If we were to travel back in time and go to the 1960s, wed probably be able to give you a different answer. Some versions of both models do come with humbuckers. Jazzmaster features block pearl in-lays on the frets. It takes no more than a glance to realize that these guitars are completely different compared to what were used to seeing. Of course, the body shapes are pretty much the same. As you can see, both Fender Jaguar and Fender Jazzmaster models come with unique controls. The Jazzmaster pickups which shouldnt be mistaken for P-90s, sound chunkier. 1) donny, i think the biggest problem you would run into is the bridge placement, the holes on the PG will pass the holes in the jag body and you wont be able to insert the bridge, but if you somehow modified, say cut, the PG to just not go down that far and cover the holes (think warmoth jazzmaster guard), then it might work with a little noodling, but dont expect the screw holes to line up at all. However, the guitar is conceived in such a way that it allows some virtuosic a very comfortable playing experience. However, there are some differences (which also include controls and electronics, but well get to that) which make them a bit more nasally in output. I think Warmoth has to line up the templates by hand, instead of just poking the "Jazzmaster" button and having the CNC blast it out in one shot. For jazz music, you want the cleanest tones possible, especially when comping chords. Pickup Configuration Winner: Fender Jazzmaster. The new humbuckers Fender uses in this guitar are powerful but offer the clarity thats needed for jazz and blues solos. Required fields are marked *. The solution is simple and elegant, and yet it still keeps things effective. Gibson Les Paul vs Fender Stratocaster: The Eternal Rivals. Some users install a Mustang bridge on their Jazzmaster as they perceive this to be a better quality bridge. As years went by, Fender began implementing a standard dual-humbucker configuration. Similar feel. Whats more, most players would like a longer guitar, so theres another thing that just might be a slight turn-off with the Jaguar. Finally, we have the neck profile. Necks, on the other hand, are exclusively maple ones. If you want a guitar with a fully vintage-oriented feel, wed recommend some of the Jaguar models, like the Vintera 60s variant. The Fender Player Jazzmaster is a mid-level electric guitar from Fender that delivers creamy tones perfect for jazz, blues, and pop music. Even to this day, Jaguars are known for their unique sound of vibrato bars. With the rhythm circuitry, you can get some of those darker tones which are super-useful for blues and jazz. A Jaguar is a bit twangier a nice mix between a Strat and Tele. Great drawing. Heres what well cover in this Fender Jaguar vs Fender Jazzmaster comparison: So when it comes down to Fender Jaguar vs Fender Jazzmaster, which one should you choose? I requested a Jag pup pickup route in the neck position for my JM guitar. Mustang bridge, they have proper string grooves. But which would be better? Jazzmaster necks feature block pearl in-lays, instead of single dots, compared to most Fender guitars. just different variations on neck, finish, electrics etc. When it comes to these two offset guitars, is there really one thats best? On the other hand, the Jaguar model was originally intended as a cheaper alternative to the companys popular models, as well as a way to steal some of the Gibson players back in the 1960s. Original versions of Jaguars and Jazzmasters differed with their fretboard radius measures. This is mostly due to its more conventional Fender traits and a bit of a simpler control layout. Jaguar has traditionally been made with a fretboard radius of 7.25 inches. Sure, most of it is Adler, but they can also be out of mahogany in some cases. Todays Jaguars offer a twangy tone thats a bit more classic Fender, which is why its popular among alternative rockers. As far as Fenders Jazzmaster guitars go, their traditional setting also includes two single-coil pickups. The pickguard will be the main issue to address. With the option to individually turn pickups on and off, along with the strangle switch, you get six different combinations. Fender also sells the Jazzmaster under the following series, all of which are made in the USA: This series mimics the original of the 1960s and comes with a premium price tag. Of course, some newer versions of Jaguars are more straightforward and include options with 3-way or even 4-way switches. are there any alternatives to the bridge system that still look like the old jag/jazz bridge? Additionally, Fender has also made some Jazzmaster with ash bodies. Theres also the Fender Noventa, a 3-pickup version, thats priced similar to the Performer series. With that shorter scale length, there are only 21 frets on a Jaguar, while there are 22 frets on the Jazzmaster. However, these are completely different from classic Fender stuff. The instrument is still very potent and can handle a lot of different settings. At the end of the day, the choice is up to you, but the Jazzmaster might just, objectively, be a better option. But if were comparing these two, we cant help but notice that the Jazzmaster feels a bit better. In fact, if you ask us, its a more balanced situation. Jazzmasters are most often made with 21 frets, but there are some rare models with 22 frets. Slightly more affordable than the Original, the Performer lineup is made in the U.S., but doesnt use as high quality of pickups found in more expensive models. - But at the same time, the guitar is usually popular only in punk, new wave, and alternative/indie rock circles. yeah, I'd love to put a mustang bridge on my jagmaster. After much inspection, I realized the difference between a Jag and a Jazzmaster is 1.5" in scale length and that is a lot. These days, they usually come with rosewood and Pau Ferro ones. But in the practical sense, it kind of evens out since the Jazzmaster gets things done pretty much the same way. Because of the offset body design, the pickguards on these guitars are quite unique. Warmoth can and will apply different routing schemes to any body - it just cost m-o-n-e-y. The original pdfs are on the fender support pages. A certain portion of Jazzmasters come with maple fretboards, while other options also include rosewood and Pau Ferro. Whats really interesting is that Jazzmasters found more use than Jaguars, which is probably due to their specific pickups. Let me know what's up. Fender originally designed the Jazzmaster for jazz players, which is why there are relatively clear treble tones. Im ready to break it all down for you! I've wondered about the other way around. Both guitars feature an intricate dual circuit and controls. Its common to see both with a dark red tortoise color. The body shape design is identical, or almost identical, to that of Jazzmaster. Even the bridges and dual-wielding tremolo tailpieces are the same. Because the Jaguar includes a metal claw that helps cut down on unwanted hum, the pickups offer better clarity and sound a little brighter. Both guitars are quite similar in terms of design but have branched out as more genre-specific guitars. coz aesthetically it looks sexy. Look, the choice here was very hard, as both of these guitars have exciting and unique pickups. As a result, the tone is a bit beefier compared to regular single-coil pickups, although it still keeps most of the clarity. Since a lot of the features are the same, almost identical, playability and performance between Jaguar and Jazzmaster models are similar. Whats also interesting is that Jazzmaster pickups have a very wide winding. Sure, the design might not sit well with everyone, but its what theyre well-known for. However, theyre constructed in such a way not only for better intonation, but also to allow a smoother transition of strings over the saddles. if i buy a jaguar body, would a jazzmaster pickguard fit? The humbuckers used on this Jazzmaster really deliver. why not buy a jagmaster and get a plate cut with Jaguar pickup holes? Talking about these two famous offset models, one of the most interesting things is the difference in scale length. Now, things get pretty weird, and interesting, with Jaguar and Jazzmaster controls. Didn't someone say recently that W wouldn't do jaguar pickups? The Jazzmaster model is older, so from the beginning, it had Fenders standard scale length of 25.5 inches. This brings a different feel to the instrument that many Fender players like. But this doesnt make it a bad choice in any way. by theworkoffire Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:43 pm, Post Nonetheless, they still have their following and are actually becoming more popular as time goes by. Fender listened and made some critical updates to the Jazzmaster and four years later introduced the Jaguar. Engaging the rhythm circuit means that youll have to use separate volume and tone controls, located on the bass side of the body. Once again, it was a tough choice, especially because both guitars are so interesting. If theres an expensive variant, then its definitely worth it. However, in this category, we cant help but have the Jaguar as the winner here. He has played guitar for more than two decades. This tremolo isnt designed for big nose-bomb dives like on heavy metal guitars, but more so for that vibraphone-type tone. Something went wrong while trying to load the full version of this site. Some of these things can be noticed with the choice of build materials. While neither of these electric guitars werent terribly popular in the 1960s, theyve become a hot commodity for vintage guitar collectors, especially the 1961 Jazzmasters. damn, i wish i had even mediocre photoshop skills. http://www.terrapinisland.com/beta09b/i 2=main.php, Home This is mostly due to the shorter scale length, which is also very useful for anyone who has smaller hands. The tailpiece is essentially a flat metal plate, with slots for strings. I know it costs $45 to move a single pickup, but only the mysterious Warmoth pricing wizards can give you a complete answer. - So this is yet another category where the Jazzmaster wins. They look pretty similar to Gibsons well-known P-90 pickups, although theyre made in a completely different way. Firstly, the scale length is 25.5 inches, the classic Fender configuration. which i find garish anyway. When we talk about Fender guitars, were typically discussing Stratocasters and Telecasters. As already discussed, one of Fender Jaguars biggest advantages comes down to its controls and features. Warmoth doesn't have a template for it. To be fair, if were talking about pickups, both Jaguars and Jazzmasters are pretty interesting. The one big complaint with this Jazzmaster HH, which is made in Mexico, is the bridge. Fender Deluxe Reverb 65 vs Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb: Which should you get? However, we couldnt help but give this one to Jazzmasters, mostly due to their sonic versatility. This makes it slightly heavier than your typical Stratocaster and Telecaster, but considerably lighter than a Gibson Les Paul. Its a loose term that aims at the instruments unconventional and asymmetrical shape, which looks a bit off.. Firstly, we have the scale length, which makes the instrument look a bit different. On the other hand, we have the Jazzmaster that has the classic Fender guitar feel. The fretboard choice, however, is a bit more versatile. Although controls are very useful, having so many switches and knobs all over the place may be distracting, even uncomfortable. Yamaha HS7 vs Yamaha HS8: Which monitors should you buy? If youre a beginner looking for a more budget-friendly guitar, youre in luck! The main volume and tone controls on the treble side are disengaged. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Therefore, we decided to call this one a tie. While were at it, its also worth mentioning that both the Jazzmaster and the Jaguar traditionally come with a different number of frets. Four iconic Fender colors. These days, Jaguars are still cheaper, although just a little bit. Because of the intricate tremolo system, I recommend a higher gauge string, like .009s. by sewkid Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:51 am, Post Sure, this is a personal preference, making it really hard to say whats better or worse. However, here we chose Jazzmaster as the winner. Although an old-school design, these tremolo bars are pretty useful and stable. I don't know if they would to be honest because of the scale differences I'd imagine the bridge in in a different place?? However, which of these two instrument models is, objectively, better? These days, you can find both cheaper (Fender Player) and high-end options of the Jaguar model with this configuration. To summarize our findings in this Fender Jaguar vs Fender Jazzmaster comparison, here are the winners for each category: These days, both Fender Jaguar and Fender Jazzmaster variants are mostly popular among specific groups of guitar players. With enough m-o-n-e-y, you can have anything you want, dear. - This is the two bodies lined up with the neck heels in the same place - blue jazz, red jag. However, as it usually goes for Fender guitars, these are also fairly reasonably priced. 25.5" standard scale length and 22 frets. Meanwhile, Jazzmasters can be a bit more versatile with the choice of body materials. These classic guitars are quite similar but, as you can see, there are some differences that will force you to make some decisions if youre on the fence about purchasing either one. That was the whole idea when Fender introduced the guitar in 1958. Capri Orange really stands out. Andrew's full-time job is as the content and PR manager for. Samson SR850 vs AKG K240: How Do These Headphones Compare? 1995-2019 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. ie screw holes etc.. yeah, although a bit of chrome might be nice on the lower half. If you want a simple answer, the guitar is just slightly less versatile compared to the Jaguar. You can expect Jazzmasters to work pretty much the same. Jazzmasters might be just a bit more expensive on average compared to Jaguars. Contact Us. The only differences that might be noticed are on those completely vintage-oriented Jaguar and Jazzmaster models.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'talkinmusic_com-box-4','ezslot_2',110,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-talkinmusic_com-box-4-0')}; Ever since its inception, the Fender Jaguar model has traditionally come with two single-coil pickups. 2) vedderman, i think your idea might be easier as you could probably just hold the jag plates on the jazz PG trace them and then cut where they would go assuring a custom fit, the problem being the upper control cavity might be bigger than the plate. All rights reserved. Although very similar, the differences in the design can be noticed. Firstly, the bridge comes with six individual saddles. Copyright 2021 Really Simple Guitar. Additionally, theres a third switch called the strangle switch that cuts the mids from your tone, creating those squeezed or scooped kinds of tones. Interested in learning more about the Jazzmaster? Both features solid bodies, but Jaguars are almost exclusively made out of Alder. Here are a couple of the most commonly asked questions. The pickguard is also different. Think rock-a-billy music, which is why its easy to think those single-coil pickups are P-90s. Therefore, were giving this one to the Jazzmaster. In terms of tone, the Jazzmaster gets the nod from me, but it comes down to personal preference. it would just look like a shortscale jazzmaster. Sure, you can technically do more stuff with the Jaguar. Its not like theyre budget-friendly guitars, but theyre a pretty great deal for the price. oh yeah and i noticed this for a custom job, i quite like those squier 51s they look stunning with a tele style bigsby on them. On average, both guitars weigh 8.5 pounds. Also, with my idea in mind, is there anything y'all think I should be warned about or be concerned with? Overall, theres not much difference in the choice of materials. Theres the metal part that covers the volume and tone controls on the treble side of the lower bout. Its not like its significantly superior to the Jaguar, but you can notice a clear difference in this category. While Fender did upgrade it from previous models, its still pretty lousy for intonation. But, to be fair, each of them is valued properly. Its nothing like your Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, but it still allows dual-wielding action, going both up and down in pitch. The Jazzmaster is actually a great guitar for jazz specifically the newer models which put a greater focus on clarity. Initially, I thought using it with a 25.5" scale neck is no big deal since it only involves in shifting the bridge placement a little further. i'm curious.. hypothetically, could you directly replace a jaguar's pickguard with a jazzmaster one? You can certainly go lighter, but it sounds best with .009s. Fender unveils limited edition Jazz-Tele hybrid, retrieved from https://happymag.tv/telemaster-jazzcaster-fender-unveils-limited-edition-jazz-tele-hybrid/, Chrissy Mauck, Iconic Mods: How Invented the Jazzblaster, retrieved from https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/iconic-mods-how-sonic-youth-invented-the-jazzblaster. Aesthetically-wise, they have some distinctions. Jazzmasters, on the other hand, have two Jazzmaster pickups, with their output being very similar to old Gibson Les Pauls with two P-90 pickups. They're very different. http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/index.php/topic,17936.0.html, Quote from: Unwound G on June 08, 2009, 08:49:37 PM, Quote from: PitchShifter on June 09, 2009, 03:06:26 AM, My Guitarrses s'STILL Beaterer than Ursers. However, Jazzmaster just finds a lot of use. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Registry Playability and Performance Winner: Fender Jazzmaster. By Can all the accessories of the Jaguar (control plates, pickguard, etc) be placed on the body of the Jazzmaster without it looking weird? However, these arent that widespread. That balanced Fender sound is great for rock and pop music, though. Taylor Vs. Martin: Which Brand Is The Best Buy For You? There are Jazzmasters on the market that feature double binding, which gives the guitars body more depth. The only difference that you may notice comes down to different price categories. But there are two guitar models that are quite popular, especially for those who are interested in standing out in a crowd: The Fender Jazzmaster and the Fender Jaguar. I know they have different scale lengths, but I wasn't sure if you could fit one without too much modification. maybe drop in the Bass VI version for extra switching options? And, of course, this has also created a substantial niche for Jazzmaster copy guitars within the overall cheap offset guitars market. If you want a jazzmaster style PG for your jaguar just draw up the shape you want and get one made. Just like the Jaguar, the Jazzmaster comes with rhythm and lead circuits. Considering the fact that Fenders Jaguar originally came out in 1962, its tremolo system was very revolutionary for the times. I'm planning on building a Jazzmaster pretty soon. To take advantage of this desire for the old specimens of both guitars, Fender, in 2018, released a hybrid Jazzcaster (1), a mix between a Telecaster and Jazzmaster. Jaguars two single-coil pickups are an interesting formation, making it sound similar to your average Fender Telecaster. To put it simply, you cant go wrong with either of them. How about a two color screen for the official offsetguitars.com shirt? It was also mostly copied from the already established Jazzmaster model traits. Unwound G pretty much summed it up quite well. Its also worth noting that Jaguars come with a standard Fender headstock, just like the one you see on Stratocasters. The tone also gets a bit darker and beefier compared to just selecting the neck pickup within the lead circuit. Squier, the subsidiary of Fender that makes affordable guitars for Fender, offers both the Affinity Jazzmaster and the Classic Vibe 70s Jaguar. Surf rockers, though, loved the look and feel of the guitar and really made it their own. presuming you could rearrange the pickup switching etc.. i'm having trouble picturing it, and the offset dressing room and google pics are not really coming up with anything. no,the bridge holes & all that {censored} are different due to the different scales.custom guard,yeah. 24 inches, which is significantly shorter. by Orang Goreng Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:15 pm, Post Although Jazzmasters controls arent as versatile as those on the Jaguar, its still a pretty potent guitar. These guitars have noisy bridge pickups, which can be solved by shielding them. Its likely why many players gravitated toward these guitars in the first place, though. Hi everyone. There are any number of Jazzmasters with rear-routing, strat-routed pickups, hard tail etc. I was wondering if anyone had ever put a jazzmaster pickguard on a jaguar before. The guitar definitely carries a vintage vibe with it and features four iconic Fender color finishes with all the modern technology. Some people do pair their Jazzmaster guitars with Strat pickups. just considering alternatives to spending big bucks by building a jaguar/jazzmaster hybrid. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. And this is all on the lead circuitry alone. Powered by Invision Community. And its kind of weird since these guitars are very potent and come with a lot of tone-shaping options. This has got to be the best forum I've seen. Although not a strictly aesthetical trait, a shorter scale length makes Jaguar look a bit different. Twangier like a mix between a Stret and a Tele. While the guitar never resonated with jazz players (it just couldnt compete against traditional archtops), it was an attractive option for surf guitarists. Tell me more about cheapo jagmaster copies por favor, http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2114373. Heres a quick overview: Although overall very similar, Fenders Jazzmaster and Jaguar have some of their own distinctions. It was pretty much like on classic Telecaster guitars, although there are some differences (well get to that later). There are plenty of famous guitar players who do, including John Frusciante, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; American singer-songwriter Ric Ocasek; Slipknot guitarist Jim Root, whos known for his black Jazzmaster; Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo, famous for his Jazzblaster (2); and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. The necks of both guitars are similar (both tend to be maple), but there are some minor differences. Jaguar features single dots on its fretboard. The Jazzmaster has a 1-piece pickguard, which covers all of the controls. All rights reserved. The Jaguar is best for surf rock, shoegaze, and other alternative rock subgenres today. Although Jazzmasters almost exclusively come with these two pickups, there are also some other variants. In the practical sense, the Jaguar is a bit more versatile in this direct duel. https://talkinmusic.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.co.uk., and any others that may be affiliated with the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. For help with setups and other technical issues. These offset models were initially geared toward jazz players since Fender wasnt producing archtops, which is the preferred guitar style for that genre. i could even get one of those cheapo jagmaster copies (i'm sure you remember the thread melx!) One of the traits was the additional 22nd fret, as compared to Fenders traditional 21. While were at it both instruments are great in this regard. These might be a bit complicated, but youll still have a lot of options to play around with. You cant swap them, they wont fit by a mile. Single-coil pickups that offer better clarity than Jazzmaster, About 8.5 lbs, which is the same as the Jaguar, About 8.5 lbs, which is about the same as the Jaguar, Andrew Dodson, an award-winning journalist and writer who lives in Northern Michigan, is the content editor for ReallySimpleGuitar. There have been some baritone models with 27-inch and 28.5-inch scale lengths, but these are pretty rare. However, in the practical sense, you wont notice any difference at all, unless youre super-focused on some details. 1995-2019 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. However, a lot of the modern Fender Jaguar guitars also come with 9.5-inch fretboard radiuses.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'talkinmusic_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',108,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-talkinmusic_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; But at the end of the day, theres no better or worse choice here, just what feels better in your hands. Its a smaller instrument and it may look different compared to a Jazzmaster in your hands. While these instruments are both awesome, there are just some slight advantages with the Jazzmaster. From the very start, Jaguar was intended as a cheaper alternative to other Fender models. This also goes to their overall versatility. essentially, these chinese made jagmaster copies are all versions based around the same jagmaster body, which are all made in the same factory in china. Intonation can slip out easily. but practically, it's a nuisance.. it would be nice to have something that looks and works well too. Thank you. Make sure to also check out our review of the best Fender Jaguar. I've always been fond of the control plates on the jags but own a Jazz. Even the standard configuration comes within a few different price categories. A major difference between these two classics is the scale length. However, were presented with a very difficult choice here. The Jaguar and Jazzmaster tremolo lock prevent all strings from going out of tune if a string breaks. This site contains affiliate links to products. In my opinion, this is the best Jazzmaster for the money right now. However, there are a few traits that make Jazzmasters different. The Jazzmasters pickup height of an inch is quite short compared to that of a Stratocaster, which is 7/16 of an inch. Theres a lot of different stuff when it comes to Jazzmasters. As its probably obvious by now, these instruments do seem very similar. On the other hand, Jaguars rarely ever came with maple fingerboards. Then theres also the option to use pickup switches as the so-called killswitch. With the Jaguar, you can even do some of those wacky Tom Morello kind of effects. I've been thinking about doing it but im not sure if would fit. In my very own opinion, I give the Jazzmaster a slight nod due to the more traditional scale length, plus its better all-around tone. When it comes to the bridge system, these are two identical designs. Post The same could be said about the headstock design. Today, he owns a Martin OO-17S parlor-style guitar and a D'Angelico EXL-1 Deluxe archtop. by Aeon Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:28 am, Post Still interested in learning more about the difference between these two classic beauties? These guitars are referred to as offset guitars. Whats interesting about the Jaguar model is that its fairly popular with punk players. Marshall DSL40C vs Marshall DSL40CR: How Different Are They? Jazzcaster? But in almost all cases, both Jazzmasters and Jaguars are the same when it comes to bridges and tailpieces. Many owners have opted to swap it out for something better. However, as it usually goes, these things change over time. Additionally, it was also intended as a cheaper guitar to take away Gibson fans in the 1960s. A shorter scale length can make it more difficult to find harmonics. The lock also helps your strings stay in tune after using the whammy bar. Forum However, it seems that Jazzmaster gets a bit of an advantage here. I'm having it routed locally. The regular lead circuit allows you to individually switch both pickups on and off. Fenders Jaguar and Jazzmaster models are not something that you see every day. The Jaguars classic formation includes two separate circuits called lead and rhythm. The lead one is the brighter-sounding one and includes both pickups. Meanwhile, the Jazzmaster had its own variant of the classic C shape. This, of course, works in combination with the floating tremolo tailpiece. What would a jazzmaster pickguard look like on a jaguar? Since the beginning, the Jaguar has been conceived as a budget-friendly alternative to some other Fender models. Both Jaguar and Jazzmaster models and variants have had different profiles. I was wondering if you could fit a Jazzmaster pickguard on a Jaguar. Another thing that brings it closer to regular Fenders is the maple fretboard if the exact variant has one. Secondly, the neck feels just a bit different, although this can depend on the exact model variant were talking about. These days, however, theyre pretty similar in this regard, often even identical. Exact pickup models differ, but you can find the dual-humbucker configuration on some of the variants, like the Kurt Cobain signature model. Jaguar is kind of all over the place with its controls and everything else. For instance, some have three JM pickups, while youll also find those with two humbuckers, like the Jim Root signature model. The first thing youll notice on both of these guitars is the offset body shape. The biggest issue is buzzing, which can be solved with a buzz stop.