Fender Jaguar vs Jazzmaster: What's the Difference?
Published on 17 March 2025
In the world of offset electric guitars, two Fender models most definitely rule the roost: the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster. Superficially, they are fairly similar models. They are single cutaway offset electric guitars with dual circuits and two single coil pickups. How different can they really be, given that they come from the same manufacturer?
Well, today I shall go through it all with you, and you’ll find out just how different they can be!
I’ll briefly describe their entry into the world, and I’ll highlight the key areas in which these guitars differ, not only from each other but from most other electric guitars. I suspect you’ve already pegged these two models out as being somewhat iconoclastic in the guitar universe, and I’d agree! Today, I’ll hopefully help explain why that‘s the case.
Contents
Similarities Between the Jazzmaster and Jaguar
The Fender Jazzmaster
The Jazzmaster came around first, so let’s begin there. The Fender Jazzmaster first appeared in 1958, and was designed to appeal to jazz players, hence the title. The larger pickups were intended to offer a warmer sound than that of a Strat or Tele, and they did, but not quite enough to pull jazz guitarists away from their Gibson and Epiphone archtops.
It was the surf rock craze that ultimately took to the Jazzmaster, and the popularity in that scene for ‘twangy’ sounds was partially the reason why Gibson gave up on the Les Paul for a number of years!
The Jazzmaster offered an upmarket alternative to the Stratocaster, which it was actually intended to replace. This didn’t happen of course, but the Jazzmaster has had its own peaks and troughs throughout its 60+ year history. From being the coolest guitars money could buy, they fell out of fashion and became unloved pawn shop relics, particularly in the superstrat-loving 80s. It took broke creatives searching for cheap guitars and a different aesthetic (Sonic Youth are a prime example) to begin using these instruments again, and elevate them to the ‘alternative first choice’ status they now command.
The Fender Jaguar
The Fender Jaguar came around a few years after the Jazzmaster, in 1962. Intended as a top-end model, it was also embraced by the surf scene, but overall it was less popular than the likes of the Strat and Tele which were less expensive.
Unusually, the Jaguar was a mix of upper class flash (lots of chrome and extra switches, even compared with the Jazzmaster) and student-style design (shorter scale neck, two relatively normal single coil pickups). It was simultaneously a bold new venture for Fender and a mish-mash (albeit a very cool mish-mash) of several of their existing concepts.
Similarities Between the Jazzmaster and Jaguar
Clearly, there is a lot to relate these two guitar models. Both have strikingly similar offset bodies (indeed, the Jag’s body is a refinement/redraw of the JM), which were designed to be comfortable to sit down with. Hardly shoegaze, but there you go.
Both guitars have unique twin circuits divided into rhythm and lead modes.
Both guitars share a unique vibrato/tremolo system that isn’t used on any other Fender guitars unless you count the Bass VI, and I still can’t decide if that's a guitar or a bass!
Those are the main similarities. Now let’s dive into what makes these guitars pretty different from each other…
Scale Length
From a playing point of view, scale length is the most obvious difference between the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster. As a quick recap, scale length refers to the length of ‘playable’ string from the nut to the bridge, and is normally measured in inches.
The Jazzmaster uses Fender’s standard scale length of 25.5”, the same as any Strat or Tele. The Jaguar, however, takes its cue from the likes of the DuoSonic, with a smaller ‘student’ scale length of 24”. It’s a significant difference when you get your hands onto both, and one worth understanding your preference on.
Fender appear to have made this decision for the Jaguar back in 1962 in order to offer Fender players something a little closer to Gibson, whose regulation scale length is 24.75”.
Pickups
Both guitars contain a pair of single coil pickups, but they are quite dissimilar - to each other and to other pickups out there!
Taking the Jaguar first, it appears to have normal Strat-style single coils, and they aren’t far off that, but you’ll notice that most examples have what look like little metal ‘battlements’ along the sides! This part is known as the claw, a steel shield of sorts that was designed to boost the pickup’s inductance and broaden out the electromagnetic field, resulting in a slightly warmer pickup. That’s the idea, anyway, though I’d still say one of the main characteristics of a Jaguar is how sharp they can sound!
As a by-the-by, inductance is measured in ‘henries’ and higher inductance increases the low end tone of a guitar. Lower inductance does the opposite.
As for Jazzmaster pickups, well, the first thing to state is that they are not P90s! I know, they look like them, but they are built differently. Whilst still single coils, Jazzmaster pickups are wound flatter and wider than typical pickups. This is sometimes called ‘pancake’ winding, and the result is a slightly thicker tone than, say, a Strat or indeed a Jaguar.
Also, with Jazzmaster pickups, the magnets are the polepieces themselves (the metal dots in the middle of the pickup), whereas a P90 pickup has a separate magnet that sits underneath the coil. It’s a different way of doing things, and the resulting sound is similar but not the same.
Comparing the Jazzmaster with the Jag sonically, I believe most guitarists would agree that the Jaguar is ‘skinnier’ sounding, with the option of going even skinnier via the circuitry, which I’ll talk about now…
The Dual Circuits
Jaguars and Jazzmasters typically offer something quite unusual in electric guitars. They have two independent circuits for the frequency of your note to pass through, offering a distinctly different sound - and playing experience - with each circuit.
Both guitars offer a lead circuit and a rhythm circuit. Speaking broadly, it goes like this:
The lead circuit utilises the regular controls (volume knob, tone knob etc) and allows you to select either or both pickups.
The rhythm circuit (selectable from a small toggle switch on each guitar’s upper bout) offers the neck pickup only (via a separate circuit, so a different sound) and disconnects the usual controls. You can only use the two thumbwheel controls next to the toggle switch in rhythm mode.
Does that make sense so far? It’s almost like chopping the guitar in half, but with more options available in ‘lead’ mode. In lead mode, the Jaguar goes further. The lower bout has three microswitches, two of them switching the pickup on and off (so yes, you can have both on at once or indeed neither, should you wish!) and the third introducing a high-pass filter to the circuit. This is known famously as the ‘strangle switch’, since it takes away all of the guitar’s low end, leaving only the harsh trebles. It’s a cool sound, but maybe one to use sparingly?
These dual circuits are almost completely unique in the guitar world. They are certainly not for everyone, but those who can make good use of the controls tend to find other guitars somewhat lacking afterwards!
Body Shape
So, aside from the scale length and the metal panels on the Jag, both guitars are mainly the same, body wise, right?
No, actually! The Jazzmaster has an ever so slightly bigger body. I mean, VERY slightly, and the curves follow a minutely different outline. It’s nothing drastic, but yes the Jaguar and the Jazzmaster have different body shapes.
Bridges
One of the most notorious/debated/opinionated parts of both instruments is the bridge. In terms of vintage Jags and Jazzmasters, both of them had the same bridge and tremolo. Now, the tremolo is actually one of the primary reasons certain artists take to these offset guitars, because it offers a gentle glide and long-arm feel that can’t be found elsewhere. The tremolo operates differently from all other trems (the pivot points sit underneath that cool big metal plate) and offers extra sounds and resonances via the long section of strings between bridge and tailpiece. All of this is good news for creative players!
Now, the bridge is something that is less loved. Each saddle has what I’d call threaded ridges along which each string rests. The trouble is, energetic strumming or bending can unset the strings and shift them around out of place. This makes you go out of tune, as well as making the guitar itself more of a hassle to play.
It’s a bad design, let’s just admit it! Fender somewhat agree, because many contemporary offsets have either Mustang bridges (a more simple and sensible option) or Gibson-style tune-o-matics. Vintage purists prefer to retain their original bridges and simply find workarounds, and that’s excellent! As a past owner of two Jaguars, I’m more than ready to accept a better bridge!
Which is Right for Me?
So, those are the major differences between Fender’s two prime offsets. Which is right for you?
I guess that depends on whether you want something that’s more or less similar to what you already know. The Jazzmaster has a sound that will work in most situations, and the standard 25.5” scale is likely to be familiar to you already. You’ll benefit from the unique tremolo and dual switching systems.
If, however, you are looking to play something that will change & influence how you play, then the Jaguar may offer you more. The smaller scale length can be a good way to steer you away from your usual playing habits, and the extra switching options (even when compared to the Jazzmaster) will open other sonic doors for you. You also get the unique tremolo, so in many ways, the Jag will be quite significantly unlike whatever you are currently playing.
In the end, you just need to sit down with both and have a good play. One will inevitably speak to you more than the other. And hey, if you love them both, then you’ll be joining many Fender fans who use both a Jag and a Jazzmaster! Double win!
Click to View All of our Fender Offsets
