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Why aren't Jaguar basses more popular?

#102
lunarpollen said:
I'd probably want one if...

(a) it had a neck pickup (either instead of the bridge pickup, or in addition to both pickups [in which case i would want there to be switching options to allow for all 7 pickup combinations]), and...

(b) it came with a dedicated instruction sheet to explain how to operate all the knobs and switches. All I can ever find on the Fender website is generic instructions that do not explain the controls for this particular instrument

As it is, I think it is a fantastic-looking instrument...
Click to expand...

Here ya go:

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The noise problem can be fixed quickly. A new pre can easily be put in as well.

I like the Jag retro vibe.
 
#104
::::BASSIST:::: said:
No switches to contend with either.

sjmb34fl3ts5.jpg
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Are these pearloid or white inlays?

How's the neck on it? I see the width at the nut is a little over 1.5", but wondering how the thickness is.

On the Fenders, I dig the Oly White and the matching headstocks much more. But I just may get the SX version. Link Removed
 
#105
I will come in here and speak good of the Jaguar. As someone who has spent a LOT of time and money on making a better Jaguar, as well as being a P and J owner.

They do not have a huge fan base because no Bass heroes are identified with them yet. Rest assured in a few years when a new platinum selling band has a Jaguar using bassist, there will be this big thing about the Jaguar. Cross your fingers for me (lol). Most people are sheep when it comes to gear...

But back to the bass - The only real problems with the design is the shielding and the upper fret access is poor. The shielding is not too tough to fix and if you don't do a lot of lead runs the other problem does not exist. Better pickups OR an ash body could be an improvement... for a clearer sound.

The Jaguar is like having three basses in one, it's Fenders sonic chameleon. I play in three bands (an indie/dance/new wave band, a surf/rock/horror band, and an 80's style punk band) and it is the ONLY bass I have ever owned that sounds good in all three bands. It's the only bass I have that I could use to cut a record with for any of the three bands without someone asking me to use something else.

Also, bassists tend to be a little ******** when it comes to switches and dials - which the Jaguar bass has a lot of. And most basses have very few of. But they all DO something, and have a huge impact on the instrument voice.

I love my Jazz bass, sounded great today with the indie dance people, but this evening I tried to make it work with the punk rockers and it just could not hang... I needed solid "P" fundamental tones... something the Jaguar could pull off in a pinch but a Jazz just does not do (unless you mod it.)

In a lot of ways the Jaguar is the next evolution of the Jazz bass, except for two things - upper fret access is not as good and you do not have individual volume controls for pickups, to get some of those Jazz blend tones.

OTOH, it is nice having a master volume for live performance.

This same thing happened when the Jazzmaster/Jag guitar came out, lukewarm reception and by the 1980s no one wanted them. Broke guys bought them, started playing them out in bands like Sonic Youth and Nirvana and suddenly they are worth a lot of money again.

Now there are US and Japanese reissues all over the place.

Anyway some people are down on the pickups, I ended up replacing the wood with an all new neck and body but keeping the electronics fully intact and it worked out great. Looking back that was a ballsy move as it could have gone either way, I got lucky.
 
#106
jmain said:
Are these pearloid or white inlays?

How's the neck on it? I see the width at the nut is a little over 1.5", but wondering how the thickness is.

On the Fenders, I dig the Oly White and the matching headstocks much more. But I just may get the SX version. Link Removed
Click to expand...

I bought one of these to mess wround with for awhile. Built pretty well but:

The volume knob got in the way of my playing. :mad:
After a few hours I would get a rash on my forearm from the paint! :eyebrow:

Nice neck profile though.
 
#107
troyus said:
I bought one of these to mess wround with for awhile. Built pretty well but:

The volume knob got in the way of my playing. :mad:
After a few hours I would get a rash on my forearm from the paint! :eyebrow:

Nice neck profile though.
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Thanks for the input.

I could see that happening with pick downstrokes. I need to consider that. I rarely play with a pick, but if the song calls for it then I use it.
That's weird about the rash from the finish. Didn't expect to hear that.

Are the blocks white or pearloid?

I wish they'd do a white/tort full scale. If these are still around in a couple months, I'm gonna get one.
 
#108
troyus said:
The Jaguar is like having three basses in one, it's Fenders sonic chameleon. I play in three bands (an indie/dance/new wave band, a surf/rock/horror band, and an 80's style punk band) and it is the ONLY bass I have ever owned that sounds good in all three bands. It's the only bass I have that I could use to cut a record with for any of the three bands without someone asking me to use something else.
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You know, I was reading that and thinking a Precision would do those jobs just about perfectly.
 
#111
jmain said:
Thanks for the input.

I could see that happening with pick downstrokes. I need to consider that. I rarely play with a pick, but if the song calls for it then I use it.
That's weird about the rash from the finish. Didn't expect to hear that.

Are the blocks white or pearloid?

I wish they'd do a white/tort full scale. If these are still around in a couple months, I'm gonna get one.
Click to expand...


The neck is pearloid blocked, actually really nice. Tuners are not bad either. The bridge though... yuck! If you search TB For it I did a review of the instrument on here awhile ago.
 

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