Hey everyone, I’ve been playing guitar for a few years now on a cheap old Squier Strat. I’ve decided it’s time to upgrade because I want to start writing my own music and play live.
I’m still an amateur, so looks matter to me, but I also care about sound. I love both the Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster designs, but I’m not sure about the differences between them. I visited a music store, but I’m still confused. Which one would be better for me?
The main thing to know is, the Jag is cooler.
The Jaguar has single coil pickups like the Strat, but the Jazzmaster has its own pickups that are a bit beefier. I personally like the Jazzmaster because the bigger pickups give a cool tone.
Orin said:
The Jaguar has single coil pickups like the Strat, but the Jazzmaster has its own pickups that are a bit beefier. I personally like the Jazzmaster because the bigger pickups give a cool tone.
I’ll be honest, I don’t completely get all of this. Between the two, which one would be better for both rhythm and lead?
@Bailey
Both are good for rhythm and lead. If you want something closer to your Strat, go with the Jaguar. But if you want something a bit different, the Jazzmaster is great too. Also, the Jazzmaster is really comfortable to play while sitting.
Neither is really better, they’re just different.
The Jaguar has a shorter scale, and its pickups sound thinner and a bit jangly compared to the Jazzmaster.
And yeah, looks always matter! They do to me, too.
If you’re newer to guitar, you might want to avoid the Jaguar because the bridge can be frustrating to deal with.
Joss said:
If you’re newer to guitar, you might want to avoid the Jaguar because the bridge can be frustrating to deal with.
What’s so bad about the bridge? Based on what people have said, I’m leaning towards the Jazzmaster now.
@Bailey
Maybe newer models have fixed it, but the original bridge can be a pain. If the bridge isn’t set up just right, or if you’re not using thick enough strings, it’ll rattle in the holes where it’s supposed to stay. The saddles are like screws, and if the strings aren’t heavy enough or if you play too hard, they’ll pop out. Some people swap the bridge for a Mustang one, but I’ve still had issues with it. I’ve had several Jaguars over the years.
The length and pickups are different. The shorter scale of the Jaguar is great for reaching tough chords and runs. It’s the most comfortable for me, but the Jazzmaster might be better for people with bigger fingers who want more space on the fretboard.
Try playing both to see which one feels better to you. The pickups are different, but the electronics are mostly the same, except the Jaguar is a bit more complicated. If you like modifying your guitar’s electronics later, the Jaguar might be better, but the treble boost is pretty useless in most situations.
If you take the worst features of both the Jaguar and Jazzmaster, you get the Fender Jagmaster.
The Jazzmaster has the same scale length as a Strat or Tele, so your fretting hand will feel at home. The Jaguar, however, has a shorter scale and might feel cramped for people with bigger hands, especially higher up the neck.
The Jaguar has some features the Jazzmaster doesn’t, but I personally find the Jazzmaster to be a bit more versatile overall.
Have you thought about trying a JagMaster?