Fender Jaguar Bass
Encyclopedia
The Fender Jaguar Bass is an electric bass guitar
manufactured in Japan
by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
, with exception of the neck, bridge, and pickups taken from the Fender Jazz Bass
. Rather than the standard dot position markers, however, the Jaguar bass has aged pearloid
block inlays
, a feature generally reserved for premium instruments. The bass also has a standard vintage-style top-loading bridge
and tuners
. An onboard preamp is controlled by bass/treble boost rollers and an on/off switch located on the top control panel. The lower control panel holds on/off switches for each of the pickups, and a switch to toggle between parallel and series wiring of the pickups. Finally, the master control panel holds the master volume, master tone, and jack.
The basic tone of the Jaguar Bass is very similar to its stablemate, the Jazz Bass, and retains the signature "growl" of the latter. The complex controls, however, lend it a unique tonal flexibility not found in any other Fender instrument. For example, Bass Player Magazine notes that the Jaguar Bass can "[deliver] a convincing P-Bass sound ripe for Motown fingerstyle."
, which was originally known as the "Deluxe Model" (in relation to the previously released Precision Bass
). Fender marketed the Jazz Bass as a stablemate to the Jazzmaster
electric guitar, as it featured a narrower neck which appealed to jazz
musicians. The following year, Fender released the Bass VI
, which featured six strings and a short-scale neck. The Bass VI also had a switch-based control layout, and was essentially a precursor to the Fender Jaguar
released in 1962.
Fender produced the Jaguar electric guitar until 1975, when both the Bass VI and Jaguar lines were discontinued. However, the model was revived in 1999 due to the popularity of the Jaguar (and the similar Fender Jazzmaster
) amongst indie rock
musicians. From 2004 to 2006, Fender also produced the Jaguar Bass VI Custom
, a cross between the Bass VI and the Jaguar.
Prior to the forthcoming discontinuation of the Jaguar Bass VI Custom, Fender unveiled the Jaguar Bass at the 2006 annual NAMM show. The Jaguar Bass was originally made available in the United States in Black and Hot Rod Red with a matching headstock. Although the Jaguar Bass was also manufactured in Olympic White and 3-color Sunburst, these finishes were only available in the Japanese domestic market. The full range of finish options was launched globally in 2008.
The Fender Jaguar Bass was discontinued in the United States in 2010 and Japan in 2011.
However, Fender resumed manufacturing the instrument in Summer 2011. The Deluxe Jaguar Bass is now available in 3-tone sunburst, candy apple red (without matching headstock), or cobalt blue finish.
Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass with a black body and matching headstock.
The bass is closer to the Jazzmaster than the Jaguar in appearance, due to the absence of any controls other than stacked volume/tone potentiometers similar in design to the early versions of the Jazz Bass
. Other features include a P/J pickup layout, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, and pearloid block position markers.
body (depending the finish) and a maple neck with a 20-fret rosewood fretboard and pearloid dot inlays.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
manufactured in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
Design
In appearance, the Jaguar Bass is largely faithful to the original Fender JaguarFender Jaguar
The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar introduced in 1962. A descendant of the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar quickly caught on in the emerging Surf music scene...
, with exception of the neck, bridge, and pickups taken from the Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
. Rather than the standard dot position markers, however, the Jaguar bass has aged pearloid
Pearloid
Pearloid is a plastic that is intended to resemble mother of pearl. It is commonly used in making musical instruments, especially for pickguards, electric guitars, and accordions.-Production:...
block inlays
Inlay (guitar)
Inlay on guitars or similar fretted instruments are decorative materials set into the wooden surface of the instrument using standard inlay techniques. Although inlay can be done on any part of a guitar, it is most commonly found on the fretboard, headstock —typically the manufacturer's logo— and...
, a feature generally reserved for premium instruments. The bass also has a standard vintage-style top-loading bridge
Bridge (instrument)
A bridge is a device for supporting the strings on a stringed instrument and transmitting the vibration of those strings to some other structural component of the instrument in order to transfer the sound to the surrounding air.- Explanation :...
and tuners
Machine head
A machine head is part of a string instrument ranging from guitars to double basses, a geared apparatus for applying tension and thereby tuning a string, usually located at the headstock. A headstock has several machine heads, one per string...
. An onboard preamp is controlled by bass/treble boost rollers and an on/off switch located on the top control panel. The lower control panel holds on/off switches for each of the pickups, and a switch to toggle between parallel and series wiring of the pickups. Finally, the master control panel holds the master volume, master tone, and jack.
The basic tone of the Jaguar Bass is very similar to its stablemate, the Jazz Bass, and retains the signature "growl" of the latter. The complex controls, however, lend it a unique tonal flexibility not found in any other Fender instrument. For example, Bass Player Magazine notes that the Jaguar Bass can "[deliver] a convincing P-Bass sound ripe for Motown fingerstyle."
History
In 1960, Fender introduced the Jazz BassFender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
, which was originally known as the "Deluxe Model" (in relation to the previously released Precision Bass
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
). Fender marketed the Jazz Bass as a stablemate to the Jazzmaster
Fender Jazzmaster
The Fender Jazzmaster is an electric guitar designed as an upmarket sibling to the Fender Stratocaster. First introduced at the 1958 NAMM Show, it was initially marketed at jazz guitarists, but found favor among surf rock guitarists in the early 1960s...
electric guitar, as it featured a narrower neck which appealed to jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musicians. The following year, Fender released the Bass VI
Fender Bass VI
The Fender Bass VI, originally known as the Fender VI, is a six-string electric bass or Scale Baritone Guitar by Fender.The Fender VI was released in 1961, and followed the concept of the Danelectro 6-string bass released in 1956, having six strings tuned E-E, an octave below the Spanish guitar...
, which featured six strings and a short-scale neck. The Bass VI also had a switch-based control layout, and was essentially a precursor to the Fender Jaguar
Fender Jaguar
The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar introduced in 1962. A descendant of the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar quickly caught on in the emerging Surf music scene...
released in 1962.
Fender produced the Jaguar electric guitar until 1975, when both the Bass VI and Jaguar lines were discontinued. However, the model was revived in 1999 due to the popularity of the Jaguar (and the similar Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Jazzmaster
The Fender Jazzmaster is an electric guitar designed as an upmarket sibling to the Fender Stratocaster. First introduced at the 1958 NAMM Show, it was initially marketed at jazz guitarists, but found favor among surf rock guitarists in the early 1960s...
) amongst indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
musicians. From 2004 to 2006, Fender also produced the Jaguar Bass VI Custom
Fender Jaguar Baritone Custom
Not to be confused with the Fender Jaguar Bass or the Fender Jaguar Baritone Special HH.Fender's Jaguar Baritone Custom electric guitar, also known as Fender Jaguar Bass VI Custom is more or less a combination of the Fender Jaguar electric guitar and the Fender Bass VI electric bass guitar: Its...
, a cross between the Bass VI and the Jaguar.
Prior to the forthcoming discontinuation of the Jaguar Bass VI Custom, Fender unveiled the Jaguar Bass at the 2006 annual NAMM show. The Jaguar Bass was originally made available in the United States in Black and Hot Rod Red with a matching headstock. Although the Jaguar Bass was also manufactured in Olympic White and 3-color Sunburst, these finishes were only available in the Japanese domestic market. The full range of finish options was launched globally in 2008.
The Fender Jaguar Bass was discontinued in the United States in 2010 and Japan in 2011.
However, Fender resumed manufacturing the instrument in Summer 2011. The Deluxe Jaguar Bass is now available in 3-tone sunburst, candy apple red (without matching headstock), or cobalt blue finish.
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass
In 2010, Fender introduced the SquierSquier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass with a black body and matching headstock.
The bass is closer to the Jazzmaster than the Jaguar in appearance, due to the absence of any controls other than stacked volume/tone potentiometers similar in design to the early versions of the Jazz Bass
Jazz bass
Jazz bass is the use of the double bass, or in some genres bass guitar, to improvise accompaniment and solos in a jazz or jazz fusion style. The double bass began being used in jazz in the 1890s, to supply the low-pitched walking basslines which outlined the harmony of the music...
. Other features include a P/J pickup layout, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, and pearloid block position markers.
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special
In 2011, the Jaguar Bass Special was introduced with the choice of P/J or single humbucker pickups and Jazz Bass knobs/control plate. While the Jaguar Bass Special features a split-coil Precision neck pickup and a single-coil Jazz Bass bridge pickup paired with an active bass boost circuit, the Jaguar Bass Special HB uses a high-output humbucking pickup and a 3-band active EQ. Other features include a solid basswood or agathisAgathis
The genus Agathis, commonly known as kauri or dammar, is a relatively small genus of 21 species of evergreen tree. The genus is part of the ancient Araucariaceae family of conifers, a group once widespread during the Jurassic period, but now largely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere except for...
body (depending the finish) and a maple neck with a 20-fret rosewood fretboard and pearloid dot inlays.
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special SS (Short Scale)
The SS model features a P/J set, a solid agathis body and a 20-fret maple neck with a rosewood fretboard and a short 30"-scale length.Modern Player Jaguar Bass
The Modern Player model, introduced in 2011, sports a koto body, an unbound C-shaped maple neck, maple fretboard with 9.5-inch radius, black block inlays and 20 jumbo frets, three-ply parchment pickguard, two Modern Player PJ pickups, three Jazz Bass control knobs (middle volume, bridge volume, master tone), vintage-style four-saddle bridge with brass saddles, open-gear tuners and nickel/chrome hardware. Available in Black.Notable Jaguar Bass players
- Sienna DeGoviaThe RandiesThe Randies are a female-fronted punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. They have been featured in Blender magazine, as well as been selected as the featured artists of the month on Fender's website. The Randies have produced two full-length albums, and also two music videos for songs from...
- Matt FreemanMatt FreemanMatthew "McCall" Freeman is an American musician. He is best known for his bass guitar work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy, Rancid and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade.-Playing style:...
- Eva GardnerEva GardnerEva Gardner is an electric bassist from Los Angeles, California. She is a graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she studied under trumpet player Bobby Rodriguez. She holds a degree in ethnomusicology from UCLA . Her professional credits include teaching stints at...
- Paul Chiesa
- Colin GreenwoodColin GreenwoodColin Charles Greenwood , is an English musician and composer, best known as the bassist of the rock band Radiohead. Apart from bass, Colin plays keyboards, synthesizers and works on sampling on the electronic side of Radiohead...
- Brad HealdBrad HealdBrad Heald is the current bass guitarist in the Australian garage rock band The Vines and the current guitarist of Sydney band Red Riders. He officially replaced Patrick Matthews, the previous bass guitarist of The Vines, who left during the Annandale Hotel performance in 2004 where Craig Nicholls...
- Georg HólmGeorg HólmGeorg "Goggi" Hólm is the bassist of the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. Holm is the most prominent member of Sigur Rós in the English press, as he does significantly more press than the other members due to his being the most fluent English-speaker in the band; part of Georg's fluency in...
- Sally Hope
- Dylan Johnson
- Justin Meldal-JohnsenJustin Meldal-JohnsenJustin Meldal-Johnsen is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work with Grammy Award-winning artist Beck. He served as the touring bassist for Nine Inch Nails during their final tours.-Recording career:...
- Pino PalladinoPino PalladinoPino Palladino is a Welsh bass guitarist who gained fame playing primarily rock and roll, blues rock, and rhythm and blues music, although he has been lauded for his ability to play most genres of popular music, including jazz, neo soul, and funk...
- Ryan RobertsThe BriggsThe Briggs are a punk rock band based out of Los Angeles, California. The Band Formed in 1999 under the name "I Decline" by brothers Joey and Jason LaRocca and bassist Matthew Stolarz . In 2001, with the addition of drummer Chris Arredondo the band adopted the name The Briggs...
- Tyson Ritter
- Chris RossChris RossChris Ross is an Australian musician from Erskineville, New South Wales. Best known for his former role as bassist and keyboardist of hard rock band Wolfmother, Ross was formerly a digital designer and has two children...
- Corey Hykaway
- Matthew Taylor
- Sergio VegaSergio Vega (bassist)Sergio Vega is an American musician. He is the former bassist of post-hardcore band Quicksand, which originated in New York City in 1990. In 1995, Quicksand disbanded, although they reunited again in 1997 to tour with Deftones...
- Mikey Way
- Simon Young
- Stefan OlsdalStefan OlsdalStefan Olsdal is the bassist/guitarist of the alternative rock band Placebo and is part of the electronic dance/DJ and remix act Hotel Persona.-Biography:...
- Miles Westfall
- Daniel Jacques
- Rhydian Dafydd
Literature
- Peter Bertges: The Fender Reference; Bomots, Saarbrücken 2007, ISBN 978-3-939316-38-1