Jaguar vs Vintage Grabber G3

Absolutely. The G3 is more sonically versatile, and in my opinion a better crafted instrument.

The all maple construction will also cut through a mix better than the alder/rosewood of the Jaguar.

There's one for sale in the classifieds right now

 

It is unlikely that Gibson builds a "better crafted" anything than anybody. Having said that, both will be versatile instruments. Jags tend to neck dive a bit, and grabbers/rippers have freakishly large bodies.

Best to check out the Gibson before committing to anything.

 

I've actually played both, and fretwork and resonance of the Grabber was better...as I said, 'in my opinion'

Hopefully the OP lets us know how his AB findings compare

 

Aren't vintage Grabbers a slightly longer scale length? I think I read that they're a 34.5? That might be worth taking into consideration. But, I love my Grabber (G3 Reissue), I use it mostly in a hard rock band, but I also play more progressive & extreme stuff (think, I mix of Mastodon & Dillinger Escape Plan) & it sounds perfect for that kind of thing! If a vintage one sounds like the reissue, then you'll be sorted! All IMO, of course.

 

The G3s that I have played, and a grabber, have all been very good basses. I would deffinatly take the G3

 

Between those the Gibson. The Jaguars have great necks, haven't played one that wasn't noisy and as someone else said they tend to be neck heavy.

The G3 is one of very few basses I have gas for. To me they are better sounding and more versatile than any other Gibson bass.

 

Gibson uses plek, so the fretwork is good. They also paint with their eyes closed, based on the work I've seen.

 

My Jaguar never did neck dives, but the neck was finicky in regards to string tension. That and the noise issue were its downfalls, IMO. The way I see it, a vintage Grabber in good shape is worth a lot more, and Jaguars can still be found all over the place for very fair prices.

 

The noise on the 4 or 5 Jaguar's I've come across is pretty terrible. I think they could be cool basses if completely modded. They are at their core jazz basses.

The G3's I've played, one from the 70's and one of the recent re-release both just seemed so right. felt great and sounded surprisingly amazing.

Don't forget the magical mojo you get with a vintage bass.... . It will give you something to worry about when you play out.

 

I liked my Jaguar just fine. Played the snot out of it, and had it loaded with copper sheeting, since I work in the stained glass industry. But, although they're great basses, compared to what you're looking at, I personally would consider them to be a little more disposable, that's all. I don't intend to disparage Jaguars at all. I just mean that if I were you, I'd go for the Gibson if it moved me in that way.

 

I've never owned a jag but I used to gig with a G3...but when we would record it was my jazz everytime. The G3 won in the cool category (and it was a super rare '82 in candy apple red that is the bass that I really regret seeling, damned rent) and it sounded pretty good but when I'd A/B it with the jazz, the jazz won going away everytime.