Fender's Player Series was introduced in 2018 to replace the company's long-running Standard Series, and continues to offer bassists a wide selection of high-quality and affordable instruments that are made in Mexico. Fender introduced the Jaguar guitar all the way back in 1961, but it was not until 2006 that a bass version appeared. The Player Series instrument shown here is a passive bass with the modern "P/J" combination of a Precision Bass-style split coil pickup in the neck position and a Jazz Bass-style pickup in the bridge position. The offset-waist alder body is more slimline than those of more common Fender models and, together with the long-scale maple neck with its comfortable C-shape profile and 38mm nut width (as found on Fender Jazz Basses) makes it more comfortable to hold and a guaranteed joy to play.
If an instrument can be said to have multiple personalities, then this is definitely true of the Player Series Jaguar Bass: On the one hand, it has many of the key features of a Jazz Bass, such as the neck profile, headstock, and chrome control plate with a volume control for each pickup and a master tone control - on the other hand, however, it also has a Precision Bass pickup in the neck position. The body in turn is clearly reminiscent of both Fender's historic Jaguar guitar and the less well-known Fender Bass VI which was based on the same shape. The distinctive body design features a deep cutaway with a slender "horn" at the top and an extremely shallow cutaway at the bottom, and the high-gloss metallic "Tidepool" finish gives this bass a modern visual touch while still retaining a classic vintage flair, perfect for the wealth of features from different renowned models that it combines.
Many players will find Fender's more commonly found basses large and unwieldy, and the Player Series Jaguar Bass represents a great alternative to these basses thanks to its smaller body size while also delivering the same great looks and high quality. Its combination of Precision and Jazz-style "New Player AlNiCo V" pickups makes this bass extremely versatile and thus suitable for virtually any style of music, while its dimensions and slim neck profile make it as sleek and dexterous as its namesake. The Fender Player Series Jaguar Bass is not only an instrument for those who make music as a hobby, however: It will capably handle professional-level use as well.
Fender is without doubt one of the most legendary guitar and amplifier manufacturers of all time. The company was founded in 1946 by its namesake Leo Fender († 1991), whose innovative ideas brought a breath of fresh air into the musical world. His Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass are not only classics – they also continue to shape the styles of musicians in countless genres to this day. Timeless Fender amplifier models such as the Bassman, Twin, Deluxe, and Princeton also enjoy a stellar reputation. Besides maintaining its classic product portfolio, however, the company is also constantly developing new products that make Fender a driving force in today’s music industry.
As you would expect from an instrument with a P/J pickup configuration, the Player Series Jaguar Bass can cover a lot of musical ground, and it delivers both comfortable handling and distinctive looks as well as giving players the best of both worlds in terms of sound. The Jaguar Bass will obviously find favour among traditionalists, but players who are getting bored with the classic designs and looking for something refreshing and different should also take a closer look. And leaving questions of taste aside, this passive bass from Fender's Player Series is a robust, versatile, and reliable companion for any musician.