The Ultimate Fender Squier Jaguar Shootout | Classic Vibe vs Vintage Modified

I bought a Classic Vibe about a month ago. It also needed serious work to get it playable. The action was super high and there was grit between the head stock and the body that caused a visible gap. It took a shim to get the neck angle correct and the nut needed adjustment. It plays well now though. Just know you will need a good set-up on these guitars when bought new.

Is that the smiths in the background

Great shootout comparison ❕

I like the squier off sets

Just bought one of these. The one I took home is amazing quality. There wasn’t a single American made Fender in the store that had anything on it; absolute gem. However, the other one I played (which is exactly the same model even down to color), was utter garbage. Unbelievable difference. Highly recommend playing before buying if you can or making sure the shop has a solid return policy.

whilst CV sounds rounder here its largely due to setup.
My VM jag has been a frustrating beast since i got it.
finally sussed out its foibles after much time and effort.
Original bridge...(yes..the rattly old things that drop to bits) still in mine...as it is in my old jazzmaster...tried mustang bridges...bloody rubbish...tone killers.
put a set of 12s on jag...the vibrato screw is a vital part of setup here...as it alters percieved tension and therefore resonance.
Also..it seems the wisdom of many to lower pickups on them...i found the opposite to be better...having them raised gives the vm a much fuller sound..less sterile...this also makes the strangle switch and the vol and tone knobs more usable....i can make mine sound like the CV...but can a CV sound like a VM?..doubt it.
Another thing i found on mine was the soldering...whilst it looked neat it wasnt done right...dry joint on 56k resistor...resoldered it and it made a hell of a difference...as did grounding the vibrato plate....(pop it out ...drill hole at angle into control cavity..stick a wire in..no solder needed..wire can go under screws on vibrato plate and under control plate.
Why they werent checked or done properly in first place is matter for another discussion.
Mine now plays like a dream...had a CIJ yrs ago...and an old 60s one as a youth (should have kept that one!...fabulous guitar)
So before spending money on pickups etc....get to know the ones youve got...theyre fine if adjusted right ...as for sustain...raising pickups....using 12s....setting vibrato spring tension right a jag will sustain quite well...folks say you cant play blues on them.....i say COBBLERS
a properly set up jag will do any style you want...from tele twang to jazz...to surf...punk...blues...whatever you can play ...(did I just create a new genre there....surfpunk blues?)
Skol
Wulf

Same here, my CV was completely unplayable when I received it new. But, once the nut was properly cut and the frets were level this guitar plays great and stays in very tune well. Its actually my favorite guitar. I love the neck profile and binding. Feels great. I actually like playing this more than my American made Fender Mustang or Jazzmaster.

i have the same surf green VM... looks like I'm about to get a black CV.... nice review....nice notes on the setup...( my new
shell pink Jazzmaster needed a proper setup..

u r the boss

Still would get vintage modified. Rosewood fretboard all the way.

I purchased the squier classic vibe with dot inlays. Yea, the nut was cut too high and I had fret buzz on the high B and E strings in the upper frets.
Since I purchased mine from guitar center, it was fixed in a few hours and was free since it classifies as a warranty issue. 😁👏👏👏

This is why you don’t buy musical instruments, amps, pedals, clothes, shoes, and cars online. If you can’t try that exact thing out before you buy it, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Looking at the ressitance (K-Ohm) and the way they are wound, I think the pick ups on both guitars are very simelar. Both use Alnico 5 rod magnets. From my perspective, Squier just dropped the "Duncan Designed" scripts. Wire is the same, ressistance, construction of these is identical. although taking the different bridges, Nut, Basswood vs. Poplar in the equasion, the differences in sound may lie there.The problem with both pick up sets lies in the way they are wound, if you look at the windings, they look a bit messy, when compared to higher end pick ups. You often see quiet loose winds on the Squier pick ups (both Duncan and Fender designed) So imho both sets are on par with eachother. And the Duncan Designed does not really compare with the actual Seymour Duncan "SJAG1" (VIntage for Jaguar) where de Duncan Designed neck pick up is most likely based on nor does the bridge compare to the SJAG2 (Hot for Jaguar) Simelar output. But looking at the price point of both the VM and CV Jaguar, the stock pickups are quiet good. Although the same. I personally favour the CV, the upgraded bridge and the neck are the wins on this one. Although, the tuners on the VM are of better quality. But imho both VM and CV are the best Jag's availble looking at what you get for the price you pay. A few upgrades gets these pretty close to their much more expensive brethren....

EXCELLLENT video, extremely to the point differences. In 8 minutes I learned the same thing after 3 days in shit forums. Although your tone, on both guitars, is absolutely terrible. Sounds like you just did a direct into a DAW and did basically nothing after that.

Classic Vibe has more low end warmth. I think that could be compensated with EQ or compression.

I scored a vintage modified and a classic vibe bridge best of both worlds.

I have had the same experience with Squiers across the line- HORRIBLE "set up" out of the box. I have several "budget guitars" (well under $200) that came with vastly better set ups. Thanks for the video....I'm going to pass on the Jag.

You have the all-time Best Demo Ever on this Planet Amazing Job thank you I've watched it several times over the last couple weeks tomorrow I'm picking up a used red jaguar modified

That's why I don't modify. The sound is so close.

I hear a lot more "twang" on the VM one which IMO is what makes a Jaguar a Jaguar, not a Jazzmaster lite.

Maybe fender made the CV with a high cut nut and other stuff to cut down the price but after everything is setup correctly it’s probably as good as a fender Jaguar

I knew I heard how soon is now in the background

Here's the real secret trick... replace the neck pickup wit a RWRP lipstick pickup they fit perfectly in the stock hole and I promise u that pickup swap will make your jaguar exactly what u think it should be

Vintage Modified has medium jumbo frets vs narrow-tall frets on the Classic Vibe.

I've just acquired one of these built in jun 2021, and it seems the quality control issues seem to have been resolved. And was playable out of the box, Still needed a setup though. (which guitars don't.) but the nut is cut a lot better than what you've reported. Also I do recommend getting the neck shimmed, so there is a bit of pitch back to increase the break angle.

I went into the store on Wednesday to try out all the offsets, even tried those rerelease Harmony guitars, I really have always wanted an offset but end up with some else at the time it came down to it. They had the bullet mustangs (all junk frets), a couple VM 60s Jag, the J Mascis, and the Daphne blue 70s CV. Going in I thought if I would buy anything, it would be a J Mascis but it just didn’t have everything, just missing what the 70s CV had. This guitar plays better or at least as good as my American strat! They guy at the store even said, yeah I play that one all the time, it just feels amazing! I couldn’t agree more, so that was 3 days ago and I’ve barley set it down!!! I just love it! I threw 10-52s on it and it stays tune really well and I use the bar a lot!! Hope this helps anyone with their future purchases. Please play before you pay!!! Even the same guitar models can vary SO much!

Own the cv, gonna get a vm tomorrow! Just to have as a back up/have a different sounding jag!

Wellsir! I bo't a 2nd hand CV 70's a month ago so of course I'm going to say it's best. I have many guitars. Among them, this Squier ranks as one of the more expensive because I refuse to pay more for the "not better" stuff. I luv this CV 70's but I warn you - the neck is as skinny as an anorexic Robin's ankle! I'm not bothered by that but that is the most notable feature of this one. Some folks don't like that. It is pleasing to look at with a wide variety of tonal options. Low action. Thanks for the video. Both of your guitars are magnificent, I say take whichever one is your preferred colour and done.

Fender jaguar 100%

I prefer the Indonesia made Jaguar. I wish it had the bigger inlays. Those square/rectangle inlays look beautiful.

SOMETIMES a dude makes a video containing the EXACT info you need. Thank You my Friend :)

My friend got a new cv jaguar bridge pickup mesure 5.7k neck 6.2k.... strange

I had the Vintage Modified for a week or two until I discovered that the bridge was out of line with the fretboard! I didn't notice at first because of the way the strings were positioned on the threaded barrel saddles but if you replaced the bridge with a Mustang bridge the high E string would be off the fretboard, it was that bad. One of the worst guitars I ever owned. I dumped it just as fast as I could and got a MIM '60s Lacquer Jaguar instead and it was vast improvement over the Vintage Modified. And once I heard the pickups in the MIM it made me realize how un-authentic the Duncan Designed sounded.

I got my CV Jaguar last 2020. It sounds jangly than my Fender Am Pro Jaguar. For me, I can hear a more vintage sound from the CV. The VM’s Duncan designed sounds similar to American Pro’s Vmod pups. Thanks for this comparison Vid. Cheers!

By the way, the set up of the Squier is terrible when I got it. Rough fret wires, high action, had intonation issues.. but after I brought it to a guitar tech, problem solved.

CV EVERY time

Thanks a lot!

Just got a CV with manufacture date of 2022, it did need a basic set-up, especially when changing to 10g strings, but happy to see no major problems or need for a neck pocket shim as noted in many reviews.

Not fender

It should be noted poplar was occasionally used on vintage fenders. The VM sounds more like a fender jaguar to my ears, it has a thinner and brighter sound. The classic vibe sounder hotter.

Another point for the 70s for me is proper jaguar knobs, not the smaller push one plastics the VM has. I'd prefer rosewood but it's not a deal breaker to me. Definitely think the 70s is a better guitar for me.

I’ve got both. I prefer the classic vibe overall really nice guitar. The mustang style bridge on the cv is the much improved 52mm E to E string spacing to help avoid the high E slipping off the edge of the fretboard. I also prefer the tort pickguard (both are sunburst jags). Also I have the 70’s neck with blocks and binding on the CV. However, while I’ve set them both up as best I can (Stewmac shim, set of 10’s, filing nut slots, loctite on bridge, etc.. neither are as good as my Crafted in Japan 90’s jag. The neck on that is sublime.

What‘s 8.93 oz in normal measurement (kg)

One thing I really love about the oroginal Jaguar and Jazzmaster circuits, is that I can leave the almost all the way down/closed for the lead circuit/pickup, and the tone all the way up/open for the rhythm circuit/pickup, which you just cant get in Strats, Teles, etc.

I was all ready to commit to the VM…til now. The greater clarity and bite in the CV will swing it, I think.

since squier went to Indonesia there has been issues its strange how the vm's which were also Indonesia sems to be better made, check out the new teles where the ferrules in the back are always out of line with each the old versions never had that it must be a different factory they are made now, plus I cant stick the Laurel fretboards the old vms had rosewood as doid the china cvs, but still at the higher price point for a squier this is not good enough. I had ordered a silver sparkle jaguar but when it arrived the fretboard looked horrendous so I returned it straight away however I have seen some the look acceptable.

love the sound of the classic vibe, will order one soon and hope the free 55 point inspection will take care of odd frets and such. Love my Strat, but so intrigued by the Jag, I have to have one...

I have the Surf VM from new. The Mustang bridge has the wrong radius so I avoided it. Eventually I fitted a Staytrem fixed bridge. This has the correct radius and is slightly narrower which brings the E strings away from the fretboard edge a little. Everything else is perfect and needs no mods.
For me the block inlays and black Squier logo on the CV are not as desirable.
I've played hundreds of live shows with mine and it's sound is perfection for reggae rhythm.

Good video man. I got a 70s last week. The neck was perfect. The bridge however I shimmer the poles so it won't rock and stabilized the intonation and adjusted the action and that was it, a perfect playing Jaguar. Lucky I was. I've had to do a lot of work on Squiers before. Have a good one.