Description
Description & Specifications
1966 Fender Jaguar – Gold Sparkle “Prototype”
The Story
We are proud to present an extraordinary piece of Fender history. This remarkable 1966 Fender Jaguar comes from a prominent private collection and is 100% original, including its stunning factory Gold Sparkle finish and matching headstock. A truly one-of-a-kind, custom-made prototype, this Jaguar was previously owned by the son of the original recipient—and the provenance is nothing short of exceptional.
Included with the guitar is a letter that reads:
“Eddie Miller,” who co-wrote the classic “Release Me,” managed Artist Relations for Fender during the 1960s. I was hosting an early morning show on WSM-TV when Eddie gave me this Prototype Jaguar so it would be seen on air. I occasionally used it on the show and at gigs. In more recent years, my son Trey used it in his home studio. I hope its next owner will enjoy it as much as we did. – Ed Bruce
Ed Bruce was a legendary country singer-songwriter best known for penning hits like “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” Learn more about him here: Ed Bruce Wikipedia.
This guitar was gifted directly to Ed Bruce by Fender and later passed on to his son.
Originality & Condition
Prototype Features:
Factory Gold Sparkle finish with matching headstock
Genuine Mother of Pearl block inlays (first known use on a Fender instrument)
Pearloid pickguard
Made in Fullerton, California
Only two confirmed examples of the Gold Sparkle Jaguar are known to exist, making this one of the rarest custom instruments Fender ever produced. To say Sparkle finishes are rare is an understatement — Fender almost never used them. Unlike the well-known Fender Custom Color options, Sparkle finishes were not offered in any official catalog and were reserved for special orders or artist relations builds only. Contrary to popular myth, these finishes were applied in-house at Fender’s Fullerton factory—not outsourced.
This guitar features the original Gold Sparkle finish on both the body and headstock. The headstock retains its original transitional gold-and-black Fender logo decal, which is intact, with an attractive, natural fade. The factory “F” tuners are pristine and fully functional.
The bound neck is stamped “1JAN66B” and has its original frets, nut, and an Indian rosewood fretboard that shows only minimal wear. Most notably, the inlays are authentic Mother of Pearl—extremely rare for Fender, whose production models never used this material. In fact, we believe this is the earliest known Fender guitar with block inlays, a true indicator of its prototype status.
The original pearloid pickguard is another unique element. Standard production Jaguars never used pearloid guards. This one is made of the thickest 1965–1966 Fender-specific material and features a hand-taped shielding on the solid white back. All electronics, pickups, and wiring are 100% original and untouched—no broken solder joints, no re-winds.
Condition
This Jaguar is in near mint condition. The Gold Sparkle finish shows no fading, scratches, or dings. Chrome hardware is oxidation-free. The neck has minimal checking and virtually no wear. It is perfectly straight, and the guitar performs flawlessly. All parts are factory-original and impeccably preserved.
The guitar includes a copy of the original letter from Ed Bruce and comes in its original Fender hardshell case—with fully functioning latches and handle.
