The latest signature guitar from Fender has been unveiled, this time it has been designed by Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.While there is no release date for the model, specs of the Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar have been unveiled.
It has the traditional features that make Jaguar an iconic model, with non-standard features designed by Marr and his team, which reportedly took four years in the making.
They include a custom-wound Bare Knuckle Johnny Marr single-coil neck and bridge pickups and custom-shaped maple neck based on Marr’s 1965 Jaguar, with vintage-style truss rod and lacquer finish.
Marr’s signature also appears on the front of the headstock.
“I’ve taken all the aspects of the guitar in every direction I could, to improve it without losing the classic features that I liked from the original design,” the guitarist explained.
“It’s been a labour of love and obsession, and a privilege. I’ve used it for everything I’ve done since I started making it. It’s my perfect guitar.”
Two versions of the model will go on sale, one in Olympic White and the other Metallic KO, which has an orange tint, inspired by Marr’s favourite 60s-era Fenders. Other features include a four-position blade-style pickup switch, two upper-horn slide switches and Jaguar bridge with Mustang saddles, which give improved stability.
Like other Jaguars, the instrument has a 7.25-inch radius rosewood fingerboard with 22 vintage-style frets and master volume and tone controls.
Marr is known as one of the UK’s best guitarists, rising to fame with The Smiths in the 1980s and since playing with Modest Mouse and The Cribs.
It was his time with Modest Mouse in 2005 that he says he first had experience of playing the Jaguar, which suited the way he had evolved as a musician.
He said that while designing his signature model, Marr spent time ironing out the flaws he felt the original Jaguar had.