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Fender Jaguar

GreggBummer

GreggBummer

Jan 16, 2008
1,790
624
Southern New Jersey
#1
I have been considering a Fender Jaguar. I looked through the reviews and some of the other threads, but I was wondering if anyone else had good or bad opinion.

I played one about a year ago for only a few minutes. I thought it was a great bass, and it has been on my mind since then. I am considering "culling the herd" and dumping a few guitars/basses in order to pick up a Jag. I was also considering a Peavey T-40... but after playing one recently I don't think that bass is for me. The Jag just "felt right".
 
#5
I didn't know they were discontinued. This is starting to motivate me even more.

How is he neck dive?

I play a jazz now (which is being sold to fund this bass) and I like to adjust tone by using the individual pup volume knobs... is that possible to do on the jag? I see that it has a master volume and a tone knob only... but I am assuming that the other knobs would allow this type of control.
 
#6
GreggBummer said:
I didn't know they were discontinued. This is starting to motivate me even more.

How is he neck dive?

I play a jazz now (which is being sold to fund this bass) and I like to adjust tone by using the individual pup volume knobs... is that possible to do on the jag? I see that it has a master volume and a tone knob only... but I am assuming that the other knobs would allow this type of control.
Click to expand...

besides the master vol and tone you can select either pickup or both, series or parallel pickup wiring, active or passive, and for active you get bass and treble boost/cut wheels. maybe you dont get to blend the pups like on a jazz, but i dont miss that with all the other things. neck dive is moderate, a wide strap helps alot.
 
#8
I like mine, although I have a few issues with it. For me, the neck is waaay to thin. The active EQ is also hard to work with, I feel it boosts the frequencies to quickly, almost all of it in the first to mm when I roll it. Mine also has a lot of hum, problaby from poor grounding to the bridge. But still, it's really got a nice jazzy tone, especially the bridge pickup, I just have to add a lot of mids. Over all, if the neck isn't a problem, I'd say go for it! You really get your money worth.
 
#10
I jst bought one, using it at church this morning. It sounds great. The neck dive is there but it's not bad at all. The bass is heavy - but I think that solid wood is part of what gives this bass it's unique flavor. The neck is sweet smooth and fast, and with all the tone options this bass is a real keeper.

Get one before you can't, it's a real treat to play.
 
#11
Mine has been a pain in the a**, but I love it to death. BUY IT! Just by the way, here's what I've had to do on mine: put the active/passive switch back together...twice, resolder the battery box more times than I care to remember, ripped out the battery box and spliced in a snap in 9v connector from a pedal. But, it does give me an awesome tone.
 
#12
Spleenface92 said:
Mine has been a pain in the a**, but I love it to death. BUY IT! Just by the way, here's what I've had to do on mine: put the active/passive switch back together...twice, resolder the battery box more times than I care to remember, ripped out the battery box and spliced in a snap in 9v connector from a pedal. But, it does give me an awesome tone.
Click to expand...

Did you get it used? I was looking to get a new one. I wouldn't rule out a used one.

What really bothers me is ordering one from the internets. There isn't a shop/store here in New Jersey or Philly that has one. I would prefer to try before I buy... but it looks like I will have to order sight unseen. FWIW, I am looking for a sunburst one.
 
#13
I have one in Sunburst.

At first the lack of blend bothered me a little, I couldn’t get those Jazz sounds out of it, but after using it more, I found I like the fact that it sounds different from my Jazz.

I’ve done a few tweaks on mine, Nordstrand pickups, Hipshot A bridge, and of course TI Jazz flats.
The added mass of the Hipshot probably helped with the neck dive.
Now there is no neck dive using a strap with a suede back.

MM
 
#16
I own a '73 Jazz I bought new, to me it was perfect and I never wanted another bass... until I heard about the Jag. Picked one up a few months ago, I really love it. It's not perfect, but it's well built, plays a lot like my '73, I personally have no problem making it sound like a J. Just plan on doing the shield mod (found elsewhere on this board) to it out of the box.

GreggBummer said:
What really bothers me is ordering one from the internets. There isn't a shop/store here in New Jersey or Philly that has one. I would prefer to try before I buy... but it looks like I will have to order sight unseen.
Click to expand...

Well, you can do like I did and get it from MF. They give you 45 days after they ship to get it back to them if you get a lemon or if you don't like it for any reason. That should give you enough time to figure it out. I think there's other reputable web sellers that give you some time, too. Check it out!
 
#17
The Jaguar has to be the skinny girlfriend of Fender basses, lovely to look at but not very satisfying when you get a hold on it...I love the body shape, nicer than a p or a jazz with a certain 'movement' to it, and I love the block inlays BUT who wants a skinny jazz neck and jazz pickups?...Only my personal taste obviously but I'd have to put a standard p neck on it and change for a p/j pickup configuration...

Has anyone tried this and if so do you have pictures?

I wonder if you could do a straight switch of necks, would be nice if they did a p neck with block inlays....
 
#18
slipitin said:
The Jaguar has to be the skinny girlfriend of Fender basses, lovely to look at but not very satisfying when you get a hold on it...I love the body shape, nicer than a p or a jazz with a certain 'movement' to it, and I love the block inlays BUT who wants a skinny jazz neck and jazz pickups?...Only my personal taste obviously but I'd have to put a standard p neck on it and change for a p/j pickup configuration...

Has anyone tried this and if so do you have pictures?

I wonder if you could do a straight switch of necks, would be nice if they did a p neck with block inlays....
Click to expand...

Honestly, changing it to a P/J would be a huge hassle imo because you would have zero say on the blending of the pick ups. My favorite thing to do with a P/J bass is to blend the pick ups to where you get the fat p tone with some jazz pup influence coming from the bridge. if you were to install the P pup then you would have to have all the wiring redone, plus it would either be P/J equal vol, P only, or J only. Limits your tones substantially. As for the P neck, go for it, but i love me a jazz neck, and like you said its hard to find a block p neck, order one off warmoth?

that being said, i love the Jag and have wanted one since i was err 14? but have never had the money. Now that i do, i found a great deal on a Geddy, so i had to get that instead. :atoz:

If i were to get a Jag i would play it first before committing to any improvements, but some things i would consider are:
-Shielding if there is too much buzz
-Hipshot ultra-lights
-change the battery box to anything else! its a bitch

Hope this helped :D
 
#20
Thanks everyone for your input... keep it coming.

An unexpected opportunity has arisen, I may be able to get my hands on a Peavey T-40. Another bass known for it's versatility. I have always wanted one, and the price may be "right". If so, it may delay the Jag purchase a bit... or I might dump the Pbass I rarely play and grab the Jag.

A Jag and a T-40 would be an awesome combination.
 

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