What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

[millsart]

Finally figured I could stand to buy a real bass. I've got the reportedly excellent Amplitube SVT software modeler so why not have some fun with a bass and be able to lay down some basslines on my home demo's I figured.

So I went up to the guitar shop and played nearly everything in sight.

Ibanez etc ? Played nice but just don't dig the modern looks

Musicman ? Awesome but $1500+ is a bit steep for an instrument I don't really play

Gibson/Epiphone ? Dig the T-bird look but it sounded rather limited to rock styles and the headstock kept diving. Chunky neck. Beast of an instrument though looks awesome

Fender P and J basses ? Nice classic style but I find the Pbass a bit boring and the necks a bit big for my guitar player hands and the J bass sonically sounded a bit thin.


So I came across the Jag bass and it seems about perfect as far as I can tell. Very cool retro Fender style. Comfortable J style body contours and a great neck. Wide range of tones as well from deep to rather cutting and sharp.


It felt great for my limited ability to slap, fingerpick and play with a pick. Just seemed to play better ie; easier than anything else in the shop, even the far more expensive offerings such as the Fender USA stuff.

Really sounded about as good and played as well as the Musicman Stingray's for less than half the cost.


GC has a 15% off sale on Friday and I was planning on going back to pick it up then, but though I'd see if anyone has any feedback or insights between now and then.


As I said, I'm not a bass player but it seemed to play and sound good to me. Looked cool, has both active and passive pup options and while a little pricier than the standard Fenders it seemed like a good bang for the buck

So does anyone who's played or owned one have any thoughts ?

Will I be happy with it or as I get better as a bass player wish I went a different route ?


Usage will be typical blues and rock backings and hopefully as I learn, some funkier style stuff as well.


I doubt I'll ever be Flea or Bootsy, but definatly would like an instrument that can cover a variey of styles and that won't leave me wishing for features or a better build over time.

thanks

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

I like it. Jaguars are sick guitars once you understand what all the switches do.

 

[millsart]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

it definatly had a wide tonal range with being able to turn on or off the two sets of pickups, as well as have them in series or parallel, and then the added option of having the active or passive system.

Active seemed really cool for the funk pop and slap type stuff and then passive settings seemed a bit more warm and traditional rock sounds.

Plus they looked pretty cool with all that chrome around them lol

Thing looks straight from the 70's in the sunburst finish (which is the one I want)

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

yeah that thing is really sexy. Thanks for the BAS jerk

 

[Corbic]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

My friend just got one, it plays great. He's a shorter guy so the shorter scale is great for him, and the sounds are nice. The switches and stuff soon become a novelty though, you'll very quickly find the sounds you really like and stick with them. Very useful in finding those sounds though. Overall, nice quality, good feel, and good tone.

 

[millsart]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

I'm pretty sure its a standard 34" scale. I think there used to be a Jaguar IV baritone or soemthing a few years ago, that probably was a 28" or 30" scale.

I think the ability to switch from active to passive on the fly could be really useful, especially for a solo or something where you want that modern active sound to really stand out

 

[louthunder]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

My son had one,and maybe it was a "lemon", but it really wasn't a very good bass at all! It had no balls, and didn't play very well either. Might have been just the one.It is a MIM, which doesn't mean much one way or another. Some of the MIM teles and strats are awesome!!

 

[Rich_T]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

Just look at it! It's the sexiest thing with 4 strings.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

With the series switch and the preamp you can get a lot of different sounds but at the end of the day it's a dressed up Jazz bass...if you dig J-Bass tone you'll dig it if you don't then don't bother. When I saw teh Who Pino played a red Jag bass ALL night and got a load of GREAT tones from it...

 

[millsart]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

My son had one,and maybe it was a "lemon", but it really wasn't a very good bass at all! It had no balls, and didn't play very well either. Might have been just the one.It is a MIM, which doesn't mean much one way or another. Some of the MIM teles and strats are awesome!!

Wonder if they did them as a MIM for a while ? They started out and currently are MIJ or crafted in Japan or whatever they call it.

I did read some reviews that talked about some issues with the electronics from a year or two ago. Maybe the switch of the production to Japan fixed some QC issues ?

I guess its definatly worth checking the origin to make sure its newer stock

 

[d1dsj]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

That does look really cool. Have you looked at the prices of Sanbergs? I have a basic 4, single humbucker typepick up and it's superb. Our bass player brought a brand new MM sterling and I would have gone for that too... excellent bass, but he too prefers my bass? Just not sure about prices over there but great instruments.

 

[millsart]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

Well its now mine and instead of GC's 15% off, I was able to buy it online with MSN's Cashback Live Search program for 30% off so some serious savings and I didnt even have to go into the madhouse GC's blackfriday sale would of been


Actually never come across any Sanberg basses here in the states. We might have them at some retailers and I missed them but they don't seem to readily be stocked. Nice looking bass though, but I was just a bit to taken with that chrome on the Jaguar so had to get it

 

[JOLLY]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

I've never cared for the look of the guitars, but I like the way that bass looks. Congratulations on the purchase!!

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

Chris #2 from Anti-Flag uses a Fender Jazz Bass and the Jaguar bass and this Gear Wire review does a pretty good job showing off it's tones. Basically a Jazz Bass with series/parallel switch and an active EQ boost. It sounds and looks awesome to me!

P.S. If I had the cash, that bass would already be mine.

 

[millsart]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

Wow, what is the world coming to ? A gearwire review thats actually informative, from someone who can actually play and that didnt spend over 50% of the review talking about what comes in the box!!!

 

[d1dsj]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

Congrats... I really like the shape of those basses.... don't forget to post and pics and give us your thoughts!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

Too many switchy dealies for me, but I'd be able to figure out what I'd want/need and make the rest user friendly.

 

[Truant]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

I've been gas'ing after a jazz bass for a bit now, and this thing seems pretty much awesome. Extremely versatile and still nails what I want it to do. Would be great for a recording bass as you could dial it in for various different sounds for varying styles.

The only modification that occurred in my brain was to replace the master volume with a concentric so you could have the seperate volume controls like on a Jazz. I like to blend the pickups in different ways. Course that would add another knob to a bass that some would feel is already too complex.

 

[millsart]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

Don't you just hate when UPS comes late, after you've had to leave for work and no one else is home to sign for your new bass. So instead of playing it this evening your stuck waiting for them to show up again tommorow and leaving messages like this on guitar forums ?


It was so close, literally right outside my front door but a few hour ago and now its sitting on some truck somewhere, away from me for a nother 24hours or so.......

sigh....lol

 

[ex-250]

Re: What do you all think about the Fender Jaguar Bass ?

i love those basses. they look awesome, and every one i've picked up played great. never tried one plugged in though. someday.... haha.