Johnny Marr on reimagining the Fender Jaguar, the “biggest reunion ever,”

“Some people buy my signature Jaguar because of its reputation — not because they follow my music”: Johnny Marr on reimagining the Fender Jaguar, the “biggest reunion ever,” and why Nile Rodgers deserves far more recognition

Johnny Marr is one of the most widely connected guitarists of the last four decades. Many listeners first discovered him through The Smiths, but that was only the starting point. Over the years he has collaborated with a remarkably diverse range of artists — The Pretenders, Modest Mouse, The Cribs, The The, Hans Zimmer, and many more — always finding new ways to push the role of the guitar forward.

🔧 Revisiting Jaguar: reinventing a classic

When Marr and Fender launched his first signature Jaguar 13 years ago, it reflected the knowledge he had accumulated from years of recording sessions and life on the road. The instrument quickly became one of Fender’s most successful signature models.

In 2025, Marr expanded the concept with a new limited-edition Signature Special Jaguar — a model that stretches far beyond traditional Jag territory, adding tones reminiscent of Strats and even P-90-style sounds.

“My first signature covered a lot of ground,” Marr says. “But this one does even more — and without a single active circuit or battery. Some positions sound more rock-oriented, some are almost Strat-like, and with high gain it can deliver a surprising blues-rock character. That’s unusual for a Jag.”

He jokes that his third signature might be a shred machine.

🎸 Why a second signature?

Marr insists the new model isn’t meant to replace the original:

“The first one keeps selling and selling, which makes me proud. Musicians from all sorts of genres use it — not only indie players. The new version is for people who want something a bit more conventional in feel, like a different fretboard radius. It’s not an upgrade; it’s an alternative.”

🧩 Lipstick pickups, expanded switching — and honoring a legendary luthier

The Signature Special is also a tribute to Bill Puplett, Marr’s longtime guitar technician who passed away recently. Puplett was the one who introduced the idea of using lipstick pickups and helped shape the wiring layout.

“Bill was fascinated by the idea of using lipsticks,” Marr recalls. “We tested them on a burgundy Jag I had. The switching system we ended up with was really his creative engineering.”

The new Jaguar preserves the four-position blade switch from the first signature model but adds an entirely new layer: combinations with the middle pickup, a high-pass filter, and a special notch filter that shapes the thick series combinations into something closer to a P-90.

🌟 A message for younger players

Marr hopes that the Signature Special will appeal to those seeking versatility and reliability:

“Some people bought my original Jaguar because it earned a reputation — they didn’t need to be fans of my music. I improved elements like tuning stability, the bridge setup, and switching. I want that thinking to continue, but with an added rock-focused character for those who want it.”

🤝 Lending guitars to friends

Marr laughs that many of his guitars have permanently migrated into the hands of his friends.

During the making of In Rainbows, he loaned Radiohead an SG after realizing the band had barely used Les Paul-style instruments. Thom Yorke later bought one of his own.

🚀 Who shapes the guitar landscape today?

Marr is especially excited about the rise of women on the guitar scene:

“When I started out, female guitarists were uncommon. Now you open social media and immediately see incredible musicians — it’s brilliant.”

He highlights Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Emily Roberts (The Last Dinner Party), and the guitar work on Fontaines D.C.’s Romance.

🎤 On the Oasis reunion

According to Marr, the reaction to the reunion was unprecedented:

“When the shows were announced, it felt like most of the UK suddenly brightened up. Even in the US, random people would tell me they went and were blown away — people you wouldn’t expect to be Oasis fans. It became a cultural moment centered around unity. I’ve never seen anything like it — the biggest reunion of all time.”

He wasn’t invited to join the shows — joking that between Noel, Gem, and Bonehead, there were already “plenty of loud guitars and good jackets” on stage.

🎶 Unexpected inspirations

Among the guitarists who have quietly influenced him, Marr names John Lennon and John McLaughlin.

He also emphasizes how formative Nile Rodgers was:

“Early in my career, people were surprised that I talked about Nile Rodgers as a major influence. But now it’s obvious we share a lot: arranging, producing, building songs around guitar hooks. Nile was a model for how I wanted to work. It’s all part of the evolution.”

Review on Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar