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Post subject: jaguar vs. jazzmaster (HELP!)
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:19 am
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look guys i'm new here and i'm trying to decide on which guitar to buy.

My two options are a jaguar or a jazzmaster. I know basically all their differences in size (24" vs 25.5") and their history pretty well, but I haven't yet got the chance to try them out (I know what the hell).

Anyways, there are many differences between the individual models of each guitars. I think i might go with the jaguar, but could I get any true recommendations on which model?

-I have been told the American Vintage 62' is WAY better than the rest. Any pointers?

Thanks! :D


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Post subject: Jazzmaster
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:04 am
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I personally like the Jazzmaster, it just seems so smooth and classic, the Jaguar looks cool but too much like a Jazz bass with the Chrome controlboards.
Jazzmaster all the way.
God Luck!!


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:41 am
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Hi rachi6, and welcome to the forum.

Check out the responses to the same question at
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=21387 &
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=22159

As for your question of whether the American Vintage '62 model is the best, I weighed the options and bought a Classic Player Jazzmaster Special. The '62 probably has better pickups, but I prefer the bridge, tremolo tailpiece position and fretboard radius of the CP model.

Since you haven't played the instruments yet, these sound samples might be useful to you:

American Vintage ‘62 Jazzmaster
American Vintage ‘62 Jaguar

I hope this helps! :)

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm. :wink:


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:54 am
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I bought the AVRI Jazzmaster myself, but tried some of the other models as well. My goal was to get as close as possible to the sound and feel of the vintage instruments. I think the design changes incorporated into the CP series would be important if you insist on using lighter guage strings. I've got my JM setup with 11's. For the styles of music that I play on it (jazz and surf) the 11's are fine. The bridges on these are a bit persnickety and you will probably go through some growing pains during the first few weeks of ownership but it shall pass, once you understand what these bridges are about.


As far as Jazzmaster vs. Jaguar goes, it's personal taste. The most significant difference is the scale length. If you prefer the shorter Gibson-like scale you'd probably want the Jaguar. Otherwise the Jazzmaster uses the standard Fender scale. They both have the same tremolo system and it's a great tremolo. The pickups are different. The Jazzmaster pickups are a bit mellower.


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:17 pm
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Thanks guys, I was worried the classic re-issue might be really crap compared to the 62' vintage, but for almost $1000 difference I think i'll buy the classic jag, cause the jazzmaster is a bit too mellow for me. Liked the jazz tone it has, but I think i might find the surf options the jaguar has particularly useful.

Thanks again! :D


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:19 pm
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I think I'm digging the jazzmaster at this point.


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:27 am
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I bought a 62 AVRI Jaguar late last year.
The short scale is wonderful.
The sounds that can be obtained by all the switching options is amazing.
I chose to replace the bridge as the factory standard "barrel" bridge caused the srtings to move and to buzz a bit more than I liked.
It would be a good idea to make a road trip to a store that has all of the models you are interested in. Even take your amp and cables if you can.
Many times the "quest" can heighten the enjoyment of the purchase.
The body shape of both guitars makes for a supremely comfortable guitar.


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:56 am
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Flashback From the 60's wrote:
I bought a 62 AVRI Jaguar late last year.
The short scale is wonderful.
The sounds that can be obtained by all the switching options is amazing.
I chose to replace the bridge as the factory standard "barrel" bridge caused the srtings to move and to buzz a bit more than I liked.
It would be a good idea to make a road trip to a store that has all of the models you are interested in. Even take your amp and cables if you can.
Many times the "quest" can heighten the enjoyment of the purchase.
The body shape of both guitars makes for a supremely comfortable guitar.


Cool, but which bridge should I choose? Cause I read of people that changed it and still had the same problem - which one do you have?


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:11 am
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rachi6 wrote:
Flashback From the 60's wrote:
I bought a 62 AVRI Jaguar late last year.
The short scale is wonderful.
The sounds that can be obtained by all the switching options is amazing.
I chose to replace the bridge as the factory standard "barrel" bridge caused the srtings to move and to buzz a bit more than I liked.
It would be a good idea to make a road trip to a store that has all of the models you are interested in. Even take your amp and cables if you can.
Many times the "quest" can heighten the enjoyment of the purchase.
The body shape of both guitars makes for a supremely comfortable guitar.


Cool, but which bridge should I choose? Cause I read of people that changed it and still had the same problem - which one do you have?

If you get the Classic Player Jaguar Special as you mentioned above, the bridge will not be an issue. The CP model has the Adjusto-Matic (Les Paul-style) bridge.

I agree with what Flashback From the 60's says about the body contours. Fender really got it right with this body style. 8)

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm. :wink:


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:20 am
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If my memory is correct it is a Gotoh Tunomatic from WD Music Products.

I should have but didn't save the packaging -I DID save the original bridge.


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:22 am
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rachi6 wrote:
Cool, but which bridge should I choose? Cause I read of people that changed it and still had the same problem - which one do you have?



What guage of strings are you planning to use?


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:24 am
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To fill in on gadabouts question - I use 10's


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:48 am
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For the record, I use 10's on my strat and tele but I use 11's on the Jazzmaster. Once you start going below .11 you start to compromise the design of the original vintage bridge, which was designed for heavier strings than are commonly used today.

With that in mind you have a couple of choices. If you want to stick with the 10's, then you might go for the CP which has the action moved closer to the bridge and therefore the strings exert more force on it. Or you could get an AVRI and install one of those "Buzz Stop" aftermarket attachments which solve the tension problem in a different way.

My personal choice was to go with the AVRI with no mods and use .011 strings. I don't use the Jazzmaster for the style of playing that I might do on my strat or tele so the heavier strings are not an issue. I didn't want to compromise the sound in any way by changing the original Leo design.


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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:14 pm
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I've noticed that a Jaguar has more "growl" to it, on rhythm, and a somewhat deeper bell-like twang on lead (not quite Tele twang, not quite Strat quack). As others have already said, a Jazzmaster is just plain smooth. If you've ever seen the movie Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, I'll liken a Jazzmasters tonal pallet to Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Bee Gees), and a Jaguar to Aerosmith's role in the movie (I forget what they were called, in the movie).

Matt

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:58 pm
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gadabout wrote:
For the record, I use 10's on my strat and tele but I use 11's on the Jazzmaster. Once you start going below .11 you start to compromise the design of the original vintage bridge, which was designed for heavier strings than are commonly used today.

Thanks for the thoughts on string gauge, gadabout. My CP Jazzmaster came loaded with 10s, so that's what I've continued using. I've been toying with the idea of switching to flatwound 11s. Do you use flatwound or roundwound strings on yours?

Oh, and kudos to Surfabilly for an interesting analogy of the tone difference between the Jazzmaster and the Jaguar! 8)

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