[@SpaceMulva]

How come no one fucking understands that companies sell their unused shit off as parts?

[@pitchforkcustom]

fender went hold on we can sell 57 varieties of this and be like heinz

[@alfsmith4936]

​@@0000song0000 Maybe someone wanted to hide its identity, if it was stolen from Cliff Richard's guitarist.

[@SecretsofRock]

Enjoy this video about Kurt Cobain's Fender Jaguar. It's got an interesting history.

[@chaos4316]

I did! I own this guitar, and didn’t know all of this.

[@saulgoodman6431]

@@chaos4316 Wait wait wait. You own a model of the guitar, or Kurt's actual guitar?

[@thebreakfastmenu]

1:42 Also shows the change from slab fingerboards to veneer fingerboards

[@wastewoodrockers5526]

A few things to note here; Kurt’s Jaguar did NOT have a Stratocaster headstock, this is a common misconception. The Fender signature model is not an accurate representation of Kurt’s actual 1966 Jaguar. Martin was known for heavily modifying his guitars to suit his preferences. I have a friend who spoke with a luthier Martin worked with. The neck we see on Kurt’s was hand built for Martin to be a very thin, bound neck with dot inlays and a smaller than CBS headstock with a custom spaghetti logo (the actual size/specs are completely custom but it’s pretty close to a Jazzmaster headstock and the neck has a flat, Gibson style radius). This neck can be seen on Martins Jag in 1981. The bridge seen on Kurt’s jag was a tone pros rather than Gotoh, it was black with brass saddles. The tuners were changed sometime in early 92’ from the vintage style to modern Gotoh’s.

[@globalnova]

i wondered about the radius. i thought a 7.25" radius neck would not have been his choice.

[@peanutpeanut123]

If it's ever sold, I wonder if it makes more than the unplugged acoustic

[@submissivelover]

It probably would. I think the Smells Like Teen Spirit Mustang would make the most though.

[@Retarded_Cat]

@@submissiveloverthe jag is more valuable

[@submissivelover]

@@Retarded_Cat Nah, the mustang is in their most popular music video in their catalog, it's EASILY the most valuable guitar

[@bluemagic5829]

This is great production. Learned a lot. I always wondered where that headstock decal and shape came from. So unusual. So cool.

[@SecretsofRock]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Nothing-qq4hd]

Nope made for uk jaguar kurt like many guitarists prefer mij guits

[@millennialanimal]

I own the new stock version, it was a floor model, it’s got some damage and I got it for a lot cheaper so I’m not complaining, great guitar, so versatile and sounds amazing.

[@SecretsofRock]

I got to play one a few years back and it was rad.

[@joshshrum2764]

And it looks badass.

[@muletsag300]

Love how in depth you got into the Jaguar's history and differences between a stock one and Kurt's Jaguar. (California)

[@thelostbassist450]

Love the editing, the voiceover and the story! You get a sub.

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks! Much appreciated.

[@michaelr.4878]

This was a very well researched and produced video. Great job, dude!

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks, much appreciated!

[@krisfrederick5001]

Kurt was the reason I picked up a guitar as a kid just after he passed, I found my Dad's Gibson Melody Maker in the basement and never looked back. There was an equally old Gibson tube amp which he warned me not plug in. I couldn't even tune the guitar but of course I did and it began to smoke. When I came across a modified 66' or 67' (the serial number is in the middle) modified Jaguar, with a Gibson Humbucker in the neck and Gibson bridge which were more reliable, I had to have it. I was a 16 year old with a part time job and an amazing Mom, $1,000 later I'm still playing it today.

[@StandbyCymbalist]

excellent work SoR!! One element that is often missing in Jag histories is how they are essentially a scaled down version of the tech Fender developed with the Bass VI that came out one year prior to the Jag.

[@SecretsofRock]

Good call. That Bass VI is cool.

[@jonnross7051]

Cliff toured the U.S in '82 and the Ryder truck with all the backline keys, and guitars was stolen. Amongst the guitars were Cliff's 1958 Martin D-28, '60 Gibson J-45, '62 GIBSON J-200. Other guitars lost were an Ovation Glen Campbell 6 string, a 1957 Gibson 3pu black beauty and Mart Jenner's guitars which would have been a L.H. Dick Knight SG, and a LH Fender Jaguar in an Anvil flight case. Cliff would like his D-28 back and Terry Britten would like his Black beauty back.

[@franciscomariamichelini.Jag.]

Hi jonn this story is very interesting, thanks for sharing it. And And I've been researching Jaguar for many years, I know the specifications, But many people wonder how it got to Kurt after it disappeared during the 80s as you tell, Can I write to you privately so I can add details to the story and ask you some questions please? I would be very grateful and not only me 😁.

[@mr.stankers5967]

It seems like this isn't your first channel, amazing quality and effort.

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks! Much appreciated!

[@zackbrooks3855]

@@SecretsofRock you kind of sound like the guy from 5 Watt World lol

[@pekee9304]

@@zackbrooks3855 dont call him out bro

[@zigzagrz]

Im guessing that Kurt bought it with that neck. Marty the possible original owner may have replaced the neck due to some damage to it, like needing a refret, and instead of repairing it, it got a new neck at a cheaper rate since maybe the block inlays were added to the cost, as well as the larger headstock. Or...its a boogie neck, now warmoth

[@SecretsofRock]

I think you're right.

[@321doucheface]

it's a legit fender neck -- it has the original fender "spaghetti" logo on it. it probably came off of just some random left-handed fender guitar, but the question is what fender guitars had a 24" scale length back then? both the strat and tele were 25.5"

[@thebreakfastmenu]

@@321doucheface The logo is irrelevant. David Gilmour had 2 Charvel necks on his Black Strat between 1979-1984 that had Fender logos. Anyone can apply a decal, especially if it's who made the neck. I'd be very surprised if it was a neck that came off an actual Fender Jag, because if it was, it'd be one of a kind. Especially since Fender didn't do binding when the prototypes of Jags were made, nor (to my knowledge) were there any left handed prototypes made. The guitar itself had mods done by someone who knew how to mod a guitar, and acquire the parts long before any regular joe could pop onto the internet and order whatever they want. I'd put my money on a professional retrofit with a fake logo.

[@BassRocket]

@@thebreakfastmenuno

[@slothmag]

Regarding the neck of the Jaguar, know this is possibly a little off topic, but relevant: Martin Jenner was seen to play the then "Jenner Jag" with a block inlay neck that was likely not the neck Fender put on to the guitar in 1965/66. The factory neck would probably have been a dot inlay bound one as you say in the video. The neck that was on the guitar when Kurt bought it off of Jenner or his estate in April-May 1991 was a dot inlay bound neck with a Stratocaster-ish headstock. That "Jenner/Cobain neck" is a custom, non-Fender, extra skinny C-neck made by a luthier for Jenner. Hence incorrect decal that has been lacquered over. Apparently both Jenner and Cobain enjoyed very thin guitar necks, despite, at least Kurt, having quite long fingers. Anyway, the luthier that made the Jenner/Cobain neck has been found, by an individual building his own "reverse engineered Jag-Stang prototype" (Amon/Acrylic Superman) while researching for his project. However, Jenner's luthier is now really old and does not want public attention. The luthier did however share the design drawings for the "Jenner neck" that Cobain bought, but the drawing came with the caveat that it should not be published further while he is still alive. (This was in 2018/2019 I believe). The neck on Kurt's/Jenner's original Jaguar was said to be thinner than a Fender factory Jaguar neck from the 60s but the exact specs remain unknown. The neck Fender put on the commercially available "KC Jaguar" is not identical to Kurt's/Jenner's original Jaguar with respect to dimensions. It is thicker than a standard 1966 Jaguar neck. I own both a stock 1966 Sunburst Jaguar with dots and binding, and a KC one and I just measured the stock 66 one to be 2mm THINNER than the KC one at the 2nd fret.... Kurt loved his Jaguar for its thin (custom) neck and some evidence points towards this Jaguar neck being the one that was sent to Fender for them to use as template to make the Jag-Stang prototype necks in 1993, which could explain why the Jaguar was not used/seen around that time, in addition to it likely having a broken humbucker/electrical issues after Kurt squashed a cantaloupe melon on it onstage in Rio in early '93. Kurt's original hand-written notes submitted to Fender along with his cut-and-paste drawings even mention "small headstock" and "very thin neck". (His beloved 69 Competition mustang was not sent away as it was to be used in the In Utero recordings soon after that). Larry Brooks, custom luthier at Fender, was supposed to make the neck for the first prototype Jag-Stang using the neck Kurt sent but due to some kind of Fender corporate foul-up, or the fact that the neck that Kurt sent them was not an actual Fender neck, another luthier, at Fender Japan, Scott Zimmerman, built the neck using a 69 Competition Mustang neck (not Kurt's blue Competition one) as template, and Kurt's first prototype Jag-Stang ended up with something closer to a Mustang neck, with an oversized headstock not in accordance with the "specifications" Kurt had submitted, as is the case with the series manufactured ones. I believe Kurt returned the guitar with instructions to improve the neck, at least his Guitar tech Earnie Bailey did extensive modifications to it after it was received. Fender did not use to save any records of the custom shop work being done around that time so the exact traceability of what neck was used, how it was made and the dimensions that it would have had, is not available from them. REM's Peter Buck currently owns Kurt's Jag-Stang but it has not been seen for years. The second Jag-Stang prototype that was not sent to Kurt due to his passing has been auctioned off into private hands. In conclusion, all of Fender's "KC" models, (Jag, Jag-Stang, and probably more) have necks that are not correct to the actual ones played by Kurt.

[@SecretsofRock]

You are a legend! Where'd you dig this all up? It's fascinating.

[@slothmag]

@@SecretsofRock its all out there. Most of it should be googleable

[@LoadedMessage]

🤘🏻

[@decadantdog4444]

That mural on the wall looks like David Spade.

[@rebd00mer93]

It is...

[@IndexFossilchannel]

5:43 Before Cobain, there was Sonic Youth... a big influence for him!

[@67lilbear]

Before either of them there was Hüsker Dü who influenced everybody...

[@notplaying2379]

Husker Du were definitely influential, but they only pre date Sonic Youth by two years. Both bands were active at the same time in the early 80s, although Sonic Youth's popularity started to rise around the time Husker Du split up. My point is that Husker Du weren't really 'before' Sonic Youth, but popular earlier.

[@IndexFossilchannel]

@@notplaying2379 Right! and I was referring to offset guitars, adaptations, tunings... Not musical influences, obviously a ton of bands came before and influenced them...

[@The90sGamingGuy]

I love the look of the Fender Jaguar just so sleek and well designed body. Funny that mural had a Kurt Cobain quote but the mural is of David Spaid?! what the hell? Lol. Great video!

[@brendanwood9630]

Always hated the jaguar body tbh but I'm more of a strat guy

[@brendanwood9630]

Just looks awkward to me

[@spudvader]

The Martin Jenner version (in the video) also doesn't have the swapped out bridge either, it still has the original bridge rather than the Gotoh tune-o-matic. Interesting fact : Cliff Richard was also responsible for the first strat in the UK. He brought a Fiesta Red strat with maple fingerboard back for guitarist Hank Marvin

[@SecretsofRock]

Great catch with the bridge, and I didn't know that about Cliff. I figured Hank Marvin was the man in the UK responsible for the first Strat.

[@Gynra]

Bruce Welch has it now, apparently.

[@mirata7748]

Kurt favorite bridge was the gotoh bridge including the tuners If you have noticed his 1969 mustang has a gotoh bridge too which was changed by him or his guitar tech so could be a possibility that he changed the bridge of his jaguar

[@spudvader]

@@mirata7748 changing the bridge on jags and mustang's is a common mod because the saddles are so shallow, so if you hit hard the strings tend to pop off the saddles

[@mirata7748]

@@spudvader yeah I know I was just stating how when he changed the bridge on his jaguar it was the "kurt cobain jaguar" not the martin Jenner one because when martin Jenner had it he didn't have the gotoh in it. Correct me if I'm wrong

[@BarrySmoother]

I've been questioning this damn guitar for so many years aha. thank you for your research.

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks for watching!

[@crystalmethodist5084]

Is it just me or does that mural look more like David Spade than Kurt.

[@THE-CRT]

Update on the bridge, it’s a black gotoh with brass saddles on his original guitar, as well as the pickup spacing being very different from that of fender’s f spacing on the Kurt Cobain signature. Fender’s Kurt signature Jaguar is actually very inaccurate to kurt’s original. Not only that but Jenner's guitar doesn't have super distortion in the bridge like Kurt's or the aforementioned tuneomatic bridge, meaning it is highly likely it exchanged hands often.

[@popsanddais]

my theory about the logo is that they only had a few left handed jag logos around, so they ran out and chopped up a scrap logo for the jag and an old spaghetti logo. doesnt solve the headstock though...

[@chaos4316]

I’m only here to brag, because I have a Kurt Cobain signature relic Jaguar. Of my collection, it is still one I play every week. I love recording with it, I love just playing it loud. It’s cool to think of Kurt playing it, mostly from 91 to his death.

[@MIKE-TYTHON]

That’s dope 🙌 such a nice looking guitar.

[@SecretsofRock]

I only got to play one once and it was surreal and awesome. Great guitar.

[@chaos4316]

@@SecretsofRock I do think of that when I play it. I kind of let my mind drift into solace. What did Kurt feel when he plugged this in for the first time.. you know? The guitar is a time capsule for a unique style. Mine is heavily relic’d to match his, and came with a book showing the evolution of his guitar… in order of the scars/dings/scratches, cigarette burns etc… Kurt himself would’ve hated the attention of a signature guitar I reckon.

[@jorgegarnica9674]

Theres actually a version of kurts Jag Stang in the official site of fender

[@thatdamnguy9566]

Yeah, and not only that but later this year they are are gonna resell the jagstangs! Not that I can afford one but it sounds cool.

[@jorgegarnica9674]

@@thatdamnguy9566Theyre going to sell Kurts original Jag-Stangs??? I bet it would sell over 1 million dollars

[@franciscoavila6526]

@@jorgegarnica9674 nope, just going to resell the model, not Kurts one

[@jorgegarnica9674]

@@franciscoavila6526 oh

[@mathewgooding5339]

I have the VOS (Road Worn) version. I Pre-ordered it and received it on release day (UK). I love it. Not an easy guitar to play if you want to use the Volume & Tone Controls; which I do a lot on my other guitars. Still it's more than a guitar to me. It represents my teenage years. It's going nowhere!

[@DeepGreenOsaka]

This is a really interesting video and thanks for making it. I reckon that Martin Jenner had more than one of these modified Jaguars. The one he's playing in the video has a different bridge as well. It looks like he's either using the stock Jaguar bridge or it's a Mustang bridge. Kurt's Jaguar had a tune-o-matic bridge. Though he could've bought the guitar and swapped out the bridge. I still can't believe he bought that Jaguar for $300. It seems almost unheard of.

[@number1armzfan629]

I love how in the end when he said cancer he showed a picture of courtney love

[@SecretsofRock]

Oops, did I do that?

[@youcallitacid]

@@SecretsofRock fair enough if she actually told you to "fuck off" just because you were doing (excellent) research on an instrument. how can someone be so bitter?

[@DownButNotOutYet]

@@youcallitacid That's because she cannot stand anything to do with Nirvana, she hated that period where they were more famous than her, she is a textbook narcissist.

[@joshshrum2764]

She definitely was a cancer alright, she used her charm to ruin Kurt, and in Montage Of Heck, she says she felt bad for what she did yeah right you sneaky snake you know she’s slimey like that, though she was basically a female him shame it wasn’t a lovely relationship just painful.

[@joshshrum2764]

@@DownButNotOutYet Which is funny because she’s basically a female Kurt, and her band sounds like female Nirvana, so a big copycat to.

[@murdermuseum8280]

I love the Courtney Love pix that pops up at the end when he says cancer. well played well played.

[@audiowithdrawl5948]

Awesome video, love the editing! Appreciate you taking the time to make this content dude keep going

[@SecretsofRock]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[@tonyfknb3896]

The teen spirit on violin in the background is a nice touch

[@SwoopBoozer]

Just noticed the background music :) Nice detail. Great Video, Keep up the great work!

[@mikenoface]

My guess on the neck mystery, is that the guitar is indeed a 66 hence the block inlays shown by the original owner. During the CBS/Transition era, they sometimes used parts made previously and slapped them on newer bodies. Since lefties were more rare, it was probably a one off or custom order for a 65 jag that had a Strat size headstock. The original owner kept the Block inlay 66 neck, and slapped the 65 neck on the 66 body before it was sold to Kurt.

[@royfablooo2810]

Jaguar is my dream Guitar one day I'll buy that.

[@justinkrann7406]

IM THE OWNER!!! ITS ME!!!!

[@jq.guitars]

In 1981, Martin Jenner replaced the neck with the one we all know. Bound with dots. There were a couple mods done after Kurt acquired it. Probably the tune o matic bridge, Gotoh tuners in 1992, and then the bridge pickup was replaced with a JB in 1994.

[@seanconnors1613]

The second I heard that whispered "Mysterious" I subscribed

[@SecretsofRock]

Rad! Thanks, I want to get these videos as accurate as possible and have some fun.

[@lengendaryleo3578]

I love the classical version of Smells Like Teen Spirit playing in the background. It give the video an air of sophistication.

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks, that's what I thought too.

[@standinsilence]

@@SecretsofRock I love the animated mouth you put on KCs guitar tech. That took this video to a whole new level.

[@ash_aiden]

Lmaoo

[@theway550]

This is a masterpiece. Super interesting detective mystery!!! Well done!

[@SecretsofRock]

Seriously thanks! If there are other guitars you'd like to see a video about let me know.

[@legatomodi3522]

Am I the only one who saw David spade in that mural at 3:20 ?

[@JM-bg2ts]

That mural looked like David Spade not Kurt lol

[@SecretsofRock]

That's all part of the fun.

[@BooBooGlue1]

I was laughing my a$$ off when I saw Joe Dirt

[@SecretsofRock]

@@BooBooGlue1 That's exactly why I used it. saw and couldn't stop laughing.

[@FATMIKED5183]

You're very astute.

[@jvnande]

Yep

[@Robixino]

really enjoyed the video, hope you keep doing more !

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks, I just released one on Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat.

[@rageflash9]

love the series..please do Kurt's Vandalism strat next

[@SecretsofRock]

It's in the works.

[@andredegiant3876]

I like this edgier side of Five Watt World. "And then Gibson told Fender to f--- it's own mother with a yard rake, but this was 1962: there were no yard rakes"

[@spidermanfan.3161]

2:39 of course that one being my most personal favorite out of the 3 guitars of the nevermind era and our of Kurt’s guitars and arsenal ^‿^

[@jsdhesmith2011]

That was pretty special. Thanks

[@SecretsofRock]

Wow thanks! Glad you like it.

[@notplaying2379]

The best way to explain Cliff Richard is that in the late 50s and early 60s he was a British copy of Elvis, backed by The Shadows, who were a cool and very influential instrumental band. At this point Cliff was cool, one of the first Fender Stratocasters in Britain was bought by Cliff and used by the guitar hero Hank Marvin. As the decades went on Cliff became a cheesy pop star (see "Wired for sound") still selling millions and known as the Peter Pan of pop. In the 80s and 90s, his Christian faith influenced his music, Cliff would become king of the Christmas pop charts. Kurt Kobain's jag coming from Cliff's session guitarist is quite a juxtaposition.

[@MrThedenneboom]

What a video!! Thank you for making this! Super professional! I subbed :)) can’t wait for more!

[@SecretsofRock]

Wow thanks!

[@mikeet207]

Anyone else think the Kurt building mural more closely resembles David Spade than Kurt Cobain?

[@chrisshaw2754]

Thats the point. The quote is wrong also.

[@michaelwoods9005]

A neil young quote attributed to Kurt Cobain next to a portrait of David Spade. It's hilarious 🤣

[@jackattack2421]

@@michaelwoods9005 Kurt quoted his quote in his suicide note, but yeah I get your point

[@DrNooooooo]

Great video. I own the NOS Cobain jaguar and it is a dream to play. Best guitar ever. Also, I believe he also switched out the bridge as well but that was all he did besides the tape.

[@SecretsofRock]

I've played a road worn version and it was rad, definitely has a vibe.

[@pisi_insight]

3:26 the fact that david spade was painted along side a kurt cobain quote is just hilarious

[@LewisOfAranda]

An absolutely splendid job. Instant subscribe.

[@SecretsofRock]

Wow thanks!

[@enriquepastor3626]

Great video my friend!!!

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks, I'm still surprised anyone is watching these and I'm super thankful for it!

[@19Springfield01]

Amazing video thank you!!

[@SecretsofRock]

Glad you liked it!

[@fernandoreynaaguilar1438]

I've played fender's replica of this. The aged or worn version. It definitely has mojo.

[@SecretsofRock]

So true, I had the same experience with one.

[@VanishedPNW]

Beautiful, beautiful guitar. He had good taste in guitars, I just love the look of those iconic Fender designs. So 60s, they sound just like they look. Oh, baby, especially in burst.

[@TheCanadianFire]

Lovin these guitar histories

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks! They're fun to make...and also grueling.

[@TheCanadianFire]

@@SecretsofRock I can imagine. Just know that the hard work is definitely appreciated! Learning things I've wanted to know for 25 years haha

[@jonnyhafer936]

Don't forget Kurt grew up with his aunt who was a devoted Christian and play worship music. It was her garage studio which Kurt made his original recordings. Because of Kurt's love for his aunt I'm sure he wouldn't have cared that a Christian guitar player owned it. He would probably be pumped it was used in Everly brothers. As for the neck maybe it was a carvin neck. Or what ever warmoth was called back then alsoshecter made strat copy parts originally.

[@eyedunno8462]

The most logical explanation is the 24" bound dot inlay lefty neck was a custom job by Fender as they had the catalog and resources to do so. The rest are readily available aftermarket modifications any halfway competent guitar tech or enthusiast can do. The truth is sometimes ordinary and boring.

[@bigsamthescrapman6995]

I had no idea when I clicked on this video I’d see my hometown mentioned or footage from the theatre I worked in for years: Chichester Festival Theatre. Dear old Cliff-he started off as a rock and roll type in the sixties and got progressively more Christian as the years go on.

[@AverageHuman7026]

Who else took a screen shot of that photo of guitar legends in the intro and zoomed in to find all the players?

[@hdsg8361]

Amazing video keep going !!!!

[@SecretsofRock]

Thank you! Will do!

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks I just posted a new one on Billie Joe Armstrong's guitar.

[@taokichavez9319]

really nice video, thanks for sharing :D

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks for watching!

[@edouglaspratt]

​Thank you SoR for a great video. Will we ever find the real Jaguar? The Jagmaster? Others that can be verified as the real deal"? In 1978 a friend gave me his old electric guitar when he was moving. He said it was a "very good guitar". But the case was falling apart and I was a Delta Blues and Folk Rock musician and all mine were acoustic guitars (including a 1936 National Duolian). What did I know? This gift went under my bed until 2010 when I joined an electric rockin' garage band. The gift guitar didn't seem to work right... After a few weeks I took it in to Guitar Center for a check up. What did I know? Within minutes three staff were clustered around the open case, mouths agape. "What year is this?" they asked. Turns out I had been given a 100% original 1963 Epiphone Casino. Worth between a lot and "really extremely" lot of money. So, have faith. There are Guitarcheologists all over searching under beds in small towns, closets and attics, in urban warehouses and back rooms, for well-hidden vintage instruments. Many vintage treasures have already been found, yes, but it's a big world. And the internet is connecting lots of curious seekers with esoteric networks. So my hopes are realistic but undaunted. What do I know? -Doug Pratt, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

[@reimereason]

I've been wondering for years who inherited Kurdt's Jag, but never could seem to find an answer. After watching this video (which made my day, by the way), I'm still left wondering where my fave guitar is today. Hard to believe it's unknown.

[@321doucheface]

seems like the dude from hole ended up with it. he used it in the doll parts video several months after kurt died and it seems to have disappeared from public view since then. you'd think if courtney had it she'd have paraded it around at least once or twice.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

My favorite guitar of his. I will own one one day goddammit! And you sir, have a wonderful voice.

[@ultimatenirvanatribute]

Nobody will ever know what happened to that jaguar. I just hope whoever has it actually plays it and takes care of it. I know I would.

[@SecretsofRock]

Same here

[@edouglaspratt]

​@@SecretsofRock In 1978 a friend gave me his old electric guitar when he was moving. He said it was a good guitar. But the case was falling apart and I was a Delta Blues and Folk Rocker, all acoustic guitars (including a 1936 National Duolian). This gift went under my bed until 2010 when I joined an electric rockin' garage band. The guitar didn't seem to work right...what did I know? After a few weeks I took in to Guitar Center for a check up. Within minutes three staff were clustered around the open case, mouths agape. "What year is this?" they asked. Turns out I had been given a 100% original 1963 Epiphone Casino. Worth between a lot and a real lot of money. So, have faith. There are Guitarcheologists all over searching under beds in small towns, closets and attics, to find hidden vintage instruments. Many vintage treasures have been found, yes, but it's a big world. And the internet is connecting lots of curious seekers with esoteric networks. So my hopes are realistic but undaunted. -Doug Pratt, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

[@timothykaras1837]

This really cool and well put together. Maybe you could try to make a history video on Billie Joe Armstrong’s “Blue”

[@SecretsofRock]

Great idea! Will do.

[@timothykaras1837]

@@SecretsofRock Kick ass! 🤘

[@TCS_Aquatics]

@@SecretsofRock Yes please do this!!!

[@ill_hex8103]

@@SecretsofRock Especially since there’s mystery around his guitar too. It’s known as a “Fernandez Stratocaster” but the timeline of Fernandez making Strat knock-offs and when Billie got his own is offset (I also think the pickup configuration was unique for its model). Also, the person who did buy it for him is somewhat of a mystery, as it’s constantly misquoted as to who it was, either being his mom or his guitar teacher. Others say it was his late father, but it’s been clear that his father gifted him his first guitar, which wasn’t the Strat. PS: I think his mom bought it since his guitar teacher told him to modify the guitar with the JB pickup, which he likely could’ve done on his own before gifting it to Billie.

[@SecretsofRock]

I just posted a video on "Blue", check it out.

[@carsonyuh]

Make more of these, please

[@SecretsofRock]

Will do. I just posted a new video about Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat. Post in the comments any famous guitars you'd like to see a video about.

[@TwistedStrummer]

3:26 What's with the painting of David Spade??

[@Al-jg5ym]

Could you imagine being a bedroom guitarist , modifying your guitar then selling it later on for it become one of the most famous and desirable guitars in music history

[@coaltin2449]

Had me with that “It probably was Martin” jumpscare

[@timberwolf27]

*omfg* , I sat through all that and you didn't do a section on the Jagstang................ Left a like anyway

[@chrismcgirr1]

Great video, thanks! I fell in love with that guitar in the early 90's, and now almost 30 years later I'm fortunate enough to own one of the stock versions. It's such a beautiful thing.

[@leehawkins616]

I used to buy guitar magazines back in the 90's. I remember one Nirvana issue where Kurts Jag is described as a 'Jag-Stang'. A Jaguar body with a Mustang neck. How accurate that is, but until seeing this video I had it filed as 'fact' in my head for the last 30 years. It's possible I still have the magazine, but I'm not sure I'll every deliberately look for it. If I find it in my junk at any point I'll post the article, but please don't hold your breath. :-)

[@321doucheface]

kurt worked with fender to create the jag-stang but that happened after he became famous. he wrong them a letter where he had cut a photo of a jaguar and a mustang in half and glued them together as a "prototype" and sent it to them. can you imagine if they had taken that seriously before he got famous? lol. anyway he got the guitar in this video long before then.

[@leehawkins616]

@@321doucheface Thanks, and you are right of course. Don't know why I didn't just google it before I posted. I did after the fact but didn't get around to replying :-)

[@yungb00fpacc65]

Great video. Earned a subscriber for sure

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks. Let me know what other famous guitars you'd like to see a video about.

[@songjan_]

Awesome 👍

[@SecretsofRock]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@freshpack8928]

I didn’t know david spade was such a Cobain fan.

[@777Lateralus]

According to lanegan, Kurt gave him a Jaguar to pawn for h

[@pbrice1215]

The orchestral cover is a nice touch

[@mattm8689]

Why does Kurt look like David Spade when talking about the Jaguar?

[@HaohanH7BranDy]

My first fender guitar. It’s too heavy for me and hard to adjust the truss rod. Love the sound! So I normally use a Strat.

[@teerboyd]

Correct me if i'm wrong but Kurt is smashing a sunburst Jag in the end in the "Smells like teen spirit" videoclip. He breaks the neck off and swings the body around. Could explain why his guitar had a different neck.

[@Ghetto-Yeti]

In 1992, I bought a black (custom color for that year and one of the only black vintage jags I’ve ever seen. The neck was a 1967 bound and block with only the fender logo. It did not say Jaguar. It was also bought from fender when the B&B necks became available. Written in pen along w the standard fender date it said lake placid blue although it was definitely black. I’ve also seen other matching headstock custom color jags from the 60s w only the fender logo and no Jag sticker. I’ve seen a lot of 66 necks with only the binding and dot inlays. Maybe the neck on Kurt’s jag was something like that… the original owner bought it and had it customized like mine was. I know in addition to wanting the bound and block and matching headstock they also bought the neck rather than having it regretted. The strat size headstock was perhaps just a preference and duosonics have the same scale as a jag and the strat size head stock. Who knows? So many possibilities.

[@ayberkgokdemir3234]

Great video

[@SecretsofRock]

Thanks, I've got more coming soon.

[@Ilovecats1236]

Definitely late to the party here but I'd say it was a custom neck made by Warmoth, a Luthier or some other custom shop. Martin probably got the neck replaced due to fret wear and it's quite expensive to get a refret on a block inlay fretboard. The mods on this guitar are far too rare for it to be anything else.

[@FcknAwsm]

I bought this guitar, the KC model left handed and it was put together as it were right handed. I was so pissed. You'd think for 1k+$ guitar they would've inspected it a bit more better. The bridge and nut was upside down and they included a right-handed whammy bar.

[@SecretsofRock]

That's a bummer. Especially when you factor in the anticipation of getting such a cool guitar and then to get something that just ain't right.

[@Snow-jt4dd]

3:25 thats in linz (upper austria) right?

[@matthewbeach2952]

The mural at 3:41 looks more like David spade.

[@bzyboy3]

good video, probably just hold off on the background music lol