Fender Jaguar Bass

Infobox Guitar model|title=Fender Jaguar Bass


bgcolor=#FFFFFF
manufacturer=Fender
period=2005 — present
bodytype=Solid
necktype=Bolt-on
scale=34"
woodbody=Alder
woodneck=Maple
woodfingerboard=Rosewood
bridge=Standard 4-Saddle
pickups=2 Vintage Jazz Bass Single-Coil Pickups
colors=(as of 2008) Black, Hot Rod Red, Olympic White, and 3-Tone Sunburst

The Fender Jaguar Bass is an electric bass guitar manufactured in Japan by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. It features a unique combination of the styling and electronics of a standard Fender Jazz Bass and the Fender Jaguar electric guitar. The Jaguar-shaped alder body contains two active/passive Jazz Bass pickups controlled via a variety of switching and tone options. In addition to large rotary master volume and tone knobs in the typical Jazz Bass position, the Jaguar Bass has an active/passive switch located in the upper bout and two adjacent roller knobs which control bass and treble cut when the bass is in active mode. In the lower bout are three additional switches: an on/off switch for each of the pickups and a switch for choosing between series and parallel wiring of the pickups. The thin, C-shape one-piece maple neck (similar to that of the Geddy Lee Jazz Bass) has a rosewood fingerboard and aged pearloid block inlays. The bass also has a standard chrome vintage-style top-load 4-saddle bridge and vintage-style chrome tuners.

The Jaguar Bass debuted in the U.S. at the January 2006 NAMM show.cite web |url=http://www.bassplayer.com/article/fender-jaguar-bass/apr-06/19712 |title="Fender Jaguar Bass & Pino Palladino Precision Bass" |author=Leigh, Bill |coauthors=Herrera, Jonathan; Olwell, Greg |year=2006 |month=April |publisher=Bass Player |work=Bass Player: Online Edition |accessdate=2008-08-11] It has a list price of $1,099.99 US though it is typically offered for retail sale at just under $700 US. The Jaguar bass was originally made available only in Hot Rod Red (with matching headstock) and Black (without matching headstock) in the United States. Olympic White and Sunburst (with a 4-ply brown tortoise scratchplate) were available in the Japanese market. As of 2008, these finishes are now available worldwide; neither with the color-matched headstock of the Hot Rod Red version.

History

In 1960, Fender introduced the Jazz Bass, 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 pickup design and proved to be a precursor to the Fender Jaguar electric guitar which was released in 1962.

Fender produced the Jaguar electric guitar until 1975, when both the Bass VI and Jaguar lines were discontinued. However, in 1999, due to popular use of the Jaguar by indie rock musicians, the model was revived by Fender. From 2004 to 2006, Fender also produced the Jaguar Bass VI Custom which was a cross between the Bass VI and 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 is similar to the Jazz Bass in that it has a narrower jazz-style neck and two vintage single-coil jazz-style pickups. The bass also shares much in common with the Jaguar electric guitar and the Bass VI models with its switch-based pickup design, and active/passive mode switching. The Jaguar Bass was originally made available in the United States with a black finish, and a "Hot Rod Red" finish with a matching headstock. Two other colors, "Olympic White" and sunburst were also available in the Japan market. Two years later, Fender introduced the white and sunburst models worldwide.

Notable Jaguar Bass players

Multicol
*Sienna DeGoviacite web |url=http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0259505506 |title=Fender Deluxe Series: Jaguar Bass |publisher=Fender |accessdate=2008-09-15]
*Eva Gardner
*Colin Greenwood [cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoLJJRIWCLU |title=Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place (thumbs down version) |publisher=Radiohead |work=YouTube.com |accessdate=2008-09-15]
*Georg Hólm [cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/06/sigur_ros_bring_down_the_museu.html |title=Sigur Rós Bring Down the Museum of Modern Art |author=Boylan, Gabriel |publisher=New York Magazine |date=2008-06-16 |accessdate=2008-09-15]
*Sally Hope
*Justin Meldal-Johnsen [cite web |url=http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5837540&postcount=32 |title=TalkBass - Congrats JMJ - NIN tour! |publisher=TalkBass |date=2008-06-10 |accessdate=2008-09-15] Multicol-break
*Pino Palladino [cite web |url=http://pinopalladino.wordpress.com/2006/10/21/q-have-you-been-using-a-fender-jaguar-bass-whilst-touring-with-the-who-joeholly/ |title=Q: Have you been using a Fender Jaguar bass whilst touring with The Who? (joeholly) |publisher=Pino Palladino |date=2006-10-21 |accessdate=2008-09-15]
*Ryan Roberts [cite web |url=http://www.thebriggs.org/members_ryan.html |title=Ryan Roberts |publisher=The Briggs |accessdate=2008-09-15]
*Chris Ross
*Matthew Taylor
*Mikey Way [cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO9Lj0T93Xk |title=My Chemical Romance - I Don't Love You [UK Single] |publisher=My Chemical Romance |work=YouTube.com |date=2007-03-07 |accessdate=2008-09-15]
*Simon Young

References

External links

* [http://www.fender.com Fender.com] - Manufacturer's Official Site

Literature

*Peter Bertges: "The Fender Reference"; Bomots, Saarbrücken 2007, ISBN 978-3-939316-38-1