Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass vs Squire Vintage Modified Bass

[ghandee]

Greetings everyone!!!

I am looking to get my hands on a bass guitar (at last!!!).

The kind of music I want to play is DUB, so I came to the conclusion that jazz bass is what I am looking for.

After reading and searching and reading again, I found out that the best choice for a beginner like myself would be a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass.

I was about to go for it, when I came across some Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar® Bass Special (that is the description of the shop).

The price was lower than that of Squier, and I now I am confused.

Do you have any idea about this Fender Jaguar series?
Shall I choose this instead of the Squier?

Thank you very much

[LeadRogue]

Hi Ghandee,

I have a squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Short Scale.

It is a great Bass and the gap between the Squier and the Fender is in my opinion not worth the extra money.

One thing I would be aware of is that the Jaguar Basses come in several variants.

The variant with both Jazz and Precision pickups is best and I like the short scale because it is easier to play fast on because of the smaller neck.

[ghandee]

Cheers for the answer LeadRogue,
but in my case I found Fender Jaguar Jazz Bass
to be cheaper than the Squier

That is why I am puzzled

Which one would you people choose??

Thanks again

[Nev375]

Vintage modified is a Squier line, not a fender product line.

However, many shop owner will inaccurately call Squiers Fenders.

Fender DOES have a new "modern player" Jaguar bass.

The Squier VM Jags come in the normal Passive PJ version with block inlays...
Then there are several other "special" versions with active preamps, various pickups, some are short scale and they are about $100 less

[ghandee]

I post a link in order to be more precise

Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar® Bass Special. Rosewood Fretboard 3 Colour Sunburst bas gitara

[Nev375]

Copied from the description:

The all-new Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special puts classic Fender® looks into a distinctively sharp-looking, great-sounding and super-versatile Squier bass model.

It's a squier... it just has "Fender looks"

[ghostdog93]

Originally Posted by ghandee

I was about to go for it, when I came across some Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar® Bass Special (that is the description of the shop).

Originally Posted by ghandee

Cheers for the answer LeadRogue,
but in my case I found Fender Jaguar Jazz Bass
to be cheaper than the Squier

That is why I am puzzled

I'm puzzled too, given the mess of names being thrown about, but I'm assuming the OP is talking about the Squier Jaguar Special (or Special HB), which retails for $199. The Modern Player Jag, which is certainly a Fender, is not cheaper than the VM.

I haven't seen any explanation - official or otherwise - as to why the VM Jag Specials are $100 less than the standard VMs. Apparently, they just are.

EDIT: Yes, according to the link posted above, it's the VM Jag Special.

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by ghostdog93

I haven't seen any explanation - official or otherwise - as to why the VM Jag Specials are $100 less than the standard VMs. Apparently, they just are.

No block inlays, no headstock paint, no stacked pots, requires batteries.

No batteries required in the original version. (I for one would pay more for that)

[ghostdog93]

Originally Posted by Nev375

No block inlays, no headstock paint, no stacked pots. and my personal favorite, no batteries required.

Well, the VM Jazz lacks a painted headstock and stacked pots, and it's still the same $299 as the standard VM Jag. As for the Jag Specials...a 33% difference in retail price for inlays, a little extra paint and concentric pots? I'll admit that FMIC pricing is a mystery to me.

Regarding batteries, don't the Jag Specials need the 9V for the EQ/boost/preamp?

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by ghostdog93

Regarding batteries, don't the Jag Specials need the 9V for the EQ/boost/preamp?

Yep, i got confused there for a minute and edited while you were quoting me.

It's 5 AM here.... that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it.

[ghandee]

OK....
I am lost now...

The shop has 2 different links:
1 for Squier and 1 for Fender basses

Yet when I click on the Fender pic of the link posted above
I see Squier on the headstock

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by ghandee

OK....
I am lost now...

The shop has 2 different links:
1 for Squier and 1 for Fender basses

Yet when I click on the Fender pic of the link posted above
I see Squier on the headstock

Like we said. That is a Squier, not a Fender. It also says Squier in the description. The retailer is the one who is confused, or perhaps a bit dishonest.

[ghandee]

Right Nev

I did read better your earlier post
with the shop's description

I think the shop is OK
The description is copied from somewhere
because it is in English
while everything else is in Serbian

And so the question remains
Squire of Fender/Jaguar???

[Joey3313]

Yeah, total error on their part in regards to the website. Both basses are Squiers.

Anyway, the real dilemma then is Jazz bass versus Jaguar bass, correct?

As I own one of the Jags, albeit the HB one, I would be inclined to recommend it over the Jazz for a few reasons:

1) The active EQ. While it isn't the best in terms of an onboard EQ, you can get a pretty decent variation in tone from it.

2) The bass you're looking at has P/J pickups, which once again would provide a nice range in sound, giving you a rough approximation of both the standard P tone, as well as the burpy bridge pickup tone that the J is known for.

This is just IMO, of course.

Good luck in your search!

[Son of Bovril]

I think you'll find the Duncan designed pickups on the VM Jag Standard also increase the price over the special version.

I would go for the standard with the inlays and matching headstock if I was you, it is a great sounding bass, you won't be sorry

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by Son of Bovril

I think you'll find the Duncan designed pickups on the VM Jag Standard also increase the price over the special version.

I would go for the standard with the inlays and matching headstock if I was you, it is a great sounding bass, you won't be sorry

That's if he's still making his mind up 6 months later...

[ghandee]

The truth is I went for the "beginner's industry standard" Fender Squier Vint. Mod. J-Bass MN Natural.
I am not only happy, but I am touring the planet for the next 6 months with various bands and groupies !!!

I highly recommend it