Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Opinions on Fender Jags
- Thread starter josiahwiebe
- Start date
It's completely just you, Gord Oh.
I have a Jag. I love my Jag. It's made in Japan. The quality's great. The switches rock. The tone kicks major butt.
Honestly, though? I got it because I wanted the skinny neck and tonal versatility of a Jazz, but I couldn't bear the thought of owning an actual Jazz. Something about the shape repulses me.
Which is strange, because I'd marry my Jag if I could.
In sum: Slick looks, nice tones, cool vibe, skinny neck, good quality - and major neck dive.
I have a Jag. I love my Jag. It's made in Japan. The quality's great. The switches rock. The tone kicks major butt.
Honestly, though? I got it because I wanted the skinny neck and tonal versatility of a Jazz, but I couldn't bear the thought of owning an actual Jazz. Something about the shape repulses me.
Which is strange, because I'd marry my Jag if I could.
In sum: Slick looks, nice tones, cool vibe, skinny neck, good quality - and major neck dive.
I love my Jag, I`m super happy with it(I did have to do some shielding to it) and am really happy I bought it. You should grab one( you lucked out with the price drop!). I have to agree with the dude above me,I really don`t like how Jazz basses look but I`m all about the Jaguar and it thin neck and killer tone!
Neither. The question is moot, because they are made where they are made - no options. That eliminates the question, so all that remains is: do you want one?
apparently theres a 20% off musicians friend coupon for this month (hot deals forum) so around 480 new..
If you remove the ridiculous active circuitry, and wire it up the same as a Jaguar guitar(make sure you put paper in oil capacitors on the tone pot and the rhythm circuit) you have an awesome Jazz Bass with the extra options of the series/parallel circuit switches. If you test play a Jag Bass up against a real Jazz Bass you realize immediately how lame and gutless the active circuitry is...
The Jag is super cool to play - it just needs to be sensibly modded ..it would probably benefit from Fralin or Novak J Bass handwound pickups as well...
The Jag is super cool to play - it just needs to be sensibly modded ..it would probably benefit from Fralin or Novak J Bass handwound pickups as well...
Why remove the active circuit when you can just turn it off? That's what I like about it.
After you get your Jag, you will most likely need to work on it to reduce noise. There are a few threads about solving the problem here on TB with pictures.
You can reduce a lot of noise by properly grounding the cavities with small strips of conductive copper tape. Position the tape so that it connects the cavities to each other and the inside of the pickguard, which is shielded.
The wires in this bass are very thin and microphonic. I found that just touching them makes noise. In my Jag there was a wire that was barely touching the inside cavity and with a little vibration I was getting a loud popping noise. All I did was twist the wires in a way that they wouldn't touch the inside walls and the problem was solved.
You can reduce a lot of noise by properly grounding the cavities with small strips of conductive copper tape. Position the tape so that it connects the cavities to each other and the inside of the pickguard, which is shielded.
The wires in this bass are very thin and microphonic. I found that just touching them makes noise. In my Jag there was a wire that was barely touching the inside cavity and with a little vibration I was getting a loud popping noise. All I did was twist the wires in a way that they wouldn't touch the inside walls and the problem was solved.
I've spent some time with a jazz in a store trying it out. Essentially, I came to the conclusion that it had a really cool look, comfortable neck, and that if you played with the controls long enough you could eventually get it to sound as good as a jazz.
Ok, maybe I'm being funny, but really, all those knobs and switches!!!!!!
Ok, maybe I'm being funny, but really, all those knobs and switches!!!!!!
Here is my opinion (as a Jag owner and as my increasingly go to bass)...
The neck feels great - skinny and fast (if you are a fan of Jazz necks that is).
Passive mode -
This is where this bass shines IMO, with both pickups on and the series/parallel switch activated. It tends to have a growlier tone that sits great in the mix of rock music (I would almost say, akin to the way a Pbass can sit in the mix - but with more color). If you want to turn down some of the bite, just roll a little off of the tone knob. With either pickup turned off - I feel the tone to be lacking in fullness in the mix *point being that it's not just how you think your bass sounds, but how it sounds as a whole*
Active mode -
Yes it is pretty noisy, and does need some grounding work. That being said - it can dial in a really biting, aggressive tone played with a pick, that can be a really nice addition in a per/song or per/part basis. It can have a tendency to be either too boomy or too twangy depending on how much you roll on/off the bass/treble - you just have to really try to find a happy medium. But when you find the spot - it's a beautiful thing
I play originals and often switch from a fingerstyle to a pick, and when I want to dial in a little extra oomph - it's really nice to just flick the switch and have a second tone option. I've also used the active switch with bass rolled up all the way to dial in a bottom-end drop for emphasis on parts - completely awesome in my opinion, and completely worth the price (especially now that it has dropped).
The neck feels great - skinny and fast (if you are a fan of Jazz necks that is).
Passive mode -
This is where this bass shines IMO, with both pickups on and the series/parallel switch activated. It tends to have a growlier tone that sits great in the mix of rock music (I would almost say, akin to the way a Pbass can sit in the mix - but with more color). If you want to turn down some of the bite, just roll a little off of the tone knob. With either pickup turned off - I feel the tone to be lacking in fullness in the mix *point being that it's not just how you think your bass sounds, but how it sounds as a whole*
Active mode -
Yes it is pretty noisy, and does need some grounding work. That being said - it can dial in a really biting, aggressive tone played with a pick, that can be a really nice addition in a per/song or per/part basis. It can have a tendency to be either too boomy or too twangy depending on how much you roll on/off the bass/treble - you just have to really try to find a happy medium. But when you find the spot - it's a beautiful thing
I play originals and often switch from a fingerstyle to a pick, and when I want to dial in a little extra oomph - it's really nice to just flick the switch and have a second tone option. I've also used the active switch with bass rolled up all the way to dial in a bottom-end drop for emphasis on parts - completely awesome in my opinion, and completely worth the price (especially now that it has dropped).
I've just sold mine!
It is a great bass, but just wasn't quite for me.
The array of tones proved a bit of a nightmare....I couldn't settle, and spent gigs fiddling with all the switches!
The buzzing on the active circuit was a bit annoying...but as has been posted, this can be cured (why have Fender not done this?).
I've bought a MIM P instead.....a lot lighter, and obviously very basic!
It is a great bass, but just wasn't quite for me.
The array of tones proved a bit of a nightmare....I couldn't settle, and spent gigs fiddling with all the switches!
The buzzing on the active circuit was a bit annoying...but as has been posted, this can be cured (why have Fender not done this?).
I've bought a MIM P instead.....a lot lighter, and obviously very basic!
