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Squier Matt Freeman vs Fender Modern Player Jaguar

Fender Modern Player Jaguar vs Squier Matt Freeman Precision

  • Total voters
    47
sideFX

sideFX

Feb 14, 2013
734
399
Greece
null-move.bandcamp.com
#1
Sup guys, I need some advice.

I'm torn between these two basses, price difference is negligible (Fender Jag is 435€, Squier Freeman is 444€, the Fender is actually cheaper!!).
The Jag says Fender on the headstock, which to be completely honest matters a tad to me :hiding: (never had a real Fender). Although many say it's probably constructed at the same factory as the Squier CV's.
The Freeman on the other hand is a well known quality bass according to many reviews here.

Both have maple necks which I personally like, Jag's a little slimmer (jazz profile), Freeman's a standard sized P neck.

Jag will be a little more versatile sounding due to the jazz pup, on the other hand the Freeman's a standard Precision bass and I love the P sound. Well... I love the jazz sound also :D

Will the Jag sound just like a normal Precision, with the P pup solo? Mind you the P pup on the Jag is half an inch (or so) closer to the neck compared to the normal position of the pup in all Precisions.

Too confused!! Plz :help:
 
#2
I have owned the modern player jaguar and I can say it is one of the best basses i have ever played/owned. It has stood its ground with many of my American-made basses - very tight neck joint, couldnt find the tiniest gap. All screws were perfectly straight (unlike a lot of MIMs ive played), paint job was flawless and neck finish was a nice touch. Hardware is good too (hi-mass bridge, stable tuners. Neck was a comfortable hybrid between a jazz and a precision - it was thin at the nut yet chunky front to back.

In terms of tone, it wont sound exactly like a P, but it will get convincingly close - a difference you wont notice in a mix. The pickups are pretty hot and a very typical 'rock' sound.

From a non-biased point of view based on my experience, my vote would still be the jag because of a wider range of tones (2 pickups).
 
#3
The modern player Jag sounds better than it should, especially for the price. However much I love P/J's they don't quite like a P or a J not necessarily a bad thing but IME they tend to sit in a mix a little differently. So I voted for the P bass, good ole p bass. Depending on the kind of music you play the p bass can really hit the spot. If you play with any kind of distortion or fuzz P basses always seem to sound better to me for that too.

All IMO and IME. I don't have a P bass at the moment but will very likely have one again.

Either bass will work and I like them both but the P bass is simply a true classic, and will likely sound exactly like a P bass no matter whats on the headstock.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
#5
sideFX said:
@ aproud1: when you say mix, you mean in a recorded session, or/and in a live situation?

I'd appreciate some more input plz from those that had (or have played) either or both of them.
Click to expand...

I haven't played the Freeman. But it is a P bass.

I mean a live mix. Now I'm not saying other basses don't work but a P Bass just seems to sit right in the mix. I personally don't care for how most P basses sound on their own (blasphemy I know) but when I play one it just doesn't sound right to me. Sounds fine when other people play them, just not me. Jazz basses are the sound I love but I think a p bass sound better live with some bands.

I think I've said too much. But thats my opinion. Oddly enough I find my SG bass sits perfectly with my current band for whatever reason.

Now a fretless P/J thats the bomb! :bassist:
 

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