Jazzmaster or Jaguar - Which Squier Classic Vibe should be YOUR FIRST SURF GUITAR?

Already made that choice a year ago - got the very Jag Ryan is playing. A year later, still am totally digging it.

Jag for me for all the reasons you mentioned, and for the additional settings it offers. The various tones it generates should make it more versatile too. Play anything you want, any style you prefer, and it’s got a tone that works…with a short-scale playability that makes it a better overall addition to my modest guitar collection.

Thanks for doing this man….
I’ve been on the fence about purchasing one of these and the scale length will certainly have me go towards the shorter one 🤙

I played a 1965 Jaguar almost everyday for 3 years ....1965-1968. It belonged to my best friend. I hated it more than I hated my 65 Mustang. The only guitar I possibly hated more than these two was a Ventures model Mosrite. In the opposite direction I had a friend that would leave his 64 Jazzmaster at my house for weeks at a time. I really loved that guitar. I didn't know why at the time but both the Jaguar and my Mustang suffered with a lot of fret buzz especially when played open. In 1980 I was talked into playing in a band again by the guy who had the Jazzmaster although he now had a 57 Strat. The Strat was just ok but a couple of months later he swapped it for a Tele. I loved that guitar. I now have 3 Teles and 3 Strats. I've often thought about picking up a Jazzmaster but I would do it only if I could find a super light body. Three of my guitars are about 5 pounds which is perfect....

If I run into a recording of Mr Moto the way I learned it I'll send it to you. Its a little different from the way you play it. Its really cool. I miss those old guitar instumentals that I learned to play in the early 60's....

Is there a Jazzguare??!! ¡¥¡

I have the CV Jag...it's my favorite guitar I've ever owned. Jags are just IT!

Best presentation of the difference between these two legendary models !

That's like asking cadillac vs. dune buggie.

Jaguar wins

Are these 2 princetones that have been featured for years now, or have tubes been replaced, I am impressed if they're stock and troublefree all this time?

In the UK we say "Jag - you -ah" not "Jag - wah"

Jaguar's are perfect for reggae too.

I bought both! No regrets👍🏻

That Jaguar sounds like COMPLETE ASS in every position, with every effect, including clean only.

I have never heard a tone that cheap & useless in my life. WTF? Throw it in the trash immediately!

That's why I own a Jazzmaster, as most do. They can play almost any genre, and they take pedals well.

I also own a short-scale, offset Silvertone with mini-buckers and a Bigsby that will eat that Jaguar for lunch all day long!

Please stop playing the Jag—my ears are BLEEDING!

Great comparison between the two & some fab classic & not so classic sounds !😊

The Jaguar sounds nice, but I can get such a sound also with my Stratocaster, so I want a Jazzmaster because its really different from my other guitars

Hey ryan..what about a surf mustang ???

Jazzmaster

I like both , but the jazzmaster is so versatile, all those buttons an slides, that's interesting. I'm a blues and country player. I could make it work. 😊

I need both. For me the Jazzmaster takes line honors for pure tone, definitely. I've watched it through twice now. Jaguar for the short scale characteristics, bling and versatility. $900 for two excellent instruments, whaaat? I have a few others I never play I could sell for more than that. Great review Ryan, thanks, appreciate you - Mark

My plan is for both eventually. Maybe a nice Xmas gift to myself

My first guitar was a Jaguar copy. Being more familiar with Strats and Les Pauls, I didn't know what it was supposed to be. A few years back I purchased a Jaguar to sort of "commemorate" my first guitar and that's when I finally began to understand its strengths.

The controls are confusing as hell, but once learned you can get a wide variety of sounds. My favorite feature is the bridge: it has the exact opposite effect of Les Paul's sustain. It's really, really bright and lends itself to 8th or 16th note strumming. In other words, the poor man's jangle pop guitar. The lack of sustain plus "the dark circuit" surprisingly works for jazz. This is NOT the guitar for classic rock tones .

Now THAT's an intro. Fffffuuuuuuuuu** 😂❤

Hi guys!

Any recommendation for nut replacement for the jaguar?

Does the Graphtech Tusq XL fit?

Thanks!

Single coils over the P90's

To me, the Rhythm circuit takes the neck SC PU to a more HB tone/sound...... more mellow and smooth.. takes out the "chime"...

ONE QUESTION. WHEN YOU FIRST TRY THE JAZZMASTER, DID YOU NOTICE A DARKENING SOUND WHEN TURNING OFF THE VOLUME KNOB? CAUSE I HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH MINE

I went for the JAGUAR because I like its ease of play and the great TONAL OUT put possibilities. Thank you for inspiring me to push the Outer Limits of my creativity! 🙏🏻🤘🏻🤗🤘🏻

Thanks for not saying "jagwire".

what overdrive are you using in this video please?

How would a jaguar play with 11's. For strings ???

What about the Mustang? I was all about the Jazzmaster. I got a Mustang about a year ago and I have just fallen in love. But, they definitely seem to fit the "is it a surf guitar" criteria

I've owned multiple examples of both, from pre-CBS to Squiers that were on sale at Christmas. There is no wrong decision. They can both surf. If I HAD to make a choice between the two, I'd go with the Jazzmaster, only due to the tighter tone (compare a 30" bass to a 34" bass and the difference will jump out at you). But again, you can't go wrong with either.

love both, jazz is glassy, Jag is more Strat twang

Jag

I could hear the biggest differences when you strummed both at the 29" mark. Not sure which I liked the best - the bright and jangly Jag has it's appeal, but I'm leaning towards the JM; it just seemed to have more overall sonic richness and detail. The looser string tension of the 24" scale is appealing, but that could likely be achieved by using lighter gauge strings on the JM (possibly sacrificing some of the tonal qualities that I like about it!).

I’m liking the jag

Hi, awesome playing. Does the main riff in the intro come from somewhere, if so, what is it, i'd like to learn to play that.

i was surprised at the professional tones the jaguar puts out. sounded more professional and solid than the jazz master. i was glad to hear that the jaguar feels better. more pliable. i own a classic vibe jazzmaster and i like it but the jaguar is pretty professional sounding. might recommend it over jazzmaster. i still love jazzmaster though and wouldn't trade.

Love the Jazzmaster and have one. But, the Jag (also have one) just seems to have a little more versatility and tone range options... but Neither are for sale LOL ! But that aid the Jag, cannot outdo the JM in the overall twanginess / chiminess dept. But it can get "close enough"..

Squier classic vibe 70s jaguar perfect in my subjective opinion!😎 and you're review is also perfect! Thanks!

The claw on the Jag pickup is supposed to be hum canceling. I don't know if it actually is, but it was designed in response to hum being a big problem with those early strat designs. Also, the jag has a more scooped sound than any other Fender instrument. More bass, more treble. That's why there's a strangle switch to cut the highs and low to get a more mid-focused sound. If you want to really differentiate the sound of your Jag from the JM, I'd recommend using LaBella Jazz Flats 11s on the Jag. It brings out the thump in a way that works really nice for surf guitar.

Thank you for inspiring me and jolting me back to why I like the Jaguar so much for surf music. Your playing is also very inspiring. More than you could ever know. Thank you Ryan. Few people play Jaguars and Jazzmasters like you do, the way they were intended to be played. At least the way many surf players played them back in the day.

You have to have both. They are both great in their own unique way! 🎉

I thought I preferred Jazzmasters over Jaguars. This video has changed my mind 180 degrees.

something about the bottom end of the Jag i like - I think its the sound of New Wave guitar. Would like to hear you do a demo where you have hifi drums and bass with the guitar riffs - gotta hear these in a mix - cause its a guitar that lives in a band / song environment.

Do you prefer Jaguars or Jazzmasters? YES.

I've been thinking Jaguar, but after this I'm leaning Jazzmaster!