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Why aren't Jaguar basses more popular?

#2
I really wanted one (still do to some extent) but I felt the price was more than I wanted to pay at the time, then the price raised some more. Didn't help that it would have cost more to get the only colors I wanted shipped from japan and I also developed a change in neck preference. Sound and look great though.
 
#4
If they had this colour in shortscale I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

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#7
Personally I think they are ugly as hell and I really don't care much for the slide switches. I see Jazz pickups and I think: Jazz Bass with a different body style. If they'd gone with soapbar style pickups or something new I would have given it a second look, but as it is I'll pass. Sorry to be negative, but you were asking why they're not more popular, and that's my opinion.
 
#8
My old bass instructor, Fitz, is normally a guitar instructor (been playing guitar since the 60's) and he once told me that he traded his Jazzmaster for a Jaguar guitar in the 80's and has regretted it ever since, but he never said why. Personally, I love the look and sound of the bass. Especially the red one... gotta love a matching headstock. :smug:
 
#12
I had never played a Jaguar until my friend and I paid a visit to the GC around the corner from his house to kill time before the Phil Lesh/Allman Brothers concert in Raleigh back in October. I saw one hanging on the wall, and thought what the heck... I plugged into a 1x15 Ampeg combo, and I thought it sounded pretty good. I really liked the super-thin neck.
 
#15
vin*tone said:
Their electronics don't get rave reviews and some people don't like their looks.

I'm not one of those people. :D

Love my Jag- great feel. I've slapped some flats on mine and its pure joy to play.
Click to expand...

Actually Bass Player Magazine and Vintage Guitar Magazine gave really good reviews to the Jaguar Bass complimenting it's blend of active and old school tones because of the electronics package that Fender came up with for this bass. The only thing missing was the in between tonal spots that a vintage J-Bass has to offer with the separate volume pot for each pickup, given the Jag-Bass has two J-single coils. This is what some players missed.

I did try a couple out and I liked them. I may consider getting a Jag-Bass in the future. As an old geezer Fender lover I also like the look.
 
#17
I owned a Jaguar briefly. The construction and fit and finish were top-notch. It was very easy to play and was very versatile with the tones that it provided. However, the lack of shielding in the body cavity and pickguard as well as the curious placement of the preamp board (right above the neck pickup in an unshielded route) caused a buzz that was unbearable. The amount of work needed to shield the entire bass was not worth to me on an $750-800 bass. Shouldn't be necessary on an instrument in that range. IMO a great idea executed poorly. If you don't mind the work needed to do the shielding, go for it. Probably a better deal used.
 
#20
Webtroll said:
Personally I think they are ugly as hell and I really don't care much for the slide switches. I see Jazz pickups and I think: Jazz Bass with a different body style. If they'd gone with soapbar style pickups or something new I would have given it a second look, but as it is I'll pass. Sorry to be negative, but you were asking why they're not more popular, and that's my opinion.
Click to expand...

That pretty much sums up my feeling about them. I had a good buddy who had one back in the day, and it always felt 'cheap' compared to the more traditional J or P (maybe due to all those little switches that always felt like they were going to fail at any moment!). Unique instrument, but definitely a niche product to me.
 

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