Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

[Kais]

I'm a big fan of assembling custom guitars. I'm torn between a Jazzmaster and Jaguar. What's the EXACT differences? I think a jaguar is brighter but not sure. I plan to assemble one of these, and whichever I do I will be using single coil antiquities. I have humbucker tones covered in my other guitars. So I'm looking for something different here. I don't want too bright of a guitar. I'm strongly leaning towards jazzmaster at the moment.

I'll throw in telecasters in the mix and leave it open for any suggestions. Will be playing high gain

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

I'm a big fan of assembling custom guitars. I'm torn between a Jazzmaster and Jaguar. What's the EXACT differences? I think a jaguar is brighter but not sure. I plan to assemble one of these, and whichever I do I will be using single coil antiquities. I have humbucker tones covered in my other guitars. So I'm looking for something different here. I don't want too bright of a guitar. I'm strongly leaning towards jazzmaster at the moment.

I'll throw in telecasters in the mix and leave it open for any suggestions. Will be playing high gain

If you haven't completed a tele yet I would do so...then work on a jazzmaster...then the jag.
Just my 5 cents.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

I have no experience with Jazzmasters (supposed to be dark) and very little experience with Jaguars (remember it as being bright).

Tele brightness is a little exaggerated. Maybe if you're used to fat sounding high output humbuckers... or lower output Tele pickups? a few extra winds and you'll get a fat yet lively and dynamic pickup.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

Tone-wise a Jag may be a bit brighter than a Jazzmaster, but the first thing I think of is scale length. A Jag is 24" scale, while both the JM and Tele are 25 1/2. I have a Tele, but I've never been able to commit to either a Jag or JM for various reasons. I don't like the stock bridge / trem (buzzy, tuning issues) and I don't like how there is no quick/easy way to switch pickups on the Jag. If I were to build either in the future I'd have to use a Mastery Bridge and some sort of custom wiring scheme with different pickups. About a decade ago I had a chance to play a Jag that someone had done the Cobain treatment to (Dimarzio SuperD & 3-way switch) and it was awesome. Likewise my friend's customized JM with P-90s & Mastery Bridge.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

I know several Jaguar owners that have replaced those three little switches with a 3-way Switchcraft toggle.

Jaguars and Jazzmasters have "issues", which is why they never became as popular as Strats. Some of those issues are fixable, some cannot be fixed without heavy modification. Back when Elvis Costello first rolled in, he virtually singlehandedly made the Jazzmaster popular again--as an icon for the anti-establishment alt-rock/punk movement.

I'm fascinated at some of the Tele/Jag models some are putting out--Tele bridge and pickups on a Jag/Jazz body. I think if someone did a Jag/Jazz body with Strat pickups, Strat neck, Strat vibrato, and Strat controls and ergonomics--that might be a winner. I've only thought about that for the last 40 years, so if you decide to build one, please include me in the patent credits, LOL.

Teles are a great basic platform for a guitar, and there is just about every mod ever thought of available from one MFG. or another in the market.

But me, I like the three single coils of a Strat; the Strat shape and the Strat ergonomics--and my Strat of choice is the G&L Legacy. For me, it has just the right upgrades, yet still feels like a vintage guitar.

Bill

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

Jazzmaster is a bigger guitar overall, no?

The bridges differ considerably as well.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

I think if someone did a Jag/Jazz body with Strat pickups, Strat neck, Strat vibrato, and Strat controls and ergonomics--that might be a winner. I've only thought about that for the last 40 years, so if you decide to build one, please include me in the patent credits, LOL.

 

[Kais]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

Telecasters turned me off a bit. Honestly, I'm looking for the next Axe in my arsenal. I'm a big fan of making custom replica guitars. Now the reason I wanted a jaguar was for the Cobain treatment, but I have too many humbucker lineups. But someone labeled the jazzmaster as dark, and I'm a huge fan of darker tones. I purposely stay away from brighter tones, so I'm thinking that rules the jaguar out completely.

I have 2 main strats, 1 with lace sensors and 1 with mini humbuckers, I'd hope the JM would be considerably different...

 

[elelpe]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

I love Nocasterish/Broadcasterish a.k.a overwound Telecaster bridge pickup and deep mellow Jazzmaster neck pickup. Those are my favorite 'Fender' pickups. Currently I'm considering assembling a hybrid using those pickups with a body shape of ... Toronado! I have a soft spot for Jazz/Jag offset body but I think the butt is too big. To me Toronado seems like a perfect blend of Tele and Jazz body shape as you can see here. I'll patent this hybrid for sure :smokin:

Meanwhile these are offset projects I've done. Left: Strat - JM hybrid (alder body, rosewood on maple neck, bolt-on, 25.5" scale). Right: Firebird - JM hybrid (mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, set-neck, 24.75"). Both have fairly smaller butt than Jazz/Jag.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

The Fender Jaguar certainly qualifies as different.

The ride is peculiar. The pickup switching system is anything but immediate. The vibrato is a royal pain to set up nicely. The control pot resistance tapers are annoying. On the stock bridge, the strings pop out of the saddles. So do the saddle height adjustment grub screws!

On the other hand, nothing but nothing else makes some of the sounds that the Jaguar does with ease. It is a niche instrument. It is not something that many guitarists would want as their main squeeze.

 

[MacBradley]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

The biggest difference to me is the feel...
The Jazzmaster is 25.5" scale length and the Jaguar is 24" scale length.

The best way to hear the difference is to play them, but in semantics...
The Jazzmaster is a bit darker sounding than a strat due to the wider and shallower coil windings.
The Jaguar is brighter, similar to a Strat but not quite the same sound. The coils are slightly different, have metal claws, and the strings vibrate different on a 24" scale length.

They both have suitable replacement bridges available (Mastery, Staytrem, ect).

They are both fun guitars and I love the sound of them. I prefer Jazzmasters mostly because of the scale length. I'm very used to playing on 25.5" guitars. I also like sound of Jazzmasters a bit better for most applications falling under the "rock" umbrella. They both sound a bit different and both sound outstanding.

For reference...my guitars I own I have strat style neck pickups and a very underwound neck humbucker. I use bridge pickups from Tele's to high output Humbuckers.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

I handled an American Special Jazzmaster today and it was nice. The finish, the neck...
I've always been left somewhat underwhelmed by its sound though...I never plugged one in before, but demos never really blew me away. I want to love them though.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

my main guitar atm is a squier jazzmaster.
Its a b*tch to get set up and have it stay that way. it has a metallic kind of sound and some light bridge buzzing depending on where you play and how hard. The sustain is not bad but it's not like a strat or tele. The pickups sound great but the controls take getting used to. The 1 meg pots considerably darken the sound when not on full, and you can use that for dirty rhythm sounds and I actually like it that way a bit. Not as good for going from cleaner clean to lots of overdrive via the guitar volume though.
The vibrato is only good for a warble and most of the time I don't use it.
I agree with others' sonic evaluations of the differences, but it's hard to put into words. There are vids out there. The Jazzmaster has great mids and crunch and in some ways can be as bright as strat but some of it is the metallic overtones combining with the upper mids. I think they make excellent rhythm guitars as they often require heavy strings to be set up well, and they don't have so much sustain as punch and cut and chime, and the character of the pickups in most noticeable to me with full chords.
And yeah, the "offset" fenders are each their own thing as much as strats and teles but I particularly dig the mustang and JM. I can't wait to get a mustang.

Oh and I saw the OP mention high gain. The middle position is hum canceling but the pickups are very noisy by design, more so than strat or tele pickups. The wide, flat coil picks up a lot of hum. There are hum canceling JM pickups and other aftermarket things but get ready to fight some hum if you get stock pickups.
A lot of people like humbuckers in a JM I can see why.

here's mine. I dig the surfy color.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

There is plenty of bang for the Buck to be had from the Squier Vintage Modified HH Jaguar. Ideally, buy pre-owned and broaden your sonic palette with a Freeway 3x3-03 selector switch.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

Heck...

Build any one of these home made guitars with a 24 inch scale length and be done with it!

The Fender Mustang and Fender Jaguar have been modified!

You will enjoy!

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

Don't forget the double blubber mod stratmen.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

Boris boo hoo watcha gonna do

 

[Stratman]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

Boris boo hoo watcha gonna do

I don't care what you think about me.
I don't think about you at all!

 

[Kais]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

thanks for all the tips everyone. After reading everyone's comments, I'm sold on the Jazzmaster. I'm very sensitive to brightness, so I think the jaguar is out of it. I've never really liked telecasters, but only wanted one since J Mascis and Jonny Greenwood swear by them. And Mustangs I have no idea about, so I'll just leave those out of it. Kinda wanted an SG to channel the inner Sabbath in me, but both strats I have do their best SG impression. So that would be redundant in a sense.

Now I'd like not to buy a Jazzmaster off the shelf, ideally a custom order and assembled by me later, minus the wiring, unless its simple.

I'm either going to buy a usa body on ebay, or order a body by musikraft and have it painted by mjt. I'm definitely going with the mastery bridge as I've heard many good things. And of course SD Antiquities 1 pups. I really like the Troy Van Leeuwen signature, but its a MIM for over $1,000 which is ridiculous. Also it doesn't have the Antiquities, and the weird toggle, so I'll pass on that. I really love that color tho, its unique. I'll either get that oxblood color or black.

The purple J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster is really nice, wish I could get that.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Jazzmaster vs Jaguar vs Telecaster vs ????

thanks for all the tips everyone. After reading everyone's comments, I'm sold on the Jazzmaster. I'm very sensitive to brightness, so I think the jaguar is out of it. I've never really liked telecasters, but only wanted one since J Mascis and Jonny Greenwood swear by them. And Mustangs I have no idea about, so I'll just leave those out of it. Kinda wanted an SG to channel the inner Sabbath in me, but both strats I have do their best SG impression. So that would be redundant in a sense.

Now I'd like not to buy a Jazzmaster off the shelf, ideally a custom order and assembled by me later, minus the wiring, unless its simple.

I'm either going to buy a usa body on ebay, or order a body by musikraft and have it painted by mjt. I'm definitely going with the mastery bridge as I've heard many good things. And of course SD Antiquities 1 pups. I really like the Troy Van Leeuwen signature, but its a MIM for over $1,000 which is ridiculous. Also it doesn't have the Antiquities, and the weird toggle, so I'll pass on that. I really love that color tho, its unique. I'll either get that oxblood color or black.

The purple J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster is really nice, wish I could get that.

The Troy Van Leeuwen may have a 'weird' toggle, but that's a mod I'd do myself if I used the rhythm circuit much. The stock Jazzmaster switch is a built difficult to hit quickly, though I don't know how useful it really is. My friend with the JM keeps his rhythm circuit turned down and uses it as a killswitch. If you haven't played one, you may also want to consider different pickups as Jazzmasters have a rather unique sound. If you want a bit more power & bite, P-90s easily fit in the routes and J Mascis has done that mod on a few of his JMs.