Fender Jaguar (Sonic Blue)

Photo: M. S. Jones
Model: Fender Jaguar
Color: Sonic Blue
Year: 1962-1965

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Used in...

- 1997

- featured on the Be Here Now album artwork
Details

This gorgeous Jaguar made just a single known appearance: the photoshoot for the Be Here Now album cover, which took place at Stocks Manor House in Hertfordshire between 15 and 17 April 1997.1 As usual, the photographs were taken by Michael Spencer Jones.2

The guitar can be seen on the final cover, positioned right in front of Noel's Vox Conqueror cabinet, as well as in a few other outtakes. The finish is most likely Sonic Blue, complete with a matching headstock.

Various details provide a clue to the guitar's age. The Jaguar was introduced in Spring 1962, while Sonic Blue was a custom colour offered by Fender between 1960 and 1972.3 Like many Fender finishes of the period, it was originally an automotive paint (specifically DuPont Duco 2295), which Cadillac had used on several of its high-end models since 1956.4

Other features, such as the dot inlays on the neck and the tuners, suggest that this is a pre-1966 model. By mid-1966, Fender had introduced neck binding and replaced the dot inlays with pearloid blocks.5 Around the same time, the Kluson tuners were also replaced by the cheaper "F"-stamped tuning machines.6
So, where did this guitar end up?

The fact that the Sonic Blue Jaguar has never been seen before or since the Be Here Now photoshoot could suggest that it was simply loaned or hired, along with the various other props used for the cover.

However, there's another theory that might explain its disappearance.7 In a 2025 interview, audio engineer Nick Brine recalled:8

"Noel had said something about him in the papers and Liam kicked off. I'm in Abbey Road's famous Studio Two setting up equipment and hungover myself, then looking up I saw a guitar come flying over from the control room. It was Noel's Fender Jag and it smashed to bits. I ran to the control room and Liam also made a big dent in Abbey Road's mixing desk."

As fascinating as that story is, I'm not convinced the timeline adds up. The Abbey Road sessions took place in late 1996, whereas the artwork photoshoot wasn't until April 1997. By then, the album had already been completed and was ready to be mastered later that month.9

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This is a fansite. It is not affiliated with Noel Gallagher, his management or his record label.
For informational and non-commercial use only. Please do NOT publish this content elsewhere.
If you share or use this information, please provide proper credit and link to the website.
I appreciate your respect for the years of dedicated, freely available research!
Visit the “Info & About” page for contact details and more.
Thanks!

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GO BACK TO THE COMPLETE lIST
  1. Supersonic: The Oasis Photographs – Michael Spencer Jones, 2016 ↩︎
  2. https://www.spellboundgalleries.com/shop/ ↩︎
  3. Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970 – Martin Kelly, Terry Foster, Paul Kelly, 2011 ↩︎
  4. https://www.vintageguitar.com/24640/fender-custom-colors-in-the-1960s/ ↩︎
  5. The Fender Book – Tony Bacon & Paul Day, 1992 ↩︎
  6. The Fender Book – Tony Bacon & Paul Day, 1992 ↩︎
  7. thanks to reader Brian for pointing me to the interview! ↩︎
  8. https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/how-the-oasis-engineer-got-the-wonderwall-guitar ↩︎
  9. https://www.oasis-recordinginfo.co.uk/the-mastering-plan-mike-marsh-on-mastering-be-here-now.html ↩︎

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