Which is better jazzmaster or jaguar

The finish is convincing enough to have deceived both the previous owner and the dealer it was sold to, but the current custodians at ATB Guitars took a more careful look and found evidence of grey primer and brown wood stain in the neck cavity, confirming this as a respray. It was clearly refinished by a professional and it was done so long ago it has the genuine appearance of age without any of the usual signifiers of a modern relic job.

It certainly looks like the correct white acrylic oversprayed with nitrocellulose. The original tortoiseshell guard has a crack near the jack socket, shows signs of shrinkage and there is some warping, but none of those things detract from either the appearance or value. This is one of those vintage guitars that has clearly been well played, but has absolutely no negative playability issues. The nitro on the front of the headstock appears rather thick and a little uneven, leading us to suspect the original decal was oversprayed.

When this guitar was refretted, somebody was perhaps a little over-zealous when cleaning out the slots, and most of the slot ends have been oversawn into the maple. The original single-line Kluson tuners feel smooth and accurate, and the hardware is all in very serviceable condition. It looks correct under the hood too, with the original wiring and shielding all intact and only a handful of solder joints disturbed. Several changes were made to the Jaguar over its first four years of production, and this example has pearl rather than clay fingerboard dots, plus neck binding and an F-branded neck plate.

Jaguars were among the first Fenders to be equipped with F-stamped tuners, while block inlays would replace the dots found here by the end of the year. As you might expect, the CBS-era pickguard is still bright white. The feature that sets this guitar apart, and elevates its price significantly, is the Firemist Gold finish with headstock to match.

Fender introduced this classy hue in — it was a Lucite acrylic made by Dupont for Cadillac. But both headstock and body look identical under black light. None of the solder joints or wiring appear to have been touched, and all the hardware seems to be original. The bridge mute is present, but the foam rubber has dried out and shrunk so much, it has no effect whatsoever.

For Strat and Tele players, the Jaguar may actually feel more familiar, despite its shorter neck. A shorter scale length also means that harmonics are more closely packed together. What kind of scale length feels right and comfortable is totally down to personal preference so if possible, try both out and see what works for you.

The guitars undoubtedly look very similar. They both share the striking offset body shape, and classic Fender headstock. Early Fender Jaguars, or reissues of early models also have a mute between the bridge and the bridge pickup—when activated, this gives a similar sort of effect to palm-muting.

All these slight differences add up so that when you see either one, you can differentiate between them. For two seemingly similar guitars, there are some really key differences between the Fender Jaguar and the Jazzmaster. While both guitars utilize single-coil pickups, they do have different tonal characteristics. The Jazzmaster has a little more body and warmth to the sound, as well as a wider frequency range and slightly hotter output, whereas the Jaguar sounds more focused, brighter, and twangier.

Both the Jazzmaster and the Jaguar are versatile guitars. Both guitars however are definitely going to give you a unique sound—unmistakably Fender, but different enough from a Strat or a Tele. The Classic Vibe Jazzmaster and Jaguar are great guitars and offer amazing value for money. Used by beginners and pros alike, the Squier Classic Vibe series provides incredible bang for buck. The Mexican-made Player series mixes things up a little—both guitars only feature a Lead circuit.

The Fender Player Jaguar has a humbucker in the bridge position and a classic-style Jag neck pickup, though the humbucker can be coil-split to give more single coil like tones. The Jazzmaster is fitted with two humbuckers, which again can be coil-split via the tone knob. The Vintera series offers players golden-era vintage-spec Fenders at more accessible prices.

The Modded Jag has two humbuckers, and the Modded Jazzmaster has two higher-output single-coils. This series offers US-built guitars, with period-correct specs. Both the Jaguar and Jazzmaster are based on '60s models, and showcase all the classic offset features as well as some really nice '60s-style finishes. There are numerous different signature Jazzmasters and Jags out there, all with different specs and features.

Mascis Jazzmaster. Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. An array of interesting tones can be discovered while messing around and learning the ins and outs of the guitar itself.

For instance, easily pair whichever setting you choose on the guitar with a pedal to further enhance, intensify, or completely change the sound, bringing it to a whole new level. Which tone is preferable? That all depends on the player. Some prefer the thinner sound the Jaguar provides; others prefer the fuller sound of the Jazzmaster.

So, now after taking a more in-depth look at the Fender Jaguar vs Jazzmaster. You are probably wondering which guitar is actually the best option. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer for that; it simply comes down to a matter of personal preference. Whichever guitar you end up choosing, you are sure not to be disappointed. Both guitars are stunning instruments in their own right.

Thanks for sticking around for the verdict of the Fender Jaguar vs Jazzmaster. Leave us a comment below and let us know which guitar you prefer and why.

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