Jag-Stang Colour

HinesBeans

Hello,

I wanted to know about the colour of your 'Sonic Blue' Jag-Stang. Mine is original CIJ 1997 'Sonic Blue'... but it is positively green and always has been. Looking at charts online I would say it fits the Fender 'Surf Green' colour. Is anyone else's like this?

Al(ex)

Technically only 'Sonic Blue' and 'Fiesta Red' were ever made. There may be some slight tint differences in different production runs but the vast majority of differences in color is down to the lighting.

Here's a few examples in the Registry where different photos of the same sonic blue guitar look to be different colors:
https://www.jag-stang.com/registry/guitarinfo/2184
https://www.jag-stang.com/registry/guitarinfo/2175
https://www.jag-stang.com/registry/guitarinfo/2202

Also if you just browse through the registry the sonic blue colors look all over the place.
https://www.jag-stang.com/registry/view

Also, we have this FAQ page on the site.
https://www.jag-stang.com/faq/jagstang/my-jagstang-is-not-sonic-blue-or-fiesta-red/

HinesBeans

Thanks Al(ex)
I'm aware how lighting can effect colours - it's my job. I've included a correctly balanced photo taken with a colour chart for accuracy. It also includes some references. I know these references are not to be trusted! But they are a starting point.

My intrigue with the colour of Jag-Stangs is more about why Fender sold these guitars as Sonic Blue, when it bares little resemblance to other Fender guitars which are Sonic Blue. I have seen some photos of Jag-Stangs looking a lot more blue, so I wonder if those photos are just incorrectly balanced, or if there was colour variance in different batches of the guitar.

I don't think my guitar is the 'wrong colour'. It fits Kurt's original request for 'Aqua green/blue like old mustangs'. However, it is nothing like any other 'Sonic Blue' Fender I have seen

Al(ex)

Even to this day the consistency of what Fender calls "sonic blue" can be up for question. Though it is more consistent than the past.

Here's a link to the US Fender shop with search term "sonic blue".
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/search?q=sonic+blue&lang=en_US

Scroll down to 'American Performer Telecaster' and 'American Performer Mustang' - and then go into the details for each.

They are calling this color 'satin sonic blue' which has the green tint to it. And it doesn't even match the color selector on the detail page. So who knows?? lol. I guess it's something to keep people talking anyway.

Al(ex)

Another thing to add .. if you compare the color of these American Performer guitars on the Fender Site vs Sweetwater...

They also look totally different. I give up.

HinesBeans

It really is amazing that 'the worlds largest guitar manufacturer' can have such inconsistencies between different lines of guitar. You would expect a Sonic Blue Strat to be the same as a Sonic blue Mustang, or Telecaster... but it's just not the case. I guess if anything, it gives their guitars more character. It does make me wonder if at some point someone accidentally used the wrong paint, which is why they have created this new 'Satin Sonic Blue' colour as an excuse to cover up an old mistake

HinesBeans

Three new Telecasters which are all 'Butterscotch' but very different. I guess colour inconsistency is just a Fender thing...

youtube.com/watch?v=QH1J-5reHco

Al(ex)

Haa! Good one!

JimmyBoom

I’ve thought this myself. Mine definately looks more “Surf Green” than “Sonic Blue.” From others that I’ve seen, the blue is way more pale and subtle, but mine has a pop to it. It may have been repainted (early 2000 eBay find) but I love the look anyway.

lithiumjq

I feel that maybe '97 Jag-Stangs are greener than other year Jag-Stangs.

'97 was the first year that Jag-Stangs, along with other Fender instruments, switched factories from FujiGen to Tokai. FujiGen Jag-Stangs are "Made In Japan", while Tokai read "Crafted in Japan".

I think it's the earlier Tokai Jag-Stangs that look green. I myself own a '97 Jag-Stang, and it is definitely green. I also own a Sonic Blue MIJ Mustang from 2009, and the MIJ Sonic Blue is much more blue than the CIJ Sonic Blue.

Al(ex)

There are over 450 sonic blue jag-stangs in our Registry. Many MIJs and many CIJs. The photos there don't really support a simple answer as such. You are welcome to try and find more support using that same info though.

You can view all the sonic blue jag-stangs in the Registry by going to the viewer: https://www.jag-stang.com/registry/view
And then filter by sonic blue.