Fender Custom Shop Journeyman '63 Jaguar
The 2022 Fender Custom Shop Journeyman '63 Jaguar in Taos Turquoise — stock, as-delivered, before any mods touch it. Would you mod it or keep it as-is? Let me know in the comments, and stay tuned for the follow-up video where I get into the mods. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the 2022 Fender Custom Shop 1963 Jaguar Journeyman Relic takes center stage — stock Custom Shop parts, pickups, and components throughout — into the Benson Amps Monarch and Benson 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44, Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, Effectrode Tube Vibe, and Echo Fix EF-X3 all feature.
The Jaguar debuted in 1962 as Fender's top-of-the-line offset — more features, shorter scale, and more complex circuitry than anything else in the lineup at the time. Individual pickup on/off switches, a separate rhythm circuit with its own volume and tone thumbwheels, shielded pickups for reduced hum, a string mute, and a distinctive floating tremolo system. The 1963 Journeyman Relic recreates those originals faithfully, with the Journeyman Relic finish representing the middle ground in Fender Custom Shop's relic spectrum — played-in but not abused.
Full specs: Taos Turquoise Journeyman Relic nitrocellulose lacquer. 2-piece Select Alder body. Quarter-Sawn Maple neck with '62 Jaguar C profile (.820"-.900"). Round-Lam Rosewood fingerboard. 24" short scale. 9.5" radius. 22 narrow tall 6105 frets. Bone nut, 1.650" width. Handwound Custom Shop '62 Jaguar Flat Magnet pickups — shielded, hum-reduced. Individual pickup on/off switches. Lead circuit (Volume + Tone) and Rhythm circuit (two thumbwheel Volume + Tone) with circuit selector. Strangle switch (tone circuit bypass — explored at 09:43). Vintage-style floating tremolo. RSD Jaguar adjustable bridge. Vintage-style tuning machines.
The Strangle switch is explored at 09:43 — it bypasses the tone capacitor in the lead circuit, removing the high-frequency rolloff that the Jaguar's circuit inherently produces. The result is a brighter, more cutting top end that was considered an unusual feature in 1962 and remains one of the most distinctive sounds in the offset guitar world.
🎸 Fender Custom Shop: https://shop.fender.com
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
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🎸 2022 Fender Custom Shop '63 Jaguar Journeyman Relic | Taos Turquoise | Handwound '62 Jaguar Flat Magnet Pickups | Floating Tremolo | 24" Scale | Quarter-Sawn Maple | Stock
🎛️ R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44 | Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | Effectrode Tube Vibe | Echo Fix EF-X3
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Boss Waza TAE | Benson 2x12"
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
