Owing some roots to the Jazzmaster, it was introduced in 1962 as Fender's feature-laden top-of-the-line model, designed to lure players from Gibson.

During its initial 13-year production run, the Jaguar did not sell as well as the less expensive Stratocaster and Telecaster, and achieved its most noticeable popularity in the surf music scene.

[6] In the 1990s the popularity of the Jaguar and Jazzmaster exploded after they were used by guitarists such as Scott Hill, John Squire,[7] Kurt Cobain (for whom a signature model was introduced),[8] Kevin Shields, Black Francis, J Mascis, Brian Molko, Rowland S. Howard,[9] Thurston Moore, John Frusciante, Will Sergeant[10] and Johnny Marr (who has a signature model).

Additionally, by strumming the strings behind the bridge, a characteristic chiming sound can be created,[2] an effect which has been exploited by artists like Sonic Youth.

[citation needed] In the late 2000s, Fender began to offer limited editions of the AVRI models from a few of their more-popular retailers, with these specific variants being referred to as the Thin Skin series.

These were almost identical to the production AVRI models, with the exception of their finish options and the inclusion of matching headstocks, a 9.5" fretboard radius instead of the vintage-accurate 7.25", and jumbo fretwire.

These models were available in a number of Custom Colors, and, unlike the standard production '62 Jaguars, these did feature matching headstocks.

The AV Series included more vintage-accurate appointments, such as more accurate decals, thinner cases (as would be found with original 1950s/60s models), a new 'flash' finishing process, updated neck profiles, pickups, tuners, and vintage-reproduction paperwork and manuals.

The 1965 Jaguar features a bound rosewood fingerboard with larger pearloid dot inlays, a slightly larger C profile, new, more vintage-accurate pickups, a thinner finish, no amber tint in the clear coat on the neck, and ships with a black tolex case with a red plush interior.

Fender did offer a limited production run of the '65 Jaguar in Ice Blue Metallic, which did feature a matching headstock.

This Classic Player guitar is also available as a "1966" limited-edition version with a bound neck featuring rectangular block inlays and CBS-style decals as of 2009.

Other refinements include a maple neck with a 9.5"-radius rosewood fingerboard, 22 medium-jumbo frets, 24"-scale length, a stop tailpiece and a three-way toggle switch.

[citation needed] The Jaguar was built from ideas first incorporated in the Jazzmaster, with a similar "offset waist" body and vibrato unit.

The Jaguar and the Jazzmaster also shared a dual-circuit setup, one circuit for lead and another for rhythm, each with separate controls, allowing for two preset tone and volume settings between which the guitarist could rapidly switch.

The rhythm circuit, set into operation when the upper bout switch is flicked upwards, had individual volume and tone rollers but no option to choose between pickups.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar in 2012, Fender released a USA-made model that featured a C-shaped maple neck with lacquer finish and vintage-style truss rod, bound 9.5"-radius rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid block inlays, a modified one-degree neck-angle-pocket cut to improve pitch, a re-positioned tremolo plate to increase bridge break angle to prevent string slippage and increased sustain, a custom neckplate and specially designed hotter wound single-coil neck and bridge pickups for fatter tone and more output.

The 50th Anniversary Jaguar was available in three Custom Colors: Burgundy Mist Metallic, Candy Apple Red, and Lake Placid Blue.

This model was manufactured for Guitar Center as a Fender Special Run and came in Blizzard Pearl or Metallic Surf Green.

Has the same body shape as the standard Jaguar, but is equipped with two low-output Fender designed Dragster humbucking pickups, a fixed Adjust-o-matic bridge (similar to a Gibson Tune-o-matic), a 24" scale length, and chrome knobs.

Similar to the Jaguar HH, except that it has fewer switching options, and a longer 27" scale length (as opposed to the normal 24"), and is designed to be tuned a fourth below a standard guitar (B E A D F# B, low to high).

It has a fixed bridge, a 28.5" scale length and heavier strings (the same set as the slightly longer Bass VI) to achieve an E–E tuning one octave lower than a standard guitar.

[19][20] As part of "Pawn Shop Series" Fender released this hybrid model featuring a traditional Jaguar body with an HSS pickup configuration.

The guitar has an alder body, a maple neck and a pau ferro fretboard with a modern 9.5 inch radius.

[21] In 2019, Squier released a slightly upgraded version to the discontinued Vintage Modified Jaguar, this time as part of the Classic Vibe series.

The 60th anniversary American Original Jaguar features a bound rosewood fingerboard inlaid with pearloid block position markers and matching painted headstock.

This guitar also sports an alder body with nitrocellulose lacquer finish, lead/rhythm circuit, "F" tuners, Jaguar tremolo system with adjustable string mute and comes with an engraved neck plate with a 60th anniversary logo.

Other features include an augmented D-shape maple neck with a 10–14-inch compound radius ebony fingerboard, 22 stainless steel frets, locking all-shortpost tuning machines, TUSQ nut and a string-through Adjust-O-Matic stop tailpiece.