If you’re wondering if Fender Player Jaguar Bass is a good guitar or not, look no further! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to take a very close look on that popular and affordable Mexican-made bass. Many bassists consider it as one of the best medium scale basses out there, but is it actually good?
The truth is that Fender Player Jaguar Bass offers a great value for the money. This guitar looks, sounds and feels like a much more expensive guitar. Surely, it can easily compete with high-end Fenders.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what makes this Jaguar Bass so good and so popular among the bassists of all levels. Firstly, we’ll start with the overview of specifications of that model. Additionally, we’ll investigate the main pros and cons of that bass. Hopefully, this guide will help you figure out if this bass is a good fit for you and your style!
Overview – Specs & Pricing
Fender Player Jaguar Bass is a Mexican-made bass guitar that exceeds all the expectations. Just like all the other instruments from Fender’s Player Series, this bass guarantees an enjoyable playing experience and a great tone.
What makes this bass so good? Well, the guitar features an alder body, a comfortable Modern C-shaped maple neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard. There’s also an another version of that bass which includes a maple fingerboard instead, so it’s all up to you and your own preferences.
The manufacturer equipped this guitar with two really good pickups:
- Player Series single-coil J bass pickup (Bridge)
- Player Series split-coil P bass pickup (Middle)
These pickups offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone, so you can be sure that this guitar will sound great in pretty much all music genres.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not exactly a cheap guitar, although it’s actually one of the most affordable Fender basses out there. So if you’re looking specifically for a Fender bass and you really care about the cost, this is one of the cheapest basses that you can potentially get.
Overall, this bass has everything that you need in order to grow as a bass player. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional bassist, you will definitely enjoy playing on that bass. That’s for sure!
Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out below.
Pros And Cons Of Fender Player Jaguar Bass
Although Fender Player Jaguar Bass is generally a fantastic instrument, just like all other mid-range guitars, it has its own advantages and disadvantages. Don’t worry though – the cons of that model aren’t that relevant anyway.
Pros
- Great Tone
- Beautiful Finish
- Affordable Price
- High Versatility
- Perfectly Balanced
Cons
- Usually Comes Without A Gig Bag
- There’s No Left-Handed Version
- Sometimes The Initial Setup Isn’t Great (Rarely)
As you can see, the biggest advantage of the Player Jag Bass is the quality. It won’t be easy to find a better medium scale bass available at this price level. This instrument can easily compete with much more expensive Fenders and it can be efficiently used by working musicians too.
On the other hand, this guitar isn’t perfect either. Most importantly, it usually comes without a gig bag, so you’ll have to get it separately if you’re planning on traveling or commuting with that bass. Additionally, on rare occasions the Mexican-made Fenders require a bit of adjusting after unboxing – it’s mostly related to the string action.
Still, the quality and setup issues aren’t that common. That being said, the advantages of the Player Jaguar Bass outweigh the disadvantages of that model. There’s just not much to complain about, especially when you consider how good this guitar sounds. Surely, it’s definitely worth every cent anyway!
Who Is It For?
Fender Player Jaguar Bass is suitable for both amateur and more advanced bass players. It doesn’t really matter if you’re an intermediate player or not – this is a really versatile instrument. It works well as a first bass, but at the same time it can be used for playing gigs and recording in the studio.
This is also a great option for bassists who are looking for something different than regular Jazz Bass and Precision Bass guitars. The Player Jaguar has a really unique offset body shape, so it’s recommended for everyone who’s searching for a bass which is one-of-a-kind.
It is also worth mentioning that guitars from the Player Series are one of the most affordable Fender guitars out there. That being said, anyone who’s looking for the best value for the money will be satisfied after choosing the Player Jaguar.
Overall, the vast majority of bass players will appreciate the high quality of Fender Player Jaguar Bass. This models proves that a great sounding and reliable medium scale bass doesn’t have to be overly expensive. It’s definitely worth every cent!
Here’s an another sound demo.
Fender Player Precision Bass vs Jaguar Bass
A lot of bass players wonder whether they should choose the Player Precision Bass or the Player Jaguar Bass. Both of these guitars are on the same level, but there’s a few things that differentiate them. So which one of them is actually better?
The truth is that it is really difficult to clearly determine which one of these guitars is better. It’s all really subjective. These guitars sound slightly different, so while some bassists adore the Jaguars, other bassists love the Precision Basses.
If you’re still not sure which one of these guitars is better, here’s a really good video that directly compares both of these models.
Cheaper Alternatives
If you don’t like the sound of Fender Player Jaguar Bass or you simply can’t afford it right now, that’s not a problem! The market is full of other really good bass guitars that aren’t too expensive either. Of course, it all depends on your own preferences and most importantly, your budget.
Here’s a few more bass recommendations based on my own experience.
Firstly, you should definitely consider getting the Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar Bass. It’s not a Fender, but it still deserves a lot of recognition. In my opinion, all guitars from the Classic Vibe Series can easily compete with Fenders from the Player Series. This guitar has everything that you need – a great tone, a vintage vibe and an affordable price.
Alternatively, you can also consider getting the Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54. This is a really underrated bass guitar which also sounds and looks absolutely amazing. It’s far more affordable than the Player Jaguar, so it’s a perfect choice for those who don’t want to spend too much on new gear.
If you’re searching for the cheapest bass out there, I highly recommend checking out the Ibanez Talman TMB30. This is a really cool short scale bass which offers a surprisingly good value for the money. It’s actually one of the cheapest basses that are currently manufactured by Ibanez. It’s not the best guitar in the world, but it does the job.
On the other hand, Fender Player Jaguar Bass has everything that you need from a guitar at this price level. It’s a fantastic piece of gear, so if you have the budget for it, go for it! I’m sure that you won’t regret it.
FAQ
Where is Fender Player Jaguar Bass made?
Fender Player Jaguar Bass is manufactured in Mexico.
Is Jaguar Bass good for beginners?
Yes, the Player Jaguar bass is a perfect guitar for everyone who’s just starting out their musical journey.
Is Jaguar Bass good for rock and metal?
Yes, the Player Jaguar Bass is a really versatile guitar, so it can efficiently be used in rock and metal genres as well.
Where can I learn more about Fender guitars?
If you want to find out more about this legendary manufacturer of guitars, check out the official website of Fender.
Summary
As you can see, Fender Player Jaguar Bass is a truly amazing bass guitar. It’s not surprising that so many bass players all around the world decide to add that model to their guitar collections. It’s a really versatile and affordable instrument that offers a fantastic value for the money.
What do you think of that bass? Do you prefer medium scale or long scale basses? Leave a comment down below and let us know what you think, our team at Bass Punch is really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:
