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Fender jaguar vs Fender jazz
- Thread starter jamzilla
- Start date
jazz has pickup blending, string through body design and a better bridge, juz cuz it's built in the states. but the jag has series/parallel switching, active/passive switching and a 2 band EQ, so it's more versatile.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I have a Jaguar. I had a Highway one Jazz (3 actually). The Jaguar was a lot thicker sounding (in passive mode). I also like the option of being able to go active if I needed a litle extra oomph or tone tweaking. Add to that that I think the Jaguar is way cooler looking. It's the only Fender I've owned, kept and loved. Jury is till out on my Modern Player Tele.
Although I have a Jaguar, I have to say go with the jazz. The whole switching system of the jaguar is not very useful. The preamp is pretty much awful IMO.
Jag has 70's spacing, remember
Gonna much around with some mods on the preamp on my Jag, not happy with how it is at the moment. Stacked knob for blend is a must I think
Jazz, I'd say
Gonna much around with some mods on the preamp on my Jag, not happy with how it is at the moment. Stacked knob for blend is a must I think
Jazz, I'd say
Thanks everyone, I was looking for input on the subject. I have a jazz and I think I'm going to pick up a Jaguar, based on look alone, Hot Rod Red.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but that bass is just speaking to me. Hopefully it's not a neurotic trophy wife.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but that bass is just speaking to me. Hopefully it's not a neurotic trophy wife.
I just got back from looking at the Jaguar. It was nice, but I passed on it.
The pickups were noisy, the tuners seemed cheap and had the onset of what would be corrosion in the future. The bridge appeared cheap and the metal also had the look of a material just waiting to go patina on me.
The neck felt very, very nice. I liked the profile as it was similar to my Jazz. The inlays were wonderful, I loved the matching head stock. The neck joint was tight and the paint was just ok. It had started checking already and just looked, cheap-ish, not bad.
The switches and wheels for active bass and treble felt cheap. The body was nicely formed and overall, this was a nice bass.
To me, it should have had an asking price about the same as a pristeen Mexican Jazz bass, but it was more in the range of a new MIM Jazz.
If I find a quiet one at a super bargain, I may look again. As it were, it's not in the same league as a MIA Fender, imo..
The pickups were noisy, the tuners seemed cheap and had the onset of what would be corrosion in the future. The bridge appeared cheap and the metal also had the look of a material just waiting to go patina on me.
The neck felt very, very nice. I liked the profile as it was similar to my Jazz. The inlays were wonderful, I loved the matching head stock. The neck joint was tight and the paint was just ok. It had started checking already and just looked, cheap-ish, not bad.
The switches and wheels for active bass and treble felt cheap. The body was nicely formed and overall, this was a nice bass.
To me, it should have had an asking price about the same as a pristeen Mexican Jazz bass, but it was more in the range of a new MIM Jazz.
If I find a quiet one at a super bargain, I may look again. As it were, it's not in the same league as a MIA Fender, imo..
I have both an Mia jazz and a hot rod red MIJ MIJ, and your right, it looks amazing, but isn't up there with jazz.
However... I wanted to use the jag as a backup, so put on hipshot ultralites to balance it better. I changed the bridge too, just for aesthetic reasons, as although the original does look crap, it works. I also put a set of dimarzio ultra jazz pickups on it. I just finished with a new nut today and I have to say....
The jazz was £1100 the jag was £750, the jag upgrades were £280, so it still cost less and I would say the play ability is similar... the tone is way better.. it looks better... so now I have a new primary bass me thinks
However... I wanted to use the jag as a backup, so put on hipshot ultralites to balance it better. I changed the bridge too, just for aesthetic reasons, as although the original does look crap, it works. I also put a set of dimarzio ultra jazz pickups on it. I just finished with a new nut today and I have to say....
The jazz was £1100 the jag was £750, the jag upgrades were £280, so it still cost less and I would say the play ability is similar... the tone is way better.. it looks better... so now I have a new primary bass me thinks
Well the fella with the Jag got back with me and was pretty motivated to sell it. I got it at the right price and spent about 2 hours on it, polishing the frets, wiping away oxidation with NevrDull, oiling the fretboard, setting the action, adjusting intonation, took out a quarter turn of relief on the neck, changed the battery, changed the strings and wiped down the entire bass.
After a good cleaning and set up, this thing sounds really nice. I'm pretty happy and I've always loved the neck and matching head stock. The sound is beefier than my Jazz, in a good way, but not as clear or rich. I love the passive setting and pretty much hate the active setting, so that won't be getting used at all.
Family photo
After a good cleaning and set up, this thing sounds really nice. I'm pretty happy and I've always loved the neck and matching head stock. The sound is beefier than my Jazz, in a good way, but not as clear or rich. I love the passive setting and pretty much hate the active setting, so that won't be getting used at all.
Family photo
LowNloud1
Commercial User
- Jun 11, 2012
- 711
- 1,100
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- I am a hobbyist making stone picks that I sell but mostly give away. They made me do this anyways.
Jamz, I think you have the right idea with both the Jazz and the Jag.
My only criticism of the Jag is that the body interferes with access to frets 17 and above, IMO. I have my Yamaha BB450 for when I need access to the one song I need to go to 19 on (All Right Now by Free).
I fell in love with the neck. It is sooooo fast! The tonal possibilities are awesome but I would love to own a passive Jazz as well someday like you have
My only criticism of the Jag is that the body interferes with access to frets 17 and above, IMO. I have my Yamaha BB450 for when I need access to the one song I need to go to 19 on (All Right Now by Free).
I fell in love with the neck. It is sooooo fast! The tonal possibilities are awesome but I would love to own a passive Jazz as well someday like you have
