
Nirvana's iconic frontman codesigned this hybrid with the Custom Shop in 1993 and now it sees a wide release.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announced the global launch of the Kurt Cobain Jag-StangĀ® guitar,commemorating the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's influential record "Nevermind." The Signature Jag-StangĀ® guitar is a reissue of the legendary performer's own custom model, which included a combination of his favorite elements from his FenderĀ® JaguarĀ® and MustangĀ® guitars. The Kurt Cobain Jag-StangĀ® guitar design genesis can be traced back to Cobain's personal journals filled with photo collages and drawings of his idea for a hybrid of the JaguarĀ® and MustangĀ® guitar.
These detailed sketches of Cobain's dream FenderĀ® guitar drawn in 1993 are brought to life in this 2021 revival.
The guitar is built to Cobain's meticulous specifications, using vintage-style single-coil and custom humbucking pickups, a 24" scale length that gives the guitar a feel and playability that is characteristic of the MustangĀ® guitar, which Kurt preferred, and of course, the iconic body shape.
Available in both right and left-handed models to honor the legendary left-handed player himself, the Kurt Cobain Jag-StangĀ® fits all of his playing preferences for those looking to emulate his iconic stage style.
"Ever since I started playing, I've always liked certain things about certain guitars but could never find the perfect mix of everything I was looking for" said the late Kurt Cobain in a 1994 Fender Frontline interview. "The Jag-StangĀ® is the closest thing I know."
One of the most influential rock musicians of all time, Cobain's impact has influenced guitarists and musicians throughout pop culture. As the front man of the Grammy Award-winning band Nirvana, Cobain was a creative force to be reckoned with: delivering generation-defining anthems from their first album Bleach to their final release, In Utero. Many of music culture's greatest used the re-release of the Jag-StangĀ® guitar to pay tribute to Cobain's legacy:
"After the 80s placed a focus on excess and technical guitar ability, Kurt blew through the barriers to entry to become a musician or start a band," said Gerard Way, singer, songwriter and co-founder of My Chemical Romance. "He embodied a collective frustration with the elitist obstacles to guitar players, and encouraged all of us to pick up an instrument and go for it ā no matter what kind of training you had, no matter how many solos you were able to play. To me, that's rock and roll. Kurt and Nirvana brought the underground into the public consciousness with heart, rebellion, and authenticity; the world needed these things on a mass scale.""After getting their first single and their Bleach album, I was a Nirvana fan before I even saw them live," said J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. "They didn't disappoint ā they were hard, heavy, and manic. We toured together in 1991 ā after we played the Warfield in San Francisco, I was really sick lying on the couch backstage. Kurt came up and hugged me ā he was psyched up on the show, especially on the song Sludgefeast that we played. I wasn't much of a hugger at the time, but I needed one. Thanks Kurt."
"Kurt's style felt like a reaction to the overindulgence of the '80s," said Joe Trohman, guitarist of Fall Out Boy. "Through his playing, I was exposed to this strange intersection where noise rock and pop music could meet and get along. So, Cobain was definitely a gateway player. And, similarly to how he felt about his Jag-Stang, my Tele is also a Frankenstein, of sortsāācobbled together from my favorite guitar bits. It's important to have an instrument you're comfortable with that can do what you need it to do."
"Kurt was the first guitar player that I really recognized as a "defier" of norms,'' said singer-songwriter John J. McCauley of Deer Tick. "It must have been MTV or one of the college stations in Providence. I was pretty young. Aside from Kurt's guitar playing, it was really all the hooks and his incredible voice that captivated me. I was a big Beatles nerd kid and Nirvana was like their heaviest moments on steroids. In Utero was the first album I owned by Nirvana. I had never heard anything like "Scentless Apprentice" before. That album and those tracks really helped me open my mind to more experimental music."
"Kurt's playing inspired me in a lot of ways, from the attitude in his playing and use of power chords, to his more pluck-focused and interesting riffs like in Come As You Are or All Apologies," said singer-songwriter Beabadoobee. "He also played in Drop D a lot and that was cool to try - it got me into playing around with tunings which I do all the time now. I agree with what Kurt said about loving guitars, but always wanting to change something small. It's a hard mix to get right, but there's a few guitars I really love. The Jag-Stang is a really nice fusion and I love what Kurt did with it!"
"Nevermind was basically my music teacher," said Luke Boerdam of Violent Soho, "I've never needed a guitar lesson since. That album underpinned how I related to writing and music⦠it wasn't just an influence, it was the influence. To me Nirvana made it "okay" not to know heaps of chords, or practice your scales. It was all about raw energy, feel and tension with their music. It's 100% important to have a guitar that can help you build a mental picture of things you need to make your songs work and what you like."
"Though Kurt's performance and playing style seems quite simple, his sound had an unrivaled persuasiveness and vitality that penetrated through our emotions," said Jean-Ken Johnny, guitarist and vocalist of Japan's MAN WITH A MISSION. "Listening to Nirvana was an eye-opening experience for me. He made me realize the importance of expressing one's emotions through music and guitar, rather than overwhelming audiences with technique. It showed me the potential guitar has to reveal and amplify emotions to a greater length. His performances changed the way I listen to music, and had great influence on the music I chose to pursue."
The heartfelt vocals, distorted power chords and raw energy of Cobain's music with Nirvana launched the grunge movement and inspired countless other artists for years to come. Later generations have also come to appreciate Cobain's progressive politics, as he publicly took positions against racism and homophobia that were well ahead of the social norms of the day. Since his passing, Kurt Cobain has been named one of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists, 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
Cobain was seen playing a variety of FenderĀ® guitars over the years, but his FenderĀ® JaguarĀ® and MustangĀ® remain the most iconic due to their use on the "Nevermind" tour and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video. The Jag-StangĀ® guitar ā designed by Cobain himself ā combined his favorite elements of each of these guitars into a custom FenderĀ® creation. Cobain played his own Jag-StangĀ® live several times on the In Utero tour before his untimely passing. But much like Cobain's legacy, the guitar lived on after being given to R.E.M guitarist Peter Buck, who used it in several of the band's videos.
Exploring the Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang | Artist Signature Series | Fender
"When we took a look at the sketches Kurt Cobain had drawn up for his dream guitar, we were impressed by how intricate his design was. We honored the original model - all the specs on the new Jag StangĀ® are as they were. Nothing new was done to it, we really wanted to keep it aligned with Kurt's vision. Through our long-standing relationship with the Kurt Cobain Estate, we always knew we wanted to bring his vision to life. It's been an immense honor to help bring his idea to fruition and revive this model," said Justin Norvell, EVP of Fender Products.
The Kurt Cobain Jag-StangĀ® guitarcomes in Fiesta Red and Sonic Blue finishes and all the specs on the new Jag-StangĀ® are as they were in Kurt's original model, honoring his creation. The guitar features an alder body, 24" short scale length, 7.25" and radius rosewood fingerboard. Additionally, the vintage-style single-coil and custom humbucking pickups allow players to recreate Cobain's classic tones. The MustangĀ® guitar slider switches provide the flexibility to dial in four distinct settings for a variety of in or out-of-phase tones - perfect for replicating Kurt's punchy guitar sounds. The Kurt Cobain Jag-StangĀ® guitar is available in both right and left-handed models.
Originally designed by Kurt Cobain and the Fender Custom Shopā¢, the guitar was dialed in and finalized right before the time of Cobain's passing. Although only used live at a few of Nirvana's last shows, the documentation of this personalized guitar is preserved in his personal journals, made public after his passing. The pages here are scanned from the book, "Kurt Cobain Journals" published by Riverhead Books (2002), which reprinted the pages. These sketches not only illustrate the history of the Kurt Cobain designed Jag-StangĀ® but are also incredible pieces of history epitomizing the relationship between Cobain and Fender.
In celebration of the Jag-StangĀ® release, fans can learn to play iconic Kurt Cobain songs on the Jag-StangĀ® guitar inside Fender PlayĀ®, the complete learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele. "Artist Spotlight: Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)" features lessons to Nirvana songs such as In Bloom, Polly, Something In the Way, Pennyroyal Tea, Sliver and more.
Street price: $1,249.
In true tradition, the FenderĀ® Artist Signature Series honors iconic musicians through product progression and storytelling, creating instruments inspired by the unique specifications of the world's greatest guitarists and bassists. Watch History In A Hot Minute: The Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang for a deep dive into the building of this iconic instrument. Watch as Nick Reinhart digs into the exciting features from the Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang. Additional info on the Kurt Cobain Jag-StangĀ® guitar and product descriptions are available here. Product, lifestyle and artist images can be found here.
For technical specs, additional information on new Fender products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender.
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Lutefish, the real-time music collaboration device and platform, is excited to announce a suite of new features designed to simplify setup, streamline collaboration, and offer more flexible subscription options for Lutefish Stream users. These latest updates, Audio Presets, Automatic Session Recall, Improved Scheduling with Contact Visibility, and a new Yearly Subscription Plan, are all about making it easier than ever for musicians to jam together, no matter where theyāre based.
Save Time and Stay in the Flow with Audio Presets & Session Recall
Musicians can now save and reuse their exact audio settings, reducing setup time and ensuring every session sounds exactly as they want.
- Automatic Session Recall: When users leave a session, their current audio levels are automatically saved and restored when they rejoin.
- User-Defined Audio Presets: Each user can create and name up to five custom presets, like āBand Practice,ā āStudio Mic Setup,ā or āQuick Jam,ā making it effortless to jump back in with the perfect sound.
āThese tools are all about saving time and hassle,ā said Patrick Finn, Business Manager at Lutefish. āMusicians want to make music, not spend time rebalancing levels every session. With presets and recall, weāre giving them time back and helping them sound their best, every time.ā
Smarter Scheduling and Contact Visibility
The latest update to Lutefish also made it easier to find collaborators and book sessions. Users can now:- View all their contacts at a glance when scheduling a session.
- Instantly identify which contacts own a Lutefish Stream deviceāso they will always know whoās ready to jam.
Go Yearly and Save 20%
Lutefish now offers a Yearly Subscription Plan, providing users with the same great access as the monthly plan at a 20% discount.
This option is now available within the Lutefish app and web platform, and current monthly users are eligible for a discount with an upgrade to a yearly subscription.
Lutefishās mission has always been to empower musicians to connect and collaborate without boundaries. With these new updates, Lutefish Stream continues to break down barriersāwhether youāre jamming with a friend across town or collaborating with a bandmate 500 miles away.
For more information and to start jamming today, visitlutefish.com.
The veteran Florida-born metalcore outfit proves that you donāt need humbuckers to pull off high gain.
Last August, metalcore giants Poison the Well gave the world a gift: They announced they were working on their first studio album in 15 years. They unleashed the first taste, single āTrembling Level,ā back in January, and set off on a spring North American tour during which they played their debut record, The Opposite of December⦠A Season of Separation, in full every night.
PGās Perry Bean caught up with guitarists Ryan Primack and Vadim Taver, and bassist Noah Harmon, ahead of the bandās show at Nashvilleās Brooklyn Bowl for this new Rig Rundown.
Brought to you by DāAddario.Not-So-Quiet As a Mouse
Primack started his playing career on Telecasters, then switched to Les Pauls, but when his prized LPs were stolen, he jumped back to Teles, and now owns nine of them.
His No. 1 is this white one (left). Seymour Duncan made him a JB Model pickup in a single-coil size for the bridge position, while the neck is a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Staggered. He ripped out all the electronics, added a Gibson-style toggle switch, flipped the control plate orientation thanks to an obsession with Danny Gatton, and included just one steel knob to control tone. Primack also installed string trees with foam to control extra noise.
This one has Ernie Ball Papa Hetās Hardwired strings, .011ā.050.
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Primack runs both a PRS Archon and a Bad Cat Lynx at the same time, covering both 6L6 and EL34 territories. The Lynx goes into a Friedman 4x12 cab thatās been rebadged in honor of its nickname, āDonkey,ā while the Archon, which is like a ārefined 5150,ā runs through an Orange 4x12.
Ryan Primackās Pedalboard
Primackās board sports a Saturnworks True Bypass Multi Looper, plus two Saturnworks boost pedals. The rest includes a Boss TU-3w, DOD Bifet Boost 410, Caroline Electronics Hawaiian Pizza, Fortin ZUUL +, MXR Phase 100, JHS Series 3 Tremolo, Boss DM-2w, DOD Rubberneck, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Walrus Slo, and SolidGoldFX Surf Rider III.
Taverās Teles
Vadim Taverās go-to is this cherryburst FenderĀ Telecaster, which he scored in the early 2000s and has been upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups on Primackās recommendation. His white Balaguer T-style has been treated to the same upgrade. The Balaguer is tuned to drop C, and the Fender stays in D standard. Both have DāAddario strings, with a slightly heavier gauge on the Balaguer.
Dual-Channel Chugger
Taver loves his 2-channel Orange Rockerverb 100s, one of which lives in a case made right in Nashville.
Vadim Taverās Pedalboard
Taverās board includes an MXR Joshua, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Empress Tremolo, Walrus ARP-87, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2w, and Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200, all powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.
Big Duff
Harmonās favorite these days is this Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, which heās outfitted with a Leo Quan Badass bridge. His backup is a Mexico-made Fender Classic Series ā70s Jazz Bass. This one also sports Primack-picked pickups.
Rental Rockers
Harmon rented this Orange AD200B MK III head, which runs through a 1x15 cab on top and a 4x10 on the bottom.
Noah Harmonās Pedalboard
Harmonās board carries a Boss TU-2, Boss ODB-3, MXR Dyna Comp, Darkglass Electronics Vintage Ultra, and a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus. His signal from the Vintage Ultra runs right to the front-of-house, and Harmon estimates that that signal accounts for about half of what people hear on any given night.
Kiesel Guitars has introduced their newest solid body electric guitar: the Kyber.
With its modern performance specs and competitive pricing, the Kyber is Kiesel's most forward-thinking design yet, engineered for comfort, quick playing, and precision with every note.
Introducing the Kiesel Kyber Guitar
- Engineered with a lightweight body to reduce fatigue during long performances without sacrificing tone. Six-string Kybers, configured with the standard woods and a fixed bridge, weigh in at 6 pounds or under on average
- Unique shape made for ergonomic comfort in any playing position and enhanced classical position
- The Kyber features Kiesel's most extreme arm contour and a uniquely shaped body that enhances classical position support while still excelling in standard position.
- The new minimalist yet aggressive headstock pairs perfectly with the body's sleek lines, giving the Kyber a balanced, modern silhouette.
- Hidden strap buttons mounted on rear for excellent balance while giving a clean, ultra-modern look to the front
- Lower horn cutaway design for maximum access to the upper frets
- Sculpted neck heel for seamless playing
- Available in 6 or 7 strings, fixed or tremolo in both standard and multiscale configurations Choose between fixed bridges, tremolos, or multiscale configurations for your perfect setup.
Pricing for the Kyber starts at $1599 and will vary depending on options and features. Learn more about Kieselās new Kyber model at kieselguitars.com
The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼ā input, XLR and ¼ā outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. Itās intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But donāt let that hold you back if youāre a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼ā phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry ā important for the instrument most responsible for the bandās groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).