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Average Price: $440
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$400
$1001+
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Description
Fender has been making high quality, budget priced instruments under the Squier brand since the early 1980s. Essentially, Squier is Fender-sharing its product platforms, trademarks, standards and iconic designs. Squier is the launching pad for beginners, pointing intermediate and advancing musicians toward their ultimate goal of owning a Fender. Squier has tapped into something special with their Vintage Modified series — hot rodded versions of classic Fenders, all sporting top-shelf materials and components.
The Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special SS puts classic Fender looks into a distinctively sharp-looking, great-sounding, and super-versatile short-scale Squier bass model. It features the sleek offset-waist body and ultra-slim 30"-scale maple neck, making it a highly payable bass, but also gives you the best of both Fender bass worlds, with a combination of a booming split-single-coil Precision Bass middle pickup paired with a growling Jazz Bass single-coil bridge pickup. It might look like a student model, but the Jaguar Bass Special SS is perfect for players of all levels who appreciate the comfort of a short-scale instrument and the versatility of both P and J bass pickups.
Product specs
| Brand | Squier |
| Model | Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special SS |
| Finish | Black, Brown Sunburst, Candy Apple Red, Silver |
| Year | 2012 - 2018 |
| Made In | China |
| Categories | 4-String Basses, Short Scale Basses |
| Active / Passive Pickups | Passive Pickups |
| Active Preamp | No Preamp |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, Red, Silver |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Model Family | Squier Jaguar Bass |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
| Number of Strings | 4-String |
| Offset Body | Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | Split-Coil / S |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Series | Squier Vintage Modified |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque, Plain |
FAQs
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Is the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass is ideal for beginners due to its shorter scale length, which makes it easier to play and more comfortable for those with smaller hands.
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What kind of pickups does the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass have?
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The Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass features passive pickups with a split-coil configuration, providing a versatile range of tones suitable for various music genres.
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What is the neck profile of the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass?
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The neck profile of the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass is a "C" shape, offering a comfortable grip and smooth playability for both beginners and experienced players.
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How does the short scale of the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special affect its sound?
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The short scale of the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Bass tends to produce a warmer, punchier tone with slightly less tension on the strings, making it easier to play and offering a unique sonic character.
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What are the finish options available for the Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass?
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The Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass is available in several finishes, including Black, Brown Sunburst, Candy Apple Red, and Silver, allowing players to choose a style that suits their preference.
Videos
Cryptic Mask Guitar
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special SS (Short Scale)
Reviews
PROS
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Ideal for players with smaller hands due to slim neck
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Lightweight design enhances playability and reduces fatigue
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Offers great value for the price with impressive sound quality
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Distinctive style with eye-catching color options and design
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Excellent for short-scale bass lovers with easy maneuverability
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Strong community presence for modding and customization
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Stays in tune well, even with factory setup
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Versatile sound with pleasing warmth, clarity, and presence
CONS
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Pickups are low output and may require upgrades
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Some models experience neck dive requiring hardware modifications
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Inconsistent build quality, such as control cavity issues
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Hardware feels cheap and may not be durable long-term
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Controls and electronics may feel flimsy and could benefit from upgrades
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass.
User experience
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Owners find the short scale (30") combined with the Jaguar shape makes it exceptionally comfortable for guitar players transitioning to bass.
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Short scale basses like the Jaguar may have looser strings unless thicker gauges are used, affecting playability for beginners.
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Beginners may find short scale basses easier to learn on due to reduced stretching required for fretting notes.
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The bass with Lace Alumitones is noted for achieving a punchy and rich tone.
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Comparisons
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When compared to the Ibanez Mikro Bass with its 28.5" scale, the Squier Jaguar is noted as more versatile, while the Mikro is described as more of a "couch bass."
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The Danelectro Longhorn SS is noted as an upgrade in playability and tone from the VM Jaguar Bass Special SS, suggesting a preference for its current production.
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Experienced players often find transitioning between short and full scale basses fairly straightforward, though it requires some initial adjustment.
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Features and functionality
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The short scale length allows players to perform techniques that are more challenging on standard 32-34" scale basses.
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The Jaguar's P/J pickup configuration allows users to favor the P pickup for a more classic tone by ignoring the bridge (Jazz) pickup.
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Some users dislike the concentric stacked tone knobs and prefer a standard jazz bass Volume-Volume-Tone setup.
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Mods and upgrades
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings
346
Punches above its weight.
The quality of this bass surpasses its price. Credit to the builders in Indonesia. I prefer this over some basses that cost double. Sound wise, this has a pleasing combination of warmth, clarity, and presence. The maple neck feels better to me than most other Squiers, and for an agathis body it resonates well. No complaints about the rosewood fingerboard or medium jumbo frets. As for the SS, I enjoy that you can maneuver notes quickly at this length, and in this case without sacrificing tone. For a bass it is on the light side at 5lbs, and has the appearance of an all black MIJ Fender. My only complaint, really, would be about the controls. Perhaps it's because this was built in 2012, but they feel a bit flimsy. I would recommend replacing/upgrading the electronics. (Review based on Model# 0328800506)
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Both pickup volumes at noon / Tone at max
Artist usage
Add artistGenre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Squier Jaguar Vintage Modified Special Short Scale Bass, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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