Do you own both a Jazzmaster and a Jaguar?

[seawalker]

Seems like many of us do, since we're all offset fans here at OSG - but on other guitar message boards you frequently see people refer to them as a one-or-the-other proposition.

Or, you commonly see this idea that the Jaguar is the little version and the Jazzmaster is the big version of the same thing. Seems like traditionalists like strat and tele players have this impression, but they are often full of misconceptions like the rhythm circuit being useless or that the controls for the Jag or JM are hard to understand.

I wonder, how many of us own one of each? Do you own both a traditional SS Jaguar and a Jazzmaster with traditional Jazzmaster pickups?

Do you find that they are different enough to have totally different applications, for you? Is one your all-arounder and one a specialist? How do you use both in your arsenal?

[Larry Mal]

I do own two Jazzmasters and a Jaguar, but my Jaguar is not assembled.

There have been times when I owned a Jaguar that was assembled, though, and have had a Jazzmaster every day for the last 25 years.

They are as different from each other as a Strat and a Telecaster. They are both all arounders if you want them to be and more importantly if you can make them be that.

There certainly is nothing lesser about the Jaguar, that's for sure. It's as good sounding as any electric guitar in the world in my opinion, just wonderful.

[windmill]

Have both and both are good in their own ways.

They are different sounds.

Jags are best tho'

[Severed Hand]

I have both and yeah they’re not too similar. I fancy a full scale and the wider pick ups on Jazzmaster over the short scale and brighter single coils on my jaguar.

I bought the jaguar for a bargain to try one out ended up liking Jazzmasters more.

I’m actually trading my AVRI Jaguar for a custom shop Jazzmaster this weekend.

[jakeisjake]

I have both. I've only had one Jaguar (a Thin Skin)...But I've owned multiple Jms.

I like whichever one I'm playing at the moment better.

[Singlebladepickup]

I had both for a little while and sold the Jag. Not because it was a Jag, but because it was a Fender. Putting together my parts Jm made me realize I could assemble a guitar I'd like more than any stock Fender. I agree theyre very different, and both all-around awesome. Loved the look and sound of the Jag, preferred the JM scale slightly more. Might try to assemble a Gibson scale jag and make my JM a baritone one day, just to be weird.

[Pacafeliz]

I have both and they are completely different beasts.

Different scale, pickups, wiring... I wouldn't throw them in the same pool - common mistake from the unknowing.

[Larsongs]

I own 3. A Squier J Mascis which I bought because it looked great, I like the Pickups & it wasn't expensive.. It required quite a few hours to finally get it Set up to play well. It's all Stock & has a good Sound..

I also have an Olympic White AV65 Jazzmaster & a Candy Apple Red AV65 Jaguar. Both also required quite a lot of Set up time compared my other Fender, Gibson, Gretsch & Ric Guitars. Not sure why though?

Both AV65's have custom made shims of the same type of wood used for either the necks or the bodies to attain Action the way I lie. I forget which. I did put a Mustang Bridge on the Jazzmaster even though I don't think it needs it. As I use stock Guage Strings.

I play the AV65 Jazzmaster more than the other 2. It has a really good feel & a more versatile Sound..

I do agree that Jags are nothing like JM's. As different as Tele's & Strat's IMO. All 3 are cool Guitars to play though!

[marqueemoon]

100% Jazzmaster here. I like the 25.5” scale. One has lipstick pickups though, so a little more Jag-esque in sound.

[Jan Deal]

I've owned two different Jaguars and sold them both. There is something about them that I don't get on with, but I think they look great. It's not the scale length, as I've had a 69 RI Mustang for 15 years and that is an amazing guitar. I've got my MJT Jazzmaster for 10 years now, best guitar I've ever owned. I recently picked up a mahogany parts JM, which I also like.

[carron]

I had both in the past, prefer Jazzmasters. Both were stolen, along with almost everything else. Now have a Jazzmaster, the one you see in my avatar, but a Jaguar might be in my future. If I don’t buy one, I might build one.

They have different sounds for sure.

[Embenny]

I started out with a jag, my second offset was a JM, and now despite having a couple of JMs, the Jags have done a bit of a tribble impression and outnumber the JMs by a good 3:1 ratio. I just prefer the feel of shortscales, and the jag remains the king of the shortscales for me, though I appreciate mustangs as well.

[iainmayfield]

Of course - that's really a daft question

Not only Jaguars and Jazzies but Mustangs, Telemasters, Bilts and many different types of offset!!

[Trout]

Of course I do.

[Ice Tre]

I own 3 Jazzmasters and 1 Jaguar. I think people think they're similar because the body shape is the same, and the tremolo is the same. But the pickups sound totally different, and the different scale length also makes a huge difference, both in sound and feel.