Why aren't Jaguar basses more popular?

[Swerve]

That thing is muy sharp!! Problem was me talking about SX in a Fender thread.

lol

 

[The BurgerMeister]

That thing is muy sharp!! Problem was me talking about SX in a Fender thread.

ya... realized that a little late.

o well. if nothing else, at the time it was a good excuse to put up a picture of the coolest-looking jags.

 

[Frankjohnson]

I tried a Jaguar once and it had the worst case of neck dive I've ever experienced.

thats because there was no Leo Quann BA II on it!

couple that with fender Nylon wrapped 9120's........

You , my man....will be absolutely "in" ! !

 

[fruitysquirts]

well if anyone was informed about the terrible grounding problem...before they bought it...that might be why.
i didn't know this and it's absolutely annoying..also my volume and tone pot are ****ing up. i played a show last saturday and i was checking my sound. turned her down and when we went to play i turned it back up and nothing. i was flipping out and finally i switched the preamp on and bam she came back.

 

[jmain]

ya... realized that a little late.

o well. if nothing else, at the time it was a good excuse to put up a picture of the coolest-looking jags.

I ain't mad achta! Well, maybe a little for the GAS!!!

 

[MattAT]

Oh man I love my Jag! It has the best feel. The body shape makes it so comfortable to play. I just put in a Badass II bridge and Bartolini pups! I finally found the sound I've been looking for! Here is a picture. I took this with my phone, I'll post more soon!

 

[Andy_colassal]

When I played one, it felt like a cheap dollar store toy. I just couldn't dig it.

 

[Sub5ound]

There is one at my rehearsal space. For an active bass with so many knobs and buttons and such, I found it to be rather unimpressive. The neck is practically a mex standard with inlays, and didn't feel too comfy IMO. It sounded woofy/vintage in one setting and I just didnt have the patience to deal with EQing all the other tones, which I found quite thin when I did. Pretty though.

 

[GreaserMatt]

They look very cool and are very versatile. They have alot of style and they have a J pup setup that is quite popular.

I am thinking of getting one, but just wonder if bassists dislike them for a particular reason(s) that I should know about.

Link Removed

Wow, they didn't even try to match the grain on that one; ***???

 

[GreaserMatt]

They look like the jazz bass' stupid, ugly twin, separated at birth and reuinted only to discover it is unloved and unwanted so it gets a bunch of ridiculous body modifications in an attempt to find its own identity, and sadly, fails.

I played one at a GC recently & I thought it was real nice. Just don't have the scratch right now...

 

[GreaserMatt]

I've wondered this as well, I mean I'd like to have one someday too.

You'll be able to pick one up cheap after the fad dies down...

 

[GreaserMatt]

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.

food for thought...

 

[GreaserMatt]

The guitar looked better.

+1

 

[GreaserMatt]

They do have more appeal than the rather large number of people who've never tried one but just dismiss the looks or some other poorly understood difference as "not up to par with a J or P" would like to assume. The "technical" complaints are largely inaccurate. Having played a few Jags, they are far more versatile than standard Fender designs, play like butter and (at least those I've seen or played) are superbly built (not as consistently the case for MIA and MIM Fenders).

If not mistaken, I think Fender has had the most successful bass model launch with the Jag since the P and J were rolled out. Based on the bucks Fender is putting into marketing the model, I have to assume it's taken hold (in other words, somebody must like them - LOL). I think the resistance and negativity toward the Jag is one of the paradoxes about musicians -- how come a bunch of folks who are supposed to be involved in a creative endeavor are so stuck on traditional instrument designs?

this

 

[GreaserMatt]

To answer the OP accurately one would have to question everyone who doesn't care for the Jag.
That said, I'd like one but it's enough of a kind of *works here but doesn't work so well there* type of an ax that I can't justify it. If it came in seafoam or surf green I'd be much more tempted*.

That said, whenever I catch myself using the word 'tempted' describing a choice, I usually decline. I see it as my subconscious' way of telling me I don't think it would be right. Unless I happened upon a screaming deal...

That's really it; if i could get one for 300 bucks i'd be all over it..

 

[troyus]

FYI guys it looks like GC is putting the jag on clearance...? Could mean production is ending (either completely, or to move to Mexico).

 

[Deano Destructo]

FYI guys it looks like GC is putting the jag on clearance...? Could mean production is ending (either completely, or to move to Mexico).

Hmmmmm. if this was the case I might think about picking one up or throwing one on layaway as a back up to my jazz but I'm not seeing anything online about them being on clearance at any of the usual retailers, GC included. Could this just be at your local GC?

 

[Jo6Pak]

Was in local GC this morning and Jag hang tag said $749.

 

[Godbody]

I heard that Jags and Geddys were both getting a price RAISE.

Some bass heros who haven't been mentioned yet that play the Jag, either full-time or on occasion:
Sienna DeGovia of The Randies
Matt Freeman
Eva Gardner (formerly of The Mars Volta)
Colin Greenwood of Radiohead
Brad Heald of the Vines
Goggi Holm of Sigur Ros
Ryan Roberts of The Briggs
Chris Ross of Wolfmother
Matthew Taylor of Motion City Soundtrack

and there's two idiots who play the Jag, but they're pretty famous too:
Tyson Ritter of All American Rejects
Mikey Way of My Chemical Romance

So you can see there does seem to be a certain demographic it appeals to; I bought mine before I knew of anyone playing one. I messed around with it for a few minutes, and it wasn't that hard to figure out what everything did. Its got the most aggressive tone and attack on the planet; other bass players regularly ask me what distortion I'm using, when I have it running clean. Add distortion to that, and it sounds like the basspocalypse. In 2-5 seconds I can dial in a J, P, or Stingray-like sound, close enough for any cover tune.
As for the buzzing? I eventually fixed it, but I couldn't hear it at stage volumes anyway.

 

[Deano Destructo]

Was in local GC this morning and Jag hang tag said $749.

Ahhhh, I see. I thought this was generally the sales price at retail for them since Musicians Friend has had them at that for quite awhile. I'd assumed the MFSP was set at $1000, although I'd never heard of anyone paying that much for one anyhow.

I could see myself maybe paying Geddy prices for one ($550-$650 range) but I still think $750 is a little steep for the one's I've played on. Although it's build quality was quite good for an off the shelf bass in that price range. Anyone have any idea what they might go for used if you could stumble across one?