Jaguar v Jazzmaster

Freebird

If you could only have one, which would you choose and why?

stickyfiddle

Jazzmaster any day. But they're v different, so there are definitely circumstances where I'd prefer a Jag.

Funkfingers

Freebird said:

If you could only have one …

 

Freebird

stickyfiddle said:

Jazzmaster any day. But they're v different, so there are definitely circumstances where I'd prefer a Jag.

Are you making a case for having one of each?

slacker

Jaguars feel like toys to me.

ICBM

Jaguar. I find Jazzmasters a bit too 'long', and I prefer the dynamics of the Jag.

stickyfiddle

Freebird said:

stickyfiddle said:

Jazzmaster any day. But they're v different, so there are definitely circumstances where I'd prefer a Jag.

Are you making a case for having one of each?

Absolutely! But I could just as easily make a case for a halfway-house build with a 25" scale and WRHB pickups. That would be really special...

Philtre

Good question, and one which I ask myself often.

I have both in 65 AV versions.

Some days I get my Marc Ribot mojo on and I'm convinced the Jag is "it" while the JM is too long and more suited to shoegazers. Then I'll play the JM for a while and really get into it and think the opposite.

I don't know!   Oh the pain of suffering these luxury problems!

Freebird

stickyfiddle said:

Freebird said:

Are you making a case for having one of each?

Absolutely! But I could just as easily make a case for a halfway-house build with a 25" scale and WRHB pickups. That would be really special...

I have always thought it prudent to choose between similar types of guitars to prevent things from getting out of hand, so I'd probably get one or the other, but it's not set in stone!

Whitecat

Both super fun. On balance probably a JM if just one, just for that neck pickup sound - but it would be a tough call, I love the feel of Jags. 

Fez

Jag for me.

dazzajl

stickyfiddle said:

Freebird said:

stickyfiddle said:

Jazzmaster any day. But they're v different, so there are definitely circumstances where I'd prefer a Jag.

Are you making a case for having one of each?

Absolutely! But I could just as easily make a case for a halfway-house build with a 25" scale and WRHB pickups. That would be really special...

I have pretty much that, with a slightly streamlined body. It is indeed an excellent thing. 

If I had to make an a/b choice, I’d go Jag. 

26.2

I have both - a 64 Jag and a CIJ Jazzmaster. 

Both are great and I’ve played a couple of 1961 Jazzmasters that were really special, but I’d have to go for the Jaguar. I love the fact that it jangles like crazy with light gain and has a characteristic growl with more gain that no other Fenders have. The short scale plus fast attack and rapid decay really makes you play differently and that’s fun. Having said that they’re far more versatile than they’re often claimed to be. I think the only major limitation is that it’s pretty crowded up above the 12th fret. But for big garagey riffs and chimy picking they can’t be beaten. 

hessodreamy

I’ve had both and on balance preferred the jag. It had this real ‘crang’ and punch that was fun to attack the fretboard on frenetic stuff. Loved the neck pickup rhythm tone but struggled with the bridge brightness and couldn’t cut through the band (nb this is pretty much what I think of any single coil guitar!). I ended up routing it for a set of jazzmaster pickups. That was fun for a bit. Got rid of it for a jazzmaster. It was good but I couldn’t find the character in it. 

In hindsight I kinda wish I’d kept the Jaguar and put a slightly hotter bridge pickup in. 

Also, I’m short so jags feel better to me. 

26.2

hessodreamy said:

I’ve had both and on balance preferred the jag. It had this real ‘crang’ and punch that was fun to attack the fretboard on frenetic stuff. Loved the neck pickup rhythm tone but struggled with the bridge brightness and couldn’t cut through the band (nb this is pretty much what I think of any single coil guitar!). I ended up routing it for a set of jazzmaster pickups. That was fun for a bit. Got rid of it for a jazzmaster. It was good but I couldn’t find the character in it. 

In hindsight I kinda wish I’d kept the Jaguar and put a slightly hotter bridge pickup in. 

Also, I’m short so jags feel better to me. 

Couldn’t cut through the band with a Jag? Wow! 

hessodreamy

26.2 said:

Couldn’t cut through the band with a Jag? Wow! 

Ach, it’s a common theme for me: got a busy sounding band, and I always dial in too much high and not enough low. 

ICBM

I rewired my Jag to give both pickups in series as the 'both switches down' setting, that made it a lot more versatile.

Usefully, the modern Duncan mini-humbuckers will fit in a Jag without routing too.

munckee

I bought a jag and a jazzmaster during lockdown to pick which I preferred. It was the jag for me.  The jm is similar to a Strat for me and having a Strat and a tele the jag felt like a punchy little surf machine and I prefer the pickups. 

Don’t know your budget but if you can find a Mexican classic lacquer you wouldn’t need to go any higher up the ladder they are really good. The AVRI pickups are awesome. 

Teyeplayer

I prefer jazzmasters, the middle position on them is possibly my favourite guitar sound, it’s just a unique tone -naturally chorused with a wonderful note for note clarity. However, I’m missing having a jag so that will be the next in once the next lot of Vintera’s hit this shore. Jags are more percussive and as a result sit really well in a mix. I think it’s possibly unfair to pick one.

@stickyfiddle offers an in between there that should be a standard model. I have no idea why fender haven’t made more of the jazzblaster’s potential. 

guitarjack66

They both look horrible to me. But if forced I'd choose Jazzmaster,under duress.

Creed_Clicks

Throw a Mustang into the mix for the shorter scale and trem....